Tokyo, Take 3!!!

Welp, I’m a little behind here now, but I still want to write about the stuff I’ve been doing. Over a month ago now, I spent another long weekend in Tokyo. I know a lot people think the city’s crap, but I’ve loved everything I’ve seen so far. I think it’s one of those places tourists have so built up in their minds that it’s usually disappointing. But I think that’s because you can’t really “experience” Tokyo in a day or two – you grow to love it a little more every day you spend there… I think.

Because of a sweet hook-up a friend had, we got to stay at the ANA Intercontinental in the Roppongi area of Tokyo. It’s a super trendy area full of foreigners (I think equal if not more foreigners than Japanese… really weird feeling there actually).

Our hotel is pretty well renown and we stayed in what we deemed as, "the Sweet Suite” on the 31st floor. This was our night view. Tokyo Tower is the red and white thingy.

Do we look sophisticated and ritzy or what?

This is a little better view from the morning. That white and red thinger to the right is the Tokyo Tower. I guess having a token 'tower' in your city became popular in Japan during the late Edo period when internationalization became accepted and Japanese architecture drew from the French.

We also went to the Ueno Zoo. Turns out animals are just as cool in Japan as America.

I think this tapir is having a bad day.

I have no idea what this thing is!

I saw a few animals I’d never seen before in my life – like this okapi (half zebra half horse).

This is a famous market place street in Ueno.

The next day we headed to the Meiji shrine. Before entering, I had to cross through my first torii (literally translates to gate, but clearly is much cooler than any gate I've ever seen). It's intended to make you aware that as you walk under it, you're entering a sacred space. It was really interesting actually, because I asked my cooperating teacher about this, and he actually told me that most Japanese probably don't even realize it's there. It's such a common part of Japanese life that the significance is never discussed, it just exists.

This is much more than a cool lookin' wall of white tubs. It's a display of the many sake (Japanese rice wine) drums that were donated by sake companies back when the shrine was built. Sake for good luck? I could get used to that.

Before entering the shrine and praying, you must wash your hands and mouth and 'set your mind at ease'. You shift the dipper from one hand to the other, rinse first your left, then right hand. Then rinse your mouth with water poured into the palm of your left hand.

Alas, we have made it to the Meiji Shrine.

AND, it was totally our lucky day too, because there was a wedding procession going on. I wish I could tell you what everything means and symbolizes, but I haven't a clue. You can make up fun ideas in your head and I'll look it up. Or maybe I'm intentionally stirring up some international curiosity in ya so you'll feel inspired to search for yourself... you'll never know!

Here's Kaz hanging up his ema (votive tablets). An ema is for special personal prayers and gratitude toward the deities enshrined in Meiji Jingu Shrine. Your write your own, then hang it around the tree, and they are later offered at Mikesai (the morning ceremony held every day) where our 'supplications' are conveyed by the priests. I gotta say, at a time when ALOT was going on with the fam... this was really meaningful and emotional for me. Although the shrines are part of the Shinto religion, I think you can still pray to a Christian god with respect. Prayers are prayers, and really, I'm not sure we're not all praying to the same God anyway. A common thread througout history's civilizations are their religions and the desire to believe in a power larger than themselves, and instead of focusing on the differences there are in the religions, I think it's beautiful to celebrate the similarities.

After hitting up the shrine, we headed to some super trendy area to shop in Harajuku. Everything from Dolce & Gabbana to Chanel... so clearly, I walked the entire strip, and stopped in the ramen restaurant at the end. Ramen was alright... Hokkaido custard and rare 'bitter' caramel topping was better!Then we hung out in a nice little park, got rained on, and headed back to the station. If you've seen Lost in Translation (renown Sofia Coppola film starring Bill Murray- won tons of awards but was WAY too slow for me) - this is the big screen/building the dinosaur walks across that's featured on the movie jacket and the intersection with all the people.

Love Ya, Grandpa P!

On Saturday, October 6, 2007 my Grandpa and beloved father, friend, husband, and great-grandfather amongst other things passed away. He was an amazing man that played a large role in my life through his involvement, support, and presence. His wisdom was unparalleled, his persistence unmatched, his thriftiness admirable, and his sense of humor exceptionally unique. I am honored to have had the 24 years I did with his physical presence in my life and know his presence will forever be felt as I will carry the lessons he has taught me for the rest of my life. I love you Grandpa, and am thinking of the family all the time! Wish I could be there…

He was a man who loved music...

