Japan 2010 - Day 4: Merii Kurisumasu!!
By now, you've read about my Dark Xmas Eve Night experience. By the time I got back, it was nearly Xmas Day. ^_^
styxonline had thoughtfully gotten me a couple of Xmas staples that she knew I was very interested in. The first was fried chicken! She'd picked up a piece for each of us. In Japan, it seems to have become traditional fare, chicken on Xmas. Sort of their version of America's turkey dinner.
The second was Xmas Cake! She'd actually gotten 2 kinds: a chocolate-chocolate log cake for all of us to split, & the oft-seen, mini-strawberry shortcake kind - a whole one just for me! And since I don't drink alcohol, fake strawberry champagne! :D
I can’t find any really good pictures of the kinds of cakes we had, & I didn’t take any (too swept up in such a personal little moment, I guess. Not to mention too eager to dive into the tasty little things!), but this might give you a bit of a clue. Except the ones styxonline got were cuter. ^_^
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4251445263_0b741762aa.jpg
My little strawberry cake was a LOT cuter than this! But the other pics I’m finding are all for big cakes, or ones that are over-decorated. It was kind of a cross between that one & this:
http://holypoachedegg.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/japanese_christmas_cake_2-thumb.jpg?w=310&h=247
The log cake was kind of like this, without the Santas & that extra piece on top:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Zdz7IWjgRDc/Sxpqw_b51XI/AAAAAAAAAzI/AJ6lnwc4bWg/s400/DSC_0220.JPG
In our e-mail exchanges prior to my departure from the US, styxonline had proposed the possibility of taking me for a midnight supper, if she had to work late & if I were up for it.
I hadn't eaten since our Yoshinoya breakfast, so this proved a perfect opportunity to take her up on her offer. My co-host had already eaten, so he didn't join us. styxonline & I walked down to a cozy little shop & had some yakisoba (soba noodles with chicken chunks in dipping broth/sauce), which was quite yummy! The sauce had a little spice to it, so between that & it being hot (temperature-wise; I'm fairly certain it was hot), it would make us cough a bit when we sucked up the noodles after dipping them (soba noodles are meant to be slurped - I'm still getting used to that, since slurping pretty much anything is considered rude by American standards).
Oh, & on the way, I snapped this picture of a nifty little notice that’s actually part of the paved ground. (They use their road-space so well in Japan!) Pac-Man there is telling you not to smoke in the street.
We sat on the stools at one of the little counter-tables, & I showed her my Ebisu pictures & we talked a bit as we enjoyed our noodles. When we were finished, we went back to the apartment, where the 3 of us ate our fried chicken (it was technically Xmas), & I regailed them with the story of the Moi dix Mois concert. I showed them the photobook & CD I'd bought, as well as my picture with "Seth". We all noted what a good job she'd done at replicating his style, & how she really did look like him. I also learned that there are no silicone earplugs in Japan, like the kind I'd brought with me (& subsequently forgot to bring to the live), only the foam kind that I'd found in Community Store.
We decided to save the cakes & champagne for Xmas evening, & just stayed up talking for a while. Eventually, my co-host had to hit the hay, as he had to work that day, but styxonline had been able to get the day off, & we continued our conversations...
All night long!
We literally stayed up all night, just talking. I think it was about 7 am before we finally tried to get some sleep.
About 3 & a half hours later, we were up, & talking again.
For the whole day!
We ate a little, here & there, but mostly, we just talked. It was SO nice!!
Later in the day, we got into 'go' mode, & started getting ready to go out. But first, styxonline wanted to do my make-up. Among some other gifties she'd given me, I received a set of powdered eye-shadows. I gave her full reign over my face, & she did a very nice job!
Of course, while she took a few pics of me with her camera, I forgot to ask her to snap any photos of it (i.e., my face) with mine. :P
styxonline said a good place to go for shopping was nearby Kinshicho, & the Xmas sales force was giving it their all, vending wares that consisted primarily (but not solely) of chicken & Xmas cakes.
