Misadventures in Translation

Super Spicy Ramen? Check. Naked Figurines? Check. Super Spicy Naked Figurines? Check.

Tokyo has all this and more. Once again, I had a great time in Tokyo. Thanks to Tomita’s friend, Chunta, we had a free place to stay at over the weekend. It’s nice to have several connections in Tokyo. Makes staying over a much cheaper experience.

Friday night after school (12/1), Tomita and I took the train from the desolate Anayama Station to the human maze of Shinjuku Station. We then we to Ikebukuro to meet Chunta and eat at Antonio Inoki’s Restaurant. Antonio Inoki is a famous Japanese pro-wrestler. At some point, he fought Muhammad Ali. The restaurant is quite famous and was packed when we got there. The dinner was great and I actually had a half-way decent steak (for Japan). Here are some good pictures from the restaurant. For more pictures from the restaurant, click here.

I contemplated ripping my shirt off and running into the restaurant yelling, “AMERICAN POWER!!!”

Tomita loves wrestling. Too bad I know squat about wrestling. But at least we both know Stone Cold Steve Austin. Tomita has a pro-wrestling friend (Osamu Nishimura?) who has houses in Chiba and Miami. Nishimura lives next to Hideki Matsui of the New York Yankees. Evidently, we get to attend Nishimura’s Christmas Party in Chiba the day after our school’sYear End Party.

Antonia has a bigger chin than me. Amazing.

Antonio is so awesome that he catches fire when doing his signature moves.

Tomita and Chunta, my host for the weekend.

• “Hey, Adam!”
• “What?”
• “Let us order you something.”
• “As long as you’re paying.”
• “SUUUUUPPPAAAAAA HEEEEEBBBIIIIII!!!!”

I thought I was in Japan. Not Germany. I’m not accustomed to seeing mugs the size of my head in Japan.

We’re high rollers…

Tomita loves ramen. Everytime we go somewhere to eat during the week, it’s always ramen. I think he’ll name one of his kids ramen. Chunta, Tomita, and I met up with Tomita’s friend Maeko. We then headed over to one of Tokyo’s famous ramen spots. Muoko Tanmen Shinjuku has been featured on television a bajillion times. Why? It has the spiciest ramen west or east of the Mississippi. I took on the spiciest they had to offer. Just look at the pictures. It screams, “I’m going to make your poo burn.”

I ate it all. Is this all you’ve got Japan? Come on.

We then took a trip over to Tokyo Dome. Chunta works somewhere near there. The Tokyo Dome area has a lot going on. It has many shops, a ferris wheel, and A ROLLER COASTER. The roller coaster was well designed, but low on thrill factor. It needed more speed. The roller goes on top of a building, through a gigantic hole in some important building, and through the ferris wheel. It would have been been better with more twists and loops. At 262 feet tall, it is the fifth tallest coaster in the world. But it lacked any major punch. Maybe that’s why it had the pansy name of Thunder Dolphin. This coaster has the most unnecessary rules I have ever seen. I had to completely empty my pockets before riding. Lame.

They told me strike a cool pose for the ladies. I don’t believe it worked.

I paid 1000 yen for this?

For more pictures of the Tokyo Dome area, click here.

After goofing around at Tokyo Dome, we headed over to nerd central: Akihabara. Akihabara is great for good electronic deals, but I didn’t really need anything. I enjoyed browsing around and seeing some of the weirder things.

We’re too cool for Akihabara. This was just outside a shop that sells some interesting costumes and accessories. Maybe we should have worn the sunglasses inside too.

Akihabara only looks good at night.

If you think these figurines are scandalous, you should see the other ones I haven’t posted. They are more naked and ridiculously expensive. 500 dollars for a big naked figurine in compromised positions? 500 could almost buy you a Russian bride.

At least Japan knows that Rambo rules. Too bad this costs 120 dollars.

Did I buy these? Maybe. I like to pretend I’m at the beach during the winter.

For more pictures from Akihabara, click here.

After Akihabara, we went to an izakaya (Japanese restaurant) in Tokyo. Apparently, Tomita and Chunta used to frequent this place quite often in their college days. We ate some great nabe (various vegetables and meat tossed into heated soy sauce), udon, and soba. For more izakaya pics, click here.

This old man can make a mean batch of soba. Best soba I’ve had.

If someone gives the peace sign one more time, heads are going to roll.

Maeko, Tomita, Chunta, and I.

Maeko, Me, and Chunta.

Sunday, I went to Chinzansou Hotel near Edogawa. My friend, Eri, has a hobby of modeling wedding clothes. She was modeling Japanese wedding clothes that day. Here is a picture of her. I didn’t get to stay long enough to see the completed look.

I’m glad I don’t have to wear all that heavy crap.

On Sunday evening, we went to Tokyo Tower. I’ve seen Tokyo Tower in the daytime, but it is much more impressive at night. I wish I had also brought my DSLR with me. The pictures would have been better. Maybe another time. For other Tokyo Tower pics, click here.

I kept waiting here for Godzilla to come and destroy things. But he never came. He still hasn’t returned my calls.

Maeko and I at the base of the tower.

Before leaving, we ate okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is very fun. You are given the materials necessary to make your dish and then cook it yourself on a hibachi grill. It’s really simple. All you do is poor the stuff on the hibachi and and mix it around for a while.

Maeko demonstrates the way of okonomiyaki.

It doesn’t look delicious, but you must suspend disbelief and try it.

Coming back home is always a little odd. I leave the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and arrive at a train station that doesn’t even have a ticket counter. At least the air here is cleaner.

This weekend, I have a holiday party with the other ALT’s in Yamanashi. You’ll get to see some pictures of me in my snazzy suit.

Now, for your moment of Japanese zen:

I’m think about modifying my little car into a car pool.

If you can’t see the video, click this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecjqzAyu4O4