True Shame

Karasu uri - Crow Squash

This legendary inedible vegetable is named after the bird because of its uselessness. The crow is seen as a large pest that has no function but to annoy, and this vegetable may look beautiful but has absolutely no purpose. It cannot be eaten and will siege and destroy your garden by it's rapid growth if you are not careful, much like the Crow.

useless, yet rumored to be magical

Although, this annoying plant is widely regarded as being useless, it is rumored to have magical powers. Athletes believe if it is broken open and rubbed on the back of the calves that it will give the runner extra speed. I suspect this to "be buta o ara u". 

Japanese translation: washing pig

Rural American translation: hogwash/malarky

Common translation: horseshit

I must admit I was a little ambitious on this trip. I brought a ton of work with me with a ton of goals and I have actually met some of them. The only problem is that Japan is outside, and staying in and working or even writing this blog are cumbersome efforts. It is already half way through the second week and I have met so many people, eaten some amazing food and now I am teetering on the brink of the major festival that happens here in Ikegami (where Masako's parents live). 

We spent a few hours in my beloved Akihabara with Sudosan (Masako's dad) and my good friend and fellow Rush enthusiast Okayamisan. The news had come down earlier that Rush are finally gonna be in the rock and roll hall of fame and we discussed the news as I photographed the maids who were out in force today (and were not so happy about being photographed in a few cases). Explaining the maid thing is something that I am not equipped to do, but from what I know they are trying to coax the Otaku (nerds) in to "maid cafes" where they can be served drinks and snacks by girls dressed as baby doll French maids. This is likely the only female contact they will ever have. I have actually heard that there is even a place for Otaku who are too shy for actually girls and can be graced with the presence of a fake one for the afternoon.

The second one from the left got pissed at me for taking a pic

While we are on the subject of weird and creepy, I stumbled across a DVD section of anime in one of the little electronics alley ways in Akihabara. After looking at a few of them and being a little confused, I then noticed the 18+ sign above me. I will spare you the details but I will say this. This stuff makes American hardcore pornography look like Baby Mozart. Needless to say, I bought as much as I could carry.

Minor Rush Tangent: I can already see Eyad's eyes rolling but I have something to say (First of all, Eyad, John Rutsey was not a better drummer). I will admit that the rock n' roll hall of fame is almost as meaningless as the oscars and the grammys combined (although it still ranks above the American presidency in importance). If any one does, Rush deserve to be there in there. Guns and Roses are in there off of making one good record. The Chili Peppers (known in Japan as Rechiri) are in there……wait, now that I think about it…….forget it…………..

Late that night we went to eat Yakiniku (BBQ) with the extended family in this little restaurant that we went to last time we were here. We had two clay BBQ's on our table and although the place has a pretty elaborate ventilation system, at a certain point it was as if there was no ventilation at all and the restaurant was engulfed in smoke. It was like we were in the middle of the demon sequence in Kuosawa's Dreams. There is no way your clothes will survive this, but that is the price you pay. I made a comment that for a place where there is molten fire on every table, the restaurant had zero fire alarms. This is nothing short of awesome.

On Monday (which is a national sports holiday) Hide, Masako and I drove to Kokubunji to see some more extended family. When we stopped at a gas station I got a picture that is arguably a career best.

I call this one "True Shame"

In Kokubunji, we were greeted warmly by a bunch of Masako's cousins, aunts, uncle's and their very entertaining children. We were trying to get here earlier this year when Masako's cousin Mina was living in this house terminally ill with cancer at the age of 49. Unfortunately, we were not able to and she passed some months back. Her father told Masako of how hard it was for him, but it seems like this younger generation has made the healing process easier. 

Hibiki,  Megu, Ichi and Koto

As always, the lunch spread was just outrageous. Yakitori, Jumbo Shrimp, Sushi, Fried Cheese, Kare Age (Japanese Fried Chicken), potato salad and Pizza!!

I had met Masako's cousin Chiga and her daughter Hibiki a few years back when they were in San Francisco during one of our stretches of horrible weather. After they came to the house for lunch we took them over to the Walt Disney Family Museum but by the time we got there Hibiki was passed out asleep in the back seat. Chiga wanted to buy something in the gift shop but didn't know what to do. I said that I would stay with Hibiki and that she and Masako could go in. 

So there I was, trying to stay dead silent and not wake this child who I would not be able to speak with while it was gushing rain outside the car. It was probably only 10-15 minutes but it seemed like an eternity. Every time the child stirred I looked in the rearview mirror with grave concern. Luckily she never woke up. I brought that story up with Chiga and she said that because of Hibiki's nap that day, she did not sleep at all during the entire flight home that night to Japan. She said that with a sigh as if she was still exhausted from it.

The evening concluded with a sushi dinner with the family at home. We bought this spread at a grocery store on the way home. 

You ain't finding this at trader joe's

The next day we went for a hike…..IN A HOTEL!!!

I would be hard pressed to think of another hotel that I have been in that is more beautiful than The Gajoen Hotel in Meguro. It is an ancient building that has been renovated and turned into a modern state of the art hotel, leaving certain remnants of the past behind.

Even the bathroom is a thing of beauty

The outdoor Koi pond has a path where you can hike up behind a waterfall. At a certain point it didn't seem like you were in the middle of Tokyo at all. 

Stay tuned for the next exciting episode: SKYTREE!!!