Polestar

August 2008
 polestarAugust 2008

Editor
Austin Corbett

Photos
Wayne Bennison
Bryony Dunlop
Sarina Dorie
Andrew Morgan (cover)
Austin Corbett
Moraya Cortez
Susan Carrasco
“Rock is Loft” courtesy Sony Music
the_toe_stubber
yosemite
(Licensed under Creative Commons 2.5)

Contributions
Jennie Brady
Austin Corbett
Moraya Cortez
Andrew Morgan
Christina Wong
Adam Smylie
Brandon Newberg
Teresa Kerres
Bryony Dunlop
Sarina Dorie
中
4 from teh editor
6 HAJET News
7 In Hot Water: Kanno
10 HEC
12 The Ride
14
20 Rural Life
23
26
27
30
Inside

The Power of Positive Thinking

Kanji of the Month: New

Music Class 4: Rock is Loft

JETMate: Wayne Bennison

Cooking with Aphrodisiacs

Jennie Brady

Austin Corbett

Moraya Cortez

Andrew Morgan

Brandon Newberg

Teresa Kerres

Christina Wong

Adam Smylie

Bryony Dunlop

Sarina Dorie

38 OHIH
 letter from teh editor

Hey look guys, this month I’ve gotten an is-
sue out on time!
This month is not just special because it’s
out at the same time as the cover says it should
be; this issue is the first one this year that has
been sent all electronically, and it’s also the larg-
est issue I’ve ever personally worked on. It’s also
special because it is going out free to all current
HAJET members, all new Hokkaido JETs, and any
else that sends me an email asking for one. Ac-
tually, I’m so excited about this month’s issue, if
you’ve ever given me your email address, you’re
getting one, spam laws be damned.
I want to give everyone the chance to see
all the great stories, photos and advice published
by HAJET members each and every month of the
year.* You know how the American government
thinks people sell drugs? “One hit and you’re
hooked for life?” Well, consider this your free
taster.
There is a little confusion on how the new
HAJET member fees and the Polestar will work
for the coming year, so I’ll spell it out for you.
New HAJET members will be charged 4000yen
for the year. This covers a whole bunch of things
including HEC, HAJET and of course the Polestar.
If you’re new to all this, don’t worry, it will be ex-
plained in more detail at Sapporo Orientation.
*Well, except if I get lazy and forget to put out an issue again.
4 Polestar
 More relevant to my sanity however, this
4000yen also entitles you to a yearly subscription
of the Polestar, in either colour PDF goodness, or
a black-and-white dead-tree version. (That’s pa-
per to you University-educated folks.) While I am
obligated by the HAJET constitution to provide a
paper version, I’d recommend you choose the PDF.
It’s colourful! It saves us money! It saves precious
Gaia-Mother, the Earth Queen! On the other hand
the paper version is decent toilet paper if you’re
yennie pinching, so the choice is up to you.
For renewing HAJET members, the fee is
2000yen for a lifetime membership. When it comes
to the Polestar however, your options are PDF, or
uhh…PDF. This is because it costs 2000yen per
person to produce the paper version for a year, and
your reduced membership fees won’t cover it. If
you love the paper version however, you can still
receive it for an additional 2000yen per year. Email
me for details.
With that out of the way, let me just say hel-
lo to all the bushy-eyed new faces arriving, and
goodbye to all those friends I won’t see again for a
little while. It’s been a pleasure, an honour, and
all those good things. As always, you can email
the polestar at submissions.polestar@gmail.com
Enjoy this month’s Polestar!

-Austin
P.S. For all of you who have already suffered through the August lull,
and for all who are about to, I’ve written a special haiku just for you on
the last page...I’ll be in Canada suckers!
Polestar 5
Say goodbye to the summer… Dates
(It sure doesn!t last long up here)

Sapporo Orientation Enkai

with your new ALT neighbors! Kirin Beer Garden, Sapporo
Monday, Aug 18th
Meet new people and explore the far reaches of Hokkaido! After the fabu-
lous Sapporo Orientation Welcome Enkai at the famous Kirin Beer Welcome Parties:
Garden (beer towers and authentic Genghis Khan!!!) with your peers and Northern
sempais HAJET offers four regional welcome parties through all the Aug 30th-31st
regions of Hokkaido. They offer a great chance to
see all of Hokkaido and meet friends you!ll have a Central
hard time seeing during the long, hard winter. Sep 6th-7th

After enjoying yourself at any or all of these events Eastern

you can stimulate more than your liver Sep 13th-15th
at the HAJET Fall Meeting in Hako-
date, where the fleeting summer has the Southwest
longest grip. This year!s fall meeting will Sep 20th-21st
be during the long weekend in the be-
ginning of November and feature pres- Fall Meeting
entations and workshops by your men- Hakodate
tors and a fabulous, costumed, Oct 31st-Nov 3rd
Halloween-themed enkai that will benefit
HEC English Camp for kids. We are in the process of setting up a scav- Watch the website for updates!
enger hunt and video game tournament, but it will be both professionally www.hajet.org
relevant and crazy-awesome!

M E -
E S O
I T T L N E
: A L R Y O
E T V E
HAJ G FOR E
N
THI

6 Polestar
 In Hot Water
Onsens, reviewed.
Austin Corbett
Onsen. It’s quite possibly the most important word in the Japa-
nese language for those of us who live in Hokkaido. More im-
portant than ganbatte more important than keitai, this singu-
lar word will insure your survival through the long, cold winter.
Sure, you may have been to a “hot spring” back home, but you
haven’t lived until you’ve stepped naked into a sulfurous pool
with 6 other eighty-year-old men. That’s hot. I’m going to
Banff Hot Springs in Canada this summer and I’m going naked,
whether they like it or not.

In your time here in Hokkaido, people will give you all kinds of
different recommendations when it comes to the perfect onsen.
They will all be wrong. (Except me, of course.) Others may
argue that there is no perfect onsen, merely standouts among
certain criteria; a particularly beautiful location, excellent facili-
ties, or a unique type of pool, such as the electric pool which will
make your back “turn to butter.” (A useful machine as butter
is 400yen for 200g!) While they may be semantically correct,
they’re pussies for not taking a stand, so let’s ignore them too.

I have been to many great onsens in my time here, many that

I would recommend, but I have also found an eden, a blissful
oasis of steaming water. I have found The Perfect Onsen.

Polestar 7
 Sure, it may be falling apart; it may be virtually inaccessible in
winter; it may be ridiculously expensive, and it may be the filthi-
est, most ramshackle onsen I’ve ever been to, but damn does it
have character!

You know those macaques that sit in the onsens in Nagano?

Yeah those ones. Well they can go fuck themselves because
this onsen has deer; real big, mean
ones that aren’t afraid to take a fin-
gertip or two as they eat out of your
hand. This onsen has multiple pools,
multiple rotemburo’s (outdoor pools)
all connected by a mazelike structure
that appears to have been built by Would you sit in a pool with this shit-
four-foot-tall gnomes with a shoddy flinging primate?
grasp of the rules of architecture, and a penchant for skipping
out on the maintenance. This onsen has mixed bathing in ALL
THE POOLS. Yes, your dream of seeing an old Japanese lady
ease her sagging naked body into the water alongside you can
finally come true. This onsen has stuffed deer, sake from the
60’s and half a dozen cats running around. And finally, this on-
sen has no problem letting in Yakuza, who I’ve seen every time
I’ve been there.

