OF IMMIGRATION, CELEBRATION, TRANSPORTATION,

VACATION & RECREATION!

DUE 2 TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES I WAS UNABLE TO POST ANY PHOTOS - SORRY!

Hey all! I see by the numerous comments left on my Blog page (1 to date) that you all fall over one another getting up to speed with my well spent time here, in Edo (Tokyo’s original name, meaning Rivergate).

The fact that there has only been one single comment does not deter me, for I know that soon after receiving my update notification, you ALL immediately stop whatever you are doing, crack open a beer or have a cigarette or pick w your personal poison, and cruise on over to my place to have a read – mucho appreciado. And so, with no further ado, I bring to you, more of my life in Tokyo…

As the title of this entry suggests, I have been a bit busier this month or so. First let me tell you about the ‘surprise’ immigration check that befell the complex of apartments where I live.

On April 13 (ooooh how ominous) there was a knock at the door, and usually I would expect it be my neighbor Santos inviting me over for a bite to eat or just to hang out. Well on this day there was a small contingent of people, mostly in their mid-to-late twenties, accompanied by an older man (the team leader I guess), in his fifties, and unbeknownst to me, some policemen lingering downstairs. We, and I say ‘we’ because it was not only me but all my gaijin neighbors who were being questioned, were asked to produce either our passports or our ‘gaijin card’ (also know as our Alien Registration card). And we all did. There were no problems, but the ‘sweep’ made us all a bit edgy. First of all, none of the ‘agents’ looked very official. They had no picture I.D., just a small plastic flip-open cop-like cardholder with several pages, mostly in Japanese, stating that they worked for the Immigration Office, or so I remember. They didn’t have clipboards or official Immigration stationary; they merely took our info down on scraps of paper and then phoned it in to see if it was legit. Kinda sketchy I thought.

Well all my paperwork was in order and they thanked me and left, no harm no foul. But it was a bit unnerving, for all we knew they were a band of Yakuza who had just phoned in our information to make fake I.D.’s or perhaps something even more sinister. We must continue to wait and see.

Later that week, Hannah and I hosted our first official dinner party. We jointly celebrated our b-dayz by inviting the neighbors and some friends over for a potluck dinner. It was fun, and now we know that we can somewhat comfortably fit 9 people in our bedroom. We had Dahl soup, steamed rice, chicken curry, melted Camembert cheese with small baguettes, booze, juice and cakes, and it seemed like quite a success. Everyone got on quite well and some of us even mozeed over to the local karaoke bar to ruine some of musical history’s greatest songs. Oh well.

More about music. If you know me at all you’ll know that I had spent the better part of the 90’s raving, partying, whatever. Both locally, nationally and internationally. Well even though I have been RETIRED for several years, I got my groove back on here in Tokyo. There were no phat-pants, or platform shoes, nor did I resurrect my tie-dyed t-shirts. I was not exuding PLUR at all; I just spent the day, outdoors, wiggling my butt about. Actually, I went there under the auspices of taking photos, both for my Blog and for posterity, but it was hard not to get some ‘boogie-ing’ in.

The Nagisa Musical Festival took place in Odaiba, which is a man made island on the waterfront, similar to where Expo ’67 took place in Montreal. Odaiba is considered Tokyo’s futuristic entertainment centre because there are many attractions there, including Rainbow Bridge (that lights up at night), the Mega Web amusement park, several technological museums and an onsen (to relax at afterwards, if you so choose.) We partied right in front of Fuji TV, practically in their parking lot, and it’s quite the building to behold.

Now there are several items I want to point out. First of all, a ‘day-rave’ is just a smashing idea. There is nothing wrong with partying all night, as I have done many a time. But a pre-planned day party makes oh so much sense, if the weather co-operates, and it did. Being in the sun and having fun - sounds like a Beach Boys song. Now this party/rave wasn’t the smoothest affair I have ever been too. There were glitches and technical problems, and the DJ’s don’t mix into one-another (as I am used to)> Instead, the music stops, then gear is disassembled and/or assembled, people mill about, some shopping at the myriad of stalls selling clothes, arts n crafts, jewelry etc, or eating at the plethora of restos, including Indian, kebabs, noodles, beer etc…. quite organized they are., then the music starts up again. However, I must give credit to the organizers, the door was nice n easy: it did take a bit of time, but then letting 10,000 + people into any venue will take some time. It was smooth, tight, oh so polite. It was actually a pleasure to wait in line with all the hyped people ready to have some fun. I can’t say that about the majority of events that I’ve been to or been involved in. So props to the organizers and the staff, for making it easy from the get go!

