Welcome to Japan - Sept. 14th

Ok, bear in mind that this is all from memory at this point…

Today we met up again and went back to the SILS building for some more orientation fun. We met up again with the Japanese students from WIC and Niji no Kai, and we broke into smaller groups for a bit of touring around Shinjuku and Harajuku, the prospect of which made a few people predictably squealed with glee. Yes, we’re in Japan, you can put down the crack pipes now…

Anyways, myself and three other American guys (Robert, Philip and James) teamed up with a friendly guy named Shun and three Japanese ladies for our part of the trip. We had lunch at a family restaurant called “BLDY” (pronounced “buildy”), where we got better aquainted over something resembling western food. We then took off and toured around Shinjuku for a while, occasionally meeting up with random other groups of CSU students and their Japanese guides. What I didn’t notice at the time was that the Japanese students were constantly keeping in touch via their cell-phones. Having never before used text-messaging in the states, I was practically oblivious that every 10 minutes or so, Shun or one of the girls would take out their cell-phones for a few seconds. The speed at which they can write on those things is quite impressive.

We visited several spots around Shinjuku, including an impressive skyscraper from which we enjoyed the view from 45 stories up. A lone musician was playing some beautiful songs on the harp as some visitors sat enraptured, and others loitered around, more impressed by the view than by the dirge.

Afterwards, we puttered over to Harajuku, and pending a brief moment’s rest and another “chance” encounter with two other groups of students, we walked around the enormous park engulfing Meiji shrine. When we got there, I tossed our 5-yen coins into the coffers and made a quick prayer for a good, safe year. After exiting the park, we made the compulsory walk down the shopping strip off the main road. It hadn’t changed much since last year. We walked, we gawked, then we turned the corner and started to head back in the station’s general direction. Time was running short, and we had our first international nomikai (drinking party) to get to. We didn’t even have time to stop in Condomania, the prophylactic super-store. Maybe next time, I suppose. Although people watching aside, I don’t really care for Harajuku all that much. The park and shrine were quite peaceful though.

We all arrived back at the ‘baba (takadanobaba) rotary, and made our way to a nearby izakaya for a good long nomihoudai (all you can drink for a couple hours). We somehow managed to squeeze a ridiculous amount of people into a ridiculously small room. There was barely standing room; a fire would have wiped out the whole lot of us. The nomikai began with a raucous “KANPAI!” followed by several hours of less impressive but increasingly frequent toasts. Having experienced the full brunt of a nomikai before, and having seen the effects it can have on even an experienced drinker, I kept my wits about me. Whilst getting a fair value of the nomihoudai fees, I spent most of my time either engrossed in conversation, or moving about to spark up new ones. The customary pitchers of mixed chu-hai drinks were as weak as ever; Japanese and American students alike would intermittently stand up and down an entire pitcher. One such Japanese student, a diminutive but hilarious guy called Peta, downed two or three such pitchers, before running to the bathroom to make room for more. A good time was had by all, even Ethesham, who does not drink (due to his religion).

After the nomihoudai ended, we made our way back to the rotary, and arranged ourselves into a big circle, and all clapped once in unison, to signify the end of the nomikai. Once again, Teru welcomed us to Japan. I and a few of the more prudent students who hadn’t quite had their fill at the izakaya made our way to the Hub, a popular British-style pub by our hotel. I ordered a Tarantula: a small but strong cocktail, due to the fact that it is made with Spirits, similar to everclear (about 96% alcohol by volume). Despite being cut with other liquids, the Tarantula still comes out to about 30% alcohol by volume. Feeling comfortable with my choice (instead of the Dynamite Kid, which is twice as large and twice as strong), I helped Teru sing the (American) national anthem, as he was missing an entire stanza in his notebook. Teru, the leader of sorts of WIC, is quite a character. He spent a year or so studying at UCLA, and it has clearly had a substantial effect on him. He has a total hard-on for all things American, and is always seen either in a UCLA or Governator t-shirt and baseball cap, waving either an American, Japanese, or giant Waseda flag. A very entertaining, if not slightly strange guy.

After polishing off my drink and making sure Teru had the anthem right, I headed back up to the street level and returned to my room, where Stephen had already crashed. Welcome to Japan.