I wanted to go to Kyoto again to find some omiyage for people back in Hiroshima as well as in Hawaii. I originally planned to spend the first part of the day there, and the remainder back in Osaka. Unfortunately, this plan didnt really happen. Mostly because I have forgotten the layout of the main shopping area in Kyoto since my last visit, and also because I didnt realise how far away Kyoto is from Osaka. However, I bought the things I needed, and have enjoyed my last day in the Kansai area. I just finished packing, and even though I'm yawning like crazy, I want to write my last blog post for this trip before going to bed.
The Teramachi area of Kyoto is simply a wonderful place to find omiyage. Whether you need a distinctly Japanese item, or if you're looking for things on the cheap, I suggest you check there first. In addition to omiyage, I wanted to check Chicago, a used clothing store for some kimono things. I'm sure there are places like this in Osaka, but I dont know them, and I like Kyoto, so after leaving my hotel, I headed to the Hankyu Umeda Station. I was not expecting the train ride to be as long as it was. The way people talk, it sounds like getting through the Keihanshin area is fast and easy. However, I should have realised that the opposite is true, considering it took about forty five minutes to get to Kobe, from Osaka. To get to Kyoto, it took me about an hour. And when I got there, I promptly got lost. I thought I had remembered the area around Shijo, but I think that was wishful thinking. It took me about another hour to figure out which exit to take, and from there, which direction to get to Teramachi. Even more frustrating was the fact that I later discovered the exit that leads from the station directly to the beginning of the market.
In any case, shopping in the Teramachi/Nishiki Market area was just as wonderful as it was the last time I was there. One of the men in Tsukikage asked me to buy him a turquoise obi for him, and since Chicago is the only used kimono store I know of, I made it a top priority. When I got there, they indeed had a turqoise obi, but I ended up not buying it. Compared to the other obi, it was a bit skinny, and that made me wonder if it was appropriate for an adult man to wear it. And because it was a bit expensive (about thirty dollars, ten dollars more expensive than the others), I didnt want to buy a mistake. I didnt know who I could ask for help, so I regretfully left it behind. I will have to ask around about that, but if it was indeed useable, I feel bad.
A store nearby Chicago was Octopus Army, and it specializes in mens clothes. I was enticed by the mannequin outside of the shop. What caught my eye was its shoes, a pair of beautiful black boots, with blue laces. Boots are very common here in Japan, and I have come to admire them. I really wanted to buy them, but it was about a hundred and fifty dollars, which is way more than I ever plan to spend for shoes. I eventually succumbed in buying from the store. I bought one of the polo shirts they were selling. It is rather plain, with the main body simply being black with a small writing on the left chest area. But the collar is an interesting black and grey check pattern, and I really like it. When they let me try it on, with my white long sleeve underneath, it looked really good. However, it was fifty dollars, which would make it the most expensive shirt I've ever bought. I really agonized about it, and I probably drove the store clerks crazy with my hesitation. What didnt help was it had competition. The shirt I bought beat out a t-shirt with a panda that said "Money doesnt buy happiness" (IRONIC RIGHT), and a white and blue polo. Also, it came only in medium, that actually fit me, but was also a bit tight. It looks fine when I was standing up, but I worry for what it looks like when I sit down. In any case, I bought it, and rationalized that it is my Boy's Day gift to me (a day late). Since it was so expensive, I need to wear it on days that I need to look amazing on. Watch for it, ね!
By the time I finished everything that I needed to do in Kyoto, I headed back to Osaka. By this time, it was about five, and not only had I spent a fair amount of money, but my legs were very sore (yup, still not fully recovered). At this time, I realised that even though I came to Osaka, I spent more time and money in Kobe and Kyoto. Isnt that a bit ironic? After thinking it over, I decided to walk around the Umeda area, and try to support Osaka businesses. With that in mind, I headed to the HEP Five building thing, which I heard was a big shopping mall. And it certainly was! There were ten floors, and so many shops. Naturally, there were a lot of clothes stores, with some really nice stuff for sale, but it was way too expensive for me. There was a piercing shop that caught my eye, but unfortunately, the ones I liked were too big for my holes. I did enjoy the music store in there, and picked up a mixed CD. It's certainly different from most of the other music I listen to, but if I ever need a party mix, I found it.
