Blog Posts

My trip to Tower Records in Shinbuyu.

4/27/2017

While Jody was both working and sightseeing, I was busy journeying back to my Mecca, the 9-story Tower Records store in Shinbuyu, the largest of Japan's 80+ Tower Record stores.

Where else but in Tokyo would you see an exhibit like this dedicated to Godzilla, the Monster King of Japan.

I spent two hours pursuing the various floors. Each floor dedicated to a different music genre: Classical, Rock, Soul, various Japanese musical genres, such as Manga, etc. It brought back fond memories of my favorite Tower Records on the campus of George Washington University in Washington, DC. However, I believe that this one even made that store pale in comparison in sheer size. The Japanese are still in love with CDs, as am I. I regret the pending disappearence of CDs in the States in exchange for sonically inferior mp3 downloads. None of that crap for me - uncompressed music is my main source of musical entertainment. While browsing, I discovered new, elaborate CD releases of one of my favorite groups, Procol Harum, that I missed when these editions were released in 2015. I believe I will need to return here once again. Just too much.

Exhausted, I later stopped for a latte and mixed nuts at the store's 2nd floor cafe. While there, I was entertained by a major commotion. While sipping my latte, I suddenly heard many teenage girls squealing behind me. In front of them and entering the cafe were two young men, the obvious source of the girls' excitement. One of them took one look at me and immediately reached out to shake my hand. I imagine this was either in deference to my age or the obvious fact that I was not Japanese. They then went to a elevated section of the cafe where they got a bite to eat, all the time interacting with tons of infatuated girls both sitting around the cafe and ringing the perimeter. It was quite fun. The group's name was Yuzumor. As I left, I discovered more girls outside and watched as the singers' limo drove them away as they waved from the window reminding me of A Hard Day's Night.

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Jody's Tokyo trip

4/27/2017

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On Thursday, April 27, Jody went into Tokyo for a professional meeting. She then had the opportunity to visit some amazing gardens with striking purple-colored wisteria. Wish I had been there (although I was busy making my own trip back to the 9-floor Tower Records in Shinbuyu.

Three really nice Japanese women helped lead Jody to the gardens and shrine.

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Japan Retro Television at Bic Camera

4/23/2017

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Upon Marc's suggestion, I visited Bic Camera in Hachioji Station, an amazing 6 floors of elecronic goodness. This retro television caught my eye. Only $65, 840 Yen (about $650.00, USD)

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TGIF at the Sherlock Holmes Pub in Hachioji

4/21/2017

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Man, did we have fun yesterday. Earlier in the week while having lunch at the Sherlock Holmes Pub in Hachioji, Jody and I had met a British English professor, Marc Sebastian-Jones, who has been in Japan for over 20 years. We had a great time conversing over pints of Guiness and planned to get back together. Yesterday, we met Marc again at the Pub at 1:30 pm. Later, his Japanese wife, Yoshimi, joined us, as did another British professor friend, Jim. I must have had at least 5 pints of Guiness. We left the Pub around 7:00 pm and made our way to Marc's and Yoshimi's home where we dined on pizza delivery from Dominoes and drank red wine. We got home around 10:45 pm and crashed. Man, that was real TGIF. What's great is that Marc is both an English Major and a film buff, like me. He's also wildly irreverant and we're all on the same political page. It's so nice for Jody and me to finally have some friends here as it's been just the two of us since we arrived at Soka U. on April 3. From L to R - Dick, Jim, Jody, Marc, and Yoshimi.

Had a chance to seea copy of Marc's latest editorial work with the professional journal, MARVELS & TALES.

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Trip to Harajuku, Tokyo on our 4th Wedding Anniversary

4/19/2017

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On Wednesday, April 19, we took a trip into Tokyo to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary (it was actually April 18 in the U.S.). It was fun and filled with lots of wrong turns and really aching feet from walking.

Here we are arriving at the Harajuku train station destination in Tokyo. The trip was NOT uneventful. We had to switch trains omce. At one point, I insisted that we get off. I moved through the train doors. Jody didn't move to keep up, and the doors closed suddenly with me waving goodbye to Jody while standing alone on the platform. Fortunately, we had already made a deal that if we should ever get separated, I would stay in place and Jody would retrace her steps back to me. Within 10 minutes, Jody and a Japanese woman got off the train going in the oposite direction at the same platform. This Japanese woman saw what had happened and helped Jody get back to me. She then informed us that we had been on the correct train anyway and that our stop was only three stops away. Japanese people are SO NICE.

