tokyo

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tokyo report

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one grourmet supermarket in Omote sando. Stylish interior and they sell things like dried fish:) グルメマーケット。お洒落なインテリヤににぼしってゆーのが良い。

p1040527The first “Forever 21″ store in Harajuku recently opened. There’s a line to get in!!! 日本初上陸のフォエバー21が原宿にオープン。列に並んで入るなんてマンハッタンではもう考えられない風景。

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“Izakaya” (bar) street in Akabane. My new favorite area (where I grew up)…

赤羽駅近くの居酒屋通り。最高です。

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I went to montok cafe (that’s how they spell it) in Omote sando at least 4 times… but most delightful moment there was to finally meet up with my old friend, Jun-chan aka Juju! The sweetest singer who I’ve known since I moved to NY when she was living here and working at SSUR and on her Japanese music career. She is super famous now in Japan!!!

表参道のキディーランドのとなりにあるモントーク。今回少なくとも4回は行ったけど、そのうちの一回はなんといってもジュジュに会えた事!私がNYに越して来て間もないころ彼女がまだSSURというソーホーのクールな御店で働きながら歌手を目指してたころからの知り合い。今ではいたるところで耳にするほど超有名人でびっくり!!!

I’m very bad at taking photos of what I eat because when I see food right in front of me, all I think is to eat. Everytime I go to Japan, I gain at least 4lb. My wonderful friends take me to all the best restaurants I can never find in NY.

食べ物の写真を撮るというのがどうしても苦手。食事を目の前にするともう食べる事しか頭になくなるので。。毎回日本に行くと2キロ以上は太る。NYで行けないからと、友達が美味しいレストランに連れてってくれるからなのですが。

Here’s one of them on my friend (I’ve known her 12 years!! We met through modeling and have lived and worked in NYC & Paris together)  Sawa’s blog It’s a SUKIYAKI restaurant named Moritaya that she took me to in Tokyo. This is how you gain weight.

そんな友達のひとり、サワちゃん(モデル時代から知り合って12年以上。NYとパリでは一緒に住んだルームメイトでもあり苦難をわかちあった戦友)のブログを見て頂けるとどうしてそんなに太っちゃうのかが証明できます。丸ビル内のモリタ屋にて。最高。

if you visit Japan, you cannot miss these food;s
-Yakiniku (japanese bbq)
-ramen noodle
-tonkatsu(pork cutlet)
-tempura
-sushi, of course.

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I love “kabuki”. Kabuki is traditional Japanese theater play with dancing and singing. Normally divided in 8~10 acts, first half begins from 11AM till around 3PM, and the rest till around 7PM. Kabuki addicted audiences enjoy all day watching when each season (spring/summer/autumn/winter spots) opens up.

Last year I visited Tokyo in May I got a platinum ticket on the first floor, 8th row from the stage in the very middle and I thought it was gonna be the last chance before this historical Kabuki theater, “kabuki-za”, gets torn down.

Luckily during my stay in Tokyo this time the Kabuki summer season just started and my friend Megu got me one of the best seats (using her personal connection;) which is on the second balcony where we could drink sake and eat whatever we brought ( or buy there).

The first play was one of the best acts from the Ichikawa family (“ke”) called “Shibaraku” and the main character was played by one of the young handsome hopes named “Ebizo” from their family.

Kabuki is performed only by the men, so the women (character) are also played by men. There sure needs a skill to have that high voice and female movement. Audiences have their favorite actors in certain plays.

I’ve always been into the culture of Edo period when the last shoguns ruled Japan and samurai families from each region protected their lands (“Edo” is the name of the area now called “Tokyo” as well). “Kabuki” was for the the ordinary people, farmer, grocer, butcher etc. to enjoy away from everyday hard work. “Kabukimono” referred originally to those who were bizarrely dressed and swaggered on the street in edo era as they like to get dressed up.

“Kabuki-za” will be demolished and will be built into a completelly new theater after this season.  I was very happy I was there to breath the air in the building for the last time and also I could see our fomer prime minister, Mr. Koizumi!

歌舞伎ファンとして、歌舞伎座がなくなってしまう前の講演を観に行けたことはよかった!元首相の小泉さんもいたよ!

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