Last year passed in a blur, but in many ways it seems like we’ve been here forever (in a good way).
Laurie came for a visit in November and spent Thanksgiving here Tokyo-American style. We joined friends for turkey dinner at the New Sanno Hotel right here in Hiroo. It’s a hotel for American military and DOD personnel, so there are a lot of military families visiting Tokyo on vacation, etc. from bases in the area. When you walk through the doors it’s just like being at home. You can even pay with dollars, not that we have any US cash lying around anymore…
Over Winter break, Matthew came to stay and was joined for a bit by his friend Specht, also his housemate at LMU. Matthew was here during Christmas and we had dinner at the Tokyo American Club complete with Santa and sushi along with turkey and ham.
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- The burning incense cloud looking down from the main temple of Senso-ji in Asakusa, Northern Tokyo.
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- Still on the temple grounds, a woman does a comedy act with a monkey-like animal. PETA anyone?
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- In Ueno Park, a group of people perform traditional Japanese dances. They seemed to be in some sort of dance club and were just there for fun.
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- Near the Ueno Park zoo, some genius with a water bottle had ‘drawn’ these animal cartoons along the walkway leading up to the zoo entrance. There were lots of drawings of all different animals. I snapped some photos before they evaporated.
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- Laurie on the 2nd floor of Andy’s (the fun floor) with a lot of delicious crab legs. When we go there we order Mike Plumer style…’just bring us stuff,’ and it’s always great. Too bad nobody like beer.
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- In this wide shot you can see Laurie with Jim Moynihan, Amy, and Jim’s wife Hiroko. Andy’s is directly underneath the JR train tracks in Yurakucho (near Ginza) so it tends to be a bit cramped…all part of the fun. As you can see, nobody else like beer either.
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- Here with the famous statue of Hachiko at Shibuya Station. It’s a very busy station and this statue is a popular meeting place; so popular that it’s sometimes impossible to find people among the throngs.
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- Chow time…the varied and versatile Thanksgiving spread at the New Sanno Hotel had something for everyone.
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- ‘Tis the season. Trees festively lit for Christmas on a nice shopping street in Roppongi Hills.
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- Andy’s again…it’s about the most fun you can have in Tokyo but you must bring your appetite. Andy will keep bringing food until you’re stuffed.
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- Specht and Matthew with the ‘kadomatsu,’ at our apartment, a pair of which is placed on either side of doors for the first week of the year. They are made of pine, bamboo and plum, each considered ‘auspicious’ plants…especially the pine as it is a symbol of longevity.
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- Santa Claus was in town and agreed to pose for a photo with Matthew, which puts him on the ‘nice’ list.
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