A visit and a very sweet dessert at the Akihabara idol Street Store maid cafe. One of the places Julia really wanted to go.
maid cafe
Month: September 2023
Asakusa samba carnival
On Sunday, the 2023 parade with many large groups participating along Kaminarimon Street, Asakusa. Each group wore elaborate costumes, danced down the street with live bands and singers reminding me some of Carnivale in Italy. The enthusiasm was infectious.
food
The food is wonderful–feeding body and soul. I’m sure there is some exceptions somewhere here but we have not found them yet. We have not been able together into our neighborhood sushi restaurants for supper. They are full or ready to close when we are ready to eat. We will try harder. Ramen, however, is an easy find.
Ou first ramen restaurant:
And more last night:
My food photography needs work. If I promise myself to post more, I may get better.
dualities
This is a city of such contrasts. All cities, all places are but perhaps because this time has been so multi-sided for me, the contrasts I see here are particularly tender and touching.
This small cemetery, tucked into a corner of Yanaka was surrounded by a wall with an open gate.Some of the graves were very old, some from earlier this year. A few had an announcement tied onto the stone which said that it was suspected that this grave had been abandoned and the upkeep was unpaid. If someone did not come forward to claim the space, the remains buried would be dug up and respectfully burned, and the space made available to another family. I wonder if this was just the reality of a city where all real estate is valuable.
bumps in the road
I can’t work this into a chatty post. I can’t make light of it. No pictures can tell the story. I have believed firmly that traveling with Julia was incredibly beneficial. Of course, we have not done any since moving to Boston, but this was going to be doing something we loved together again. And possibly better because Ed was with us.
We’ve hit some bumps, some limits and a bunch of my assumptions have been dashed. We had a very hard 24+ hours over the last day and a half. Julia was angry and lashed out at us. She had melt downs in public and was very difficult to handle. She cursed and swore and talked under her breath until she was raging. She could not be brought down to a calm and rational state. She didn’t want to be.
shibuya scramble crossing
Shibuya Scramble Crossing stops vehicles in all directions to allow pedestrians to inundate the entire intersection. Large video screens mounted on nearby buildings overlook the crossing, as well as many static advertising signs. Honestly, it is just about a recognizably large amount of people crossing the street at one time and I didn’t expect to be impressed. However, to look at it from above and then walk in it (twice) felt magical. It was participating in some daily ritual that blessed or cursed the events of the day. It was being a molecule in the veins or arteries of a huge body get where it needed to go. It would lose its magic if it was a crossing on the way to work every day but the first time . . . Ah!
anime spotting
Almost no matter where we have been in the city, pictures and ads pop up that are of interest to the anime lover. Julia has asked me to take quite a few pictures. I had also read that everything in Tokyo has a face and a cuteness and we see that all the time. Drawings in ketchup on an omelet and pastry named after pets. All of this without going into the heavy anime sections of the city. Here are a few.
first morning in Tokyo
Breakfast at Higurashi Garden, bakery with a book store behind it.
It was delicious. The little dog was full of chocolate, made and named in honor of the owner’s dog, and the eggplant tart was to die for. Plus ice coffee for me and fresh lemonade for Julia and Ed. We are ready to explore.
arrival in Tokyo
Our first beer and snacks after a very long travel day. It was a long travel day; however, it was also relative smooth going.
auntie duties
Julia has not wanted to have much contact with Wilbur since his first few days. Cheshire and I have been patient and have just waited it out. I’ve spent a good deal of my time with Wilbur during the day when Julia has been at her program. When she has spoken negatively about Wilbur, I’ve been firm that he is a permanent member of our family and that I intended to be a good grandma. I’ve offered that she can stay home when we are able to visit together. She has never taken me up on that. For himself, Wilbur is fascinated by the auntie who doesn’t pay him much attention.
On Thursday, Julia and I met Cheshire and Wilbur at the Discovery Museum. In the baby space, Wilbur was making use of practice stairs, plastic animals, and lots of balls, and Julia became interested. I am so happy to see her and Wilbur together. I do believe that they could be good friends.
Chasing Joy 