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Touring Japan - Part 6

Blogs > mrmin123
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mrmin123 *
Profile Blog Joined January 2004
Korea (South)2971 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-09-28 17:47:25
September 14 2011 09:17 GMT
#1
[ part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8 | part 9 | part 10 ]


Day 6
Such miserable weather. I wake up because it's so goddamn hot in my room, and I'm out of the apartment by 8 AM. I take the JR Yamanote line to Tokyo Station, but I deem it too hot out to explore the area. During the little time I did spend outside, I was jumping from convenience store to convenience store to maintain sanity.

[image loading]
Fishing in Sotobori moat

I eventually make my way over to Yasukuni-jinja and the nearby Kitanomaru park. I was surprised to find such a large temple in the middle of the city, but beyond that I found it rather boring. Maybe it was the heat. Wasting no time, I made it back to the wonderfully AC'ed trains and went to Harajuku.

[image loading]
Cool pose, white guy.

Takeshita Street was full of Japaneses teens shopping for outlandish clothing. It felt as if all the strange clothes you see people wearing all over Japan came from the shops here. Even more interesting than Takeshita Street, however, was Yoyogi Park. The park was full of young people practicing dance routines, plays, and all sorts of instruments and music all over the park.

[image loading]
I don't know what this guy was practicing...

When I went, I happened to run into a particular guitar/violin duo. I sat down on a nearby bench to rest my feet while listening to their music and clapped when they finished playing their song. When I asked them if it was a love song (the lyrics were in Japanese, but it sounded like a love song), the guitarist simply laughed and gave me a high five as a response. He introduced himself as Yuma and his partner as Lika. Yuma showed me his book of self-composed lyrics, then played a cover of "Fly Me To the Moon." They didn't have a CD, and they weren't even a real band. They were just two friends who liked to play live music at the park. There's something admirable about that.

[image loading]
Yuma and Lika. If you see them at Yoyogi Park, stay a while and listen. And tell them the bald asian from California says hi!

The warm day had already drained me of my energy so I headed home. I grabbed dinner at local nabe restaurant (the guy at the front said 'Korean-style nabe' and I was sold despite the fact that I had no idea what nabe was). I was the only one at the counter of an otherwise busy restaurant, but the head chef Takeshi kept me company. A chemist-turned chef, Takeshi had also traveled across the world, including a 40-day Amtrak trip across the US, so we had plenty to talk about. He showed me how to eat nabe (delicious) and even treated me to a side of sashimi (delicious and pretty). I regretted not bringing my camera along. Takeshi gave me his contact info and a bag of candy when I left, and I promised to keep in touch.

Hours later I was at home alone, wearing nothing but my boxers, preparing for the next day when someone came home. I figured it was my host, but the person that stumbled in was a drunk stranger, leading to a brief moment of 'uhhhh what the fuck?' She introduced herself as Tomomi, and I put on a shirt. She was a friend of my host's roommate who was gone for the summer (her: "Mister Over." me: "Mister Over? Who's over? Mahsashi? He's over? What?" her: "No no. Mister Oba."). She was nice enough to share a bottle of Smirnoff Ice which she had brought with her (without icing me, I might add). Despite Tomomi's less than average english (I'm sure the alcohol wasn't helping), we talked for a bit before she stumbled to "Mister Oba's" room to pass out, bringing an end to my long day as well.


----------


[image loading] [image loading] [image loading] [image loading]
more pictures in my ever-growing japan 2011 flickr set


*****
Translator태양은 묘지위에 붉게 떠오르고 / 한낮에 찌는 더위는 나의 시련 일찌라!
lungo
Profile Joined October 2005
Denmark276 Posts
September 14 2011 09:51 GMT
#2
good reading, keep me posted
as Arnold said: you have been erased! but dont worry!
Espelz
Profile Joined October 2010
Germany819 Posts
September 14 2011 09:51 GMT
#3
With every other post in your touring japan blog I get more jealous
The pics are always great, and reading it makes me really, really want to be there too!

