Today I set out to be a tourist again. It’s amazing how quickly anywhere in the world can get comfortable and boring if you don’t take it upon yourself to go out and see what’s around you. So I found the One Day in Tokyo itinerary on Wikitravel and decided to sort of follow it.
I started off strong by waking up around 9 therefore abandoning the whole “go to the fish market and have sushi for breakfast at 5am” part of the plan. No thank you. If clocks were people their butthole would be 5am, and fish for breakfast sounds like something that is illegal to do to prisoners.
So I went to the Edo-Tokyo Museum and learned about Tokyo’s history.
Childbirth during the Edo period was generally seated delivery, and the woman in labor used a rope hung down from the ceiling or an assistant as a support. The newborn baby was given its first bath by the midwife, who seated herself in front of the bath tub and bathed the baby by placing it on its face on her lap. One reason for this was to protect the opening made from cutting the umbilical core from getting wet. Another reason was that it was commonly believed one should not take an eye off the child’s back which, according to Chinese belief, was an important place where all five entrails were concentrated. The mother of the newborn child, in accordance with a popular tradition to prevent blood from streaming up to her head, had to spend seven days and nights seated, either on the delivery seat or leaning against the futon piled up. Unfortunately, it was not uncommon that this practice ruined the woman’s health.
Check out the incredible process of woodblock printing. Step 1 is on the right, and each step adds more detail. I was impressed.
Japan once again winning in the department of recognizing that the visually impaired still want to enjoy things.
They had versions of paintings you could feel, with braille description as well of course.
They had versions of the building miniatures you could feel too.
Next I went to the Meiji Jingu temple garden. That was a nice walk in a park which was frequented by the Emperor and Empress themselves when they were alive.
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Then I walked through Shinjuku’s Harajuku and found a place called Calbee Plus, dedicated to nothing but treats made of fried potatoes.
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Then I spotted, for my first time in Japan…
Adventure Time’s Finn and Jake!!!
I followed them up to the 9th floor of some building and got my picture with them!
Then I found out there was a free event of some kind…
So I found a place to stand
And behold, guest animators from the sixth season were speaking!
The guy is a famous animator named Masaaki Yuasa who guest directed/storyboarded the episode Food Chain.
I should know who the woman was but I don’t. If you know, tell me please!
I should probably know this third person too.
Masaaki Yuasa spoke along with some other folks I didn’t know (but that probably just makes me the Philistine here, not them the unknowns). Here they are discussing the episode he was given free reign to create in Season 6:
OK then I came home and burned some gyoza for dinner and wrote this.
It’s a beautiful, rainy day here in Tokyo. Let’s look at some pictures.
I’ve spent a few nights at Shibuya’s Ruby Room. They have a Tuesday night open mic, and I love open mic nights. There’s always such a variety of skill levels and musical styles, and I have a special place in my heart for amateur artists performing for the love of the music. For me the soul of lo-fi and live beats a polished and produced recording any day.
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Apart from open mic nights, I also checked out show by The Casablancas there.
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Good stuff. They actually opened for another band that night but in my opinion stole the show.
Also, had dinner with coworkers the other night. I love these folks! They really know how to have a good time together and have been super welcoming to me.
The Computer Cheats 
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