Tempura and the TSO

With all due respect to soccer, baseball and sumo, walking is the real national sport of Japan. Of course my observation is limited to a small area of Japan, but everyone in Metropolitan Tokyo is a pro at it, and quite by necessity I might add. Take my own circumstance living at Candy and Dad's apartment. It is approximately a mile from here to the Sobudaimae train station. It can be upwards of a quarter mile or more within many of the stations to get from train to train, particularly if you are changing train-line companies. How do I know this? The stations will often, clearly post the distance to the next rail company's platform: 300m, 250m, etc. etc. Upon arrival at the station nearest your final destination......you walk. Now, I would argue that the same probably holds true in every major city world-wide where public transportation is the norm. However, having struggled with weight issues all of my life, I can see the advantage shared by those that have to walk a great distance just to get to the vehicle that will transport them to their intended destination and myself, who will walk all of 30 feet from the kitchen to my car and then park in front of my building where it is a mere 60 or 70 feet to my office. I will say, that I am ready for my hike up Mt. Bierstadt in Colorado with Jeff and Steve next week.
Sunday took me to another incredible concert hall and another incredible concert. Tokyo Opera City is a completely different venue than was Muza Kawasaki. For those of you that can, picture a modern version of the Musikverien Concert Hall in Vienna, Austria. A long, rectangular space that is very contemporary in its design. I have included a few bootleg pictures that I took (before I knew that cameras were not allowed in the hall,) plus one that I lifted from the web site. The concert was fabulous! My seat was directly above the stage, so with my birds-eye view, I was able to watch many of the facial expressions of our conductor, Alan Buribayev. This was an all-Tchaikovsky program featuring cellist Yoko Hasegawa performing the Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. 33 and Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony in E Minor, op. 64.

Following the concert, it was back to Tokyo's Ginza for picture taking, people watching and shopping! Did I mention that I was a lucky guy when it comes to traveling? The two objects of my affection in the Ginza were the Sony building and Yamaha's Ginza store. I was fortunate enough to emerge from the subway at the front door of the Sony building, where I explored all that Sony has to offer the consuming public, including their new 3D Plasma TV. Nemo has never looked so good. I then dove head-first into the throng of people parading up and down the sidewalks. Lucky moment #2. Without having a clue as to where I was going, I found the Yamaha building (tall building pictured above that looks like a glass mosaic.) I was hoping to find Yamaha merchandise, t-shirts, coffee mugs, etc. for LeaAnn, Christian and Emily, but no luck. The Japanese don't seem to advertise using merchandise the way we do in America. Shoot-fire, I haven't even seen an "I LOVE TOKYO" t-shirt!!!

The lights of the Ginza were incredible. I have included a couple of the best displays I came across. All of my pictures will eventually be available on facebook. Now, I was hungry. I tried in desperation to use the I-Phone Candy has loaned me to find a good place to eat, but alas. Technologically, I am a Y2K guy living in a 2010 world (I need to hire Christian as my tech consultant.) I, therefore, reverted back to the old adage: "Eat where the locals eat." So I asked a very nice gentleman at the Yamaha store where his favorite restaurant was. He asked me if I like tempura. I am thinking, "Fried food!! I am from Oklahoma! I can do fried food." He sent me to a basement around the corner to a place called "Tenmaru." Which in Japanese means: "Good Tempura." Just as advertised, the food was delicious. Giant fried shrimp, fried eel (2nd time for eel on this trip, for those of you scoring at home,) Fried vegetables such as pumpkin, eggplant and lotus. And for desert, tempura-fried ice cream with chocolate sauce. Man, I needed that. I have really enjoyed my foray into Japanese cuisine. I feel that it is important to keep an open mind, to try new tastes.......but let me tell you that there is a chicken-fried steak smothered in cream gravy with my name on it back in Oklahoma when I am done with my travels.

Back on the train and home. Monday is shopping day. I am traveling to the Shibuya district of Tokyo to an open-aire market that Ed Fogell, my contact at ZHS, told me about.

-k