I did not make it up in time to post yesterday. I stayed out a little too late on Monday night. I was only going to look for a tool belt and pick up some bread for DL from the Seiyu store (88yen/8 slices!), but I ended up taking the train to Akishima to meet with Randy as he knew of a watch repair store right near the train station. I have been trying to find somewhere to fix my long unused watch. So I met him, fixed my watch for 1200yen, and we went to a “retro” Japanese restaurant a few doors down. What makes it Japanese retro-I still don’t know. He said something about the lights over the tables having the pieces of cloth for shades, and woodwork. I still would not be able to pick one out of a line. Anyhow, they serve okonomiyaki, and izakaya style foods. We had some nama, got their specialty chicken wings, an okonomiyaki, bean sprouts, and cheese wontons. Ted showed up for a few beers, then one of the Japanese abatement guys showed up as he was sleeping at Randy’s place that night. It was odd, three “hafu” (hapas) and me, and of course, I was the only one who did not speak Japanese. The waiter looked at me like I was dumb when I said “wakarimasen” and shrugged my shoulders as I looked to Randy for answers, and Randy promptly answered in Japanese. Oh well, I am getting used to it. We drank a few more beers, talking, and before we knew it, it was 1100pm. Needless to say, I got up late.

On Sunday, I went back to Shinjuku to meet with Steve and grab a can of spray glue we forgot on Saturday night. I convinced Steve to come with me to the Tokyo Metro building observatory. It was a clear day, and I could see Mt Fuji from the train. The expanse of city is as you would imagine it. Seemingly sprawled to the horizon like a bumpy concrete blanket. I could see the Meiji Temple and the park from there and decided to go to Harajuku and the temple. Before I left, Steve and I went to a little yakitori stall for lunch. It was OK tasting, and a complete ripoff. For two sodas, a stick of green pepper, a stick of mushroom, a stick of chicken balls, two chicken sticks, one chicken wing stick, and one pork stick: 2500yen. Normally, I guess you can get that for 1500yen or so. Good thing Steve paid…

Harajuku was a feast for people watching. I went through the narrow street of shops once, and at one point, there were so many people, I could close my eyes and only move my feet, the crowd carrying me along. It was claustrophobic, and the shops were all either for 12 year olds or people who aren’t me. I sat on the side for a while and watched the people go by. Lots of tourists, young Japanese girls, harajuku girls, and what I think were guys dressed as anime characters-long purple hair, makeup, and strange clothing with metal adornments. Maybe I am getting too old for it, but it seemed that the fashions are all in the category of “WTF Are You Thinking When You Put That Hot Pink Hoop Skirt On” for the girls, and “WTF Are You Thinking When You Put That Leather One-sie With the Klingon Shoulders On” for the guys. It was all very interesting, although I was a little sad that no one was there with me to talk about the people passing by. Japan can keep Harajuku, though, once was enough for me. The temple was little better. It was at least quiet in the park. The gravel trails leading to the temple were well worn by the constant stream of people. Tourists, brides, new babies, school groups. The Meiji temple was built in honor of the current Meiji era and its emperor. It was nice, but not as wondrous as I expected a temple to be. Of course I am more of a fan of the Showa era… There was a nice pond with large grassy areas where people were hunkered down for picnics, naps, or reading. Public drinking is completely legal here, so many were drinking-but in a bourgeois way. Couples with picnic baskets, champagne, and champagne flutes, it even seemed that some were posing. The man laying back on his elbows, dressed to the nines, but with his face tilted to the sky, soaking up the sun, the woman, prim and pretty, sitting up, legs to the side, lightly holding her flute of bubbly upright on the perfect pastel plaid blanket, tilting her head and smiling down at her man. It all got a little too J. Crew catalog-ish. Give me the Oriental Trading Company catalog with a little Cabela’s catalog, and that’s what I call a picnic. There was a “museum” which I did not go in because I read it contained items donated by the Emperor and Empress to show their good will and humanity. Not humility, I assume. I got moderately lost leaving the park, but luckily I noticed a tower before I went into the park, so I walked towards it. All told, on Sunday, I probably walked a good 8 miles.


And here is what Don Quijote sells here-

I was surprised that that chain is in Hawaii. Here it is a raunchy tiny chain of stores that sells some clothes, basic needs, crazy costumes, sex toys, and pillows shaped like boobs.