Daze In Tokyo

A group of girls at my school organized a drama project. They wrote an English script for Japanese children to help their English skills.

Their project reminded me of the Fuessa English theatre competition and Magic Monkey--two college drama programs built around learning English through performance. Those productions showed how theatre can be an engaging and relatively effective method to language practice.

They needed native English speakers to edit their script and record a read through for the children to practice off of.

Doing a learn English-type CD or show was one of my goals to do in Japan. Even though I’ve drifted from performance acting I’m still nostalgically fond of it and find opportunities hard to resist. I was on board.

...

By the time myself and B arrived, Mi had already gone through the script of about 16 pages.

(We had to take off our shoes)

The script told an abridged and easy to understand story of Walt Disney. It was digestible with concise lines, and they did a good job at explaining complexities such as animation.

After editing and a read through, Mi had to leave. B and I entered the booth. It had enough room for four small chairs around a table.

We used one proper mic with a pop filter and Sony MDR-v6 headphones. The audio engineer controlled whether we could hear outside the booth as well as our voices inside the headphones. I thought it’d be distracting hearing your own voice while talking but that amplified my voice so I could focus on what I was doing with it.

We read through the script by scene with a brief break in-between to rest and to review if the recording was useable.

Later we left the booth to the room to hear our session. It was weird hearing a high grade recording of our own voices.

There were a couple flubs: wrong word or unnatural intonation. I was very conscious of speaking too fast. I also worried about “acting too much”. B later commented it was better to have some character rather than speak in monotone like a lot of language audio tools do. (True. I’ve fallen asleep to Pimsleur a number of times).

Through a friend I met Ryou Arai, a teacher and dancer of the Kin'ou School of Dance, a generational school run by his family that teaches sensu--traditional fan dance.

He welcomed me to his home for a(n unexpected) one-on-one lesson.

The lesson began with him showing me how to wear yukata, obi, and tabi (socklike shoes). Because of my yosakoi club, I was already familiar although it was nice to see him show me how to tie the obi. It was very important that design when placed on the body shows the smaller line above the larger line. The reason is if one visualizes a smaller object it cannot hold up a larger object, thus small above large.

Next he explained the parts of the fan. The paper part is the jigami; the pivot that holds the handle together is the kaname; the spines are the nakabone; the thicker outside spines are the oyabone. Please see the visual from J-Crafts below:

Then he showed a few common poses. Every pose has a symbolic meaning. The easiest is waving the fan left to right slowly, which stands for water. Another move is “flower” which was basically voguing!

We did a short dance to music. The theme was sho-chiku-bai, a Chinese reading of the kanji 松竹梅. The Japanese reading is matsu (pine), take (bamboo) and ume (plum). These three trees “The Three Friends of Winter” are a common metaphor in Japanese culture for joy and good fortune.The movements represented the trees and a desire to spread joy to the world.

When the dance practice was over we had time for questions. I was interested in its history and relation to noh and kabuki theatre.

Late-spring and summer is a tough time to see musicians. This is the season of music festivals which cost 6,000 to over 100,000 yen. It’s likely you want to see a particular band, but don’t care about any other bands at a festival.

I almost gave up on seeing Galileo Galilei since they are fairly popular, but with a stroke of luck they had a concert at a nutrition college in Saitama--40mins away from Tsuda College.

Rad Concert/Live Tips: It’s maybe most common for the venue to line and group the audience up by ticket number which was given on a first-come-first-serve basis. When the doors open groups enter in numerical order. Thing is, if your ticket is for a standing room or doesn’t have a seat number you can sit/stand anywhere. People have their preference and may not want to be close up. So don’t sweat so much while watching throngs of people enter before you. 

The concert was amazing. Galileo Galilei had incredible live performance quality. Playful enough to not be a studio recording copy; totally solid sound. Yuuki (lead singer/guitarist)’s voice was so nice with this distinct tone that makes him a great frontman and musician.

During the in between time Yuuki, according to my friend, started talking about nutrition. I understand wanting to connect with your audience, but just play some music dude.

And play more music they did. Most of the music I didn’t know, but later in the show they played more songs I recognized and could time my “Japanese groupist concert fist pumping” with the crowd and the music.

Earlier when we checked in, staff explained their “surprise” for Galileo Galilei. It was a card stunt-- where audience members each hold up cards which creates a larger, recognizable image. Like at football games. Cute idea.

For the encore we got out our cards from under our seats and shouted “encore.” Already the planned big red heart looked like a sea of red and whitespace squares. No one was connecting the cards and everyone was holding them up at different heights.

The band came out and looked confused at what we were doing. Staff then cued us to flip our cards which was supposed to be their mascot--a dog face. The members were like, “Ohh. Thank you. An onigiri?”

