This is the weather forecast for today (Saturday) and the rest of the week. As always with Tokyo, a real mixed bag.
Unfortunately, the cloud has turned to a typhoon. It wouldn't bother me too much except that most the cherry blossom will be destroyed tonight. That sucks so much as the season has only just started and is meant to last for a few more weeks at least.
It's that special time of the year in Japan, where the citizens can finally enjoy the season that they boast about all year round; cherry blossom viewing (花見 - hanami).
One of the most famous places is the Meguro river, which runs from Keiko's road in Gotanda (lucky girl) all the way to Naka-Meguro. This is one of the first places for the flowers to bloom this year, but it wasn't too crowded.
After that we went to Shibuya and walked through Yoyogi Park (where the Elvis impersonators hang out on Sundays). Because it's Spring Break, lots of groups were out drinking sake under the trees. It was a really great atmosphere.
In the same lesson:
Phil: And what will you eat?
Student 2: I'm going to cook myself.
A cooking lesson.
Phil: So, what will you have tonight?
Student 1: I want to eat a couch potato.
Today marks my 1st Anniversary of being in Japan. Originally, I thought it would be just a temporary thing; exploring the culture, but I never would've guessed how much more intriguing, enticing and exciting life is here.
It quickly dawned on me that Japan would mean so much more than just a one-year thing.
I'd love to be able to tell you my plans and be a bit more definitive than I am going to be, but for now all I can say is I'm not sure what the future has in store, but I hope that this country is a part of it in some way, whichever path I choose.
So many amazing things: cherry blossom, izakaya, karaoke, climbing Fuji, learning Kanji, nice students, people coming to visit, Birthday packages, Keiko, travelling, onsen, Tsunashima Bridge, nursery schools, New Year in a Japanese home, Valentine's presents, wasabeef, wasabi and sushi... to name but a few!
I can't get over how fast this year has flown by.
It really has.
Mum and Keith left this morning after their stay here. I'm a little sad but I think I'll be making a trip home soon (whether long-term or short-term I'm still not fully decided).
However, I had an absolutely amazing time, not only showing them my favourite places in and around Tokyo but going South to Kyoto and Hiroshima; both worthy of a year's blog in themselves. First, some sleep!
Dan,
After reading your itineraries - Inca Trail, and Galapagos Islands - I'm even more jealous. Not sure I'll get the chance to speak to you again before you leave, so have a safe safe journey. Don't forget to take millions of photos, send my love to the Darwin Institute, and let us know you're safe and what you've been up to as often as you can. Maybe even include a "South Americans say the stupidest things"!
Get up to some mischief, but not enough to cause you trouble.
Drink enough to experience South American beer properly, but not enough so that you don't remember it.
And write enough so we can experience it with you, but not too much that you miss out on things by sitting in internet cafes.
But, have as much fun as you can. (No clauses on that one)
Have a blast. 羨ましい! (I'm jealous!) xxx
Student: You look like the spitting image of Michael Palin.
(Long pause)
In a good way.
I went to get my hair cut today. Every other shop in Japan is a salon, but these are a lot more expensive than the barbers, so I went to my neighbourhood barbershop. A lot of attention to detail is taken, although I politely declined the shave that was offered to me. It sent shivers down my spine when they used a blade to tidy up the back, so no way was I letting a stranger near my throat.
However, once the cut was finished, another staff came over to give me a massage. I'm not particularly thrilled with massages; unless they're the proper ceritifed type, it always seems a little strange to have someone doing that to you. However, she did her thing, which involved her digging her nails into my head and seemingly trying to rip off my scalp. I had to smile, but I think I covered it.
Unfortunately, she then put one hand flat on top of my head and then hit it with her other hand; like when you pretend to crack an egg on someone's head. I burst out laughing because, a) it hurt, b) it looked peculiar in the mirror and c) how in any way was that relaxing or soothing?!
The hair-cut was very quickly finished up, and after taking my money I was shown the door. They were still extremely polite and I feel a little rude, but it was so hard not to laugh.
(Musashi Kosugi, 7th March 2007)
This is the poster that's up around my branch. My boss made it*. Skim down to the penultimate line.
Today I was minding my own business on the Nambu Line platform at Musashi Kosugi station when the weirdest thing happened. It didn't really shake me up then, but it's been plaguing me ever since, and now freaking me out as to what could've happened.
Above all the signs and light fixtures in the stations are hundreds of spikes to prevent birds from perching above the waiting passengers*. This is especially in place against crows, one of the biggest pests facing Japan; they are known to attack people for food.
I was in a line waiting for the train, and I looked up to the side and saw a crow on a ledge. A few other people did as well and kept watching. We became transfixed. He had a look of intent on him; which is know is highly unlikely but it honestly appeared as if he was thinking things through. However, there were spikes on the lower ledges and nowhere else for him to go.
But! He jumped down between some spikes, which seemed quite a risky thing to do. Remember that the people right underneath him were oblivious.
Suddenly, he leant his head to the side and grabbed at a spike with his beak. Expecting nothing to come of this, more and more people watched with wide curiosity. Yet the spike moved. Not just that one spike but about 10 or 11 of its neighbours. As if they were all attached to one plank; imagine a more vicious set of lego.
