I fly out to Japan on Saturday. I’m really looking forward to it now, and by it I mean lots of things. Here’s just three things that’s filling my dreams:

Karaoke

A habit that is perhaps particular to the Irish is the auld drunken sing-song. From belting out rebel songs in a country pub to annoying the head off taxi-men with 80s power ballads, we’re not shy about showing off our voices.

It’s a wonder then that karaoke never really took off on our fair isle. Because really, there’s nothing like putting on your best Bonnie Tyler impression while standing on a table with a tie around your head in front of your drunken nearest and dearest, knowing they’re up next. Japan’s entire nightlife is based around this simple fact, and karaoke establishments try to out-do each other with huge plasma TVs, themed rooms, backing instruments, recording equipment and who knows what else! And it’s still cheaper than a night out in Dublin!

Kyoto Purple Sanga

When I was studying in Japan, I developed an affinity with the local J-League team, Kyoto Purple Sanga. On the surface, they’re a Sunderland of Japan, yo-yoing between J2 and J1. That’s an injustice though, because they’re actually the best football team in the world.

My devotion started as they destroyed every team on their march to promotion to J1. I witnessed sikly football and goals galore, with scorelines of 5-0 and above not uncommon. I was there the evening we clinched promotion, and I raised my complimentary carton of tea with the 17,000 other fans in a glorious end-of-season kampai. Perhaps unfortunately, I was also there for the beginning of their J1 campaign - and my, how the tables had turned! 5-0 victories were replaced by 0-5 losses, and we were rooted to the bottom of the table. Swiftly relegated, but now in the running for promotion from J2 again!

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That’s not why they’re great though. They’re great because their fans are mentalists. I’ll never forget my first game in the stands - I was still feeling the effects of the previous night, and I was knackered by half time. They constantly sang, cheered and banged drums in full voice, and I’ve never experienced anything like it.

They’re also great because their jersey is bright purple.

Toho Cinemas

(there’s no picture because recording equipment is banned in cinemas, don’t you know?)

The tickets are expensive, at about 11e a pop. That is literally the only downside. Buttered popcorn! Cinemileage club! Premiere rooms! Comfy seats! No scangers! Gigantic screens!

My local cinema in Okayama is a Toho cinema in a place called Cinema Town, which sounds nice.