Welcome to the glory that is Kanno Onsen. Most onsens are

very nice, very comfortable, and very boring. Most onsens are
reasonably accessible. Kanno Onsen rejects these niceties in
order to bring you the real Hokkaido experience; rustic, dilapi-
dated, and hazardous.

If you don’t want to lose a toe or nose to frostbite this winter

you’re probably going to want to try
an onsen. Don’t worry about that
repressed Judeo-Christian body
guilt, just get out their and do it.
And when you do, make your way
to Kanno Onsen. Just make sure
to tell someone your going, because
the road tends to get a lot of ava-
lanches in winter.

8 Polestar
 The Particulars

How to Get There from Sapporo:

• Take Route 12 east out of the city, before getting on
Route 274, bound for Yubarijima, Hidaka and Obi-
hiro. Take this road for a hell of a long time, avoiding
the trucks and snow, until you exit the Hidaka moun-
tain range at Shimizu.
• Continue on the 274 through Shimizu and Shikaoi.
After Shikaoi, the 274 turns east (right) at an intersec-
tion, but continue straight on.
• You will now be on the 85. Take this for a few min-
utes until it curves to the right and begins to climb into
the mountains.
• Do not follow this curve but continue straight ahead,
onto the 1088. The highway sign above this turn will
clearly say that Kanno Onsen is straight ahead.
• Continue on this road, being especially careful as it
narrows to one lane and begins to wind over a rather
steep gorge. Eventually, the road will end. Congratu-
lations, you’re at Kanno Onsen. Happy Onsening!
Polestar 9
 Scavenger Hunts
HEC Camp is a five day all English camp for students who

Letter Exchange
placed one through forty in the Hokkaido English Challenge.

HECa
Hokkaido

Challenge
English
It is completely staffed by
ALTs, allowing students to

!
m
learn in a submersive and
inv Get
ed
fun environment. Students
al s o m ake f r i e n d s w it h
other stu dents fro m all

p
over Hokkaido. Not only is
inv Get olv
Hiking
the camp rewarding for the

Letter Exchange
stu dents, ALTs often say
that it is one of the best
teaching experiences they
have during their time in
Hokkaido. Many ALTs return
year after year to volunteer

Crazy Olympics
at this unique camp!
Camp usually starts
! at the end of July
Plays
The camp is always looking
for volunteers. Available
positions include:
ed
Camp Coordinators
Group Leaders
Nurse
Drivers/Goofers
olv

Chefs

Get involved! And slip andaslide

Game Coordinators

create memorable
DJs

experience for yourself and Hokkaido

Arts and Crafts
students! For more information, please join our google group
Hokkaido English Challenge
or contact the current coordinators at heccamp@gmail.com
HEC is sponsored by HAJET and supported by the International Affairs Division of the Hokkaido Governor's Office

10 Polestar
HEC nglish
okkaido hallenge
The Hokkaido
English Challenge (HEC) is
an English speaking contest only available
to Hokkaido ALTs and their students. It tests students'
speaking, listening, and communcation skills.
The competition was started in 1994
by JETs, and was designed to encourage students to use and improve their
spoken English, and to build confidence in the language through interaction with their ALTs.
The prizes for students include a homestay, an electronic dictionary, and a week at our
HEC Camp. But the real rewards are endless. Through their effort in preparing for the test, students
improve their skill and confidence in communicating in English. For the ALTs, the active involvement
in a student's English study and the pride at having a student simply complete the test is incredibly
rewarding.
Whether you enter a student or not, there are many ways for ALTs to get involved. Volunteers
are needed as judges, writers, and camp volunteers. You can also help support HEC by participating
in HAJET fund raisers and events.
Prizes *may be subject to change

Junior High Division Senior High Division

1st Two-week home-stay 1st Two-week home-stay
2nd Electronic Dictionary 2nd Electronic Dictionary
3rd Prize worth 10,000JPY* 3rd Prize worth 10,000JPY*
1-35 receive a place at HEC Camp* 1-15 receive a place at HEC Camp*

Fees Timeline (approximate)

Cost per student Total
September - November
*bold price is for HAJET members
Start telling your kids about the
1st Student ¥3000 ¥3000
competition
¥4000 ¥4000
Fall/Winter - Spring
Practice with your students according
2nd Student ¥2500 ¥5500
to your schedules.
¥3500 ¥7500
March
Entry deadling (payment of fees,
3rd Student ¥2000 ¥7500
send in permission forms)
¥3000 ¥10500
April
Administer the Test
4th Student ¥1500 ¥9000
June
¥2500 ¥13000
Results are announced
July
5th Student ¥1000 ¥10000
*price per student Prizes are distributed,
¥2000 ¥15000
remains the same HEC Camp
after the 5th
For more information visit www.hajet.org/hec or join our google group Hokkaido English Challenge
Further questions/comments please contact the HEC Coordinator, Moraya Cortez at thinkhec@gmail.com
HEC is sponsored by HAJET and is supported by the International Affairs Division of the Hokkaido Governor's Office.

Polestar 11
 Two years ago, as I sat celebrating the anniversary
of the Independence of my home country at a beau-
tiful lake surrounded by an array of seemingly end-
less mountains silhouetted blue in the late evening,
in the company of my family and friends and not more
than a couple hours drive from the home I had grown
up in, how could it have been possible to know that
another mountain filled home would soon take up it’s
place in the forefront of my heart? That memories would
be made with the same ease and un-critical assumptions
that I somehow thought were possible to leave at home.
How could I have been so naïve and un-prepared? To think
that I wouldn’t face the same uncomfortable sensation of
rough tugs on heartstrings as I reluctantly prepared to leave
yet another ‘home’ in my young life now strikes me as one of
the biggest oversight in a series of big oversights when first
coming to live abroad:

The Ride
Andrew Morgan
I had come with all the giddy excitement of a child experi-
encing their first bike ride. Equipped with the training wheels of
previous foreign travel and the safety helmet of confidence in my
ability to face the challenges of a foreign land; I was ready for
the real thing. The training wheels came off, there was no looking
back and nothing could slow me down! The inevitable difficul-
ties of that first ride
came shortly after,
but I was prepared.
Indeed, I have taken
some spills, gotten
up and dusted my-
self off, mildly shak-
en but ever thrilled
to continue the ride!
On and on it went,
sometimes unimagi-
nably beautiful and other times dishearteningly gloomy, but so it
went. There was no time to waste and time disappeared behind
me as if it were never mine to have.

What I wasn’t told, or at least was allowed to ignore by

12 Polestar
those equally excited to see me on my first ride, was that, at
some point the ride must end; you must get off. End of the
road! Turn around! The time has come to look back, you fool,
what did you think, that you could go on riding forever? No
such luck.

So now, two years later, the long road traveled, what’s

my advice to those ready to make the plunge? Don’t look back.
Warnings be damned! Ride like your life depends on it. Ride
hard, ride fast and don’t worry about the inevitable end of the
road, that’s for later. Take your spills in stride, learn from them,
but don’t let them dissuade you from continuing on your way.
The road could be long and windy, short and bumpy or straight
and narrow, but remember, it’s your road, nobody else’s. Take
comfort in that on those cold and rainy nights when you’re
longing for an end to come, just around the next bend.

