Welcome back, I hope you all had a great holiday. If you didn’t there’s always next year. Mine was good my friends and I had a good time around Tokyo and enjoyed some great food at my favorite restaurants, Bourbon Street and Roti (both located in Roppongi). I don’t like Roppongi very much but it is the location of many tasty foreign restaurants. It is easy to find food of many different different origins in Tokyo but many of those cuisines have been Japanezied to fit the taste of Japanese people (which typically means remove any trace of spice). Don’t get me wrong I love Japanese food but the altering of foreign food to fit leaves much to be desired. The restaurants in Roppongi are for the foreigners in Tokyo and so aren’t altered very much. Cajun food taste like cajun food (maybe not so spicy), a Californian meal taste like it came from California. If you’re in Tokyo I recommend both of these restaurants but I would also recommend getting out of Roppongi after you have eaten.
I have spoken here about Japan’s financial ties to the tobacco industry. The Japanese government currently owns about 50% of Japan Tobacco Inc.. A recent advisory from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare recommends “reduce tobacco consumption and reinforce measures to counter passive smoking to promote health.” Which is contrary to the Japanese Ministry of Finance who say, “individuals have a right to smoke.” Maybe so but do they have the right to blow smoke in my face?
Welcome back, I hope you all had a great holiday. If you didn’t there’s always next year. Mine was good my friends and I had a good time around Tokyo and enjoyed some great food at my favorite restaurants, Bourbon Street and Roti (both located in Roppongi). I don’t like Roppongi very much but it is the location of many tasty foreign restaurants. It is easy to find food of many different different origins in Tokyo but many of those cuisines have been Japanezied to fit the taste of Japanese people (which typically means remove any trace of spice). Don’t get me wrong I love Japanese food but the altering of foreign food to fit leaves much to be desired. The restaurants in Roppongi are for the foreigners in Tokyo and so aren’t altered very much. Cajun food taste like cajun food (maybe not so spicy), a Californian meal taste like it came from California. If you’re in Tokyo I recommend both of these restaurants but I would also recommend getting out of Roppongi after you have eaten.
Funny thing about language is that the better you are at it the more willing people are to speak to in that language. My Japanese language studies are now accelerating, pretty soon I’ll be able to order a beer 8^)
Yep it is the holiday season and I went to my local watering hole where the regular customers were treated to an all you can eat, al you can drink night of holiday merry making. Some karaoke was sang (some not so bad), bingo was played in the Japanese style, a local vocal group performed for us (my girlfriend is in the group). A good time was had by all. Back to the overindulgence. I drank too much but I had the sense to stay away from beer and wine. If I hadn’t I would have woken up with a hangover, instead I drank sake. For some reason I can drink excessive amounts of sake and wake up the next day feeling great. My Japanese friends don’t understand it when they wake up with day long hangovers after partaking in sake. I don’t indorse excessive drinking for anyone but if you want a drink and no worry about the next day I recommend rice over barley.
Another municipality in Japan has set up a smoking ban on city streets. First it was Chiyoda in Tokyo and now it’s Fukuoka, both have the same fines, 2,000 JPY (about $18) on average with a max of 20000 JYP (about $180). When the law went into effect in Chiyoda I watched some very angry people on the news yelling at the ticketing agents. I expect more of the same but I’m sure the idea is sinking in. What I find strange is that the rights of non-smokers are never spoken about. The reason for the laws are about burned clothes and cigarettes on the ground. I suppose it’s still a good start.
Last night was the event I’ve been waiting for all year, last night was nabe night. Nabe is the Japanese word for pot but more that that it is also the name for a Japanese meal made in a pot (if I ‘m going to fast for you let me know). It is a great meal that seems to taste better when it is enjoyed with friends (I suppose family too but they’re too far). There is a special way to prepare it but I can’t figure it out, it seems like grabbing whatever taste good and throwing it in a clay pot that simmers on the table where everyone is eating is the key. Best served with warm sake (IMHO), I still have the warm feeling inside and it not entirely due to the sake.
I have used this forum to bitch and moan about the stench of cigarette smoke here in Japan (actually cigarettes stink everywhere). One problem is that cigarettes are so cheap here, the price is 250 JPY (about $2). Cheaper than in the US. Well I was sure the Japanese government had no incentive to get people to quit since the government owns almost 50% of tobacco stocks. A group of politicians has proposed to raise the price of cigarette to 1000 JPY (about $9). Yes!! That will get people to stop smoking, cut down government cost for medical care, and force me to stop bitching (then again there’s always the JR trains). I know it’ll never pass but there is hope for change.
If you really want to find out about incompetence look no father than the Tokyo train company JR. If your organization needs a little they have plenty to spare. Sorry I just got off the JR and my senses haven’t returned to me yet.
I had a discussion with my girlfriend about the JR but not about incompetence it was about train perverts. No, not me. The problem is that Tokyo trains can get crowded (understatements abound) and there’s allot of attention lately about the molestation of innocent women by perverts. The authorities have gone as far as implement women’s only subway cars to fight this trend. My girlfriend was telling me about witnessing an old pervert exposing himself to a young girl. He put his pecker away when he was aware that people knew what he was doing (I have to teach her how to hurt assholes like that). I have a suggestion for JR to improve the life’s of their passengers, the problem is that they’re a big company that only cares about profits. I will tell you my suggestion as I climb down from my soapbox. They should spend a little money and put small cameras in each car. Japanese people get very conscientious when they’re being watched. So if JR is listening I saw put up some monitoring and run a few extra trains to alleviate the crowding.
It SNOWED today in Tokyo. Haven’t seen much snow in Japan and with the city effects I don’t recall seeing snow last year at all. It’s 1:30 p.m. and all I see is a little dusting on the roof tops not enough to make a snowman but it still snowed. Always reminds of my childhood and wishing for a snowday (school canceled because of snow).
