Tuesday was dinner with workmates, nothing to fancy. A few ales with dinner. It’s a big week here in Tokyo. Lots going on in the work front. Meeting new people, good opportunity to network, grow the career a little, climb that corporate ladder. Jokes, who am I? Need to be focused and ready. I thought I would be, then more ales followed for 5 days. Wednesday Bruno Fernandes with a ponytail and the build of Charlie Adam aka Blake-san arrived. I had already smashed a few ales until he arrived. A few more were had. Woke up completely dusty the next day. Face cloth at 5am. Headache tablet was needed. Man has to present in 4 hours. Love a midweek drink but I am getting too old for this shit. Get the presentation done, finish my day. Mock charged a few times but we got through it. Blake-san been sleeping. We then head to Shinjuku for Omoide Yachado and Golden Gai. This is what Tokyo nightlife is all about, narrow alleyways, Yakitori, socialising with strangers and getting on the sauce. Each small bar is unique creating a different & unique vibe. Although this is a very touristy party of Tokyo, its something I would recommend to everyone. When I talk to the cats at work, they say it use to be very dangerous and still can be a in certain parts, but we still felt pretty safe. We meet a few others and the drinking resumes. Session until 01:00. Was offered numerous Japanese massages, but declined. Back another time. We didn’t get an Uber but a taxi, she took us a too a different destination.
Gotta walk home. Friday wake up, body battery already 5. Link in Shinagawa for a farewell dinner then more ales. David Warner aka Blake-san joins us for a few more later. Saturday a little lay in, thank goodness, mans broken. We head to Shinjuku again, bit of baseball and golf. Tryna delay the drinking as much as possible. Hit a fantastic small Gyoza spot. Might have been my best meal so far, yes I say it every week but crisis the food keeps getting better and better Food was the name of the game and we kept it going. I barely remember the last two spots we hit. The alcohol has got me and I got Kents eyes kicking in, pure lazy/squit vibes. Sunday Shibuya, Ueno Ameyoko and Ebisu. All in search of Izikayas and ore food. We start at Ueno. People dont like this market cause its hell of a busy but shit I enjoy it. We find a spot for some people watching an a beer. Didn’t take much convincing at 11:30. We move on to fins some Wagyu. Complete disaster, end of the meal, they want cash. I get ushered to an ATM and withdraw my life savings. Will not return there. We hit up Shibuya for some tourist activities and then more Izikayas. Below is a picture of Mitals cousin which we ordered and ate. Nah get fucked, nobody was eating that but apparently its a delicacy in some parts. The boys have had a good day and head to Ebisu for another Yachado. Place is heaving, we find a spot, more yakitori and Asahi. People watching for days. The glow on the people is fantastic to watch. Everyone is so drunk on the Sunday, people being carried out haha. Another late night but finished with Mcdonalds. Monday a public holiday, finish up with some sushi. Good riddance. Throughout the whole experience I thought, shit imagine Hobsons was here for these past few days. Would have been chaos but shit I am itching for a few with the boys when I return. Pure dangerous haha Absolute pure demons with regards to sleep. After all that drinking, its not good for a person so many days in a row, does shit things to your mind. Had about 8 pints a day. The white noise doesn’t even do anything. Might put the hub on to ease the nerves. One hour later I am knee deep in some material. Gotta get some rest. Sleeping tablet required. Was good to have him here, saw a completely different side to Tokyo that I hadn’t experienced before. Will be taking my next visitors here…
Tuesday, Jiro ramen, picture below. This is the working class ramen. Large amounts of pork, garlic and noodles. You can only sit for 10 min and eat, also in silence. Mans devouring food but the food is flying everywhere. Burning my mouth but the garlic and pork is so good. People behind me in the queue are watching me eat. Not many people Japanese people have experienced this before but I would highly recommend trying it. Big bowl of ramen in 10 min. “Mashi Mashi” Wednesday Mos Burger. Healthy option for a burger. Not really haha
Thursday Baseball. We headed down to Yokohama to watch the Bay Stars vs The Tokyo Giants. I been to Yankee stadium and Wrigley field before but something about this was a little different. The Japanese treat baseball like the UK do football. Away fans sitting separately, lots of singing. They create an amazing vibe and was a great experience. Shout out to the service in the stadium, just women walking up and down shouting if you want beer, wave your hand and they come to your seat, dont even lift a finger haha. Yokohama were dreadful, pitcher was changed in the second innings. There was no coming back for them. 7th innings the rain came down. We headed back to Tokyo. A video below of the vibes.
Friday Elementary café followed by horror bar. The elementary cafe was like being in school haha, lots of questions were being asked about my upbringing in South Africa The food was all tailored for what Japanese kids ate when they were growing up. We played a game of roulette dumplings. 7 dumplings on the table, 2 are just pure Wasabi. Course I ended up with one. Tears in my eyes, couldn’t breathe for a few minutes. Much laughter was had by my colleagues. Afterwards we head into Golden Gai to a horror bar. A gentleman stands up and tells horror stories in Japanese. Now, your boy aint fluent in this shit but damn, it was creepy in that bar. In the photo below Shinya jumped on my lap at one stage. Told the cat to calm down. Farewall to Kento-san as he heads to LA for 3 years. All the best my bru! Saturday new areas for me to explore. Head to Shimokitzawa. This is located outside Shibuya and has numerous vintage shops as well as being known for being a very fashionable area. No clue why I am there in my slops uh uh. I catch the train to Kichijoji. Its known for a beautiful park and boats in the lake. Interesting experience whereby a Japanese fella calls me American, then Canadian, then European. When I say South African, man nods and walks off. Well racy. Had a delicious pepper beef cake. Basically a pie. After this cruise through a Yachado and then make my way through Harajuku. Dinner in the evening is a steak bowl with kimchi. Sunday shopping, your boy is a fashionista so get some presents for people who deserving of it. Asakusa and Akibahara where Anime is very famous. I have never been big into it, but damn people go crazy for it. Lots of electronic stores around. Its too busy for a Sunday. Cruise back to Shinagawa. Sunday evening vibes, try an early nights sleep but I don’t sleep anymore, just look at the roof and think, “what is this life?”. Time is running out in Japan, need to try get to different parts of Japan as well as try some new food. Any recommendations, let me know. A lot of cats been peppering me with questions about certain topics, so will answer those in the coming weeks.
On a side note I am still looking for Anna Sawai.
2 tunes for this week. Had to do it for Kurupt FM, MC Grindah and of course with some Karaoke lined up soon, some Backstreet Boys!