So, let me thank you: Of course its far away from beeing there myself (which is a dream I have for quite some time, but can´t really afford it), but your writing really brings the "feel" of beeing there across and makes me feel better for a few moments

"Its not over till Fantasy gg´s" - Sayle
Plexa
Profile Blog Joined October 2005
Aotearoa39261 Posts
September 14 2011 11:02 GMT
#4
Loving this series!
It taught me that Shibuya is a real place ( i know) despite the fact I've actually been there, haha.
Administrator~ Spirit will set you free ~
Asha
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
United Kingdom38239 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-09-14 15:40:24
September 14 2011 11:30 GMT
#5
I am travelling vicariously through this blog.

Thank you for the updates and lovely photos.

Incredibly jealous =p
Abenson
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
Canada4122 Posts
September 14 2011 11:31 GMT
#6
Keep updating!
Going through photos now :3
Fatze
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
Germany1342 Posts
September 14 2011 11:56 GMT
#7
awesome blog! keep updating, dude
Comfort from bottles, cheers from beers the guitars are our weapons and we know how to kill!
fanta[Rn]
Profile Blog Joined October 2004
Japan2465 Posts
September 14 2011 12:26 GMT
#8
Fly me to the mooooon and let me sing among those staaaaars
Whenever I hear/read that I'm thinking Evangelion right away.

Great blog, seems like you met interesting people wherever you went.
dahornnn
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United Kingdom395 Posts
September 14 2011 12:34 GMT
#9
very nice blogs sir!
keep em coming :D
Cambium
Profile Blog Joined June 2004
United States16368 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-09-14 12:38:04
September 14 2011 12:37 GMT
#10
should've tapped that

but seriously though, I told you Japanese shop owners give out free crap!! I've had plenty of that myself

and yea, tokyo is unbearably hot, at least these days are drier than usual, so I'm thankful for that
When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
REDBLUEGREEN
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Germany1903 Posts
September 14 2011 12:48 GMT
#11
Loving this series, it got the right mix of pictures and text.
I am hoping for some nature(not parks)in in the following days, Japan trip reports are always so imba towards crazy cities/nerds
Azera
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
3800 Posts
September 14 2011 12:53 GMT
#12
Nice write up!
Check out some great music made by TLers - http://bit.ly/QXYhdb , by intrigue. http://bit.ly/RTjpOR , by ohsea.toc.
Grettin
Profile Joined April 2010
42381 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-09-14 15:54:53
September 14 2011 13:33 GMT
#13
You need to keep that camera with you all times! We want pictures of different dishes!

Anyway, i want to dedicate my 8000th post for your fantastic blog. Absolutely love it! Thank you sir and have a good one!
"If I had force-fields in Brood War, I'd never lose." -Bisu
Vortigan
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Denmark306 Posts
September 14 2011 13:52 GMT
#14
I wanna go to Japan
ThaZenith
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Canada3116 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-09-14 15:53:01
September 14 2011 15:52 GMT
#15
+ Show Spoiler +
Takeshi gave me his contact info and a bag of candy when I left


If you happen to look 10 years old, I think we have a problem here!

Great writing, keep it coming.
soullogik
Profile Joined April 2010
United States1171 Posts
September 14 2011 16:06 GMT
#16
just read through all the parts.
looks like a great time.

my cousin just spent a year there and keeps talking it up.
making me want to go more and more.

seems like its going pretty well, just speaking English.
young ho
cvax
Profile Joined August 2009
United States7 Posts
September 14 2011 16:46 GMT
#17
i'll stay awhile and do more than listen baby
Gatsbi
Profile Joined April 2010
United States1134 Posts
September 15 2011 19:26 GMT
#18
Drunk girl in ur bedroom and you only had boxers on?? You had 90% of the work done for you man!
"IF WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW IS MORE THAN WHAT YOU HAVE KNOWN. THEN YOU HAVE NOT KNOWN ANYTHINIG YET." - Rev Kojo Smith
Necrophantasia
Profile Joined May 2010
Japan299 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-09-16 12:45:03
September 16 2011 12:44 GMT
#19
Wow These are damned fantastic. You remind me of how much more I need to see and do in this country.

How long are you going to be spending in Japan?
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