Our first stop was at the Meiji Jingu Shrine located in Shibuya, Tokyo. It is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. Construction began in 1915 under Itō Chūta, and the shrine was built in the traditional nagare-zukuri style, using primarily Japanese cypress and copper. The building of the shrine was a national project, mobilizing youth groups and other civic associations from throughout Japan, who contributed labor and funding. It was formally dedicated in 1920, completed in 1921, and its grounds officially finished by 1926. Until 1946, the Meiji Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines. The original building was destroyed during the Tokyo air raids of World War II. The present iteration of the shrine was funded through a public fund raising effort and completed in October 1958. Meiji Shrine has been visited by numerous foreign politicians, including United States President George W. Bush, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.

Unfortuantely, much of the shrine was closed due to renovations. Tokyo is hosting the 2020 Olympics and they are already preparing.

As we left the temple's park, we went into Yoyogi Park right next store known for its flowers and nice picnic area. Along the way, we encountered several street musicians playing for the park's visitors.

This little girl was fascinated with the street musician playing his trombone.

We then set off searching for the Oriental Bazaar, a Trip Advisor recommendation for nice gifts and art objects. We had a dickens of a time finding it. But, fortunately for me, by accident we found the main Tower Records in Tokyo with 9 floors of goodness. For those who don't know, when Tower Records went bankrupt worldwide, the stores in Tokyo were a separate subsidiary and remained open, all 80+ of them. We went inside and got help to find the Oriental Bazaar. Although I had no time to browse, I vowed to return to Tower Records.

Superman is here in Tokyo.

I LOVE Tokyo's fire-engine-red fire engines.

Finally, we find the Oriental Bazaar and I remain outside to rest my feet while Jody shops still she drops.

This was so cute, a "cat cafe" that is filled with real cats milling around and wanting to be loved. Since then, we have also discovered an "Owl Cafe" right near this cafe. However, we need to further investigate the Owl Cafe as there are concerns from animal rights groups about the possible abuse of owls as they are a nocturnal species and sleep during the day. Needless to say, the cafe is keeping them awake during the day. Don't think there's any problems with cats milling around, although I considering the importance that Japanese attach to cleaniless, I wonder how they deal with cats around food and on tabletops. We both vowed to return. Jody will be making numerous trips into Tokyo so there will be no problem.

Takeshita Street is a famous teen fashion street. As far as I was concerned, "abandon all hope yee who enter." Look at the milling crowds.

Four hours of almost non-stop walking later, Jody and I reach our planned dining destination, a wonderful Indian Restaurant next to our departing train station. We had a wonderful, intimate anniversary Indian dinner. What a relieve to rest our feet, drink some wine, and eat delicious food. We then made our weary way home and dropped dead the minute we hit our guest house apartment.

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Day 4 and we take one more adventure.

4/16/2017

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Jody gets out early and takes some dramatic pictures of Mt. Fuji, its top now clear for all to see. An active volcano, indeed.

Martial arts class at the water's edge.

Jody excited as we take the lift up the mountain.

A pair of rabbits on the roof of the lift. The Japanese LOVE their animals.

The hot springs right next to Mt. Fuju. We'll be visiting here on another trip during our stay.

And another trip to a MAJOR amusement park with tons of fabulous roller coasters that Jody plans to drag me on - the little thrill-seeker.

Getting ready to go down.

Back on the ground and and getting a kick out of this senior citizen Japanese guard who is very animated and, frankly, very authoritarian as he orders everyone around with his threatening orange stick. When we first arrived ahead of everyone else, I started walking toward the entrance and he got upset and moved so quickly toward me that I thought he was going to hit me across the head with his stick.

Upon arriving back home, we stopped in the Sherlock Holmes Pub for a bite to eat. There we had a very pleasant surprise as we met a lovely local teacher and writer, Marc, who we struck up a lengthy conversation with over pints of Guiness. He was, of course, from England. More on Carl later.

I just love this restaurant.

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Day 3 in our Magical Mystery Tour. We leave Kamakura and I discover from Jody that we are riding the rails again to visit MT. FUGI. How exciting.

4/15/2017

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Our first real glimpse of Mt. Fuji from the train upon our approach.

Upon exiting the train around noon and arriving at the Royal Hotel, we can clearly see that the top of Mt. Fuji is shrouded in clouds. You can't tell that it's an active volcano from this perspective.

Our hotel. Looks nice from the outside, but nothing to write home about. The room is the size of a postage stamp.

There is a large lake in the town and it does have a resort ambience.

There is a lift up one of the mountains that provides a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji. We plan to take it in the AM.

We decide to take a 20 minute boat ride around the lake. Very moody with alternating sunlight and clouds.

My hair is blowing away :-).

