We are loving our bikes! I want to keep mine forever! Okay, maybe not forever - I'd pick one with better brakes and a more comfortable seat (is this possible? comfy bike seat?), but I love the basket and I love how quickly we can get to the station. We've been able to check out some new neighborhoods and areas, and there are more more more to see. We cruised up to Yoyogi Park on Thursday afternoon, and visited Meiji-jingu, the Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken. Located in Yoyogi Park in a forest that is home to more than 120,000 trees of 365 different species and lots and lots of very noisy little birdies, the grounds and gardens of Tokyo's largest Shinto shrine are beautiful, well-kept and well-visited. Millions and millions of people visit the shrine every year to pay respects to the Emperor essentially responsible for ushering in an era of modernization that turned old into new - known as the Meiji Restoration. The number of changes made during the reign of this much revered leader are innumerable. From the day he took power (February 3rd, 1867) to the day he died (July 30, 1912), he instigated change and development. During his time at the helm, Japan moved from near complete isolation as a feudal and somewhat fragmented country to a modern, industrialized world power. Western advancements and Eastern values were of optimal importance, and it was this attitude, along with a strong state military ("enrich the country, strengthen the military") that guided/forced social and political reform (this, of course, did not go over well with everyone - think The Last Samurai and Tom Cruise and Samurai Katsumoto). Anyways, the grounds were beautiful and peaceful, and we enjoyed a slow afternoon with the changing leaves in the forest - right in the middle of hustle and bustle Tokyo...
Known in his early years as Sachi-no-miya (Prince Sachi) and then as Mutsohito, he is known now, posthumously as Emperor Meiji - the 122nd Emperor of Japan.
Born Ichijo Masako, she was given the name Haruko when she became engaged to the Emperor; Empress Shoken attended lectures, worked for the Japanese Red Cross and advocated women's rights. However, she was not able to produce an heir for the throne - her adopted son was one of 15 children mothered by the Emperor's five ladies-in-waiting. Posthumously she is known as Shoken Kotaigo.
The weekend was goooood and we are getting excited about starting Christmas! We've given ourselves a December 1st decorating date - so we only have a few more days to go until all of the business can begin. I have a small list of goodies to make, and a longer list of things to get: tree, decorations, ingredients. I have ideas of places to go (back to Don Quixote/Donki Hote - that or Ikea), and with a bike... I'm practically already on my way.
We got bikes! Yay! The trip to the station will be reduced by at least 10 minutes which MEANS that Steve will get home at least 10 minutes earlier every night, and I no longer have to lug groceries home but can cycle them, for my bike is equipped with a basket. At first I liked the idea of a "mamarachi" bike - the sort of old school looking ladies bike equipped with seat with springs and huge wire basket atop the front wheel. However, these machines - as I should have guessed - are constructed with the petite Japanese in mind, and I quickly realized that I grew out of this bike (this size of bike) when I was 12. SO... I have a blue road-ish type bike that almost fits perfectly (with the seat as high as it can go, it's still a little low), and Steve has a stylin' Chevrolet mountain bike that is almost big enough. We bought our wheels at a sell-everything store called Don Quixote (or Donki Hote; the bike section is Donki-bike), where we also bought a bottle of Crown Royal for $10 less than what it would cost at home. And Bailey's. Somehow I've resisted putting it in my coffee for the past two days... what will power.
Anyways, so yesterday morning we were able to bike up to Komazawa Park and the massive gymnasiums where Steve, along with several other F.C. Tokyo staff and players, coach clinics for Mama-sans every Tuesday morning. I went with him last week, and again yesterday, and was overwhelmed. What amazed me: the number of women, the range of age and ability, the outfits, the SKILL, and - did I mention the age? There are women there that don't have teeth! There are women there in their 70s! And they dive and spike and jump and serve and receive!! And they all have volleyball gear and SKILLS! These women dive and dig and block - and are good at it. We did the usual run-around warm-up, some stretching, abs and then partner ball control stuff. I filled in and partnered up with the oldest lassie there - last week I asked her how old she was and she wouldn't say, BUT did ask me how old my mom was. I told her - and her reply was (in Japanese plus sign language): "I am at least 10 years older than you mother..." And I tell you... her ball control is good. And she was right in there - along with all of the other mama-sans (some of whom are not mothers, some whom are and some who are, indubitably, at least grandmothers) for the entire two hour training session. It's organized so that there is skill development, but in a way that is fun and easy-going, but challenging at the same time. Our group finished with a game - 9 on 9 (= crowded), with both Steve and I in the front row - on opposing teams.