I took this picture just after walking out of the train station. See that lit-up, tower-like structure on the left? That’s the Tokyo Sky Tree. It’s a digital broadcasting tower, set to begin operation next year, replacing Tokyo Tower (which I visited last trip) as a primary broadcasting source. The Tower will still be used for radio & other things, according to the article. Plus, it’s a tourist attraction.
styxonline will have to confirm this, but I think I caught sight of the Sky Tree in daylight, when I snapped this pic the day before, from the platform at Ryogoku Station (Kinshicho is only one stop from Ryogoku). It’ll be on the right-hand side. Note also the Book Off sign near the bottom of the photo. XD
There was a musical act (can't recall if it was a solo artist or band) playing near the little square not far from the Arca Kit Building, where there were also a series of Xmas decorations, like lights & trees. My favourite was just in front of Kit:
It was Kit to which we were heading, as it had an awesome branch of Daiso in it! Oh yeah, & we saw a Sumo outside!
I'd call places like Kit a ' (department) store', but it's really a number of stores. But I'm hard-put to call them "malls", either, 'cuz that would conjure images of the kinds of malls we have here. Although if you can imagine our malls going up & down, with different stores on every floor, rather than being spread out widely on just 1 or 2 levels, you'd have the kinds of places I'm describing.
But first, a funny thing happened on the way to Daiso...
In Japan, you get a lot of people handing out flyers. But this was the first time someone handed out packets of tissues! Not sure what it was advertising. (I gave mine to diru915 as part of her souvenir package.) That's not the funny part, tho'. The funny part was the guy who handed me a book!
The title is MOMOCO. Soft-cover, like a manga. Lots of ads inside. Some cutesy pictures/artwork, like the shots below. And something else...
Some of the “real” shots of girls have their faces blurred. That should be the first clue. :P It starts off seemingly harmless enough, with shopping, make-up, short movie reviews, etc. Even a place that’s advertised very, very much like a Maid Café. But when you dig a little deeper, it sounds more like a hostess club.
styxonline explained to me that you can't sell sex in Japan. But you can sell services. And some of the services are things that end up, in certain cases, involving something close to that. It's one of those things where girls kind of know what they're getting into if they are employed by these businesses. Kind of like going out for a masseuse job with the knowledge that they want you to give the gentlemen customers...well, you get the idea.
Okay, enough of that - on to shopping!
As I said, Daiso was awesome. Those of you who received gifties can attest to that. :) They just have all kinds of neat things in Japan that we have no concept of here. But I wish we did! I have to thank styxonline for all her help (& patience!) with choosing the items that came back with me.
Afterward, we made a couple stops so my dear friend could pick up some things, & I took a few more shots of Kinshicho-by-night.
Say, styxonline, where was that electronics place we went? Where we saw the really neat promos for upcoming video games? I keep thinking it was Yodobashi, but it couldn't have been, if we were in Kinshicho. Darn my feeble brain! :P
At any rate, one last stop so I could finish up & get a few treats for some other people on my list (actually, the list - like the earplugs - I'd left back at the apartment), at which time I bought myself a box of chocolate-strawberry cookies. They were from Meiji, who used to make these awesome candy-coated cracker-type treats that my grandpa & I used to really like: Takenoko no Sato (Bamboo Shoots of the Valley) & Kinoko no Yama (Mushrooms of the Mountain). I can't find them here anymore, tho' (the store where we used to get them closed), & I never knew they made cookie versions!
http://www.napajapan.com/Content/Photos/2010/140/20101222P_0001.jpg
I know it’s tiny, but it’s the only picture I can find of the actual variety of Takenoko cookies I bought (without taking my own picture of the box, which I still have). Keep these cookies in mind. They might not sound like much now, but they do come into play later on.
Started working our way back, & styxonline heard from my co-host that he would soon be on his way from work, so once we hit Ryogoku, we waited for him at the train station. Despite styxonline & I not having eaten a great deal that day, we weren't incredibly hungry, but it was cold out (I think that was the coldest time of the trip - the Japanese part, anyway), & I figured some warm food & a warm place to sit would be nice. But we also needed something light, since there were cakes & champagne to be had.
