Japan Day 36: Tokyu Hands and Crêpes

Today was my day off (on a Monday because of the peculiar dates of the program I am working at), so I slept for most of the morning. After a refreshing awakening, I went to visit Tokyu Hand, a DIY shop in Shibuya. The store had a lot of floors, and each floor was jam packed with items. Everything being sold had a unique vibe, and I felt a very creative atmosphere in the space.

For dinner, I had unagi (eel) for the first time in Japan at a chain restaurant called Yoshinoya. I have to say that, even before coming to Japan, eel was one of my favorite foods, so I was very satisfied with my meal today.

For dessert, I went to the famous Angels Heart Crêpes Cafe in Harajuku's Takeshita Street, which is the oldest crêpes place in Harajuku (where the crêpes are very well-known). I got the vanilla ice cream and banana flavor, and it was definitely a good deal because the crêpe was actually huge!

Japan Day 35: Homestay in Saitama

I was able to experience a homestay at my friend's house in Kawagoe (Saitama) for a day and night! I had a great time, and I was also able to experience a traditional Japanese lifestyle. For the night, I slept on a futon in a tatami room, and enjoy a nice home-cooked meal! (I was also pretty excited because Saitama is where Shin-chan– a cartoon character from my childhood– lives.)

During the day, my friend took me out to see the sights of the area. She lives in a pretty historical part of Saitama, which is nicknamed "Little Edo" (Edo being the past name of Tokyo). It was a very quaint place with many local shops. I was able to see stores that sold traditional souvenirs, candy, rice crackers, and pickles (which I sampled).

There was also a shrine in the neighborhood, where I stopped by. I saw many wooden wish plates hung in a tunnel of the shrine, and I was luckily able to witness a Shinto wedding being held! The weather was perfect that day for the bride and groom!

Japan Day 34: Okurayama International Forum

The Okurayama International Forum this year was held in collaboration with Harvard University, so those of us who were in Japan were invited to attend this event in Yokohama (specifically Okurayama). We were able to meet students from Keio University, Yokohama City University, and Tokyo Institute of Technology! There were also speakers, including Ted Gilman (Executive Director of the Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies), the deputy mayor of Yokohama, the sound director of the movie Akira, and a representative from the U.S. embassy. This month also marks the 160th anniversary of U.S.-Japan Relations, which is part of the reason for holding the forum. 

At the forum, we were able to enjoy a performance by a traditional Japanese acting troupe, and we were also able to voice a part of episode three from the anime Tari Tari! The seiyuu's (voice actors) came to the conference, and demonstrated how they voiced the characters, and we were given a chance to voice them in English. I played Konatsu in the show, and I was very nervous. Voice acting is a lot harder than it looks! After that, we collaborated with the Japanese students in making sensu (Japanese folding fans), which was very fun! We ended the day with a lavished dinner with both western and Japanese foods.

Japan Day 33: Museum and Asakusa

Today, I went to visit the Edo-Tokyo Museum, which was really fun for a museum! The recreations were realistic and detailed, and I was able to learn a lot about the history of Tokyo.

In the afternoon, I toured around Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, where I made a wish and receive “The Best Fortune” from the fortune-telling part of the temple. I also saw many Buddhas and other cool artifacts from history. The streets of Asakusa were really busy with both locals and tourists. I didn't buy any souvenirs, but I tried cucumber on a stick and dango!

I also had the opportunity to make some food samples today! Food samples are the realistic displays that restaurants often have in front of their stores (at least in Japan). I made some tempura eggplant and lettuce from hot wax, which was not as hard as I had expected. Definitely an fun experience!

Japan Day 32: Yoyogi Park and Lectures

I had a free morning, so I walked through Yoyogi Park from the Olympics Center to Harajuku. The walk was pretty manageable, and it fortunately didn't rain (although it was looking a bit gloomy)! I was surprised by the number of crows that were in the park. They made really loud sounds, which were almost like human cries. The park itself was very serene; on my way back, I saw many families and student groups having barbecues. One person was even camping outside!

At Harajuku, I bought some souvenirs, and I also tried the Coffee Jelly Frappuccino at Starbucks! The drink was pretty good, though expensive.