Though there doesn't seem to be much information online about mama-san volleyball in English, it seems like it is kind of a big deal. There are apparently more than 500,000 women that participate and play on teams, and there are tournament and competitions all year long, with a final national tournament held in Tokyo every spring. There is a Mama-san Volleyball Association, there is (or was? not sure) a TV show - Mama-san Volley ("The Mammies"), there are PTA women's teams, and there are studies and papers (for example: Physical and physiological assessment of women (Mama-san) volleyball players - in Japanese). Volleyball is one of the most - if not the most - popular sports in Japan, and I think that it is so awesome that there is an opportunity (and so much interest) for older women to train and play together on a regular basis - regardless of age and regardless of ability. At home there are teams BUT, as far as I know, there isn't much in terms of training for groups of women that want to participate. Steve and I were both continually shocked and amazed at these women diving and digging and blocking and hitting... if only I can do these things when I'm in my 70s. (This paints a rather funny picture - Steve and I, old and wrinkly, in our dated, year 2000 volleyball gear playing pepper in the driveway.) Unfortunately, the camera's battery died while we where there, but I did get a few shots in before it quit - more to come next week!!
I should have known that we lived in the Beverly Hills of Tokyo when I saw the doggy strollers and haute couture petwear. To some - Tokyo-ites perhaps? - this is normal. To me it is WEIRD, not to mention a bit of a waste of money. I mean, the perfectly preened and clothing-clad pooches around here have more style than most humans; I wonder how much they get each month for their clothing allowance. And how often they go to the doggy-spa. There are almost as many dog-grooming and pet-pampering salons as there are hair salons around here, and they are complete with high-end dog food, clothing (overalls, dresses, skirts, hoodies, vests, winter jackets), bejewelled collars and leashes and booties. And I tell ya - I have not seen one muddy or icky looking pooch... Imagine what the mutts of Romania - the beach dogs and stray puppies and poor Ron-dogs - would think of the royal treatment here... awww, Ron! I wonder how Ron, our apartment dog from last year is doing. All he wanted was some love - I wonder, do these little tykes want more? A new coat? The whiskers trimmed? Fancy biscuits? From the looks of it... I think they do.
And the clothes - hoodies, haute couture and poof and polka dots...
Another meal/evening that I've been meaning to blog about since the weekend was Saturday's team dinner welcome party gathering... wow. Okay, where to start. After a long day out in Yokohama at the children's book writer's and illustrator's workshop thing (which was fabulous), I metro-ed all the way across Tokyo and met Steve and his teammates for dinner and drinks at a Japanese tapas (sort of) bar - Izakaya. In the back corner of the dark and smoky (most of Steve's teammates smoke, which I found surprising) pub, we folded ourselves into the sunken seats of the low Japanese-style table - and then it began. First thing's first: beer was ordered, a toast was made and bottoms-up... and then bottoms up again... and bottoms up again. The scene was like something out of the typical college or university frat party, where dudes just drink and then drink and then drink more... only this was in the back of a Japanese restaurant-bar and everyone was wearing suits and laughing and singing and... I was completely surprised. After a few (or 10) big table beers, people started ordering "long-drinks" - Steve and I stuck to the Kirin. Food came, all of which was delicious: nabe (soup, simmered and served at the table), shrimp plates (three kinds: deep fried, with eyeballs, with sauce), rice, cabbage salad, sashimi, and some sort of meat with bean sprouts. All of the guys brought gifts for a gift exchange, and that brought out the rowdies: with each gift that was opened, the team would half-drunkenly shout "eat it! eat it!" if it was food, "drink it! drink it!" if it was drink, or play it play it or whatever... depending on the present. One guy got a half-jacket sort of thing - "wear it wear it!", and so he put it on. Another guy got a pair of underwear - "wear it wear it!", and so - GET THIS - after wiggling in and out of his jeans (he actually pulled his jeans down to his knees) to the crowd's melodic chorus of ooooh-oooooh-ooooohs (Steve and I were just staring at each other with what is going ON right now looks), he