Enter Mos Burger.
Oh. Ye. Gods.
Move over, American fast-food burger joints. You ain’t got nothing’ on this place!
The food is light, it’s incredibly tasty, & the company is working in conjunction with farmers, so there’s always fresh ingredients. I really want NYC to wise up & get a branch or 2! The service was great (first burger place I’ve been to where they bring you your food), they even have REAL cups & plates, as opposed to landfill-clogging plastic & styrofoam.
I can’t find it on the menu linked above (maybe it’s an item specific to Ryogoku?), & I can’t recall the Japanese name, but what I chose from the menu pictures available (without being able to read the Kanji) was basically a prawn-burger with greens (might have just been shredded lettuce, but I’m not sure - whatever it was, it was good!). I picked it because it reminded me of the hummus & alfalfa sprout sandwiches I make here at my house. :) They offered side sets, too. You could get things like French fries, French fries with onion rings, or salad. I got the salad. With hot lemon tea.
We spent lots of time talking after our meal, a majority of our conversation taking up the continued topic of bunpo, or grammar. Oh, & we saw another Sumo! This one had a purple kimono. I think the one by the Kit building had overalls on.
Next, it was back to the apartment for our Xmas treats! And toasting with the fake champagne. Kanpai!
A wonderful end to a wonderful holiday.
Just in case you’re curious, the one notable difference between Japanese cake & what we have on this side of the globe (& I believe this applies to things like peanut butter, as well) is that they don’t put as much sugar in theirs. So it’s not as sweet (or heavy) as our stuff. But it’s absolutely yummy!
Sadly, with just a bit more chatting (& a copious amount of thanks on my part for all that my hosts had done for me), we had to wrap things up. Both of them were in need of sleep, as they had to go to work the next day. I called my mom to wish her & the twins Merry Christmas, & spent a goodly amount of time packing before going to bed.
Coming soon: Just a small time left in Japan...
styxonline had thoughtfully gotten me a couple of Xmas staples that she knew I was very interested in. The first was fried chicken! She'd picked up a piece for each of us. In Japan, it seems to have become traditional fare, chicken on Xmas. Sort of their version of America's turkey dinner.
The second was Xmas Cake! She'd actually gotten 2 kinds: a chocolate-chocolate log cake for all of us to split, & the oft-seen, mini-strawberry shortcake kind - a whole one just for me! And since I don't drink alcohol, fake strawberry champagne! :D
I can’t find any really good pictures of the kinds of cakes we had, & I didn’t take any (too swept up in such a personal little moment, I guess. Not to mention too eager to dive into the tasty little things!), but this might give you a bit of a clue. Except the ones styxonline got were cuter. ^_^
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4251445263_0b741762aa.jpg
My little strawberry cake was a LOT cuter than this! But the other pics I’m finding are all for big cakes, or ones that are over-decorated. It was kind of a cross between that one & this:
http://holypoachedegg.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/japanese_christmas_cake_2-thumb.jpg?w=310&h=247
The log cake was kind of like this, without the Santas & that extra piece on top:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Zdz7IWjgRDc/Sxpqw_b51XI/AAAAAAAAAzI/AJ6lnwc4bWg/s400/DSC_0220.JPG
In our e-mail exchanges prior to my departure from the US, styxonline had proposed the possibility of taking me for a midnight supper, if she had to work late & if I were up for it.
I hadn't eaten since our Yoshinoya breakfast, so this proved a perfect opportunity to take her up on her offer. My co-host had already eaten, so he didn't join us. styxonline & I walked down to a cozy little shop & had some yakisoba (soba noodles with chicken chunks in dipping broth/sauce), which was quite yummy! The sauce had a little spice to it, so between that & it being hot (temperature-wise; I'm fairly certain it was hot), it would make us cough a bit when we sucked up the noodles after dipping them (soba noodles are meant to be slurped - I'm still getting used to that, since slurping pretty much anything is considered rude by American standards).