Now you’d think that Tokyo would be on the cutting edge musically, well not at this event, and that was evident when the KLF trax starting to boom from the speakers. However, I did enjoy the nostalgia. But it was a party nonetheless. Musically Tokyo-ites enjoy Psychadelic Trance and some harder techno, but there was some reggae, dub, a house tent (where I spent most of my time ass-shaking) some live P.A.s and an ambient-chill area. Jeff Mills was the headliner, and I think I actually caught some of his set, but I really just wandered around all day, taking it all in.
The end result was that I spent a really nice day in the sun, with friends, listening to music, taking photos, watching people dance like Michael Kogan (hey Mike!), eat, drink and generally blow off some steam and be merry. KEWL!

Earlier the next week I got my bicycle, a ‘shopping bike’ with no gears. It ain’t pretty but it does the job. Now I can harass pedestrians like I was being harassed. Actually, I hope to set a better example by actually using the bell to warn people that I am approaching and would like to pass them. That’s not how it’s presently being done. But I digress!

Let’s see, how ‘bout some tidbits 4 u … I registered to be a model and almost landed a TV commercial right off the bat, but didn’t. Bought nose hair clippers and now, for the rest of my life, I have to keep myself well groomed or look like either my high school computer science teacher or my high school home room teacher, both whom had either bushy nostrils or furry ears! Got and then subsequently lost my first professional photography job, and was also short listed by The Japan Times for a position as Jr. Copy Editor (as of this writing I am still waiting 4 news). Checked out Tokyo’s Earth Day celebration, which was cool, with lots of food, bands n Japanese hippies mulling about. Made contact with the Tokyo’s Jewish community and even went to synagogue once (and it was nice!). Visited Yokohama with Hannah on here vacation and ate in Chinatown, which makes Montreal’s Chinatown look oh so sad! Worked at the cable TV station where I co-host an English-Japanese instructional show. Tried out our washing machine, which looks nothing like a good old North American one, but works well enough, and finally experienced SUMO…

SUMO rox! We had made some plans to hook up with some of Hannah’s co-workers and make a day of it, but it didn’t turn out that way. Hannah and I got to the Ryokoku Kokugikan arena early in the morning because we didn’t buy advance tickets. Once there we bought reserved tix for 3600 Y (36 CDN) each and went to find our seats. Suffice it to say that were in the nosebleed section. But our guidebook said that since most people don’t show up until the afternoon, for the heavyweight matches, that we could sit down below until then. And we did, we sat right up at the ring, first row, and watched both SUNO trainees and unranked or lower ranked wrestlers slap, push, grab and clutch each other while falling all over, and sometimes out of, the ring. It was neat to watch.

The day passed and slowly the seats and the arena filled up, but we were still down at ringside. Yes, we had to move from cushion to cushion (the VIPS get thin cushions while the people in the stands had regular seats – too weird!). But in the end we stayed ringside all day. It was truly awesome. The wrestlers got bigger and heavier, their outfits as well as those of the officials, got more elaborate and colorful, the event became more ceremonious and the wrestling got more intense and brutal. These guys get in a 4-point stance, like football players, and rush each other without any protective equipment, and more often that not they hit head one, skull on skull, and you can both hear it and feel it. Let me tell you, sumo wrestlers are severely damaged goods. Their bodies have scars, dents, holes and growths; their feet are cracked, they are taped up at the foot, ankles, thighs, wrists and fingers, but they keep on. Sometimes they land on their heads, or are thrown from the ring and land on their backs or sides, and get up bleeding or worse. THESE GUYS ARE TOUGH, but despite their stature and strength, they also look quite gentle and childlike, especially when they smile.

So, we go there at about 9 AM, and squatted and crouched and sat through almost 200 matches, and left at about 6 PM. The day, at ringside, was well worth it. I think some of the VIPS may have been a bit perturbed that we were sitting with them, but no one said anything. So to them I say thanks - thanks for letting us experience SUMO up close and personal, it was awesome!

And so that’s what been happening of late. A lot to read but a lot has happened. I hope everyone’s doing well wherever u may be. Keep in touch if you feel like it, or just keep an eye out for another one of my scintillating updates. Until then remember:

‘Every moment is a golden one for s/he who has the vision to recognize it as such’

Later ya’all!

S.