I, for one may have finished this ride, but I am still

eager to climb back on and find a new road to travel. It may
not be as exhilarating as that initial go (what is?), but at least
now I know myself more than before and am better prepared
to seek the horizon. For there lies the great beyond, that un-
known place that I came seeking and will not be satisfied until I
find. Warnings be damned, I will continue seeking and I suspect
that about the time the scars left over from the first ride begin
to heal, the time will have come when the lessons learned will
seem like vague dreams from a far and distant place. Thus, the
journey can never end.

to get in it.”
li m it , if yo u ’re not afraid
“Life has no
ings
–Mason Jenn
Polestar 13
 Brandon Newberg
“It’s about to rain,” I said, as the sky clouded over and the
heaving sea tossed about the ferry to Yagishiri Island.
“No, it isn’t,” she said. “Because I didn’t bring my umbrella!”
She grinned at me from beneath her yellow sun hat. She had
put her faith in sunshine and left her umbrella behind.
Therefore, it wasn’t going to rain.

Simple as that--the power of positive thinking.

Let me back up a bit. It was about two months ago that two
friends of mine (a couple we’ll call Jim and Josie) got the idea to set
me up with this girl Josie knew. Her name was Kaori, and she lived
near Sapporo. They knew she was looking for a boyfriend, and I was
looking for a girlfriend, so... it made sense, right? I’d had some pretty
bad experiences with Japanese girls, but I was up for it. Somehow I
always managed to hope that this time it will be different. Somehow I
managed to think positively.
They wanted to go on a double-date, but unfortunately our
schedules just never aligned. Weeks went by. Finally I suggested that
Kaori and I start emailing. We could get to know each in other in the
meantime till our schedules finally came into sync.
As Kaori and I bounced our emails back and forth, I discov-
ered what a woman she was. Like me, she loved the outdoors, climb-
ing mountains, and enjoying nature. She was a runner, and during the
time we were mailing she entered the Chitose half-marathon for the
first time. I urged her on with digital cheers. And she made good on
what she said she was going to do--she completed the half-marathon. I
was so proud of her. She was also into paintings and films and all kinds
of artistic stuff--like me. She spoke quite a bit of English, having been
to Ohio and Vancouver. And she could even relate a bit to my spiritual
side, sort of. She had read Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret, and was a big
believer in the whole “positive thinking” movement--that is, the idea
14 Polestar
that positive thoughts actually change the universe. Like attracts like,
magically as it were, so thinking positive actually attracts positive
things to you. Now, I was no believer in that. But it showed she had a
sense for the mystery of the universe, and that I could identify with. I
was really starting to like this girl. She was strong, independent, and
responsible. And cute, to boot. All signs pointed to her liking me too.
She saw my photos, and said I looked like a model(!). Josie talked to
her about me, and had only good things to report.
We had to book our first date about a month in advance, due to
her hectic schedule (that may sound odd, but in Japan it’s pretty stand-
ard to be that busy). So the whole two months went by without meet-
ing face to face. But I was full of confidence, because even though we
had yet to meet, it seemed we were already getting close. I felt my
luck had finally changed. I was thinking positive, to be sure.
What a shock it was when one week before our date, I broke
my toe while sumo wrestling for charity (yes, sumo wrestling). I could
just imagine myself hobbling along on crutches for our first date. But
I refused to despair. One way or another, come hell or high water, we’d
meet. What a relief it was when the doctor told me I didn’t need a cast.
So with a splint on my toe and a smile on my face, I walked toward our
first date.
Finally it came. It turned out there was a festival on a beauti-
ful island near me named Yagishiri. We all went together--Jim and
Josie, Kaori and I, and a few other friends too. First we met at Jim’s
place for a party the evening before, then we went to the island in the
morning.
When I first saw Kaori in person, I stopped in my tracks. I had
seen photos of her, but it was nothing like seeing her face to face. Her
bronzed skin, sparkling eyes, athletic waist, and fingers, slender but
strong... She was all that I’d hoped, and more.

The power of positive thinking?