put the underwear on. And THEN... came Steve's present. The guy right across the table from us got his gift of a box of maple cookies and a small bottle of maple syrup. What do you think the guy does? Everyone: "drink it drink it!" And so, after chugging beers and long-drinks, he emphatically chugged the maple syrup. With a buzz of curiosity (and sugar and booze) the bottle was passed around the table for others to try - there were one or two other chuggers (and us: "NOOO! noooo!") and one guy that poured a significant slug into his drink and then guzzled it. It wasn't until after half the bottle had been polished off that someone actually read the label - ooooh it's syrup! Yes, syrup. Not whisky, not drink... syrup. SO, that was interesting. We kept eating, guys kept drinking - kept chugging... and then it was over. Downstairs we went and informally circled up - someone made a short speech sort of thing, and we were told, pointedly, "okay, it is finished." There was a start to the evening, a flurry of drinking, eating and craziness, and then there was an end. From there some went on to karaoke, and others went home. We couldn't stop talking about how funny and crazy the whole thing was, and figure that the ridiculous drinking has something to do with one of these things: the guys are younger (20-25 I think); they probably live with their parents so have to start early, go hard and then, well, go home; and there is a beginning and there is an end - all drinking must happen within the predetermined time-and-place walls. It was an interesting, fun and funny... good times.
On Sunday night we saw the Michael Jackson movie which we both loved - I highly recommend it. Monday morning I went running with a group of American and Canadian ladies and, after an hour of me wondering how long we were running for, had coffee with a few of them at Starbucks in Roppongi Hills. The coffee shop was FULL of foreigners, so much so that if you told me that I was in Anywhere USA I would have believed you. It was great to meet some new people and get a solid workout in before 9:30 - I will run again. And finally, I spent the last few afternoons in the Run for the Cure office helping with emails and spreadsheets and emails. And now I declare this blog over; beginning, craziness... end.
And FINALLY, our cupboards are stocked. Yesterday we made the much anticipated trip to Costco Tokyo, where promise of North American goods in ample, staggering quantities awaited; we found (but exercised buying restraint) everything from Costco cake-muffins, croissants and bagels to Kirkland cheddar cheese blocks, raisin bran, vodka, wine and flats of root beer. It was, as Costco always is, MEGA. And, the best part? THEY DELIVER. We walked in empty-handed and walked out empty-handed (though minus a pretty packet of yen) - fabulous. The second best part about it was the jumbo-sized sushi trays, with rows and rows and rows of tuna, salmon and not-sure-what-else sashimi and sushi. YUM. There were no samples of the sushi-goods, but we did graze the croissant, rotisserie chicken, beef, pizza and strawberry sampler stations, and then a la piggins, ate pizza and drank orange-fizzy for lunch. And the third best thing about it was that it only took us 30 minutes to get there on the subway, rail and then bus lines... hurray. And so, now we are stocked. I actually have options for breakfast tomorrow - eeek!
When we first arrived I joined a few meetup groups (but oops, haven't gone to any yet), and was group-emailed by a writer's group about a children's book workshop thingy that's happening tomorrow out in Yokohama. The Tokyo chapter of the Society of Children's Book Authors and Illustrators is running the event, and it looks like it will be a neat little get-together. I will have to skip the post-workshop dinner, as Steve's team is having a sort of open the season party (I think that's the reason); season starts in three weeks (December 5th in Hiroshima), and I'm sure everyone is happy to have finally have some matches after logging soooo many hours of training.
I went out for lunch with a friend today, and she took me to the CUTEST little cafe in her neighborhood of Shimokitizawa. In a very sparsely decorated white-walled, wood-tabled salle, we ate soup and salad, and home-made english muffins. YUM. With coffee and tea. We had a great time wandering around and checking out the eclectic shops afterwards, and I'm excited to go back to explore the area a bit more. (And eat and drink coffee - lots of amazing looking cafes!) And for now, c'est tout - it's dinner time!
a hearty slice of pizza - we were hungry after the long Costco shop...
sushi and more sushi - AMAZING!