This concludes my trip to Kansai for Golden Week. Tomorrow morning, I have to wake up early to check out of the hotel and catch my shinkansen back to Hiroshima. It has been a lesson in wasting time and making mistakes. I missed the MBLAQ fan meet on Wednesday, and today I got lost in Kyoto. There are so many things I would change if I could turn back the clock. But you know what? Even though I cant replace lost time, or undo my mistakes, this trip has not been a complete failure. I got a lot of great presents for my nephews for Boy's Day, my mom for Mother's Day, and my father for his retirement. And also I got a lot of omiyage for my friends. Even though things went wrong, I guess I should keep my success at the forefront of my mind. With that, I bid you good night.
Showing posts with label Golden Week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Golden Week. Show all posts
Friday, May 6, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Thinking of Honolulu
When I was thinking of what I wanted to do while in Kansai, going to Kobe was not on the list. I knew it was close enough to visit, but I didnt know what else to do there. But the other night, I was talking to a friend that had spent the year at the SAC program in Kobe. She suggested that the shopping in Sannomiya would be a worthwhile trip. Further, my other friend that participated in the same program told me that the port Kobe was nearby. Since one of the other HUSA's visited Yokohama where her grandmother left Japan, I decided to see the port where my great grandfather left Japan. All in all, today was a pretty good day.
When I got to Sannomiya, there were no shops open, so I headed towards the pier. Even though I didnt have any idea of the area, there were maps all over the place, so I figured out how to get there. The station was a few blocks away, so I had to walk through a few blocks of the street. なんとか, the streets I passed by reminded me a lot of Honolulu, particularly the Downtown, business district. Like in Honolulu, the sidewalk is wide enough to give people plenty of space, but not as wide as the street. The buildings were very tall, and undoubtably held offices of business firms and other important type things. But it wasnt completely urban; there were trees and hedges lining the streets, but they were rather large. Like some parts of downtown Honolulu, there was a good mix of concrete and greenery.
Do you think it looks like Downtown Honolulu?
When I got to the port, I didnt know what to make of it. I mean, it looked like any port you would come across. There were ships in dock, and there was the ocean. A hundred years or so have passed between my great grandfather's time and now, so I have no idea where exactly he departed from Japan. At this time, I must admit, I thought that coming to the port was a mistake. With that thought, I walked to the area by the Kobe Port Tower. When I went up the tower, it was still fairly early in the morning, so I couldnt see very far. But even with the clouds, it was still a nice view of the city. After I descended, I decided to check out the small open market that was starting to open. There were a lot of food stalls, one of which was karaage, which of course I bought from. The other stalls were selling used clothes, kid toys, and a few that had accesories like necklaces and bracelets. I wanted to support the vendors, but the only vendor I bought from was this sweet old lady that was selling things she had sewn. I wanted a bag to hold my shamisen stuff, and I found it today. It's made with a blue, Super Mario pattern. It is supposed to be for little kids to hold their shoes or something, but I think it's the right size for my shamisen stuff. I'm very happy with it.
What really made my visit to the port worthwhile, though, was the Kobe Maritime Museum. It is a museum devoted to the history of Kobe Port, and starts from its beginnings in the Heian Era, to its current condition. I was very surprised to see a small entry that talked about its role in the immigration period, near the turn of the last century. The English translation was very short, and the original Japanese wasnt much longer, but still, just that little mention was way more than any Japanese person I've met knows. The panel explained that the first immigrants to leave were the Gannenmono, in 1868. About thirty years later, the government contract period began, which is when my great grandfather left. Also in the early part of the last century, immigration to Brazi and Peru began, and would continue until the 1970's. I feel that the Japan Japanese these days dont know nearly enough about their brethren abroad. They always express amazement at the amount of Japanese people in Hawaii, and seem surprised when they hear about us doing Japanese things, like お正月 and お盆. Seeing a Japanese exhibit on Japanese immigration was gratifying, and it seemed to reaffirm my belief that while the Japanese abroad are not like the Japanese in Japan, we are still more a part of them than they would like to believe.
A statue for the Japanese immigrants that left through Kobe Port.
After that, I decided to check out the shopping district. Like Hiroshima, part of the shopping area in Sannomiya is called 本道 Hondori, and like Hiroshima city, there are about a million little shops that line the area. I dont know exactly how far I was walking, but it was a lot. My legs were so sore! But I found a lot of interesting shops. There were quite a few kimono shops which I checked out. I want to buy yukata for bon dance, but as one of the ladies explained, it's still too early. Maybe later this month they'll be getting more yukata, and that'll bring down the price. Even though I'll probably never be back, I received a lot of 名刺. I didnt know how to turn down those sweet ばちゃんs！ At any rate, I picked up a cheap white obi. The woman that sold it to me said that I could use it with the black yukata that I picked up the last time I was in Japan.