The crow tugged once more, and the plank tilted. I was frozen and had no time to react or warn people; and it seemed as if everyone else was in the same position. The plank flipped and fell; spikes first. LUCKILY, no-one was injured but it fell very close to a few old ladies. If someone was underneath, I can only imagine how serious/fatal the blow would've been.
Everyone was a little freaked out by it; imagine if you were underneath. You would never have known, until suddenly... well, you can imagine the rest.
Crows are protected by the Bird Society in Japan, even though the majority of citizens would be happy to have them culled. They bite through rubbish bags for food, and cause noise pollution, among others. And now, they're out for murder.
I know there was no actual intent in terms of the consequences for the bird, but this particular crow really did vengeful. One student explained it as the season for building nests, and the crow imagined the spike as just another stick or branch.
Still, it really was like a Hitchcock movie.
But I'll stop crowing on about it.
*These are also used on famous buildings to prevent birds from either lodging or defecating. One such impaled pigeon was a source of amusement while waiting to enter Doge's Palace in Venice.
The last full day of the adventure.
In the morning, we went through Akihabara, the crazy Electronic District. My favourite store is eight floors; each floor being about twice the size of a large Tesco. Further along the same train line, we arrived at Ryogoku; where three times a year the Sumo is held.
Next door is the simply outstanding Edo Tokyo Museum, which is a must for anyone regardless of age or interest in museums. It's a fantastic assembly of memorabilia and life-sized recreations of the creation and development of Tokyo. You can even walk through huge models of old temples and a to-scale construction of the main bridge between Edo Tokyo and the outside of the city. My favourite part was a display of the devastating earthquake that hit many decades ago. I didn't realise how destructive it was, and how much of Tokyo had to be rebuilt. The ways in which new buildings have to be earthquake-proofed before they are green-lit is complicated but one of those 'better to safe than sorry' situations.
This is Dad giving Barabara a lift on a rickshaw; the word itself being a merge of the kanji for "man" "power" and "car".
We stopped at Ginza, the large shopping area laid out along a huge stretch of road, and then rode the driverless monorail over to my favourite area of Tokyo: Odaiba. I love the place and I think Dad and Barbara were impressed. Dad seemed particularly thrilled with the way the monorail wound round the Rainbow Bridge and the complexities of it's engineering. He filmed the journey; hopefully I'll be able to stick up the video as it is something worth seeing.
We watched the sun set over the Tokyo sky-line while eating Double Deckers; one hell of a present! Dad managed to get a pretty decent picture, but with the fake Statue of Liberty, Rainbow Bridge - which flashes in only green and yellow?! - and Tokyo Tower at different depths, the perspective will never be as good as seeing it first-hand. You really have to come to get the full effect.
We finished at the Toyota Showroom, tried some cars, and played a few reaction timing games. One of the games was hitting the buttons on a wall while they flashed on and off. We didn't do too well, but I blame it on the instructions being in Japanese. A terrible reason, but it's nice to shift the blame.
Again, another fantastic day. A bit more laid back, but after the four days leading to it, I think we deserved it!
It was one of those warm, over-cast days where you can sense a storm coming. Apparently, it was a mini-typhoon.
I've got a teru teru bouzo hanging on my wall. Fingers crossed.
Which incidentally is a Japanese gesture for "don't touch me".
Mum and Keith made it to Bangkok safely. They arrive here next Saturday, and then I have 10 days off! Paid Holiday is a wonderful thing.
They're here for a little longer than Dad and Barbara, so I'm planning on showing them all the usual stuff in Tokyo; which, according to Tom, won't take long! I just hope the weather is even half as good as November.
There's enough time to get to Kyoto and Hiroshima too. I've been reading up about the atomic bomb and it's pretty distressing in words. I'm not sure how I'll feel when I'm actually there.
Sort of.
This is my 366th post, so it's the January 1st of entries. I guess that should mean something.
(Ume, appearing before the cherry blossom - Sankeien, 2nd March 2007)
As for Blogger, it's been an amazing thing on the whole. A free and easy way for you to access my stories and photos, and for me to store my memories. However, it has had its moments, now being one of them. Some of you may have found problems with opening photos. Stick with it for a while longer.
Today is 雛祭り (Hina Matsuri) - The Japanese Doll Festival which coincides with Girls' Day.
Stages with red cloth display dolls, symbolising royalty and the court in the Heian Period. The top stage holds the Emperor and Empress, the next is three court ladies pouring sake, and the third is of five male musicians. Many houses display the dolls, although the prices of the ornate models can be sky high.
Of course, food isn't far behind; sweets such as sugar-coated rice crackers and candyfloss are munched.
(Shinjuku Times Square, 1st March 2007)
Krispy Kreme arrived in Japan two months ago. Although located outside the busiest train station in Tokyo - with 2 million people going through it every day - this is crazy! A never-ending queue on a Thursday afternoon at 3pm. People were going crazy and coming out with boxes and boxes of the things.
Further intriguingly, notice the spelling of the sign; "doughnuts" rather than "donuts". I wonder why?