Money...

Making people laugh...

Family...

... food...

and of course those card games!

He was loving and loved very much. You will be missed, Grandpa.

My Birthday Abroad: Part 3/ Tokyo Edo Museum and Sumo Wrestling

Even though we were beat from a full day of standing, riding, and eating… we managed to pull it together for some Sumo action the next day. Twice a year, for 15 days straight in Ryogoku, Tokyo, Japan, the national sumo wrestling tournament is held. It begins at 8:40am and ends at 6:00pm, but the upper-ranked wrestlers don’t start until about 2:30pm.

So, we got there early enough to pick up some tickets (most days were sold out for the tournament), but then had some time to kill. We only had to wander a few blocks before finding the Edo-Tokyo Museum, a totally unexpected visit and awesome surprise for us. It was totally interactive and had wonderful reference materials and reconstruction models of villages during the Edo period of Japanese period (1603 to 1898). Can you tell I’m a teacher when I get super excited about this stuff?

Here are Kaz and Kristine looking through some sweet binocs at the chounin (townspeople) areas around Nihonbashi during the early Edo period. Like we consistently see throughout history, the daimyou (upperclass) compounds were spacious and had many buildings, while townspeople lived in cramped quarters. There were also a bunch of models of the castles during that period: PIMP!
This is a palanquin, which is carried by at least four people to carry around upper class women. It was used for more of a show, with the elaborate designs and expensive materials used to make it, then for practical use.

Learning about the art and text book exchanges were one of the most interesting things for me. It wasn’t until the end of the 16th century that moveable print was imported from Europe and Korea, so before that wood blocks were used to reprint text or pictures. This shot shows the progression of one picture (top row) as each layer/color (middle row) must be painted (‘backwards’ mind you) and then pressed onto the original frame. Can you imagine getting to the 10th frame and putting the green on askew? Oops!

This was cool too, a replica of a book store during the mid Edo period. There was an ebb and flow regarding novels and newspapers related to how much money people had and what they could afford. Also, even though imports and international trade were finally allowed in Japan, international books were still banned.

Ignoring the fact that I have my hand up in a “take the picture by pressing the button!” pose, because it seriously took the guy 3.5 hours to take it, this picture shows a scene at a kabuki theater. I never thought I’d have any interest in kabuki, in fact I was kind of turned off by its touristy popularity, but after learning about it I’m so game to check out a show. Kabuki drama began in the Edo period but was initially considered corrupting and vulgar and therefore upper classes could not be seen viewing them. SO, it was more common for lower classes to go. It went from being a new type of acting, to sleazy stripteases, after which women were banned from acting, and it thus focused more on the drama, scripts, and special effects.

Man, there was so much other cool stuff in there that I could talk about, and even we got cut short, but we had to make it to Sumo, so I’ll get on with it on my blog, too.

SUMO!!!
I’m not really sure whose bright idea it was to make obesity, near nakedness, and shoving each other out of a small ring an official worldwide sport, but I think it was a stroke of genius. We had spent so much time at the museum that our first line of business after getting into the stadium was lunch.

I had read about sumo style dining, or “chanko” which is a ‘potpourri of many different vegetables, meat and other ingredients boiled together in large cook pots. The soup based dish is a favorite at Sumo wrestler stables’. We waited in line with hundreds of others that were just as excited as us for the dish. While we waiting, a Japanese photographer told us he was doing an article on foreigners at Sumo matches and asked to take our picture eating chanko. So awkward eating with a camera in your face – I got all nervous and was dropping the konyaku and boiled eggs resulting in spattered soup everywhere. I’m pretty sure the article is more about how bad foreigners are at using chopsticks and how bad their table etiquette is. Regardless, here’s some pics from that experience.

The magazine: ummm, let’s call it Japanese Monthly Magazine: Most Awesome Edition EVER!

Look at all the funny foreigners! I'm the one with the goofy grin in the lower left.

Okay, now the actual Sumo rundown. After a really late lunch, we got into the massive arena just in time to see the Makuuchi (senior division) wrestlers ceremonial entrance.

The Yokozuna (Grand Champions) then enter, clap their hands and stamp their feet, drawing spirited calls from the crowd.