In the afternoon, I went back to Showa for lectures on the history of Tokyo and Japanese women. I learned a lot about how the city began as a small port town and how it has since developed. The president of Showa spoke to us again, and she gave a presentation on women in Japanese society. There was a great discussion going on about how, though the gender gap is closing, Japan still has a long way to go before true equality can be reached.  

Japan Day 31: Furoshiki and the Soba Shop

Today, we learned the art of cloth-folding, furoshiki. I thought that the activity was really fun! We wrapped many things in cloth (like boxes, beer bottles, etc), and we also made handbags with some simple knots. At the end of the session, we were gifted a furoshiki cloth! (I got a yellow one– super cute!)

I also went back to the soba shop near the school that we have frequenting. In my broken Japanese, I was able to introduce myself, and I also found out the name of the woman who was serving us (and giving us free drinks)– Kikui-san! We spoke to her and her family, and said that we would bring more Americans to visit the soba shop!

Japan Day 30: Calligraphy and Tea Ceremony

Today, I experience two of Japan's traditions: calligraphy and the tea ceremony (sado). It was my first time see both arts in action, and I even got to try writing some words and preparing tea! For my final calligraphy piece, I wrote my family name (with some guidance from a calligraphy club member), and I finished it off by signing my name on the side with my stamp (which I got at the dollar store). 

The tea ceremony was very enjoyable to watch. The grace of the instructor was impeccable, and we were able to witness both the opening and closing parts of a tea ceremony. We also got a chance to try traditional Japanese confectionary sweets, coupled with some green tea that we whisked ourselves!

Japan Day 29: The Official First Day

Today was the official first day for the SWU Summer International Program (SSIP), which is the program I am organizing and also the reason why I am in Japan! The day actually went really smoothly, with the buses not being too crowded on our way to the university. We kicked the day off with an Opening Ceremony, where the students and staff members introduced themselves. There are 18 international college students total in the program (from 9 countries), and they will be engaging in a variety of hands-on activities, lectures, field trips, and workshops. After the ceremony, some of Showa's Japanese students showed us around Shibuya (specifically a discount book store, the Disney store, Tower Records, and Shibuya 109). There, I saw this very swagged-out pineapple:

After walking around Shibuya for 3 hours (which was both fun and exhausting), we came back to a catered Welcome Dinner Party! (There were many yummy foods, including sushi, fruits, and western hors d'oeuvres). The President of the University, Mariko Bando, also made some remarks, welcoming the students to Japan. There was mingling and more introductions, and we also watched the Koto club play on standing koto's (traditional Japanese instruments), a wonderful new experience.

Japan Day 28: Moving Locations

We have moved from the Dormy Inn to the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center, which is right next to Yoyogi Park and Harajuku. (It used to be where the 1964 summer Olympians stayed, but is now available for rent to groups. Perhaps, the 2020 Olympics will bring new restorations.) It is in a pretty good location, but there are not that many amenities. There is also no wi-fi, so my posts for the next two weeks may be more sporadic and shorter. We spent most of today helping Showa Women's University Summer International Program participants (who are from 9 different countries!) move from Narita Airport to the Center. It was a very tiring day, but we are glad that everyone is safe and moved in! Here is the slightly drab view from my window:

Fortunately, there is a convenience store on the ground of of my building, Building D. It seems to have a lot of items in stock, and there is a large lounge area right next to it too. The outside area of the Center is not too shabby– very well-landscaped and architecturally sound. We will be very busy tomorrow once the program starts!

Japan Day 27: Baseball Fun

I went to a baseball game today on my day off– the Yakult Swallows vs. Orix Buffaloes! I was actually afraid that the game would be cancelled because the forecast predicted rain, but the sky didn't leak a drop. It was actually quite sunny at times! We (some other friends and I) sat on the Swallows side of the stadium, so we cheered for them (the home team). The game was surprisingly very fun! The Swallows fans were just as interesting as the game; they had synchronized cheers, and, every time the team scored a point, they would open up their mini-umbrellas to bob along to a victory song! It was an unique experience for me! The Swallows won too, so the crowd was ecstatic. 