We talked during the party that evening. In-between the ban-

ter of friends I made flirts and advances--lingering looks, gentle touch-
es. I was able to show her the video I’d made, and the taiko drumming
song I wrote. She didn’t say much about that, but no matter. All night
long I took care to translate the conversation topics for her when she
looked lost, so she felt included. She made jokes and chimed in on the
conversations, and never showed a wince of fear for being the only
Japanese in a room full of gaijin. The night was quite enjoyable.
But as I was going to bed, I realized I was feeling uneasy.
Something was wrong. Really wrong.
I chalked it up to paranoia and went to bed. Yet I couldn’t
sleep.
I woke early before everybody else. Remembering that Jim
said he had nothing in the apartment for breakfast, I walked all the
Polestar 15
 way to the convenience store on a broken toe to buy breakfast for
everybody. I wanted to show this girl that I could think about others.
I wanted show I could “take care” of people--like a husband, or even
father. She didn’t show much appreciation for that either, but no mat-
ter.
As we were riding the ferry to the island, over the rocking
waves, I frowned at the sky.
“It’s about to rain,” I said.
I remembered the weather patterns back in Minnesota, learned
so carefully while working at my dad’s cropdusting operation. The
mounting clouds, the electrostatic feeling in the air, and even the pe-
culiar taste of the wind--all were sure signs it was going to rain.
“No, it isn’t,” she said.
“No?” I looked at her quizzically. “Why not?”
“Because I didn’t bring my umbrella!” she said.
Ah, yes. Since she had thought positively and left her umbrel-
la behind, it wasn’t going to rain.
I smiled. “Well, I hope your magic works.”
It drizzled and stopped, drizzled and stopped. The sun came
out and disappeared again several times. We argued back and forth
over who was actually right about the weather.
Meanwhile, the boat rocked heavily on the waves and she went
careening, barely catching herself by a handrail.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I’ll catch you if you fall.”
She said thank you as the salt spray swept over us both, to-
gether. As the boat listed, I made my way over to Josie.
“Josie, um... can I ask you something?”
She nodded.
“Does Kaori know this is, you know... a set-up?”
She looked confused.
“What do you mean? What kind of vibes are you getting?”
“Only friend vibes,” I replied.
Her brow furrowed. She said she’d showed her my picture,
and she knew she was looking for a boyfriend, but...
My jaw dropped. That was it. That was what was wrong. Ka-
ori had no idea this was a date.
I didn’t know how she could be missing my intentions--I was
clearly flirting, saying romantic things, touching her gently--certainly
more than one does with a friend. I had complemented on her beauti-
ful looks--let me count it--four times that weekend (which I thought
was pretty well excessive, but that’s just me). Yet she still had no idea
what I was trying to say.
Now, when I suffer setbacks I seem to have this ability to just
say well, all that matters is what to do from here on out. Call it what
you will--you could even call it positive thinking. So even though I was
disappointed, I resolved that before the weekend was over, one way or
another I’d get a response out of her. What that response would be-
16 Polestar
-positive or negative--was nothing I could control, but I wasn’t going
to go home without doing all in my power to get her to at least notice
me.
“Hey, look!” cried Kaori. Yagishiri had come into view.
It was beautiful. Green forests meandered calmly over the
island. We rented bicycles and rode all over the hilly, wooded paths.
Kaori had a bit of trouble getting up the hills, so I hung back with her.
We got to talk privately for a while. She said what a good time she was
having and thanked me for inviting her, instead of just going with my
friends. I explained that of course I wanted to go with her, because I’d
really enjoyed getting to know her, and she was a talented and beauti-
ful girl. She said thanks without meeting my eyes, and rode on ahead.
I sighed and followed after.
Later we had a barbecue with the local lamb meat, supposed
to be quite tasty. I offered her a bit of tender lamb on my chopsticks,
holding it up to her full lips.
“It’s okay, I have my own chopsticks,” she said, raising her
waribashi.
I sat with her and conversed all morning. At one point I no-
ticed her dip her head to smell a bunch of flowers--these tiny white
petals circling golden yolks at the center. She said they were beauti-
ful. Later, as the group of us was walking to a local museum, I noticed
a patch of the very same kind of flowers growing in a garden. The
owner of the garden--an old man--was hovering nearby, so I hung back
till my friends disappeared into the museum. Then, overcoming my
hesitation and embarrassment, I explained to the garden owner that
I was there with a girl I liked and I really wanted to impress her. He
cracked a grin, and a glow came over him that made him look twenty
years younger. He looked excited to help out a young romance, al-
most as if it brought back memories for him. So with flowers in hand,
I got to the museum and looked around for Kaori...
“Nice move with the flowers, man!” said Jim as he pulled up to
the urinal next to me in the men’s restroom.
I zipped up and replied in a dry tone, “I thought so.”
He looked at me like he was waiting for the punch line. But he
saw from my expression that I was in no mood for joking.
“When I gave her the flowers,” I said, “she looked at them and
said they were beautiful, and then she just walked away.”
The faucet squeaked and the water over my hands was cold,
very cold.
“I’d already pulled out the big guns,” I said. “After giving her
the very flowers she’d fell in love with earlier, I knew there wasn’t any
way to top that. If that didn’t get her to notice me, nothing would. So
finally I decided to just come out and tell her. I explained everything-
-that this weekend was a date, that I had been told it was a date, and
that I really wanted it to be a date, but...”
To tell the truth, when I told all that to Kaori, she still didn’t un-
Polestar 17
 derstand. I said it in both English and Japanese, but it didn’t hit home.
Finally I looked deep into her coal-black eyes, and gently I stroked her
wrist. I touched her soft, golden wrist in a way that only lovers do.
And I told her that when I gave her the flowers, I meant that.
Finally she understood.
“So what did she do then?” asked Jim.
“She gave me the flowers back,” I said.
It was a long, long two hours before the ferry home from the
island. Kaori and I held apart, no longer sure of how to approach each
other. Although to be completely honest, she looked as happy and de-
lighted as ever. Meanwhile, my friends who had set us up, Jim and
Josie, looked like they were at a loss. They were as surprised as I was
at the turn of events.
We decided to rent bicycles again, and during that time I got to
talk things over more with Kaori.
“Forget about it,” she said with a perky smile.
“What?” I said.
“Just forget it,” she said. “Let it go with the wind.”
I stared at her blankly. How could I respond to that? Two
months of planning, two months of hope, two months of thinking my
luck had finally changed, two months of getting to know each other,
two months of feeling I’d finally met someone I really liked... it was
gone in a flash, just like that. Meaningless. Empty as the wind.
I mimed vapors of dreams flying out of my head.
“Yes, that’s it!” she cried. “Keep going!”
I smiled at her, wearily.
Well, I thought to myself, all that matters now is where to go
from here.
Yet there was one question still burning in me, and I couldn’t
live with myself if I didn’t ask it.
“When did you know?” I asked. “I mean, you didn’t know this
was a date when you came, but you must have figured it out at some
point. You just didn’t want to say it. So... when did you know I liked
you?”
She didn’t reply.
“Was it as I was flirting with you at the party?” I asked. “Was
it when I offered to catch you? When I called you beautiful?”
She shook her head.
“Not even when I gave you the flowers?”
Finally, after a long silence, her eyes met mine.
“Can I talk to you about something?” she asked.
I nodded.
She broke a wide smile.
“It never rained!” she said.
And after that there was nothing between us, nothing but the
peculiar taste of the wind.
Just before the ferry Jim caught up with me at a ramen shop.
18 Polestar
He sat down at the stool next to me and called for a second bowl.
“You’ve really had a string of bad luck,” he said. “I mean, first
Tae, now this.”
I counted them in my head. Yes, he was right. Before Kaori
was Tae, before Tae was Yoshie, and before Yoshie was Reika...
I’d known Jim for three years. And to be honest, secretly I
had always been jealous of him. Here was a guy who had girls lin-
ing up for him. And I mean that literally. He’d actually had a Japa-
nese girl write to him once asking to be his girlfriend, or “one of his
girlfriends”--those were the words she used. It was all I could do to
hold back the anger that was pulsing through me. As I looked at him,
I wanted to pile my fist into his hard, chiseled jaw.
Instead I dropped half my ramen into his bowl, and we slurped
up salty noodles together.
Only a week before, when I broke my toe, Jim had told me he
couldn’t believe how serene I was about it. It must be all that medita-
tion, he said. I just smiled to myself. The truth was, considering all
the things I’ve dealt with in my adult life, a broken toe doesn’t even
register on my scale of things to get upset about.
But as I sat next to him in that ramen shop waiting for the
ferry, with Kaori off somewhere else, probably smiling as cheerfully
as ever, perhaps smelling some new bouquet of blossoms that caught
her eye, I was anything but serene.
There are some girls that I have known, that are just like black
holes. You give them your energy, they take it and give nothing back.
Not even the recognition that you are out there. It’s the total annihi-
lation of information. There was a certain sublime majesty about it,
actually. To be that oblivious...
Does the way we think change the universe? I pondered the
idea. If so, maybe girls like Kaori are the reason there are black
holes.
I wondered what kind of cosmic phenomena I was creating.
“So, um...” said Jim, calling me back to earth. “Are you gonna
be okay?”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I’m not gonna go jump off a bridge.”
He chuckled.
“And I’m not giving up on women either,” I said.
My chopsticks jabbed at the soup.
Why not just give up? In the state I was in, I couldn’t quite
answer that. But like I said, somehow I always managed to push on.
All that matters is where we go from here.
“The hard part is not becoming bitter,” I said.
I sucked down the last of the noodles.
“That’s the hard part,” I said.
And there you have it:

The power of positive thinking.

Polestar 19
 A Rural Life
story by Teresa Kerres
photographs by
Andrew Morgan, Susan
Carrasco & Austin Corbett
I grew up on the plains of the “bread basket of the world”, “the heart-
land”, near the center of the North American continent. The region was
considered “frontier”, to be settled and farmed by Euro- Americans, in the
early 1800’s. Virtually no unbroken land remains, although the open skies
over prarie are breathtakingly beautiful.

Hokkaido, perhaps more similar to Alaska, could still be called “frontier”.

Many farming settlers arrived in the early 1900’s, and more continue to
move here in search of open space. Hokkaido became a full-fledged pre-
fecture in 1947. Vast amounts of the island are untouched.

In applying for programs with which to move abroad, I hoped for a rural
placement. After living in the dense city center for nearly a decade, I
missed seeing the horizon. I wanted clean air, fresh water, local produce,
places to hike, and outdoor adventure. I got all of what I wished for, and it
has been a remarkable experience.

In Autumn my shelves were stocked with a bounty of fresh veg-

etables, both familiar and foreign. We hiked and explored.
20 Polestar
In Winter the snow filled the ditches three meters deep. Crys-
talline ice sanctified the forest.