Then, the bouts start up. The time the wrestlers are on the ring platform is actually only like 4 minutes. They have a maximum of 3 minutes to walk around, throwing salt to prepare for the bout, purifying the ring as a sacred place and stamping the ring to supposedly squash the bad spirits and sip water to purify their bodies. These religious rituals are ancient. I’m not gonna lie, that part got super boring, but then as the three minutes neared, the wrestlers would approach the middle line teasing the opponent as to whether they ready to start or not.

When both wrestlers touch the ground with their fists – the match starts! The next two seconds to a minute are intense as the wrestlers use very specific techniques (there are 82 officially) to get their opponent on the ground or out of the ring.
The videos below show it better, so check 'em out!

I don’t know how I always get so lucky, but I’ve had some amazing birthdays in the past and this year was no exception! A very happy birthday to me, for sure. Thanks to all!

My Birthday Abroad: Part 2/ Disneyland, Baby!!!

Conveniently, my birthday was on a three day weekend, so the next night I headed to Tokyo with a few friends. Next stop: Tokyo Disneyland, baby! Ironically, it’s not even in Tokyo, it’s in a suburb of Tokyo, but that’s beside the point I guess. Unfortunately, because it was a three day weekend the place was PACKED; but we got on all the rides we wanted and it was cool to see the culture of so many people together in one place. It was kind of weird because it was seriously the EXACT same set-up as Disneyworld in Florida - rides and attractions and layout.

Kristine, Kaz and I ready for some Tokyo Disneyland action!

Kristine and I in front of Toontown. Best part of this place was watching this little girl in a Minnie dress try to push open a pull door. It was really cute until she started crying.

Kristine refused to actually go into the "It's a Small World After All" ride, which I was very disappointed in because even at 7 I got my family to ride it twice. It's not annoying, it's catchy!

Oh the Magic Kindgom. Sooo magical.

Pumpkin Ice Cream – ice cream can make any flavor delicious!

I ate Mickey's buns!

The ritualistic saucers which inevitably make you nauseous, because you always ride post eating.

Differences between Tokyo and Orlando Disneyland’s: Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse were about two feet shorter than in the U.S., I had to wear massive headphones that were dubbed in English on the “Honey I Shrunk the Audience” ride, everyone was wearing some kind of Disney ears or hat, and there was pumpkin ice cream for the Halloween theme they already had going on (WAY too early to celebrate Halloween). It was so much fun though and I’m looking forward to going to Disney Sea next!

My Birthday Abroad: Part 1/ Birthday in the ‘Bash

First off, thanks to everyone who remembered I’m biologically aging and wishing me happiness because of that. I firmly concur with Mr. Ritz’s mantra that you’re only as old as you feel, however and celebrated appropriately.
I LOVE sushi on conveyer belts… it’s like the ultimate buffet because you get to try anything that’s rolling by you, but you can also order anything of an extensive menu of sushi, drinks, and desserts. So, before my actual birthday, my host family treated me to a sushi dinner.
You can tell Moe’s got the same taste as me. Way to celebrate properly, cutie!
On my actual birthday, I went to Sushi-Ro (a 100yen, or about $1 sushi restaurant). Definite crowd pleaser and we got to make friends eat weird stuff (ie gravy covered meatball sushi?!?!).

I tried seawater eel sushi for the first time: really cool texture where it kind of melts in your mouth and great with the special eel sauce. As you can see, I am also rockin’ the Badger Bibs, as it was officially dubbed the “Burger-sushi, Beer, and Bowling Birthday Bash in the ‘Bash”. Incorporating things with B into the festivities became the trend of the night, so I figured the Bucky Badger Birthday Bibs worked well. A major success, I’d say.

My friend Brooke is amazing and ordered the absolutely perfect cake for me – complete with “Happy Birthday Sarah” in Japanese! I was the only one that didn’t have to share my piece!

Here’s a portion of the crew: 26 people actually showed up for the festivities! I am clearly a pretty big deal… or maybe sushi and bowling are just that sweet and I’m just that good at facebooking social gatherings.

Next up: bowling. Okay, so it’s not the most “Japanese” of my experiences, but they allowed carry ins and had room for heaps of people… so it worked perfectly! The best part by far was the killer shoes! Seriously, it was soooo tempting to ‘accidently’ walk off in them, as I am sure you are yearning to do just looking at them! AND, they came out of big boxes where you pushed a button and BAM!!!, there they are! It was cool. Trust me.

Scroll up on the web page to see what I did NEXT for my Birthday Festivities!!!