Yes that's a Louis Vuitton bag and yes you can buy it at Costco... interesting match-up!
We caught the final match of the day at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gym: Grand Champions Cup volleyball tourney is in full swing (paa-ha) - we watched Thailand take on the home team. The place was PACKED!
Our apartment building in all its massive entirety has been scaffolded and wrapped with gauzy tarp - we have been cocooned in here, cut off from the light, the trees, the sky, the rain. We're at the very end of the building, and have all three sides of our apartment curtained... until March. Ugh. We're not sure what they're doing to the place, but it looks just fine to both of us. Anyways... so I finally got a few things crossed off my list yesterday (no job yet, mrrr) - I went to the Canadian Embassy and then, at Meguro Library, got a library card! Yippee! The embassy first: there is an opening in the embassy's E.H.Norman library for an assistant who speaks Japanese, so I though, since I sure don't speak Japanese, I'd look into the possibility of volunteering. The building is beautiful - of course I didn't bring my camera, but the architecture is neat, very modern, lots of natural light... very nice. The library is a bit small but still a very nice space. The librarians there encouraged me to apply for the job anyways, so I did. Upstairs I went to inquire about Remembrance Day events; I'd looked online but came up with nothing... there has to be something going on in Tokyo, no? I waited and waited, and finally someone from the Defence department came down to see me with information about a ceremony at the Commonwealth Cemetery at Hodogaya, along with driving directions. Right. So, it appears that there's nothing going on in the city today (sadly), but we'll try our best to get out to the ceremony on Sunday. And, of course, today we will remember - our thoughts are there.
And the library! Oh, and the fitness class... Steps ZUMBA. I figured that I'd mix things up workout wise, and try out another fitness class, one that's advertised as "a program that can be enjoyed like the party." Alright... So I signed up for my card, browsed the small section of English books and couldn't resist - I checked out three books even though I JUST started A.S. Byatt's The Children's Book and am loving it. (The other books I checked out: The Book Thief (Marcus Zusak), The Island of Lost Maps (Miles Harvey) and Japanese for Busy People.) The library closed, I went to the gym and, along with 31 other fitness steppers, stepped and zumba-ed. Step class is a nice change from running or swimming but I still can't totally get into it; the enthusiasm, the stepping, the moves... meh. That part - the first part - of the class was standard, but the second part, the zumba, was NOT. Spastic, out-there, crazy world dance, led by spastic energy-bomb instructor - it made my eyeballs bulge. This woman was infused and enthused - she was in the jungle-dancing to crazy energy beats music (and... she kept yelping!), and leading us (sort of) through moves that my brain couldn't even comprehend. It was basically 30 minutes of spaz shake rap dance world dance - kind of fun, but not something I think I'd go back to. Maybe better than running? Meh. It was interesting.
Over the course of the last couple of days I've been making my way through a wide range of different websites that shed light on libraries, the future of books, the future of learning, the future of community learning, and more, and came across the Beloit College Mindset List. "It provides a look at the cultural touchstones that shape the lives of students entering college," a set of statements about the perspectives and realities of students entering say, the class of 2013. Here are a few excerpts from that list:
They have never used a card catalog to find a book.
The European Union has always existed.
McDonald's has always been serving Happy Meals in China.
Women have always outnumbered men in college.
We have always watched wars, coups, and police arrests unfold on television in real time.
There have always been flat screen televisions.
Everyone has always known what the evening news was before the Evening News came on.
There has always been a computer in the Oval Office.
Someone has always been asking: “Was Iraq worth a war?”
There is much more - the lists are interesting. It would also be interesting to look back at my high school yearbooks and look at some of the same sort of compilations. Anyways, my point here is that we remember - always; that we remember veterans of wars present and past, from Iraq and Afghanistan to the Great Wars.
Lest We Forget...
Steve's mom and dad sent us a link to this video, filmed and recorded locally (Belleville), by a local artist.