Spring began with violent crashes of melting snow falling from

my roof. Then the fields were planted, painstakingly by hand.
Rice fields mirrored the volcanic mountains.

Polestar 21
 And, oh, Summer! The forests are exploding with green foli-
age, and sounding a cacophonous symphony of unseen crea-
tures. Thunder crashes and sheets of rain threaten to push
me from my bicycle. Flowers abound. Every weekend is filled
with visiting friends, camping adventures, and promise.

22 Polestar
 ṽ
Kanji of the Month
/

Christina Wong July/August 2008 2

Radical* :
ᢹ
(Kin 9)

SHIN or atara or ara or nii *1

䋨䉲䊮䊶䈅䈢䉌䊶䈅䉌䊶䈮䈇䋩
New
Stroke Order

ᣂ
*1 CAPITAL letters indicate the Chinese reading, or so-called onyomi (㖸⺒ߺ). Lower-case letters
indicate the Japanese reading, or kunyomi (⸠⺒ߺ).
*2 For the purpose of locating the kanji in a ṽ๺ㄉᦠ(Kanji dictionary). The radical of the kanji is first
located, and then the number indicating additional stroke order is used to locate specific kanji of
choice.

Polestar 23
 ᣂ SHIN/atara/ara/nii

ORIGIN OF THE KANJI: NEW

According to Chinese pictograph…
The kanji, ᣂ, can be divided into 3 sections:
1. ㄆ, which means sharp objects
2. ᧁ, which means tree or wood
3. ᢹ, which means axe

The meaning behind ancient Chinese pictograph

Section 1, ㄆ, is the part of the kanji where the pronunciation was copied from. ᣂ
and ㄆ are both read as ߒࠎ(shin) in the Chinese reading. As you can see from
the picture above, section 1 indicates sharp object. You can see an object being
pierced through by 3 sharp knife-like things sitting on a stand.
Section 2, indicates tree or wood. This symbol shows a standing tree pointing up
as well as some parts of the tree being chopped down into wood.
Section 3 indicates axe. The modern-day meaning of this part of the kanji, ᢹ, is
a unit to measure weight. Since in ancient time, axe is thought to be heavy. This
might be related to how this kanji is now used to measure how heavy items are.
So to summarize, the original meaning of the kanji, ᣂ , according the
interpretation of the pictograph, is “the freshness of wood after being chopped by
an axe” (tree + axe/sharp object = fresh wood). Now, how did it evolve into the
present day meaning, “new”, is another mystery. Can you come up with an
explanation?

Example:
™ ᣂߒ޿ (޽ߚࠄߒ޿/atarashii): new
™ ᣂ ౰ ( ߦ ޿ ߆ ߞ ߲ /Niikappu): Niikappu, a town in southeastern
Hokkaido, and is known for its production of racehorses.
™ ᣂੱ (ߒࠎߓࠎ/shin jin): newcomer, rookie
™ ᣂᐕ (ߒࠎߨࠎ/shin nen): New Year
™ ᣂ⡞ (ߒࠎ߱ࠎ/shin bun): newspaper (literal meaning of kanji is “newly
heard”).
™ ᣂᇕ (ߒࠎߎࠎ/shin kon): newly wed -
™ ᣂ㒸ઍ⻢ (ߒࠎߜࠎߚ޿ߒ߾/shin chin tai sya): metabolism (literal
meaning of the word means “the replacement of the old with the new”.)

24 Polestar
GOODBYE AND HELLO!
It’s that time of the year again to
say goodbye to our lovely departing
JETs and say hello to the arriving
ones. So this month’s kanji, ᣂ, means
new. I thought it would only be
appropriate for it to be THE kanji of the
month since it’s a time when people
are beginning new adventures.
Departing JETs, I hope you had
enjoyed your time in Hokkaido and
fulfilled whatever goal or met the
expectation you had when you first
arrived here. Hokkaido has been
super lucky to have such wonderful
JETs like you. Now, you will be leaving
the JET program to start ᣂ ߒ ޿
adventures, whether it be moving to
new places, returning back home, or
starting a new phase of life. Please do
not forget your time here in Japan.
Hope the time here with us has helped
you grow and mature as an individual.
Arriving JETs, WELCOME TO
HOKKAIDO!!!!! Take a deep breath
and try to digest all the information you
were given at the orientations and the
excitement or shock that Japan is
bringing. You are very lucky to be
placed in Hokkaido. This is an
amazing island filled with beautiful
nature and yummy food. It’s August
now and you might be finding it
shocking hot like I did. If you’re in a
place with air conditioning, I’d say
you’re very very lucky. If not, well,
welcome to the reality (and make good
use of your uchiwa “paper fan”).
You probably can’t imagine it
right now, but the winter can get pretty
brutal in Hokkaido. If you’re into winter
sports, you’re in luck because
Hokkaido is great to get active in the
cold. If you’re not into winter, don’t worry,
there are still plenty of other options. You
can participate in HAJET musical to keep
yourself occupied during winter months,
or meet up with friends or surrounding
JETs to complain about the cold winter
together. (Trust me, knowing that you’re
not suffering alone will make you feel
better). So yes, there is an exciting ᣂߒ޿
journey waiting ahead of you. Please try
to keep a positive attitude during your
time here, whether it be a year, two years,
or more.
For the re-contracting JETs, there
will still be ᣂߒ޿ things and challenges
waiting ahead of you this coming year.
With the addition of the new JETs, the
Hokkaido JET community will definitely
have a unique atmosphere. Please
continue to enjoy your life here and seek
new challenges to keep yourself
occupied. Make new friends and keep in
touch with the old. Please continue to
make Hokkaido a wonderful place for
JETs to be in.
Lastly, I am concluding my time
here with JET and have probably left
Hokkaido already as you’re reading this.
Thanks very much for all your help and
support in the past year. I had a fantastic
time here and really enjoyed getting to
know you all. Unfortunately, I won’t be
able to continue the “Kanji of the month”
column anymore /. If there is anyone that
would like to take over this lovely column,
please contact the Polestar at
submissions.polestar@gmail.com
Good luck to all your new
adventures and journeys ahead. Hope our
paths will meet again in the future.
GOODBYE and HELLO!!
Polestar 25
 a s s 4 :
sic C l
Mu
THE ROOSTERS, thee michelle gun elephant, THE BLUE HEARTS, Sunhouse, THE GROOVERS, PEALOUT, Straight-
erner, Dohatsuten, Shine Shine Dan, HEARTBEATS, Soul Flower Union, Radio Caroline, Hi-STANDARD, JUDE,
SHEENA&THE ROKKETS, RC Succession, The Pees, Yura Yura Teikoku, THEATRE BROOK, Uchouten, GARLIC
BOYS, Mongol 800, JUN SKY WALKER(S), Red Warriors, SHADY DOLLS, THE HIP’S, Izumiya Shigeru, Denki
Groove, Roman Porsche, NEW ROTE’KA, BOOWY, LA-PPISH, PERSONZ, G.D. FLICKERS, Spitz, THE ACCIDENTS,
PANTA & HAL, SION, THE STREET BEATS, Rosa Luxembourg, Ulfuls, In the Soup, De+LAX, Kinniku Shoujo-tai,
Earth Shaker, 44 Magnum, MARINO, ANTHEM, BOW WOW, AUTO-MOD, MALICE MIZER, LUNA SEA,
PIERROT, JILS, Zi:Kill, La Vie En Rose, HATE HONEY, BUCK-TICK, Kuroyume, FRICTION, P-MODEL, PLASTICS,
HIKASHU, THA BLUE HERB, ANGIE, THE POGO KENZI, BEAT CRUSADERS, KEMURI, POTSHOT, Fishmans, CRAZY
KEN BAND, COOLS, Chikada Haruo to Haruophone, Kamayatsu Hiyoshi, Gedou, Anarchy, ARB, THE MODS,
Battle Rockers, Aka to Kuro, THE STRUMMERS, THE BARRET, Trouble, Tokyo JAP, Lizard, Friction, S-Ken,
Zelda, Ankokutairiku Jakatara, The Stalin, Hijoukaiden, LAUGHIN’ NOSE, The Wilard, The Genbaku Onanies,
Aburadako, Hosono Haruomi, MO’SOME TONEBENDER, THE PRIVATES, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, CHAR,
Kaneko Mari & Bux Bunny, Sentimental City Romance, Hamada Shougo, Oonuki Teko, Ootaki Eichi, Yano
Akiko, Minami Yoshitaka, Suzuki Keiichi to Moon Riders, Carmen Maki, Ippuu Dou, Yoshida Minako, Onsoku
Line, Yuukaden, Fuji Fabric, THE ROCKERS, Zunou Keisatsu, THE STAR CLUB, GASTUNK, THE RYDERS, LAUGHIN’
NOSE, the pillows, BALZAC, The Pees, BRAHMAN, THE MAD CAPSULE MARKETS, WRENCH, COCOBAT, BE-
YONDS, bloodthirsty butchers, THE BACK HORN, NUMBER GIRL, eastern youth, DMBX, ZOOBOMBS, HiGE,
GOING UNDER GROUND, Sambomaster.
If you’ve heard of any of these bands I’m impressed, you’ve done some homework. If you haven’t but you’re
planning on attending RSR, Summer Sonic, or Fuji Rock and you want to hear some of the bands that’ll
be playing, or if you want to hear a whole bunch of music you’ve never heard before, please email me
adamninja@hotmail.com and I can get you this rockout compilation put out by Loft, the club in Shinjuku (a
bunch of the tracks were recorded live there). It’s 5x2CDs long, organized as follows:

-Blue Album-
「日本語ロックの浸透と新しい波」
“Japanese Rock’s permeation and new wave”
-Red Album-
「日本語ロックの成熟と東京ロッカーズの台頭」
“Japanese Rock’s maturity & Tokyo Rockers’ rise”
Note - Tokyo Rockers was a punk/new wave indie record label check out: http://park10.wakwak.
com/~techno/tokyorockers.html
-Green Album-
「80’sジャパニーズロックの隆盛 / 耽美派ロックの奇跡」
“80’s Japanese Rock’s prosperity / The aesthetic rock school’s wonder”
-Yellow Album-
「オルタナティヴ∼ラウド∼ミクスチャー・ロックの躍進」
“Alternative~Loud~Mixture - Rock’s rush”
-Purple Album-
「3コードの美学 / テクノ＆ニュー・ウェーヴ時代の到来」
“3 chords’ aesthetics / Techno & New Wave arrival era”

Doesn’t that sound sweet? Anyone who wants a DVD full of this stuff just let me know and it’s yours. If
you don’t have a computer and need 10 CDs just be sure to ask extra nice ok? Assuming anyone is reading
this,
adam smylie
26 Polestar
Introducing....
AKA
Mr. Wayne,
Wayne-Sensei,
Waynos, Banger,
Wayno,
That Fucking Kiwi

THE FABULOUS REP OF THE NORTH

TELL IT LIKE IT IS:
2. Age: 23
3. Starsign: Capricorn
4. Dragged up in: New Zealand
5. Current dwelling: Tomomae-cho
6. Position held: Tomamae-cho English speaking assistant language
teacher (living text book)

TIME TO GET JUICY:

1. What’s the first thing most Japanese people do/say when they
see you? Hurro.
2. What’s your favourite Japanese word? Wakarimasen, sums up
my Japanese skills but also like the Yaki
mochi saying too.
3. My life in Japan is…Easy, paid
well, awesome schools, good mates, sweet
apartment, 20 days paid vacation plus
some of the best boarding in the world on
my door step.
4. My job in Japan is… Sweet
as. From being a breathing text book to a
human jungle gym, it’s all about the kids
and that’s what makes this an awesome
job.
5. If Wayne were a colour, what Wayne at the HAJET Murder Mystery:
colour would he be? Snazzy, and up to no good.
Sky blue, cause it’s such a great feeling when you wake up and it’s a mint day
outside.
Polestar 27
 6. Is there anything you’d change about your current living ar-
rangement?
If this place was closer to a ski field I couldn’t ask for too much more, oh and if
there were some more places to go drinking at…

Wayne in Thailand: Laid-back and up to no good.

7. My favourite thing about my town in Japan is…Our town is

somewhat famous for a mass bear attack that happened 70 years ago where a
bear killed 7 people. Plus we’ve got that best onsen up this part of the coast, and
my BOE are pretty sweet.
8. What are you listening to now?
Herbs – greatest hits.
9. Life before JET?
Living it up in one the best parts of the world Napier NZ, working in a 5 star
Hotel as the assistant manager.
10. Life after JET?
Back to Aotearoa, chill out for the summer then probably head of to the UK, to
see what all the fuss is about.
11. My most embarrassing Japan experience is…Throwing up in my
mouth in an izakaya in Nikappu, after getting extremely inebriated the night
before.
12. I really suck at…
Pretty much anything with a musical instrument.
13. …but I rate myself when it comes to…
Getting on the booze. (Wayne+alcohol=entertainment & fun! Mmm… Northern
Party!)
14. I don’t understand why Japanese people…Umm where do I
start…..having so many Forms!, Don’t give simple yes no answers, have mid
week enkai’s, like natto…. tell me when to stop
15. I miss... NZ
16. My favourite thing to do in bed is…Use your imagination…Starts
with a d…get your minds out of the gutter… dreaming of course.
17. The biggest/worst lie I’ve told a Japanese person is…Thus far
telling my BOE I had food poisoning for 2 days because I didn’t want to go to
work.
18. My town mascot is… A giant bear that resembles the one that killed
all those people…
19. How do you rate it? 9 – 10 for the fact that a massive violent attack
from such a creature is now worshiped as the town mascot.
20. Movie that pleasures me… Debbie does Dallas, it causes me to
28 Polestar
pleasure myself.
21. …and one that wasted a smidgeon of your life…That one with the
things that done other things can’t even remember what it was about now….had
a good sleep though.
22. My favourite underwear… None.
23. One thing I wish I knew before I started life in my town is…
Tomamae was over an hour away from the nearest big town……
24. Japanese food you just can’t stomach? Those little whole cooked
fish with all the insides and fish eggs still in them…vomit material.
25. Japanese food you can’t live without? Miso soup at kyushoku
(school lunch).
26. Seicomarto, Lawsons, Sunkus or 7’11? Justify. Seicomart, it’s the
only combini we have in Tomamae 6am till midnight.
27. Bad habit? Picking my toe nails.
28. Worse habit? Leaving them on the table…. (YUCKY!!!)
29. Fav morning routine? Haha…. don’t know if that’s appropriate for
this…(Hmmm…)
30. Love and romance in Japan? Has its ups and downs but alls good
so far.
31. Traumatic childhood experience? Getting lost in Wellington when
I was 7, and walking half way back to my Aunties place before some stranger
helped me find my way back.
32. Scariest Japan realization moment? Haven’t had any scary ones
yet.
33. Most amazing experience thus far? Just being here.
34. Advice you want to impart to anyone who cares? Make the
most of your time here, either by joining a local team, tripping around
all over Japan, abusing the HAJET list serve or simply making some awesome
friends. Just don’t keep your head under ground as that’s when you don’t see all
the good things out there.
35. Other JETs are going to talk about me for years to come be-
cause…We all had an awesome time together. (THE MOST ENTERTAINING
DRUNK PERSON EVER!)
36. Are the rumours true? Can you actually ride a jitensha (bike)
while holding an umbrella and talking on your keitai(mobile)? …um no
will leave that up to the obasan’s (grandma’s). But I can whip up a pretty mean
breakfast…..

