Category: Misc. Japan Stuff

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A belated Kyoto Station story

Note: Yeah, this happened when I was in Kyoto last November. It’s been a busy month!

After my long hike up and down 伏見稲荷大社 (Fushimi Inari Taisha), I stopped off at Kyoto Station (eki) to confirm my ticket to Tokyo the next day. On my way out, I wound up doing a double take when this girl who was having a smoke recognised me. Me? Who do I know in Kyoto?

Then it hit me. Moonwalker Bar! Last night! Red cardigan sweater! Why do I remember this trivial detail instead of “wow, whatta babe” or her name? Then it hit me again. I think I got into a slightly drunken debate with Yuki-chan about types of sweaters and she was wearing a red cardigan. Yuki-chan was wearing a black pullover. Yeah, that’s it. And that’s how she remembered me!

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Kyoto Station Bus Terminal where Yuki-chan spotted me

We wound up borrowing each other for a couple of hours, getting to know the other (and for me to practice non-existent language skills).

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I told her, あなた 和 美人 です
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and then she promptly started to giggle! (universal language) A lot!

And that was pretty much how our conversation went (in broken Japanese & English and a lot of laughing), until her long distance bus arrived to take her back to her college. And the reason why we guys don’t shoot from the hip when it comes to the opposite sex.

Now what was this (besides two months late)? Was it fate, coincidence, beauty or weirdness that makes a good travel story?  Who knows. I know that she’s studying painting and wants to one day open up an art gallery/cafe somewhere in Tokyo. Somehow I can imagine being in Daikanyama and talking about sweaters while having a doppio expresso crema when I see her again (purely by chance). Think I’ll get comped?  Only if I’m wearing a cardigan that day.

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MUJI makes landfall

Well, after years and years, MUJI has finally made it to the USA. Of cors, it’s in Soho. Here’s some info about the new Soho store and an interview with the MUJI president.

Since it’s the first store here, figures that they’d have a limited selection of products. But do they have the house?? Now THAT’s something I’d like to have shipped! When you’re in Tokyo, visit the flagship store in Yurakucho where they actually have the house assembled (and a greeter in the foyer) so you can do a walk through. More on the MUJI infill house here.
A visit is due next time I’m in New York! (hat tip: Mari’s Diary)

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Tokyo Design Week 2007

The Tokyo Design Week had a lot of neat stuff. Held in a field in Aoyama Park, it had a big tent in the middle full of vendors and cool stuff you could buy (but couldn’t photograph), a stage for musicians, a cafe and obligatory omiyage stand and about 20 containers (you know, the kind that big ships and trucks carry) full of design exhibitions from different organizations.  There was soo much design, I forgot to keep good notes. However, I did take pictures for your bemusement.

Being “green” (the only time you will EVER read that phrase on this blog) was a popular theme this year. Not only did it get people’s attention to the exhibits, it served as an opportunity for designers to get creative. This lamp is made with old gashapon containers as the light fixtures and what looks like junk for the rest

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Colourful too!

How about these distant relations to SpongeBob?

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blah blah blah under the sea…

Here is a lamp from the collection of Wile E. Coyote. Gee, I didn’t know he was a designer in addition to being a soooooper geeeenius. No mention if this is from the Acme Corporation.

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…sooooper geeeenius

This bag pretty much sums up what I like to cook with and put under my pancakes in the morning…

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NEVER COOK WITH MARGARINE!!! THAT’S EVIL!!!

This was a Enveloop projector dog from Sanyo. It’s a dog you plug into your computer and it projects whatever is on the computer on the nearest screen or wall. Very powerful.

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Enveloop is also a brand of rechargable batteries.  To save the environment, ya know
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Projector dog is big too! See Kanako for scale
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Slow Tokyo

Sometimes it’s nice to take a breather and slow down. Also it’s nice to do when the sun comes out. Today I’m in Minowa, in the part of Tokyo known as Shitamachi. It’s the older part of Tokyo, representative on how it was back in the day.

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Tokyo has one tram line left, a line that cuts through backyards and runs parallel to main streets, rumbling along at its own leisurely pace with lots of old folks riding it. The Toden Arakawa Line runs from Minowa-Bashi to Waseda with several transfer stops to JR and Tokyo Metro and it is 12.2 km long.

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The neighborhood around Minowabashi

Many of these folks grew up with the tram line and some fear that once they begin to pass on, so too will this last tram line. It was a nice day to ride around and get some fresh air (because you can open the windows).

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One last shot

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Youtube is addictive

Here’s a preview of the new Futurama movie that will be cut into four parts for airing on Comedy Central. WAHAHAHA

Every favorite from Futurama is here

And here’s something really cool! It’s a commercial for JR that uses the Music for Freelance remix of Tank! Not sure if this is the way JR meant it to be, with all the cool that Tank! oozes, but it works. JR is cool though.

3, 2, 1, Let’s Jam, I mean let’s go!
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Useful! For Tokyo travellers

At last there’s another option for getting into Tokyo cheaply without a JR Pass!

Before, the two cheapest options for getting into Tokyo was taking the Keisei Skyliner (Y1920, 62 min) or the Keisei Tokkyu, (Y1000, 74 min). Both trains drop you off at either Keisei Ueno or Nippori Station on the Yamanote Line.

Now as of 28 March, JR East is introducing a combo Suica bundle for Y3500 that has a one way journey on the N’Ex (Narita Express) for Y1500 and also has a Y1500 Suica credit that can be used on all the other trains and buses in the Tokyo area. Y500 is the card deposit. The Suica card can be used in stores and some fast food places and can be recharged and reused like an ordinary Suica. It’s a good deal since you’ll be spending money in Tokyo ANYWAY on things like snacks and transport. With this deal, taking the N’Ex into Tokyo, Shinjuku or even Yokohama is Y1500! Now that’s a good deal, and good deals in Tokyo are hard to come by. So now there’s one less excuse not to go for Hanami!

Think of this as being JR East’s answer to the Hong Kong MTR Tourist Octopus.
(hat tip: Mari’s Diary)

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Some poetry for a Thursday

No, not getting all “metro”, just missing being on the road (and in ryokan, in the airport, on the train, etc.).
So here’s one that was written by Yoshii Isamu dedicated to the Gion Quarter in Kyoto.
Kani kaku ni
Gion wa koishi
neru toki mo
makura no shita o
mizu no nagaruru
No matter what they say
I love Gion
Even in my sleep
the sound of water flows
beneath my pillow

Each year, on 8 November, local geiko perform the Tea Ceremony to honor the deceased.
Yes, I need to get out there, and SOON!

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Missing Tokyo?

I’ll admit it.
I’m missing Tokyo in a big way. I miss good ramen. I miss bijin. And I miss the skyline of Tokyo.
Although, I’ll admit that it looks waaay better at night. The bijin too.
This site has lots of high res pix of different parts of Tokyo at night. It helps. Just a little.
No bijin though. =\