I spent much of my afternoon looking for a teapot, and had no luck. Is $40 or $50 the going price of a teapot these days? I couldn't bring myself to fork over so much dough, so will keep looking. The stores here are decked out in holiday gear, with some of them airing Christmas jingles over their loudspeakers... eek, it is upon us. And the commercials on Canadian TV? Is it normal that November (early November at that) is flooded with Xmas commercialism? These are probably stupid questions - yes, of course. Buy early. Buy buy buy. Meh. Anyways! I spent much of last night with a cup (no pot) of tea and my computer. Steve is up in Sendai for the weekend, playing a few exhibition games, and I am here, researching library stuff and e-book readers. I came across a TON of great websites last night - my tabs bar was near capacity and I was actually wondering if my Mac might pull some PC stunt and just shut itself down/off/blackscreen because of a bad case of tab-overload. It didn't... yay. I was interested in opening the e-book vs book, future of libraries can of worms, and there is just so much out there. And, after three hours of reading and tabbing and reading some more, my thoughts are in complete disarray and mumble-jumble - this is a big issue and there is a lot to think about. The whole Google books thing, physical vs digital, and the influence of social media on information and nature of information makes for some hefty issues to toss around upstairs. So, here are some sites that I have/had open last night - there are some gooders. With the Times article, I found the comments just as interesting (if not more) than the article.
There's more... but this is enough to occupy several hours of your life, at least. (That is, I suppose, if you're into libraries.) I realized how nerdy (or maybe grown-up? GASP! no!) I am when, at 10:30 on a Friday night I was wishing I had a teapot for more yummy tea, whilst browsing and reading and learning about libraries and the future of librarianship.
At the Used Bookfair last week in Jimbocho: there were many stalls and many, many people ogling over books and more books... love it.
nothing to do with books but... floating head guys - so funny, no?
F.C. Tokyo vs Kawasaki Frontale - fans showing their colours...
The last few days have been on the busy side (but not too busy), a little chilly (not so much by Canadian standards), and full of good news. We woke up to sunny skies on Tuesday morning for the national holiday: Culture Day. After Steve's early morning commute and practice we met up at the Olympic Stadium to watch the Nabisco Cup Soccer Final between F.C. Tokyo (same club as Steve's vball team - go team go) and Kawasaki Frontale. And once again, in front of a sold-out crowd some 48,ooo strong - we were entertained... AND, WE WON! The other team (boooo) was favoured to take home the gold, but the home team prevailed winning two goals to nil in front of some decked out - but not crazy a la Italy or Greece or Spain or UK - fan clubs. That was our culture for the day; there were many events going on in and around the city (and country for that matter), but we only really had the time and energy for the one. Okay sure, we didn't support the arts or academic endeavor (does reading my book count?) but we did support sport, and that is definitely part of culture.
Today was good and blah. I went for a run this morning and felt like I was lugging around a sack of bricks (me) at high altitude (lungs burning) - blah. Why is it that even with a solid handful of workouts under this week's belt, I feel like I've never ever EVER exercised before in my life? Horrible. Anyways, moving on. I had an interview this afternoon that went comme ci comme ça - fingers are crossed that I get the job, but my hopes will stay between up and down, so as to not disappoint.
Yes, fruit is, on average, more expensive in Tokyo, but I have found some good little fruit and veggie stands where you don't have to pay $3 for an apple or $100 for a cantaloupe. I mean SERIOUSLY! Ridiculous. But apparently, the perfectly uniform, perfectly packaged melons are quite a popular gift, and in this nation of gift-giving, I suppose that means that these things actually sell. In fact, last year some guy paid the equivalent of over $29,000 for two Yubari melons while another guy dished out over $6,000 for a watermelon. Ummm... right. I'll pass on the melons and stick with these delicious little mandarins that we've been buying for the right price. Yum.
Known in his early years as Sachi-no-miya (Prince Sachi) and then as Mutsohito, he is known now, posthumously as Emperor Meiji - the 122nd Emperor of Japan.
Born Ichijo Masako, she was given the name Haruko when she became engaged to the Emperor; Empress Shoken attended lectures, worked for the Japanese Red Cross and advocated women's rights. However, she was not able to produce an heir for the throne - her adopted son was one of 15 children mothered by the Emperor's five ladies-in-waiting. Posthumously she is known as Shoken Kotaigo.
