two coins on the same side?!

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Well I keeping with tradition of updating my blog in a coffee shop, I’m sitting here—a Seattle kid—in Starbucks drinking an enormous cup of coffee. Again, I apologize to those who don’t want to read my blog, yet get the email about my updated journal. I keep my photo-site updated somewhat regularly, so feel free to check that out.

http://jetsetseattle.zoto.com/galleries

Alright—onward to looking back. This last week I didn’t have class as it was Golden Week, or the whole country of Japan’s spring break. I finally made it outside of Tokyo and even managed to foray into some wilderness, but luckily made it back to my concrete jungle relatively unscathed. The trip was to the town of Fussa, about 1.5 hours west of central Tokyo, to visit my host mother’s sister (host aunt?). They planned a day hike out to a waterfall in the mountains. It was unbelievably gorgeous. I had a great time speaking English to the two dogs I was walking as my host siblings talked. In the same weekend too, we went to a different part of Tokyo and took a tour (sorta) of the Fuji Television station. I think this building gets my vote for coolest architecture in Tokyo. And if you think the outside is crazy—the interior has so much screwy Japanese TV nonsense everywhere it’ll give you instant ADD.

I saw more of (what I think is) real Japan later in the week. On Thursday my friend Dane and I attended a Matsuri in the neighborhood of Jimbouchou with our Taiko group. A matsuri is a Shinto festival where everyone from the surrounding area congregates in a celebration of worship. The crowning moment of the celebration is when the o-mikoshi (portable shrine) is lifted by parishioners and run around the area. The idea is that the local deity is actually inside of the shrine, and so by carrying around the shrine and rocking it back and forth, it spreads its presence. This, of course, done to the tune of everyone yelling as loud as they can and drinking as hard as they can. It was a lot of fun because our Taiko group got to perform and everything. I think people were a little bit put off by two blue-eyed kids in Happi coats banging away on Taiko drums alongside the rest of the group, but it was still a lot of fun. The matsuri started at 10:00am and went until 6:00pm. And we drank from 10:01am to 6:00pm. Hard. But that gave us extra strength (hmm) to carry the o-mikoshi. Needless to say, I completely lost my voice, as well as the ability to raise my arms above my head. BUT! That didn’t stop me from going to see Paul van Dyk play an all night set at the biggest club in Tokyo!

Which was amazing. Trying to communicate in Japanese by yelling over loud dance music is actually pretty hard—but fun. A lot of white people there, but almost no one from the States—lots from the U.K., France, or Germany.

I’m not sure what else to put down for today. I’m really enjoying seeing two sides of Japan (traditional Shinto by day, pounding dance music at night). I’ll try to put some video up soon, but I’m not sure when I’ll get a long enough internet connection to do that.

As always, I wish the best for everyone. Feel free to send me an email anytime---though I may not be able to get back right away.

take care.

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Photos

Matsuri
I seem pretty excited about the prospect of drinking before 11:00am

Fuji Television
all kinds of crazy shit you could (n)ever imagine

Comments

[jon nodler]

hi
alex, i think i love you this is the greatest blog to hit all blogs i wish you would update more often b/c i get excited when i get an email about your travel blog

[deleted_16075]

hah
oh man, sounds like a great time once again. One of your images isn't loaded correctly, btw. I cannot WAIT till I get there. It's gonna be odd being able to speak to the German tourists too :O