Eventually they figured out the image (or someone told them). They were pleased and amused at the gesture saying no one has done that for them.

At the entrance each person got a random button. I glanced at mine then did a double take. It was a Tokumaru button!! How lucky!!

The opening act, Yogee New Waves had easy to enjoy music. They grew on me quickly.

First band was Kinoko Teikoku. The singing was lovely and music more on the chill side yet upbeat.

Cero was a happy surprise! Fantastic energy, especially from the lead singer/fluteist who had a fun character and singing voice. Every song was groovy; a little “twisty” which made it great to dance to. I want a CD.

With Shugo up next, I rushed to the bathroom to change into the t-shirt I bought (at last!!) and pinned on the event button.

Some people started heading towards the front so I gathered my things and followed.

The first song was Tightrope. An absolute dream come true. It’s one of my favorite songs because of the deep emotion it evokes.

Not surprisingly ushers told us we couldn’t stand there so I found a place not too far from the front. I got two people’s worth of space to funk out. And funk out I did.

He was so full of energy. That evening was the most expressive, loose, and joyful I’ve seen him perform. There was a beautiful moment in Green Rain where as he held out the end of a line he arched backwards, arms out and stretched the note into a satisfying yell. He played around with the band. Always for one song (Down, Down tonight) the band bursts into to seemingly haphazzard sound then silence. This show he pointed dramatically at a musician to play their instrument. Yunniko (who plays most of the toys and accordion) always has lots to choose from! A saxophonist was on so for her turn she played a long improve that made Shugo shrink to a crouch, still pointing at her awesomeness. 

The audience also had energy. Plenty of people stood, danced and bounced around. Led by the bassist (and strongly encouraged by me) everyone did the claps for Katachi. This was the first performance I could freely move to my hearts content as I always want to do while listening to his music. That atmosphere and company just made the experience even more beautiful.

Sadly it had to end. The crowd persisted in an encore clap. It lasted a while as techies came on setting up more mics. It was so long I almost started a “mou ikai” (one more time) chant when they filed back on stage.

Shugo thanked us then admitted he didn’t have an encore prepared. So he introduced lead singers from the other bands to sing a song together. It was a fun, feel good song. A chance to linger under Shugo’s prescence just a few more minutes. Then it was done.

While leaving the park, a man approached me holding out Shugo’s button asking if I wanted it. He said he saw me at the concert (i.e. how obviously dai fan I was) and he didn’t really know him. I gave him a genuine thanks and took the button. It’s always later I think of ways to continue a convo like, oh well what do you think of him Now? Or, who did you come to see?

Pleased with my status and kind gift, I continued walking humoring myself with thoughts of Shugo at the “stage door.” That’s when I saw him. Shugo was outside the back gate, just a few yards away, in a circle with other musicians I guessed. So reachable yet so distant. I had to sit down and think about whether or not to say a quick appreciation and how to do it with that group of people. He made the decison for me when he went back inside. I was mostly relieved.

So for over 3 weeks I’ve had a terrible cough and runny nose. We’re talking consistent coughing fits for over a month. It cleared up for 2 days then came back full force. Then on Friday (252) I woke up with horrible pain in my right ear. That’s when I had enough and went to see a doctor.

After a mandatory emergency drill, I went to a local clinic. It was a tiny, general clinic with two receptionists and one doctor. With about nine people before me I waited for roughly an hour and twenty minutes. During the wait I noticed the piano music sounded off-key. I humored that maybe it was a recording of the doc’s nephew’s recital. Then the receptionists sounded like robots. I managed alright through the “exam” which was mostly talking about my symptoms. He took a quick look in my mouth and ear and diagnosed otitis media. He referred me to a ear, throat, and nose clinic in the neighborhood. That cost 850 yen.

The clinic was closed that day so I came back today with a friend to help me understand and ask questions. This place was also quaint but far less busy. The doctor spoke some English but used mostly Japanese when he observed I could understand for the most part what he was saying. He looked in my ear and also diagnosed otitis media. He then stuck this long metal instrument up each nostril which was just uncomfortable. After prescribing medicine the nurse led me to a machine that had a thick, rubber nasal cannula through which I was supposed to breathe in “medicine.” It was kinda amusing when I exhaled white smoke.

The doctor prescribed a weeks worth of 4 kinds of pills (yay). The total came to 990 yen. That was the general kind, I could’ve bought the better kind. Side note: they also pushed purchasing a medicine log book for about 10 yen but I had no use for.

Day 247: かき氷 kakigori

We bought tickets for the last show of the day since the next one was already sold out. We killed time and ate at a tabehoudai okonomiyaki place.