Spooky, dramatic view.

Walking around town we finally find a restaurant that has both lasagna and burgers (we're getting a little tired of Japanese food all the time) We even had a glass of wine. We're exhaused and make our way back to the hotel for relaxation and playing on the Internet.

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Day 2 in Kamakura

4/14/2017

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After a good night's sleep. we arranged to do some major walking and hiking in and around Kamakura today. I'm glad I brought my trusty New Zealand hiking boots. They haven't let me down yet.

7Eleven - They're everywhere!

Our cute little room at the AirBNB

Downtonw Kamakura, Jody and me hamming it up in front of a beautiful cherry blossom tree-lined street.

The Japanese like to have professional portraits of there beautiful children taken as well as seen in this advertisement.

So much charm and beauty in Kamakura, not to mention numerous temples and shrines.

After a considerable walk through downtown, we venured forth to the Kenchoji Temple, the first Zen temple in Japan. Zazen meditation sessions are held there on Fridays and Saturdays presumably I'm guessing to help residents find peace after a hard week at work.

And this is just the "opening" to the temple.

We left the Kenchoji Temple and continued our walk, stopping for a brief coffee and tea, and continued to the Kuzuharaoka/Daibutsu Hiking Trail where we saw these impressive bamboo trees.

Approximately 1/3 of the way up the hiking trail we stop a t the popular picnic area, Genjiyama Park.

"'THERE BE DRAGONS!" - and precious little children too.

And turtles too.

I was so pleased to see a very happy Japanese man with his beautiful, loving Irish Setter.

High up the trail about 1/2 way and our beautiful view of Kamakura below and the Pacific Ocean.

We encounter a beautiful home as we start making our way down the trail.

Treading carefully down some of the trail steps.

Really dense along the trail.

The final set of steps marking the end of the hiking trai. Four hurting feet.

After washing up, we set out for an authentic Japanese meal at a local restaurant recomended by our AirBNB host. There was only one other couple and a single man served by this fun chef who cooked our multi-course dinner in front of us. As we discovered, it was a mixed-bag of enjoyment with Jody and me liking different things. Japanese food is VERY DIFFERENT to each of us.

And lest you think U.S. culture is far away, even the "Colonel" is here.

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Our "Magical Mystery Tour" to Kamakura and ?

4/13/2017

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On Thursday, April 13, we set off for a four day, three night trip to Kamakura and thanks to Jody an additional surprise location (at least to me).

Our first stop was Hiachioji Station where we picked up our rail train to Kamakura. While waiting in the station we got a glimpse of Japanese adolescents on their way to school. Little professionals in the making and grouped together informally by sex.

Ruminations on Japanese Culture # 1: "The Japanese are NOT morning people" - Japanese commuters on their way to work.

Upon getting settled in our AIRBNB quarters in Kamakura, we ventured out for lunch. We stopped at a tradiional Japanese Restaurant, The Soba House, and had a rather LARGE lunch that ended up being our main meal of the day.

These were the appetizers. We were served ALL of them. And that was before the main course. Whew!

After lunch, we then walked down to the beach and saw the Pacific Ocean from an entirely new perspective (NOT the U.S. West Coast).

We then visited the Hasdera Temple in Kamakura. This is an ancient temple which is said to be founded before the Kamakura era (12th - 14th centuries). Juichimen-Kannon, the main object of worship, is 9.18 meters in height, which makes it one of the largest wooden statues of Kannon in Japan. The temple has an impressive view and beautiful flowers throughout the seasons.

These images are the city of Kamakura taken from high above the Hasedera Temple.

A staff gardener literally evening out the sand around the walkways and flower beds.

We love our Japanese cat shrine.

Beautiful Koi in one of the ponds.

Inside a cave filled with Japanese shrines.

And now we move on to THE GREAT BUDDHA, AKA, the Kotokuin Temple. Talk about impressive. It took my breath away when I saw the Buddha's sheer size. He is also known as Kamakura Daibutsu. The height is 11.31 meters and the weight is 121 tons. The construction of the bronze statue as it appears today dates from 1252. Kamakura Daibutsu is the only statue of Buddha in Kamakura that is designated as a national treasure. The whole statue was gilded and placed inside of Daibutsu-den or the Great Buddha hall when it was completed. It is now an outdoor Daibutsu because the Daibutsu-den building was destroyed by earthquakes and tsunamis.

After the Great Buddha and despite hurting feet from all the walking, we stopped at a kimono store and Jody found a fabulous komono which I purchased for her upcoming birthday. I think she looks beautiful in it. Tying the obi will be a challenge, but I'm sure we'll succeed.