More pictures

Family Plot's

Tokyo University:

Asahi Brewery:

Crazy intersection

Tsukiji Fish Market etc.

My day just doesn't seem that bad anymore.

"Naughty children have been here", apparently the fisherman either liked what his jacket claimed or (preferably)  had no clue. As some writer pointed out, the plethora of ridiculous translations were not for westerners, but instead for novice Japanese readers. 

Either way, the fish market rocked. It was one of those sort of awesome mixes between disgust at how we are raping and pillaging our world, yet doing it in a totally interesting way. Interesting in the sense that I've just had the worlds best sushi. To emphasize the difference, Toronto sushi is sort that is represented by a kid building a sand castle and calling it the worlds biggest object. Tokyo sushi is the CN tower that smashes the kids castle while screaming a maniacal laugh.

If photos hadn't been prohibited, I would devote this page to touting one of the best meals you can ever have. There were things I don't even want to discuss they were so good. Though the visuals were mixed, one was sea urchin that resembled a synthesis of tongue and poo, but tasted like pure ocean. Even the more basic tuna and salmon were the freshest I have ever had.

Anyways, refer to pictures for giant tuna, we were late so missed the really big ones, but the below were 45kg+. 

Also, the red squid were dyed red, as in Japan red is the colour of good luck so when they cut into it for New Year celebrations it spills red, providing the family with good fortune (I suppose). Interested in the definition of cruel and unusual punishment? Go to the UN website...or go to the Tsukiji fish market. Many of the fish pictured are still alive, and are only killed when they flop around enough to jump out of their boxes. 

The picture of an intersection doesn't really do the trick. Its like a 70m x 70m 5 way intersection flooded with cars, then for about 5 seconds its bare, then suddenly overflowing with what has to be over 300 people at least. The big black building with inanimate gold object on top is the Asahi beer brewery designed by a French architect to resemble a beer mug with a big gold inanimate object on top.

The temple and street is the oldest temple in Tokyo, built around 628 A.D and the street is a mammoth assortment of people, mainly Asian tourists and the given tourist garb. The best part about being me among Tokyo's 12.5 million people (4 x Toronto, 12 x Calgary) is that I can see over about 11 million of them. I may wander off and lose everyone I'm with, but I can just stand up straight and see pretty much as far as you can go. Not to say there aren't Japanese people taller than me, also gaijin (white devil/people), but their definitely to a minimum.

Finally, we went to visit the graves of the Ishiyama family, and saw some interesting rituals. Supposedly the graves contain the bodies of many generations, though from a practical perspective I hope this is purely symbolic. 

Happy New Year! 

Well then! Tokyo it is. We've been here for a day and a night and so far I'm pretty blown away. Im slowly beginning to remember all the fantastic things about traveling. Such as, ordering and eating something of unknown origin, finding out that yes, Japan has fantastic toilets and they do have heated seats, the beauty of being somewhere and realizing that if the person leading you around just walked away, that you would literally and truly not be able to find your way home... ever. The list goes on. 

Junko and Ishiyama are great and being super accomodating. Tomorrow we visit the world's largest fish market for a sushi breakfast and then attend a ceremony at the family temple/shrine in prep for the new year. 

I'd really like to fill this with super witty insights into Japanese culture and mentality, not to mention the hilarious and numerous mistranslations of english that spot the city. But instead Im going to go to bed. Because thats one of the best parts of traveling, doing nothing and being completely and utterly bombed every single day.

If these pictures work..Calgary has park and rides, heres the Tokyo version. Toronto has the Don river, heres the Japanese way. And some pictures of the all intimidating shinjuku and its plethora of neon. We went to an underground (everything is underground) food market, and without a doubt 1/2 of it was entirely chocolate. It was a beautiful sight. 

Hahaha How vain!

Well Im going to pretend that this isn't the most significant sign of self-absorption that I have yet to produce and instead tell myself that this is easier and quite (unlikely) less cheesy than mass emails.

I have yet to leave the country, but providing tomorrow's Visa pickup will do so on Thursday the 27th. So, considering Toronto consists of little more than ridiculous debauchery and killer Danko Jones concerts I will refrain from wasting any more of your time.

Thank you.