How do you solve a problem like Katamaria?

Nobody here seems to have heard of Ghost in the Shell, which I'm very surprised at. Admittedly, I'm using the English title, because I couldn't remember Koukaku Kidoutai. Hopefully now that I've looked it up and written it down I will.

However, everyone has heard of Katamari Damacy. It gets a huge reaction when I mention it in class, and even the secretary in my office laughed when I said it and mimed pushing a huge ball around.

Also, at the risk of tempting fate, nobody has attempted to kancho me yet. And I've been wearing a kilt, which you'd think would be like a red rag to a bull, offering as it does a relatively unimpeded route to my anus.

Ok, I'm off to the big city to go for a curry and then to a European bar with local legend Yoshino-san, who I've only met briefly but have exchanged quite a few emails with. He's a huge Anglophile whose passions include Scotch whisky and the work of Julie Andrews. I think we'll get along just fine.