12 – Daibutsu, Daimushi, Daijoubu

October 20, 2012Guardian EnzoUncategorizedJapan, Me

If you’d told me a year ago I’d be at a party in Tokyo being invited to a rave by a well-dressed man from Belgium, I’d have said you were nuts. Go figure. I’ve decided that instead of saying “Hai” when my name is called in class, in honor of […] Read more

DUCK

October 19, 2012Guardian EnzoUncategorizedAnime, Japan, Me, Tokyo Diaries, Tsuritama

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First major purchase since arrival: I passed through Ochanomizu on my way to Akiba last night, and had a moment I’m rather proud of. I thought to myself, hmmm – “Ocha” is tea, and “Mizu” is water. “No” is the possessive of course – so I wondered if the name […] Read more

Tokyo Diary 10/17/12 – Milestones

October 17, 2012Guardian EnzoUncategorizedJapan, Me, Tokyo Diaries

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No pics for you today, just a brief check-in. Today was momentous in that for the first time, I received formal instruction in Kanji – and I’ll tell you, it feels like the beginning of a long, wonderful and terrible journey. I knew a few already from self-learning but still, […] Read more

Tokyo Diaries – Yokohama, Cat Therapy and Laundry Detergent

October 14, 2012Guardian EnzoUncategorizedJapan, Japanese Culture, Me, Tokyo Diaries

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A full day today, as the rain trickled down. I’d never been to Yokohama, so I thought it’d be fun to check out. I didn’t see the black ships but I did see Yokohama’s Chinatown, and got a sense for why this considered the most international of Japanese cities. There’s […] Read more

Gokukuji Temple

October 13, 2012Guardian EnzoUncategorizedJapan, Me, Tokyo Diaries

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Here are a few pics from the lovely Gokukuji Temple complex in Western Tokyo. Sort of a forgotten temple for some reason, but it’s quite impressive. Read more

Tokyo Diary – 10/11/12

October 11, 2012Guardian EnzoUncategorizedAnime, Japan, Me, Tokyo Diaries

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So damn busy I forgot to check back in yesterday… Tomorrow is a big day, as I go to the local government office (it’s a train and a bus) to register my address and get into the National Health Insurance system. At $20 a month for 100% coverage, I guess […] Read more

Japanese Firsts

October 9, 2012Guardian EnzoUncategorizedJapan, Japanese Culture, Me, Tokyo Diaries

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It was an eventful day in Tokyo for this idiot abroad… I’m still very much in tourist mode, but I sort of feel as if I became a real resident today – I got my first shoe locker, and my first commuter pass. Be it ever so humble, my guesthouse […] Read more

Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki + Tokyo Ramblings

October 8, 2012Guardian EnzoUncategorizedAnime, Japan, Me, Ookami Kodomo, reviews

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As mentioned, I went to see Ookami Kodomo last night.So, belatedly, here’s my brief review… I’ll preface it by saying that I didn’t realize when I bought the ticket that the show was letting out at Midnight. This was worrisome as I had to think about the last train, as […] Read more

Found in Tokyo

October 7, 2012Guardian EnzoUncategorizedAnime, Japan, Me, Tokyo Diaries

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I think the first time it really hit me that I was here for good was when I took the Yamanote Line this morning, and heard those station jingles. For whatever reason those just stand for Tokyo in my head. Having a curry pan and canned coffee for breakfast felt […] Read more

And Boy, Are My Arms Tired

October 6, 2012Guardian EnzoUncategorizedJapan, Me, Tokyo Diaries

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Departures and arrivals can both take it out of you, in their own way. Greetings from Tokyo, my new home. I arrived last night having been borne in the upper deck of an Airbus A380, easily the most monstrously huge plane I’ve ever flown. I think what they say about […] Read more