Oh, & on the way, I snapped this picture of a nifty little notice that’s actually part of the paved ground. (They use their road-space so well in Japan!) Pac-Man there is telling you not to smoke in the street.
We sat on the stools at one of the little counter-tables, & I showed her my Ebisu pictures & we talked a bit as we enjoyed our noodles. When we were finished, we went back to the apartment, where the 3 of us ate our fried chicken (it was technically Xmas), & I regailed them with the story of the Moi dix Mois concert. I showed them the photobook & CD I'd bought, as well as my picture with "Seth". We all noted what a good job she'd done at replicating his style, & how she really did look like him. I also learned that there are no silicone earplugs in Japan, like the kind I'd brought with me (& subsequently forgot to bring to the live), only the foam kind that I'd found in Community Store.
We decided to save the cakes & champagne for Xmas evening, & just stayed up talking for a while. Eventually, my co-host had to hit the hay, as he had to work that day, but styxonline had been able to get the day off, & we continued our conversations...
All night long!
We literally stayed up all night, just talking. I think it was about 7 am before we finally tried to get some sleep.
About 3 & a half hours later, we were up, & talking again.
For the whole day!
We ate a little, here & there, but mostly, we just talked. It was SO nice!!
Later in the day, we got into 'go' mode, & started getting ready to go out. But first, styxonline wanted to do my make-up. Among some other gifties she'd given me, I received a set of powdered eye-shadows. I gave her full reign over my face, & she did a very nice job!
Of course, while she took a few pics of me with her camera, I forgot to ask her to snap any photos of it (i.e., my face) with mine. :P
styxonline said a good place to go for shopping was nearby Kinshicho, & the Xmas sales force was giving it their all, vending wares that consisted primarily (but not solely) of chicken & Xmas cakes.
I took this picture just after walking out of the train station. See that lit-up, tower-like structure on the left? That’s the Tokyo Sky Tree. It’s a digital broadcasting tower, set to begin operation next year, replacing Tokyo Tower (which I visited last trip) as a primary broadcasting source. The Tower will still be used for radio & other things, according to the article. Plus, it’s a tourist attraction.
styxonline will have to confirm this, but I think I caught sight of the Sky Tree in daylight, when I snapped this pic the day before, from the platform at Ryogoku Station (Kinshicho is only one stop from Ryogoku). It’ll be on the right-hand side. Note also the Book Off sign near the bottom of the photo. XD
There was a musical act (can't recall if it was a solo artist or band) playing near the little square not far from the Arca Kit Building, where there were also a series of Xmas decorations, like lights & trees. My favourite was just in front of Kit:
It was Kit to which we were heading, as it had an awesome branch of Daiso in it! Oh yeah, & we saw a Sumo outside!
I'd call places like Kit a ' (department) store', but it's really a number of stores. But I'm hard-put to call them "malls", either, 'cuz that would conjure images of the kinds of malls we have here. Although if you can imagine our malls going up & down, with different stores on every floor, rather than being spread out widely on just 1 or 2 levels, you'd have the kinds of places I'm describing.
But first, a funny thing happened on the way to Daiso...
In Japan, you get a lot of people handing out flyers. But this was the first time someone handed out packets of tissues! Not sure what it was advertising. (I gave mine to diru915 as part of her souvenir package.) That's not the funny part, tho'. The funny part was the guy who handed me a book!
The title is MOMOCO. Soft-cover, like a manga. Lots of ads inside. Some cutesy pictures/artwork, like the shots below. And something else...
Some of the “real” shots of girls have their faces blurred. That should be the first clue. :P It starts off seemingly harmless enough, with shopping, make-up, short movie reviews, etc. Even a place that’s advertised very, very much like a Maid Café. But when you dig a little deeper, it sounds more like a hostess club.
styxonline explained to me that you can't sell sex in Japan. But you can sell services. And some of the services are things that end up, in certain cases, involving something close to that. It's one of those things where girls kind of know what they're getting into if they are employed by these businesses. Kind of like going out for a masseuse job with the knowledge that they want you to give the gentlemen customers...well, you get the idea.