It was B’s friend’s b-day so I was happy to introduce okonomiyaki because it’s very unique and engaging in that you have to (typically) cook it yourself. The waitress saw us three Americans and helped us by cooking B and E’s food. I pridefully took care of my own. It was a good thing she helped because you cook the meat first, then pour the mixture. (I never order with meat so I didn’t think of it!)

Now to the main story: Robot Restaurant.

We entered the waiting room which was a hall of mirrors and reflecting lights. I’ve been to Las Vegas and this was the gaudiest room I’d ever been in. Already I knew the 7,000 yen ticket was going to be worth every penny.

After some mulling a “robot” came out, sat down at a grand piano, and played. You think you’ve seen Japan when you see a robot play piano, but not until more robots came out one after another picking up other instruments. It was a robot jazz band! Finally a pretty girl in revealing, spacey clothes took the mic and crooned to complete the band.

When the pre-show was over we went down a few flights of stairs to the intimate stage area. The show was in the middle while the audience was on both sides. The audience was almost all foreigner with a couple salary men. Our peppy intro and warning about keeping our feet in was in English.

The show started with taiko drummers in flashy costumes, crazy wigs, and neon lights strapped to the drums. There were several drummers on remote controlled platforms that moved across the stage area and even spun around! It was amazing how they fit three huge platforms in such a small area, but it made it that much more engaging.

What followed was a flimsy plot of an evil ruler taking over land, yadda yadda yadda not important. The thing that mattered was the surprise of what over-the-top craziness would appear next? A Kung-fu Panda? A spider lady? A gattling gun shooting a huge snake? Things of dreams come to life as an animatronic or beautiful person at Robot Restaurant.

The good won over evil horray! After a break we all got ~glow sticks~. Then we saw more scenes with dancing and some singing. This part was more familiar since they would get close to the audience. We waved our glow sticks gleefully.

After Super Comic City I explored Odaiba.

I walked halfway across Rainbow Bridge which was very, very windy. From the bridge I saw a man-made grassy island (Daiba Park). I decided to turn around and see it. 

Daiba Park is one of six batteries built in response to Commodore Matthew Perry’s fleet arrival. Only this one (#3) and #6 remain intact today. Only #3 is available to the public. It’s mostly grass and trees. Almost everything is cleared out, but in the lower area one can find some artifacts.

Walking back through the beach, there was some event. People were doing yoga following a lady with a mic. I watched a couple games of beach volleyball.

The Statue of Liberty! When did I go to New York? haha

After watching a humorous magician street show, I found a place to eat. L recommended this burger chain, Kua’aina. It’s one of the best burger places I’ve been to in Japan (that’s not many but the statement stands).

Then since I purposefully dawdled until sunset, I hopped on the waterfront line to ride along Rainbow Bridge just for sights. Plenty of people had the same idea. On the less crowded ride back, I sat down next to a man who saw my camera out. He offered to switch places (so I would get a better view) which was very nice of him.

A true Japanese experience: doujinshi convention.

For those who don’t know, doujinshi is a fan-made and self-published comic usually based on a(n anime) series. Super Comic City is just one of many conventions devoted to such comics.

This was my first time so I tried to go early, but ended up only 45 minutes before the doors opened at 10:00. It’s better to have advance tickets, but I didn’t have one. I was relieved to see so many people go to purchase a brochure which is really your ticket/proof of being there. That ment it wasn’t sold out. We had to go down stairs outside the left of the building, made a loop inside to buy the brochure, and then filed back outside to walk to the back of the building. Staff lined us up and we sat in the parking lot.

During the wait I took notes of what the experts were doing. A couple were sitting on camping stools. Many brought towels or umbrellas to block the sun. The heat wasn’t unbearable but on pavement with the sun up I was feeling it. A surprising amount wheeled carryon suitcases. Were they really going to buy THAT much? Like everyone else I flipped through the brochure to map out the artist tables I wanted to buy from.

I also noted how many girls had Haikyuu!! keychains and merch. That series definitely was the focus and most popular as nearly half of the west wing was devoted to Haikyuu!! (I felt special with my Mogra tote bag and my HiroAki button pair that I bought from an artist at a Minnesota anime con. A girl stared at it as if she was trying to figure out what it was. Or she was trying to figure out what “Mogra, Akihabara” meant.)

At 10:00 staff guided 3 rows at a continuous time inside. I was 3/4ths back but the process went very quickly. Everyone walked at a brisk pace. 

From so many people talking about the “thousands of attendants” and “crazy lines” I was fretting about comics selling out fast. I immediately went to my favorite artist, Cinnamon and stood in a line of maybe 7. It was easy to find because the girls at the end of the line held signs with her name and table #. The line moved at pretty fast pace since the girls knew exactly what they wanted. When I walked away though I saw a muuch longer line just to the left. There was a gap between the line at the table and the actual line so as not to block another table. I felt bad in a no0b way but learned and moved on.

