Just enough time for a little stroll through Ginza before I head out. Man, I miss living here.
It’s a bit stuffy in here, but all in all it’s not bad. There’s an outlet for me to charge my iPhone. There’s enough room for me to stretch my legs all the way out. There’s even a little tv in here! I’m a bit unnerved by the fact that there’s a pay-per-view porn box attached to the tv, though. These things aren’t exactly soundproof. I hope the dude above me doesn’t decide to indulge…
This will be my room for the night. A bit small, sure, but for $15 a night who am I to complain?
I’ve been to Tokyo so very many times now, but there are still things I’ve never experienced. Tonight is my first ever stay in a ‘capsule hotel.’
I’m pretty sure I posted about this video series a few years back when they were released, but they’re worth mentioning again: “The Japanese Tradition” is a series of videos made by a fairly well-known Japanese comedy group. They are made to point out the everyday absurdities in the Japanese way of life—kind of in the same way Seinfeld was famous for in the US.
The above video is a guide to the Japanese art of bowing, which is a very big part of everyday life here.
See also: Their equally hilarious video guides to sushi, chopsticks, origami, tea, and onigiri (rice balls)
(reblogged from thedailywhat)
Via The Daily What
Wednesday Night: Root Beer is not a common item in Japan. I’ve got to drive for about 70 minutes to a specialty store with imported food goods to get this. Apparently there is some kind of common medicine here that tastes just like root beer because every time I introduce one of my Japanese friends to it, they make a sour face and say “It tastes like medicine!”
Anyways, this is the last can I’ve got since the last time I went to the store (about two months ago), and I’ve been saving it for the right night. I taught my last classes of the trimester today, so I think that was a good enough reason for me to go out and get a pizza, crack open this can of A&W, and watch the newest episode of “Louie.”
My fair city: The third Monday of July (which was today) is a national holiday in Japan, called Marine Day (“Umi no Hi”). It was made a national holiday in 1996 as a day to give thanks to the ocean and the many resources that it provides Japan, being an island nation. I had no plans today, so after running some errands and cleaning house a bit, I decided to take a stroll down to the beach. It was a beautiful day and there were several families there taking a swim in the sea or fishing or just hangin out. I took this picture from the fishing pier looking back towards Kurobe (stitched together with iphone app ‘Pano’). Click through or click here to see the full-size pic.
Saw this little parade of dancers and shamisen players (slowly) making its way through a shopping area in Toyama yesterday before our concert. I like seeing things that I wouldn’t ever see in my hometown.
The concert, by the way, was AWESOME, and I believe someone recorded it for us, so I may be able to post up some videos sometime soon!
About Me
My name is Lawrence Denes.After spending 5 years studying Japanese language, culture, literature, and history in St. Louis and Kyoto, I now live in Japan, in a town that most Japanese people have never even heard of, lost amid the rice fields and vending machines.
Please feel free to ask me anything, or send me an email.
