SOBA BOUTIQUE

Buckwheat noodles.  

For a pre-Father's Day celebration we met our dear friends, the Campos Clan, at a newly-opened "soba boutique" nestled snugly smack in the middle of a neighborhood a short 12 minute walk from here.  Beautiful, clean, modern and simple decor, earth tones and a very exclusive, private feel. The restaurant is run by a family who only a month ago converted the 1st floor of their home into a classy, refined establishment.  

We had a lovely, home-gourmet cooked meal served on a unique selection of "rustic" pottery in a private room newly planked with green tatami mats.  Newly-woven tatami mats have a very distinct, unforgettable smell that I miss from previous apartments we've occupied in Japan.  Anyway, the special was, as mentioned, buckwheat noodles and tempura.  Of course the sake wasn't too bad either!

As we were taking our leave and thanking the hosts (bowing repeatedly in the street as they wished us a good evening from the steps) we discovered that one part-time staff member is none other than the wife of my boss!  Good thing we stopped the sake orders after 3 rounds!   

Adult Membership Required

The best investment I, Ericka, have made so far in Tokyo, is an Adult Weekday Pass to Kodomo-no-kuni, aka: Children's Land.  We are averaging once a week, but Miki would be keen to go everyday.  Although our neighborhood boasts parks on every corner, we are also lucky enough to have this gem of a park within 20 min. walking distance. 

Our first visit was with a friend, so there were 2 babes and 2 tots. All enjoyed the "older kids' " play area because there is a zip-line, rope ladders, a 2 tiered concrete slab slide that is larger than Miki has ever dreamed of, shade, benches and a baby change area nearby.  After about an hour Miki noticed this little train that left the "eki" station every 10 minutes. She was a big girl and got to ride alone with her friend! She was so excited by this find, that she was jumping up and down in pure kid-excitement. It was a joy to watch, and no one would have been able to deter her from getting on the next train that left the platform.

Having spent 3 hours hopping around, enjoying picnic-time  and watching the throngs of other children playing all around her, Miki was asleep in her chariot, or Rolls Royce, as it has been dubbed, before we hit the exit gates. Maybe next time we will venture farther into the "one million square meters" of Kodomo-no-kuni. 

Children's Land Day 2

Cow-ch

 As the Kids' Trips in Tokyo guidebook says, Kodomo no Kuni has that "farmyard feeling and country lanes."  On our 3rd trip into wonderland, we visited the cows, fed the sheep, ate farm fresh vanilla ice cream, and walked about a little zoo. Miki adopted a guinea pig that she calls, 

Dough-Dough. She wanted to go into the goat pen too, but soon ushered me out when they started to get frisky and eat our clothing! Well, if she wasn't wearing half of her ice cream cone, she wouldn't have smelled so good!!

Hana Girl

Miki poses with roses and cakes and foxgloves. We found a beautiful shop in Shinjuku that sold edible sugared flowers. Miki was none to happy that we wouldn't let her have one!  

The TALL flowers are near her potential Montessori School.  We walk through that park on our way shopping at least once a week.  There is no shortage of nature in this part of the "city".

Morecrest Bird's Eye View

Our apt. complex is unique in that there is a lot of green open space.  Air quality is great, noise is kept to a minimum, cars don't drive where kids congregate and play, and Miki can meet new friends from 3 different apt. buildings.  There is also a bell tower that rings at 10am, 12pm, 3pm and 5pm. Miki is learning to tell the time by the chime! Unfortunately the outside bell is five minutes slower than our clock (which is being constantly readjusted by satellite!) so she will probably forever think that 12:05 is lunchtime.  

Love & Doughnut

Ericka saw this poster at Yotsuya Eki (station).  

Photos taken either on a train somewhere or in transit.

Walkin' to the station

Just playing around with camera and low-light conditions.  I don't yet have a proper flash.  

Moon & Temple Roof

As explained in the posting just below this one (Sushi Party), we went into Tokyo last weekend for a great dinner party with friends.  On our walk back to the station, the moon was obscured behind clouds and just the roof of a temple was visible over a wall at street level.  

Here are the girls, deep in the centre of Tokyo at night.  

Sushi Party

Last Saturday afternoon, after much planning and one aborted attempt earlier this month, we finally managed to visit our good friends in the Yotsuya neighborhood of downtown Tokyo for a sushi party.

All accounted for we were 8 adults and 4 kids.  It was great to catch up with friends we haven't seen a long time and also meet a couple we've only heard about (thru "friends of a friend" type thing). 

We enjoyed an early afternoon just lounging in their beautiful apartment (minutes away from the Imperial Palace and, so we were told, in a neighborhood that housed the samurai class hundreds of years ago.  Hence the proximity to the royal household, I assume), entertaining the children and playing a few rounds on the Nintendo Wii.  

Miki, having missed her nap hour, was restless and keen to watch a Totoro anime movie a neighbor had lent us so we flopped her out on a futon and she spent the next hour or so glued to the computer monitor.  

3 large, stunning and colorful dishes of fresh assorted sushi arrived around 5pm and the feast began.  A fine, expensive bottle of sake suddenly appeared on the dining table out of nowhere and not wanting to offend anyone, we drank.  

I really enjoyed looking over a few photo albums from a friend and fellow "shutterbug" and talking photography until it was time to take our leave.  Ericka and I collected our children and accoutrements and began the long journey back to the suburbs.  Surprisingly, Miki and Sam both stayed awake for the entire time.  We were back home by 9pm and after a quick ofuro (bath) stretched out on the futons.  

Thanks to our hosts, Nobu, Mihoko and Haruka.  Kumika, following our conversations, I am re-inspired to take film photos again - and I even broke out my 50mm lens!  Kaori, it was so good to see you after so many years.  Very glad to see you are well and happy.  Until we all meet again... hopefully soon, ne.  

The Art of Kendo

When it comes to "martial arts" in Japan, most schools are either known to have a strong showing in one "sport" or another.  Some are known for their judo club, some for karate and some even for sumo!  My school is known for kendo: traditional Japanese sword/stick fighting. 

As far as I'm concerned, the English translation of kendo (stick fighting) is a rather weak term to convey the discipline, ferocity and energy involved in this art.  You would not want to mess with a kendo practitioner on his/her own terms.  From what little I do know of the sport (I studied judo) the goal is to go for the head, if that proves difficult, the hands, if again not possible, the body.  One more note of interest: kendo is an extremely noisy sport.  The "players" are expected to "kiai" (a piercing verbal outburst of your energy - like a 'grunt' in North American sports but much louder and a bit shrill) and you must hear it firsthand to understand exactly what I'm referring to.  

Anyway, I was walking home from the office this evening and I heard (See? Told you it was loud) the university kendo club practicing.  I always have my camera on me so I decided to peek in and take a few photos.   

Bento Lunch Boxes

During our lunch break this afternoon I decided to sit with a class of 5th graders and take pictures of their lunch boxes, called "bento" in Japanese.  Some of them get quite elaborate, as I'm sure some of you know.  

The lunch in the last frame (above) is my lunch.  And no, Ericka nor I made this; I have the luxury of ordering from about a dozen different options every morning.  Just put a check next to your name, specify from which "restaurant" you want to eat and voi la!  By 11:45am the bento will be delivered to the school.  I say "restaurant" in quotes because the majority of these places only do take-out/delivery lunches.  No bento is the same from day to day.  The lunch above cost me about $6 Canadian and let me tell you, it's worth every yen, even if only for the convenience factor, to say nothing about the taste.  

Itadaki masu!  (let's eat!)