November is a good month, Japan is a great place, and in this amazing place two amazing things combine to make one huge night of epicness. To mark the end of Matsuri and Andy from Powervehicles birthday they have a party to celebrate it all. After last years efforts I knew this wasnt going to be an event to miss so I made sure we stayed in Ebisu for another day just to get amongst it... and by golly was I not disappointed by this decision. Hoorahhh I night out on the town, lets get pretty (this is a struggle), grab the next door neighbours and destroy the town. Good plan!!!! We drove down the hill to meet the buses (thanks for the lift Kev, you are a champ) and headed off to the Asahi Brewery for some dinner.
This is Marissa, she is beautiful, we are beautiful
The Asahi Brewing company is one of the biggest Brewers in Japan (I could be lying but lets run with this anyway) and they make everything, Think Coke size but they make booze as well and from what I can gather they have breweries dotted all over the country side, and we headed to a small one near Fukishima for some dinner and a few (to many) drinks. Korean BBQ style dinner and all you could eat, this food was amazing, when your plate of cow was running low the efficient staff run off and come back with more cow. And the drinks are the same, those sneaky little Japanese have eyes like hawks, the minute your glass looks like it is going to run out they pop up with another full glass for you, and as you can imagine this makes it a bit hard to keep track of what you are drinking (or maybe thats all the alcohol talking). We also managed to discover a flavour sensation, which by positivity is double alcohol awesome!!!! Young Hanson wanted a Whisky and Cola but was promptly told no Cola, but he could have Whisky and Cider... interesting yes, but let me tell you, this is probably one of the greatest drinks I have tasted. I suggest that everyone gives it a bash (but then I was pretty drunk so may have been mistaken at its deliciousness.
They give you bibs, you know this shit is serious
Trish cooking up a storm
And what was I drinking, water and lots of it... but before that, something pink and delicious known as Pink Grapefruit Chu-Hi. The Wikipedia definition of Chu-Hi is this but I think it should be the drink that gets you fucked up and makes you fuck shit up. After drinking these I got super awesome classy and may have possibly given the road a litt-o-bit of rainbow (but never worry, it was out the window of the bus and none of it actually went on the bus). I honestly dont remember drinking that much, which makes me think that these things are deadly (and the few headaches that I had, had during the week can possibly testify to this as well). I also learnt a valuable lesson, when you get sick on a bus and tell people not tell anyone and they say they wont, they are fibbing. Thankyou to Leighton Fine, who told Emily the minute I got off the bus, well I guess it serves me right for just jumping on a random bus.... maybe it was their company that made me sick.... lets go with that.
If only I had have known what was coming, I would have been pulling the same face as James
So after emptying the contents of my stomach on the way we ended up at a Kareoke Bar in Fukishima (I am going to guess its Fukishima, the bus trip was a bit of a blur) and the catch phrase of the night was "Fuck Shit Up" and it was chanted religiously throughout the night.... most of the chants being started by Suenaga from Team Orange (this guy is crazy). And shit got fucked up, towers made from glasses, pie face smashing, sausages being thrown around like confetti, floors covered in beer and people on the ground more than they were on their feet. So much awesome in one night, all liquored up with the aid of the guys from Agent K, who every time I ordered water would tell them to get me a big glass of water and order me another drink at the same time, cheeky cheeky.
Darren, Christian, Benny and Suenaga Fucking shit up
Apparently we were to hard core for the Kareoke and (not) suprisingly we got kicked out and herded onto buses back to the hotel, a 5 minute stop at the 7/11 for supplies (pro tip icecream is not a suitable food to soak up alcohol) and then off home we went... after a bit more partying and hilarities I was done for the night and would wake up in the morning with no hang over *cough*. This officially ends our stay in Nihonmatsu and in the morning we got on the train and headed back to Tokyo.
Being back in Tokyo for me is like being home, I love this city and it makes me feel at ease. I decided to head out to try and get tattooed (Thanks Anton for putting this idea into my head) so after some researched headed out to a few studios to see what I could organise, where we are staying in Ikebukuro is the Yakuza hang out area so I knew there would be a few studios around the area, but was concerned about whether or not that they would tattoo a gaijin, the first shop that I went looking for I couldnt find so headed off to find the second shop that I had written down. Now I am a big believer in fate and I think finding this studio was a bit of fate, I walked in and not only will the guy tattoo me but his favourite wrestler is also the same as my amazing Tattooist from home Mike Van (if you want rad tattoos hit this guy up), so it was set, I would get tattooed and it would be amazing.
Finding spots like this in the middle of the city make it amazing
Today disaster struck, I realised that mistakenly I had got the days of my tours wrong and infact am going to be in Nikko when I am meant to be getting tattooed, I have emailed the guy and hopefully I can move my appointment. There were a few studios that I was interested in checking out while I was in Japan, so after the news that my plans would be disrupted I headed off to find another studio in the hope of getting a walk in spot. I got on the train and headed to Shinjuku to find Blossom Studio. I walked around the same street about 10 times trying to find it and eventually I got there, damn the Japanese road signs and street layouts are confusing.
I am sure all of your have walked past a tattoo studio in the past, they have signage and glass windows and some advertisement that it is infact a tattoo studio, in Japan things are a little bit different which makes studios pretty hard to spot. I went up an elevator to the 5th floor and knocked on a blank door (yeah I can hear you thinking FUCKKKK!!!! I was thinking that a little bit as well) and when I opened the door, there was a regular tattoo shop hiding behind the door. WINNN!!!! next problem was that there was no english speaking staff. Let me tell you trying to book and organise a tattoo with the added language barrier is a bit tough, but after an hour of working together we managed to get it sorted and I have an appointment on Saturday at 12 lunch time to get a matching crane on my foot. I wonder if whinging sounds the same in english as it does in Japanese? Lets hope not because I want to appear tough.
One thing that I have noticed about Tokyo is that its a city of love, I know they say Paris is but I have been noticing it a lot around here. There are a lot of happily loved up young couples walking around hand in hand in the love bubble and its nice. I dont know if it is only because I am paying more attention than I do at home, or if there is actually more couples but I do notice it more. I think today it made me a bit sad to be alone, but then I remembered, I am listening to Aussie Hip Hop in Tokyo and I dont need no man to make me awesome!!! I cant remember if I have touched on it before but in Japan they have "Love" Hotels everywhere and its probably a good thing for these kids, imagine having to catch a train home to have intimate relations with your significant other, that shit takes time and you dont want to ruin the mood.
I think this is a love hotel, how fancy is that
In case you were wondering a love hotel is a room you can hire for a few hours to hold hands and have polite conversation. There are some places that offer themed rooms or you can just get a room that is like a fancy fancy hotel. You enter the establishment of the place you want to stay and there is a light up board with all the rooms on it, when you have selected the room you want you push the button and head to the counter and pay the lady for your visit. And then from there... well like I said holding hands and polite conversation.
You want to hold hands for a long time or a little time?
Going to head off now to find something to eat, hope its something amazing and obscure, and maybe get some new kicks. Thats one thing I love about Japan, its 7pm and I know that I will have no problem going to find something to eat and some shops to terrorise. Ahhh Japan how you treat me good
Love and Hand Holding
Miss K
Japanese Candy Anyone?
Caught red handed with his sausage out
Matt says "Take that Suenaga"
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