Finally got to Japan last week and done loads already. Spent first few days in Tokyo with my friends Naomi and her boyfriend Tomo. They helped ease me into the city starting off with a tour of the fish market at Tijuki (I think that's what it was called?!), and a brunch of mmmmm lovely sushi - I tried one which was just a load of tuna - higher and lower/normal grade arranged in a lovely rose shape on top of seaweed and rice. VERRrrrrrry nice. Never taken so many pictures of dead sea creatures in me life! That evening, we had a Korean-style BBQ with a bunch of kids on a school trip, and after that, we did what I've been wanting to do for, like, EVER, and we did the karaoke. Original stylee. We shopped around for the best price, and eventually took one where we got all-you-can-drink too, and were shown up to a tiny booth with a TV screen and touchscreen selector thing to select our songs. We screamed our hearts out and drank sour plum alcohol stuff for 2 hours, then time was up and our voices were gone so we got the last train back along with most of the rest of the city.
On the Sunday, we visited the park where all the funnily dressed yoof hang out, and there was a festival on called the walking of the three shrines (or something - sorry will look up the names of everything later!), so we went along to that, and saw lots of men walking around with no trousers on, letting it almost all hang out...so many people there. And occasionally a load of men with no trousers on came along carrying shrines above their heads and chanting. We also went to a Ramen place as Tomo is crazy about those noodles and likes to try out new places he hears of. There was a queue outside this one when we got there, so that was a good sign. We ordered using a vending machine type thing at the front of the restaurant, and then gave the ticket to the waiter when we got our seats. Mmmm those noodles were lovely - (they beat 9p noodles anyday!) - they gave us a huge plate of thick noodles and I ordered the veggie one, which came with a bowl of meat broth with veggies and spices etc in it, and the idea was to dip the noodles in the mix...mmm don't think I've talked so much about food before on my blog. I really like Japanese food. Spoke to a guy whose been living here for a couple of months and lost 10kg on it even though he's been eating lots, so that makes it good too!
On Monday I tackled the metro/rail system by myself and found it not so difficult after all, and found my way to the Kabouki theatre, where there is a special set of 'plays' on this month, being the anniversary of when an emperor first deigned to watch a kabuki performance. Only males are allowed to act in these plays, and there are around f acts to each play, with each one lasting half a day. I managed one act of about 1.25 hours and kept nodding off the whole way through. It was very dark in there tho....and to be honest it was pretty damn boring, even with the English commentary. It was just 2 men acting all domesticated and inactive most of the time. The Japanese lady sitting next to me was really enthusiastic though and asked me if I was staying for the 2nd act at the end of the first...."Errr, I think I'll come back for the 3rd act, just need to get some fresh air first..."
But I had more important and exciting things to do. I've chosen the right time to come to Japan, as there is also a sumo tournament on this month (think there are actually only 3 big ones a year), so I went to see the big guys stomping around on the stage, throwing salt in the air, and wobbling and squating in preparation to heave, slap and push their opponents off of a tiny platform. There was a good crowd there. I had had the opportunity to have my own sumo wrestle with an old lady in the museum before hand with the aid of some origami wrestlers which we hand crafted then pitted against each other on a shoebox lid. I won hands down, beat her to a pulp. The real matches were suprisingly good fun to watch. So much preparation would go into each match, so much salt thrown into the ring, so much stomping, the odd slapping of fat bellies and the less frequent crow of impending victory from a cocky wrestler, then the fight would start and sometimes be over in a matter of 10 seconds. Other fights would last only a couple of mins or so but the crowd would go crazy.
So that was my first few days....next are Hiroshima and Kyoto! Haven't got my USB thingy with me here to put the photos on, so soz about that for those of you who need the visual stimulation. Probably will have to wait til I get back to the UK.
On the Sunday, we visited the park where all the funnily dressed yoof hang out, and there was a festival on called the walking of the three shrines (or something - sorry will look up the names of everything later!), so we went along to that, and saw lots of men walking around with no trousers on, letting it almost all hang out...so many people there. And occasionally a load of men with no trousers on came along carrying shrines above their heads and chanting. We also went to a Ramen place as Tomo is crazy about those noodles and likes to try out new places he hears of. There was a queue outside this one when we got there, so that was a good sign. We ordered using a vending machine type thing at the front of the restaurant, and then gave the ticket to the waiter when we got our seats. Mmmm those noodles were lovely - (they beat 9p noodles anyday!) - they gave us a huge plate of thick noodles and I ordered the veggie one, which came with a bowl of meat broth with veggies and spices etc in it, and the idea was to dip the noodles in the mix...mmm don't think I've talked so much about food before on my blog. I really like Japanese food. Spoke to a guy whose been living here for a couple of months and lost 10kg on it even though he's been eating lots, so that makes it good too!
On Monday I tackled the metro/rail system by myself and found it not so difficult after all, and found my way to the Kabouki theatre, where there is a special set of 'plays' on this month, being the anniversary of when an emperor first deigned to watch a kabuki performance. Only males are allowed to act in these plays, and there are around f acts to each play, with each one lasting half a day. I managed one act of about 1.25 hours and kept nodding off the whole way through. It was very dark in there tho....and to be honest it was pretty damn boring, even with the English commentary. It was just 2 men acting all domesticated and inactive most of the time. The Japanese lady sitting next to me was really enthusiastic though and asked me if I was staying for the 2nd act at the end of the first...."Errr, I think I'll come back for the 3rd act, just need to get some fresh air first..."
But I had more important and exciting things to do. I've chosen the right time to come to Japan, as there is also a sumo tournament on this month (think there are actually only 3 big ones a year), so I went to see the big guys stomping around on the stage, throwing salt in the air, and wobbling and squating in preparation to heave, slap and push their opponents off of a tiny platform. There was a good crowd there. I had had the opportunity to have my own sumo wrestle with an old lady in the museum before hand with the aid of some origami wrestlers which we hand crafted then pitted against each other on a shoebox lid. I won hands down, beat her to a pulp. The real matches were suprisingly good fun to watch. So much preparation would go into each match, so much salt thrown into the ring, so much stomping, the odd slapping of fat bellies and the less frequent crow of impending victory from a cocky wrestler, then the fight would start and sometimes be over in a matter of 10 seconds. Other fights would last only a couple of mins or so but the crowd would go crazy.So that was my first few days....next are Hiroshima and Kyoto! Haven't got my USB thingy with me here to put the photos on, so soz about that for those of you who need the visual stimulation. Probably will have to wait til I get back to the UK.
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