After the two streets that comprised that shopping area, I started walking around the Ikuta area. This area was even more crowded than the hondori area! Not necessarily because there were more people, but the walking area itself was so small! Maybe only three people could walk together at the same time, it was so narrow. But the shops here were definitely a class apart from any other shopping area I've been to in Japan. There were two shops that were selling earrings and other piercing related stuff. Not like Claire's, but more like Hot Topic hardcore. The first one I went to was run by girls that had brightly dyed hair (blonde and pink, in case you wanted to know), and the girl that helped me had multiple cartlidge piercings, nose piercings, and a few on her lips. They had a fair selection of cartlidge piercings (products, not them), but unfortunately, they only had plain bars for my industrial (in Japanese, インダス←新しい単語). The other shop I think is a branch store of the store I patronized when I was in Kyoto. There were a lot of rings and necklaces, which didnt really appeal to me, but their selection of earrings was pretty big. The pair I decided on buying was a pair of skulls in silver. The sales clerk here, like his counterpart in Kyoto, really knew how to butter me up. When he saw what I had in, he said "星はかわいいですよね。Those stars are really cute, arent they?" and when he asked where I was from, he complemented me on my Japanese. "留学生と言われても、信じられないんですよ。Even though you say that you're a foreign exchange student, I cant believe it!" Having said all of that, I couldnt very well not buy from him, now could I?
At this point, it was about three in the afternoon, but I was in pain from yesterday's running. However, I felt that I shouldnt leave Sannomiya without visiting a few of the nearby department stores, so I steeled myself for more walking. Like other department stores in Japan, the majority of the products for sale were quite expensive, so I didnt do much more than look at them. I saw a lot of things I wanted, but seeing how much money was left in my wallet, I decided not to buy anything. I did really nice smelling body wash, which I decided to get for my mother. And I also picked up some candy to give to my other nephew.
Getting back to the hotel was another adventure. I got really mixed up today, because "Sannomiya Station" is the English name for three different places. There is the Japan Railways station, the Hanshin Densha station, and the Hankyu Line station. It took me a while to remember that I came on the Hankyu line, but even after figuring that out, I had to figure out which building with 「三宮駅」 on it was the right one. After getting on the right train, I fell asleep, and when I woke up, I got off at the wrong station. Luckily, I noticed that only a few seconds after getting of the train, so I didnt have to wait for a new train, but still. After hobbling back to my hotel (my legs were so tired, you dont even know), I bought a bento at a newrby convenience store and have been resting in my room since then.
Although I didnt really plan for it, I enjoyed my trip to Kobe today. Going to Kobe Port and seeing a legitimate discussion of Japanese immigration reaffirmed my Japanese identity. And the open market in the area was filled with a lot of fun sights and things to buy. The Sannomiya shopping was also spectacular, and allowed me to cross off some things on my omiyage list. It's late, and I need to get some sleep. Tomorrow I'm heading to Kyoto, to visit a few stores that I enjoyed the last time I was here. I'm hoping that it'll be a 楽 kind of day. But, who really knows what tomorrow will bring?
When I got to Sannomiya, there were no shops open, so I headed towards the pier. Even though I didnt have any idea of the area, there were maps all over the place, so I figured out how to get there. The station was a few blocks away, so I had to walk through a few blocks of the street. なんとか, the streets I passed by reminded me a lot of Honolulu, particularly the Downtown, business district. Like in Honolulu, the sidewalk is wide enough to give people plenty of space, but not as wide as the street. The buildings were very tall, and undoubtably held offices of business firms and other important type things. But it wasnt completely urban; there were trees and hedges lining the streets, but they were rather large. Like some parts of downtown Honolulu, there was a good mix of concrete and greenery.