Wayne at a Party: Getting all the love and up to no good.

Polestar 29
 Cooking S
,
S
with
Aphrodisiacs
You are what you eat
Sarina Dorie
Aphrodisiacs can seem like a
mixture of myth and magic to those not

educated in the realm of erotic eating.

But in truth, aphrodisiacs are a mixture

of psychology and nutrician. Research

shows that some foods stimulate hormone
production and increase circulation. Other
studies show that female comfort foods such as chocolate arouses women,

whereas comfort foods such as cinnamon rolls, roast beef and pizza have a

similar effect on men.

Psychological stimulation can be caused by foods that remind someone
of something comforting or the visual aesthetics of the food itself. Just as
powerful are what the cook wears when serving the meal (or what one doesn’t

wear), how one eats, and the way the food looks. The psychological element can
be obvious or subliminal.

Aphrodisiacs can be classified into three different types; nutritional

value that stimulates the body sexually, comfort foods that appeal to the male
30 Polestar
or female psychology, and foods that symbolize fertility and sexuality. The
latter can further be broken down into foods that sound sensual, foods that look
sensual and foods that feel sensual. And the experience of eating a home cooked

meal slowly, enjoying each bite, can have a sensual effect.

Ahem. Unless you eat too much, which occasionally happens, as well.
On one occasion, my ex-boyfriend ate three helpings of strawberry shortcake
after having dinner. He was so stuffed, that when I put a hand on his arm, he
exclaimed, “No! Don’t touch me—I’ll explode!”

I, of course, teased him endlessly about this afterwards. Naturally, I

was disappointed the only moans he made in bed were from the pain of his
stomach being too full.
Gluttony, is one risk of good cooking.

Judging a Book By Its Cover

If one doesn’t overindulge, all recipes using aphrodisiacs can be
beneficial to one’s health. In times of the past, people thought that if food

resembled parts of a man or woman’s anatomy it would inspire arousal by

witchcraft—or cooking. The subconscious isn’t a bad way to go. All seeds
and nuts were symbols of fertility because they represented female life giving.

Plants such as cucumbers and carrots resemble male virility because of their
long, slender shape.

Another common one, even in modern times, is the banana. I remember

a college friend from Vietnam said that it was a taboo in his country for girls
to eat bananas without cutting them or breaking them apart because of the

connotation of a banana’s shape. Of course, men could eat them without any
connotation being made. He would say this, eating the banana as sensually as

possible, winking at any good looking men in the room and hoping to attract
Polestar 31
 their advances.
And of course, foods like lollipops and ice cream cones definitely can
be visual aphrodisiacs, especially depending on how you eat them, but if they

have any nutritional value at all, it’s hard to say.

List of Visual Aphrodisiacs

Food Ancient Lore Scientific Reason
Apples Forbidden Fruit Contains Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and high
in potassium. Red apples also contain
Vitamin P which aid in capillary function.

Asparagus Phallic Shape Contains Vitamin E, which is necessary

to stimulate sexual hormone production.
Also high in Vitamin A, arginine,
phosphorus and potassium. Some sources
say that asparagus stimulates men but has
the opposite effect on women.

Aubergine/ Phallic Shape High in potassium, and contains arginine

(L-arginine is an amino acid that helps
Egg Plant sex hormone production and circulation.
It is often added to herbal Viagra-like
remedies).
Avocados In Aztec, the word for The B-6 niacin helps balance estrogen and
avocado is “ahuactl” progesterone and can help restore vaginal
and means testicle tree. dryness, loss of libido and treat PMS.
Bananas Phallic Shape High in potassium and B vitamins, both
needed for sex hormone production. Also
contains B-6 niacin.

Carrots Phallic shape and High in Vitamin A and beta carotene,

thought to be an necessities for a healthy sex life.
aphrodisiac in ancient
Middle Eastern cultures
and the Greeks
Celery Long, slender shape, Celery contains Vitamin A, K, beta-
possibly carotene, calcium, magnesium, sulfur,
phosphorus, and high in potassium—all
needed for a healthy sex drive.
Cherries A virgin is sometimes High in potassium, Vitamin A and beta-
referred to as being a carotene.
‘cherry’.

Chili Phallic shape Chili peppers: the heat comes from

capsaicin, a chemical that stimulates
peppers nerve endings. This is what makes you
sweat, feel warm, and releases endorphins
conductive of lovemaking. They are also
high in Vitamin C and aid in circulation.

Clams Symbolic of feminine High in iron, essential for men and

sexual organs women.

32 Polestar
Eggs An undeveloped Contains pantothenic acid, a vitamin
chicken embryo, needed for hormone production, and the
linked to fertility since protein which contains tyrosine, an amino
ancient times. (Easter acid used by the body to make dopamine,
eggs are not laid by which functions in creating libido. Also
bunnies—though rabbits high in Vitamin A, phosphorus, potassium,
also are known for their and lots of amino acids.
breeding habits; they
were a symbol of the
ancient, pagan fertility
goddess of spring,
‘Ostara’ or Estara a.k.a
Easter.)
Figs A fig sliced in half is High in Potassium and Vitamin A.
supposed to represent Vitamin A is essential to reproduction.
the female genitals.
In classical art, male
and female genitals are
covered with fig leaves.
Fish Fish used to be added to Most fish are high in potassium, contain
medieval love potions. It tyrosine, and generally contain high
has long been a symbol amounts of vitamin A, phosphorus,
of femininity and in potassium, Omega 3 fatty acids and
modern times associated linoleic acid and linolenic acid. The latter
with women’s genitals. two are especially needed for female
sexual function.
Flowers Being the sexual organ Dandelion green are high in vitamin A.
of the plant, flowers There hasn’t been much research on the
have been used as nutrients of flowers because they aren’t
aphrodisiacs and in usually eaten in modern Western culture.
love spells since ancient However, they probably contain similar
times. nutrients to vegetables and fruit.
Mushrooms The musky scent Contains chromium, a mineral known for
of truffles is said to its use to aid in sexual function. Also high
stimulate sexual feelings in potassium.
and sensitize the skin
to touch. Especially
popular in medieval
Europe due to its
rareness and thought
to be more stimulating
than other mushrooms,
possibly because of its
rarity.
Nuts Nuts and seeds are the Contains pantothenic acid, a vitamin
womb of a plant and needed for hormone production and often
since ancient times have zinc. Most nuts contain vitamin E, needed
represented fertility. for hormone production. Also high in
Though nuts were once potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and
symbolic of feminine calcium. Contain tyrosine, linoleic acid
fertility, it is oddly now and linolenic acid, and often zinc.
associated with male
genitalia as children
and men refer to their
anatomy with this
nickname.
Polestar 33
 Oysters Oysters have been Oysters are rich in vitamin A and
considered an potassium. Also contains a higher amount
aphrodisiac since of zinc than any other meat, which is
Roman times due to needed to produce testosterone. The male
their resemblance and female body needs testosterone to
to female genitals. stimulate the sex drive.
Casanova supposedly
ate 60 a day.
Peaches Peaches were reputed High in Vitamin A and potassium, also
by the ancient Chinese contain Vitamin C.
as an aphrodisiac. Is
this due to the visual
aesthetics of the fruit
looking like a female
derrière?
Pears Women’s bodies are High in Vitamin A and potassium.
often thought of as
being an apple or a pear
shape.
Snails Snails: like shellfish, High in magnesium, phosphorus,
there is an association potassium and Omega 3 fatty acids.
between the shells and
female genitals.