Okay, enough of that - on to shopping!
As I said, Daiso was awesome. Those of you who received gifties can attest to that. :) They just have all kinds of neat things in Japan that we have no concept of here. But I wish we did! I have to thank styxonline for all her help (& patience!) with choosing the items that came back with me.
Afterward, we made a couple stops so my dear friend could pick up some things, & I took a few more shots of Kinshicho-by-night.
Say, styxonline, where was that electronics place we went? Where we saw the really neat promos for upcoming video games? I keep thinking it was Yodobashi, but it couldn't have been, if we were in Kinshicho. Darn my feeble brain! :P
At any rate, one last stop so I could finish up & get a few treats for some other people on my list (actually, the list - like the earplugs - I'd left back at the apartment), at which time I bought myself a box of chocolate-strawberry cookies. They were from Meiji, who used to make these awesome candy-coated cracker-type treats that my grandpa & I used to really like: Takenoko no Sato (Bamboo Shoots of the Valley) & Kinoko no Yama (Mushrooms of the Mountain). I can't find them here anymore, tho' (the store where we used to get them closed), & I never knew they made cookie versions!
http://www.napajapan.com/Content/Photos/2010/140/20101222P_0001.jpg
I know it’s tiny, but it’s the only picture I can find of the actual variety of Takenoko cookies I bought (without taking my own picture of the box, which I still have). Keep these cookies in mind. They might not sound like much now, but they do come into play later on.
Started working our way back, & styxonline heard from my co-host that he would soon be on his way from work, so once we hit Ryogoku, we waited for him at the train station. Despite styxonline & I not having eaten a great deal that day, we weren't incredibly hungry, but it was cold out (I think that was the coldest time of the trip - the Japanese part, anyway), & I figured some warm food & a warm place to sit would be nice. But we also needed something light, since there were cakes & champagne to be had.
Enter Mos Burger.
Oh. Ye. Gods.
Move over, American fast-food burger joints. You ain’t got nothing’ on this place!
The food is light, it’s incredibly tasty, & the company is working in conjunction with farmers, so there’s always fresh ingredients. I really want NYC to wise up & get a branch or 2! The service was great (first burger place I’ve been to where they bring you your food), they even have REAL cups & plates, as opposed to landfill-clogging plastic & styrofoam.
I can’t find it on the menu linked above (maybe it’s an item specific to Ryogoku?), & I can’t recall the Japanese name, but what I chose from the menu pictures available (without being able to read the Kanji) was basically a prawn-burger with greens (might have just been shredded lettuce, but I’m not sure - whatever it was, it was good!). I picked it because it reminded me of the hummus & alfalfa sprout sandwiches I make here at my house. :) They offered side sets, too. You could get things like French fries, French fries with onion rings, or salad. I got the salad. With hot lemon tea.
We spent lots of time talking after our meal, a majority of our conversation taking up the continued topic of bunpo, or grammar. Oh, & we saw another Sumo! This one had a purple kimono. I think the one by the Kit building had overalls on.
Next, it was back to the apartment for our Xmas treats! And toasting with the fake champagne. Kanpai!
A wonderful end to a wonderful holiday.
Just in case you’re curious, the one notable difference between Japanese cake & what we have on this side of the globe (& I believe this applies to things like peanut butter, as well) is that they don’t put as much sugar in theirs. So it’s not as sweet (or heavy) as our stuff. But it’s absolutely yummy!
Sadly, with just a bit more chatting (& a copious amount of thanks on my part for all that my hosts had done for me), we had to wrap things up. Both of them were in need of sleep, as they had to go to work the next day. I called my mom to wish her & the twins Merry Christmas, & spent a goodly amount of time packing before going to bed.
Coming soon: Just a small time left in Japan...