Because it was so hot during the game, I got some Baskin Robbins ice cream to cool me down. It was the first time I had Baskin Robbins! I chose the "Popping Shower" flavor, which is vanilla flavored ice cream with pop rocks. At first, the pop rocks tasted a lot like cake, and I thought that they wouldn't pop in my mouth, but, after a few seconds, I felt the popping! They also sold various souvenirs at the stalls, including some items that were super cute!

After the game, we went to a nearby Thai restaurant, and I ordered some pad thai. It was delicious, and the portion was good for the price. The atmosphere was also classy and the venue well-decorated. 

After the Thai food, our group decided to get some waffles from a Belgian waffle shop. I had quite the international experience today: we were Americans and Europeans eating Belgian waffles (at a outdoors table that belonged to an Italian restaurant) after enjoying Thai food and a Japanese baseball game!

Japan Day 26: Bar Conversations

During lunch, I got some cookies and cream mochi ice cream from the convenience store on campus, and that was yummy. It is like the mochi ice cream in the U.S., but cheaper and fresher, in my opinion. At the university, I also visited a seminar class where we talked about the American and Japanese education systems. 

After a hectic day of work (the last Friday before the summer program starts), I went out with some coworkers to a Korean-owned Japanese bar in Takadanobaba (which I thought was a funny name). We ordered a lot of small dishes, including yakitori, meatballs, and Korean pancakes. All the food was very good, and we had conversations ranging in topic from books to cultural differences and women's role in Japanese society. I learned a lot about how feminism isn't really existent in Japan, though female equality has increased from the past. It is very hard for women to re-enter the workforce after they have a child, and, as a result, the female labor force participation rate is very low in Japan. Many girls grow up expecting just to get married and become a housewife, which I personally thought was disconcerting. Though the female population of Japan is one of the most educated groups in the world, they are also the most unemployed (for their skill level). I think my visit to Japan has really enlightened me on women's issues in Asia from a different perspective. Though my blog has mainly been about food and sight-seeing, I will try to share more of my observations.

Japan Day 25: New Fruit and Thrift Shopping

I tried some new foods today! For lunch, I had some pineapple Italian ice. I really like pineapple, so I thought it was really good. The head of the Center for International Exchange, Professor Nishikawa, also gave me a loquat, a fruit from the Chiba Prefecture (near Tokyo). It was the first time I have had loquat, and I would say that the flavor is a cross between a mango and a plum. Very good!

After work, I decided to go do some shopping in Harajuku. I had read online that the used clothing store, Kinji (which is right next to the Meiji Jingumae-Harajuku Station), had some really good deals. Since it is right in Harajuku, the clothes there were castaways from one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in the world. I did find a lot of great stuff at the store. The items ranged from ¥100 to ¥1200, with most items being ¥700 or ¥900. I tried to buy clothes that I would not be able to find in the U.S., and I walked away from the store with a silk shirt, a flowery top (by a Japanese brand Liz Lisa), and a vintage summer turtleneck. 

Japan Day 24: Traditional Food and Sushi

One of my co-workers in the office took us (the other intern and I) out for lunch today to a nearby traditional Japanese restaurant! The lunch menu for the day included cutlet, seafood, and pork Shabu Shabu (thinly sliced meat), which was what I got. The flavors were all very delicate, and there were many Japanese vegetables and roots that were included in the preparation of the lunch. (The set also had a side salad, seasoned rice, pickles, miso soup, and tofu in soy sauce.) It was a great meal! Afterward, we went to visit a business Professor, and I learned a lot about Japanese business and management (which was surprisingly interesting) and its history (translative adaptation, corporate structure that resulted from the feudal period, etc). The professor gave us some pistachio candy too (from Iran)!

After work, we went out to eat conveyor belt sushi again! This time, there was more variety, and I even had some stewed fish (which was very flavorful). I also plucked up the courage to order ootoro (fatty tuna), which was one of the most expensive dishes there (at ¥500). It was even served on a shiny, almost golden plate! I have to say the the fish was unlike any tuna I had before; it kind of melts in your mouth. It was a good new experience, and I'm glad that I tried it!