Spinach Pop-eye was the modern Extremely high in vitamin A and beta-
proponent of this carotene, also high in potassium. Spinach
vegetable, as it brought also contains iron, ideal for women.
out his virility.
Strawberries Perhaps due to the High in Vitamin C and potassium.
And shape or luscious color,
strawberries have a
Raspberries sensual reputation for
liking to be dipped in
things and nibbled on.

For more information on nutritional information of food, try these

websites:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/

appendixB.htm#AppB4

http://www.nutritiondata.com/

34 Polestar
 Recipes for Romance
Fish Tacos
I think Fish tacos are a West coast American specialty. Considering the reference
to fish in a numerous dirty jokes about woman, as well as references to tacos and
their connotation, a Fish Taco should be the perfect combination of a psychological
aphrodisiac.
You can buy taco shells from Jupiter, cheddar cheese from Costco, lime juice
from Flet’s 100 yen shop in Miyanosawa or the 100 yen shop on the 4th floor of
Robinsons—all in Sapporo. Of course, you can also use whatever cheese you can
find at the grocery store, and substitute lemon for lime juice. You can omit the
taco shell completely for a taco salad. Trout is the cheapest fish I have found in the
spring, but this winter it was salmon and cod. Any of these fish are fine for tacos.
This recipe serves two.

Ingredients:
for the fish:
4 cloves garlic finely diced
3 fillets of fish
1 tsp. oil
1 tbsp. lime juice
Dash of salt
Dash of cayenne pepper
Dash of chili power
for the tacos:
3 leafs from a head of Romaine lettuce
1-2 tomatoes
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
*Sour cream
*Taco sauce
*Guacamole (See below)
*Taco shells

Directions:
1. Coat a pan in oil. Sauté the garlic, lime juice and fish on low. Cover and check in
a few minutes. Flip over. (If the fillets are thin, it will only take a few minutes, with
a total cooking time of about ten minutes.)
2. Fill the taco shells with the fish, lettuce, tomato, cheese and other toppings you
desire.

Variation:
For a taco salad as shown in the photo below, use ½ head of romaine lettuce.

Polestar 35
 Ingredients:
for the guacomole:
1 small onion diced
2 avocados
½ tsp. lime juice
¼ tsp. salt

Directions:
1. First make sure the avocados you have bought are not rotten inside or are not so
rock hard and green that you can’t mash them. Ever so important!
2. Mash one avocado, dice the other.
3. Mix together with the onion, lime juice and salt.

Italian Stir Fry

This is basically a stir fry, but all the vegetables are vegetables used in Italian
cooking. If you make it in a pan on the stove and omit the parmesan cheese, it
tastes more like a stir fry. If you make it in a crock-pot and then add the cheese, it
tastes more like an Italian dish.

Ingredients:
6 small egg plants cut into ¼ inch slices
12 small green peppers (or 3 normal size bell peppers of any color)
1 head of garlic
1 onion
2 tbsp. oil
1/3 cup vinegar
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. basil
½ cup water
*1 container of cubed tofu or chicken
* a package of noodles or rice
* salt and pepper to taste
* parmesan cheese

Directions:
1. Coat the pan in oil and sauté the garlic and onion.
2. Add the other vegetables, basil, meat/tofu and vinegar. If the vegetables start to
dry out it is okay to add a little of the water.
3. Add salt and pepper.
4. Serve over rice or noodles. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Strawberry Shortcake
These yeast-free biscuits make delilicious shortcakes, but also are also a great
snack without any topping.

36 Polestar
Ingredients:
for shortcake:
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tsp. vanilla (or rum, or orange juice)
1 tsp. cinnamon
6 tablespoons room temperature butter
1/3 cup milk

for topping:
4 cups of diced strawberries or other fruit
½-1 cup sugar depending upon tartness
(if canned fruit is used, it is already sweetened
so no need to add sugar)
1 can of whipped cream

Directions:
1. Stir the dry ingredients together.
2. Cut the butter into the flour mixture. (This means using a fork and knife to cut
the butter into teeny tiny pieces in the flour mixture until you can mash it in. This
takes about five to ten minutes)
3. Stir in the milk and keep mashing that butter in. After a while you can use your
hand to knead the dough into a couple balls.
4. Roll out dough so it is about 1/4 inch thick a.k.a. 1\2 a centimeter thick on a four
coated surface. Dip the rim of a cup in flour and use a glass to cut out a circle
shape. (I am usually lazy and just make a ball, flatten it with my hands and place
it on the pan.)
5. Bake in an oven for 350 degrees or for about an hour. Or bake these in your
toaster oven, microwave oven or even in a fry pan until they are golden and have
risen. In my toaster oven this was about three to four minutes on one side, and
then three more minutes on the other side.
6. Top with strawberries, or other fruit and whipped cream.

Sarina Dorie
is a native Portland artist and teacher currently living in Sapporo, Japan.
Some of her passions include nature, writing, art and herbal remedies.
In her spare time, Sarina teaches the fine arts of cooking and belly danc-
ing.
Growing up in an Italian household, cooking was an art form. In her re-
search of herbs, she learned that quite a few Italian herbs and seasonings
are aphrodisiacs. Apparently Italians are passionate for a reason!
If you would like to contact Sarina, please email her at:
SS
deliliah134@gmail.com.

, Polestar 37
 Overheard
in
You’ve g
ot
the brig
htest,
pretties
t
pubes I
ever
did see.

I’m going to the

gynecologist to get a
hair cut.

I would never sleep wi

th a
JET guy, because they
are
just fucking ungratef
ul! And
that’s af ter two year
s here!

IM SO WEIRD
AT NIGHT.
WHY CANT THIS
STICK
TO MY BUTT?

38 Polestar
 Is that the Ir
ish work
ethic? In a g
lass?

ike a
u s e d Liam l
He e.
er pol
stripp
Allie, you have so
many white specie
s
of humankind
friends!
“What were you
wearing
Please SHIT in when the cops pu
lling
a circle, kids. you over?”
“NOTHING!”

Hear something ridiculous/sexy/

absurd/sacriligous/absolutely and
totally awesome? Send it along to us
so we can print it for all the world to see!
submissions.polestar@gmail.com
ff
shes o
Put it in your keitai now and you can
n g w a e send us tasty morsels from the bar!
Nothi blood quit
e r lic
Hook m in a pub
sw i
like a pool.

Polestar 39
 Stuck at work
bored on the Internet.
40 Polestar