When I got to the port, I didnt know what to make of it. I mean, it looked like any port you would come across. There were ships in dock, and there was the ocean. A hundred years or so have passed between my great grandfather's time and now, so I have no idea where exactly he departed from Japan. At this time, I must admit, I thought that coming to the port was a mistake. With that thought, I walked to the area by the Kobe Port Tower. When I went up the tower, it was still fairly early in the morning, so I couldnt see very far. But even with the clouds, it was still a nice view of the city. After I descended, I decided to check out the small open market that was starting to open. There were a lot of food stalls, one of which was karaage, which of course I bought from. The other stalls were selling used clothes, kid toys, and a few that had accesories like necklaces and bracelets. I wanted to support the vendors, but the only vendor I bought from was this sweet old lady that was selling things she had sewn. I wanted a bag to hold my shamisen stuff, and I found it today. It's made with a blue, Super Mario pattern. It is supposed to be for little kids to hold their shoes or something, but I think it's the right size for my shamisen stuff. I'm very happy with it.
What really made my visit to the port worthwhile, though, was the Kobe Maritime Museum. It is a museum devoted to the history of Kobe Port, and starts from its beginnings in the Heian Era, to its current condition. I was very surprised to see a small entry that talked about its role in the immigration period, near the turn of the last century. The English translation was very short, and the original Japanese wasnt much longer, but still, just that little mention was way more than any Japanese person I've met knows. The panel explained that the first immigrants to leave were the Gannenmono, in 1868. About thirty years later, the government contract period began, which is when my great grandfather left. Also in the early part of the last century, immigration to Brazi and Peru began, and would continue until the 1970's. I feel that the Japan Japanese these days dont know nearly enough about their brethren abroad. They always express amazement at the amount of Japanese people in Hawaii, and seem surprised when they hear about us doing Japanese things, like お正月 and お盆. Seeing a Japanese exhibit on Japanese immigration was gratifying, and it seemed to reaffirm my belief that while the Japanese abroad are not like the Japanese in Japan, we are still more a part of them than they would like to believe.
After that, I decided to check out the shopping district. Like Hiroshima, part of the shopping area in Sannomiya is called 本道 Hondori, and like Hiroshima city, there are about a million little shops that line the area. I dont know exactly how far I was walking, but it was a lot. My legs were so sore! But I found a lot of interesting shops. There were quite a few kimono shops which I checked out. I want to buy yukata for bon dance, but as one of the ladies explained, it's still too early. Maybe later this month they'll be getting more yukata, and that'll bring down the price. Even though I'll probably never be back, I received a lot of 名刺. I didnt know how to turn down those sweet ばちゃんs！ At any rate, I picked up a cheap white obi. The woman that sold it to me said that I could use it with the black yukata that I picked up the last time I was in Japan.
After the two streets that comprised that shopping area, I started walking around the Ikuta area. This area was even more crowded than the hondori area! Not necessarily because there were more people, but the walking area itself was so small! Maybe only three people could walk together at the same time, it was so narrow. But the shops here were definitely a class apart from any other shopping area I've been to in Japan. There were two shops that were selling earrings and other piercing related stuff. Not like Claire's, but more like Hot Topic hardcore. The first one I went to was run by girls that had brightly dyed hair (blonde and pink, in case you wanted to know), and the girl that helped me had multiple cartlidge piercings, nose piercings, and a few on her lips. They had a fair selection of cartlidge piercings (products, not them), but unfortunately, they only had plain bars for my industrial (in Japanese, インダス←新しい単語). The other shop I think is a branch store of the store I patronized when I was in Kyoto. There were a lot of rings and necklaces, which didnt really appeal to me, but their selection of earrings was pretty big. The pair I decided on buying was a pair of skulls in silver. The sales clerk here, like his counterpart in Kyoto, really knew how to butter me up. When he saw what I had in, he said "星はかわいいですよね。Those stars are really cute, arent they?" and when he asked where I was from, he complemented me on my Japanese. "留学生と言われても、信じられないんですよ。Even though you say that you're a foreign exchange student, I cant believe it!" Having said all of that, I couldnt very well not buy from him, now could I?
At this point, it was about three in the afternoon, but I was in pain from yesterday's running. However, I felt that I shouldnt leave Sannomiya without visiting a few of the nearby department stores, so I steeled myself for more walking. Like other department stores in Japan, the majority of the products for sale were quite expensive, so I didnt do much more than look at them. I saw a lot of things I wanted, but seeing how much money was left in my wallet, I decided not to buy anything. I did really nice smelling body wash, which I decided to get for my mother. And I also picked up some candy to give to my other nephew.