Most tables I went to had a couple people or no one at the moment. I was able to flip through a couple comics without feeling rushed. The most impressive line was for my last stop. This circle (group of artists working together) was prepared. They got two tables by an exit where the lines went out the door. While it was the longest wait, it went through at a reasonable pace. 

The start was by the girl bending her knee. This position is just behind where the line curved and continued behind.

I finished all my priority shopping at 11:00am. The event only went until 15:00 but it was plenty of time to look around. I wish I spent more time flipping through unfamiliar artists in the Haikyuu!! section, but I wanted to see something else. So I wound my way through tables in the west wing and then trecked to the east wing. It was neat to note which series were popular, which ones surprisingly even still had a following, and which ones weren’t even there.

Half of east wing 2 were arts and crafts. There was all kinds of jewelry, original artwork, knittery, t-shirts, and much more. One table had beautfiul pressed flower jewelry. One guy made staple guns that looked like real guns. In one section was fandom crafts where one could show appreciation for a show tastefully and subtelly. Which is my main dig since you can’t get it anywhere else, but nothing really struck me. Also I had already spent a chuck of change. IF I go again I’d set a side more money for this section.

Though I did buy a couple rings (the Alice in Wonderland’s style is called decoden) and this fandom chain back in the Haikyuu!! area.

Next I checked out the cosplay area. The huge room had rows of screens of different colors and props/setting pieces. This was the only section pictures were allowed. I wasn’t even sure if it was okay to ask to take pics of the cosplayers because they just took pictures of each other. There were also guys with fancy cameras with badges. 

I like this dude because he’s the same height as my bro. Later I saw someone cosplaying as this character and was impressively tall!

I immediately missed American cons because it’s common and fun to take pictures of cosplay. American cons also allow the freedom to mess around a bit. SCC seemed to have the attitude of: get what you want and go or stay but don’t cause trouble. But anime cons and dj cons are two different things.

Five of us, B and I seasoned Mogra attendees, one who frequents Roppongi clubs, and two newbies went to Yokohama to see the Mogra Tour 2015. We got there early enough to have dinner. Yokohama Station has literally nothing but izakayas. Don’t go there for food. We moved on to the station near the club.

Across from the station was a place Cafe 88. It looked fancy and had reasonably priced Italian food.

Herb chicken and vegetables with a Godiva “shake”

Nice atmosphere, delicous food and decent price. My friends got pasta which was better portion for price. ~2,200 yen for the above plus chocolate gateau.

Bay Hall, Yokohama is a long walk towards the ocean surrounded by a lot of warehouses. We were shocked by the looping lines. The venue and event was extremely bigger than expected. We joined the “didn’t buy a ticket” line and waited for the “did buy a ticket” line (~900 people according to a huge capacity counter outside) to get in. When our line was last to go in we missed 2 sets = 1 hour. The 2nd was Buddhahouse :(((

We got stuck behind a pillar for a while as we just enjoyed the atmosphere and heard the music. Then when D-Yama was on deck I suggested going to the front.

Four of us literally wrestled our way to the front. We made it just behind people at the bar who wouldn’t budge. The girl in front of me gripped the guard rail, but stuck her elbow into my chest which was horribly painful. I put my hand in between her elbow and my chest so I wouldn’t get bruised ribs but felt bad that my knuckles probably bothered her. There were people literally on top of us. The guy to my left used my shoulder as an arm rest and kept hitting my head. I had to keep my left arm up to block him. After a couple songs of enduring the crowds pushing us awkardly into each other I shouted to my friends it was okay to go back so we could actually enjoy the music.

But it was cool to see D-Yama and his bf(f) Buddhahouse having a blast. Buddhahouse kept coming forward dancing and playing with the crowd. His set was awesome. He even played “Uptown Funk”!

A few DJs later our group fell back near the bar where there was space to dance. The people around us took notice of the foreigner (+ Japanese) girls being more “out there.” Also there were significantly more men. A couple small groups rotated dancing with us. By dance thankfully it was just us jumping up down and high fiving together.

At some point D-Yama was by the bar so I and Beth went up to him. He immediately recognized me even after not going to Mogra for over 2 months. Our Japanese friend told him we came all the way from Tokyo to be there. He asked me if whiskey was good for my friends (yeah). They turned to me questioningly. It was amazing to explain, “he’s ordering shots for us because he knows me.”

Lot more awesome music and jumping around and we were getting tired. B and I (later Ni too) sat down on the floor in a nearby corner watching our friends. Sak was still jumping and pumping her fist with as much gusto as when we got there. We all commented on her incredible energy suistainability.