The end of an era ・ 手品卒業

Me in the cold winter Sapporo.

After our big stage magic show with the university magic club, there was a lot of clean up to do, but after that there was also a party. Every year, you have to make a promise ("I will not spill a single drop of juice from the glass of juice that I am going to make disappear") and if you cannot fulfil that promise you have to do something unpleasant ("I will eat the spiciest food they serve at the spiciest Indian restaurant in town").

大学のサークルの大きなステージショーの後、片付けとか色々あったが後で打ち上げもあった。毎年、罰ゲームみたいに、自分で決めたこと（「消すグラスからジュース1滴も溢さない」）が出来なかったら、自分で決めた罰あたる（「札幌の一番辛いカレー屋で一番辛いものを食べる」）の習慣があった。今年はなかったみたいが僕が自分で自分のパフォーマンスがちょっと足りなかったなぁと思って、去年の罰のようにした（去年うまく行ったので、やらなかった）。基本的に、三年目の人（僕が三年目なんだ）が「1位になる」の約束にしないと行けない習慣だったらしい（ってことは、だいたい三年生皆罰だったね）し。

This year it seemed this tradition had been removed, but I though my performance did not really live up to expectations so I decided to punish myself with my chosen punishment from last year (when everything went fine and I did not have to do anything). Traditionally, all the last year magicians (this is my last year) have to promise that they will be the number one performer of the year (which of course means most last year magicians cannot fulfil their promise...) So I spent the party (well, parties) and time between the parties wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Since Sapporo is fairly cold this time of year (minus 5 degrees Celsius on the night in question) I also put on a muffler.

僕の罰は、打ち上げは短パン・半袖で行くってことだったから、まあまあ寒いすすきのにその感じで行った。マイナス5℃だったらしい。ちょっと寒かったので、マフラーもして行った。

The place where I spent two hours in shorts and a t-shirt (notice other people wearing jackets and coats since there are no walls, only plastic film...)

When we were waiting at the subway station (I got there by walking, but everyone was to gather at the subway station) for some people who were late, one of the other guys asked me: "What is up with your clothing?!". At the same time, he adjusted his own muffler, which I took as a sign that he wondered why I had a muffler. I answered: "I thought it was is a bit cold today, so I put on a muffler". Another guy standing next to us thought that was hysterically funny, so when other people came up and asked things like "What the hell is wrong with Jonas?" he would jump in and say "Ah, Jonas thinks it is cold outside today so he put on a muffler". One of the few times irony has been appreciated in Japan :-)

地下鉄駅集合だった。僕が歩いて行ったが遅れた人を待っていた時に皆で地下鉄駅で待っていた。その時に、先輩に「今日の格好、どうした？！」って聞かれた。聞きながら、自分のマフラーを触っていたので、「何でマフラーしている？」という意味の質問のように受け取った。「外がちょっと寒いので、マフラーしてきたよ」と言った。隣にいた（別の）先輩、大うけ。後で他の人も何人か似たような質問した。その先輩がだいたい「あ、ヨーナスは寒いと思っているから、マフラーしてきたって」と言い出した。珍しくて、日本で皮肉が伝わった、笑。

I chose a seat next to the gas burner.

Speaking of irony, it turned out that unlike last year when we were in a very hot restaurant, this year our party took place on top of the Norubesa building. On top, and not inside. There were plastic film making something like walls so it was at least no windy, but it was cold. The other people in general kept their coats and jackets on... This came as quite a(n unpleasant) surprise to me :-) I found a chair close to the gas burner keeping the staff vaguely warm, and sat there.

1次会の店に着いたら、ちょっとしたショックになったけど。去年、暖かい居酒屋でやっていたのに、今年は札幌にあるノルベサという建物の上でやっていた。建物の中ではなく、建物の上。壁みたいにプラスチックのフィルムが張ってあったので、風が通らないことにはなっていたが寒かった。他の人がだいたいコートやジャケットのまんまで食べていた。僕がストーブの一番近い椅子に座った、笑。

Flowers and a present.

In the magic club of our university you graduate after three years. This was my third year, so I was one of the people getting kicked out. At this final big party, we were all given flowers and a small present. The present turned out to be a small towel that when rolled up in a nice way looks like a piece of strawberry cake.

北大の奇術研究会では、三年間で卒業になる。僕が今年で三年目だったので、他の三年目の人と一緒、打ち上げでプレゼントやお花を貰った。プレゼントは巻いたらショーとケーキに見えるタオルだった。来年4月からもうマジックのサークルのメンバーではなくなる。