Getting back to the hotel was another adventure. I got really mixed up today, because "Sannomiya Station" is the English name for three different places. There is the Japan Railways station, the Hanshin Densha station, and the Hankyu Line station. It took me a while to remember that I came on the Hankyu line, but even after figuring that out, I had to figure out which building with 「三宮駅」 on it was the right one. After getting on the right train, I fell asleep, and when I woke up, I got off at the wrong station. Luckily, I noticed that only a few seconds after getting of the train, so I didnt have to wait for a new train, but still. After hobbling back to my hotel (my legs were so tired, you dont even know), I bought a bento at a newrby convenience store and have been resting in my room since then.
Although I didnt really plan for it, I enjoyed my trip to Kobe today. Going to Kobe Port and seeing a legitimate discussion of Japanese immigration reaffirmed my Japanese identity. And the open market in the area was filled with a lot of fun sights and things to buy. The Sannomiya shopping was also spectacular, and allowed me to cross off some things on my omiyage list. It's late, and I need to get some sleep. Tomorrow I'm heading to Kyoto, to visit a few stores that I enjoyed the last time I was here. I'm hoping that it'll be a 楽 kind of day. But, who really knows what tomorrow will bring?
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
大失敗
"Daishippai" translated means "Big Failure", and that's what today was. Long story short, I missed the whole reason why I came to Osaka. The money for the shinkansen, the hotel room, all of it has come to naught.
失敗第一 First Failure: Golden Week
I knew that Golden Week was serious business for the Japanese, but I made two mistakes. The first is that Japan's population is the tenth largest in the world; even if half of the nation had decided not to travel, there would still be a lot of people milling about. The second thing is that there are two popuation centers in Japan, one of which is the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area (the other being the Tokyo Capital Area). There are simply so many people everywhere you look. They crowd the trains, fill up the sidewalks, and are just unescapable. When I got lost and began to rush, there were times when I simply could not move faster because there was simply no space.
失敗第二 Second Failure: Double Checking
First of all, I should have checked the area surrounding the event location for cd sellers where I could have reserved my cd. There was a Tsutaya a block away, and I should have reserved my cd there. In Saijo, we normally go there for the used products, so I didnt think about it. A quick look at their website would have set me straight. The store I did reserve at, Tower Records, has two stores near each other, and that's what threw me off. When I checked Google Maps, it didnt mention that there were two stores, so when I passed by one yesterday, I assumed that it was the one I wanted. It wasnt, so I wasted time going to that store, and because I didnt plan on going to the other store, I got lost heading there. Furthermore, when trying to head to the event location, I got lost again, so I ended up being an hour and a half late.
失敗第三 Third Failure: Picking this Event
Today's fan meet event for MBLAQ's Japanese debut is one of five events. It is the first, being held on the day their album became available for sale. For these reasons, I shouldnt have picked this event. Tower Records, where I reserved my album, opened at 11:00 AM; the 受付 ended at 11:30 AM. Even if I hadnt gotten lost and all, I would have had only half an hour to go to Tower Records, pick up and buy the cd, and then get to the place. That thirty minutes made little space for error, which (LOL) happened. While Sapporo and Tokyo are far away and would have cost more money (transportation and lodging), Fukuoka is not as far away. And while I would have sacrificed a Monday and/or Tuesday, I wouldnt have been in such a rush. I would have made the ハイタッチ会 and maybe even the 超限定ライブ.
After being turned away, I am a bit proud to admit that I didnt lose my shit in the middle of the street. I did hang out a bit, just to watch what kinds of people would show up. Because there were only three ladies ahead of me at the (wrong) Tower Records and the fact that it was the day the album was released, I was really surprised to see how many people had shown up. There were people all over the street, and it was a very long street. Another thing that surprised me was the age of the people. I'd say the majority of people were in their late teens or twenties, which is pretty normal, I think. But there were a few girls who were definitely in middle school, and accompanied by their mothers. But I was amazed that there were a few older women too. Not grandmas, to be sure, but I'd put their age at late fifties or sixties. Definitely the kind that are known to watch KDramas. However, no matter their age, they all acted the same. The sighing, the laughing, the "Ohmygod they're so amazing!1!11!". Maybe it's just as well that I didnt get in. I would have been so conspicuous and nervous.
I thought about waiting for the whole thing to finish, and then maybe seeing if I could watch them walk out the building. But my legs were tired (I literally ran today), and I was feeling shitty, so I decided to leave. While lost, I had walked by 大丸 Daimaru, which is a department store, as well as the ポケモンセンター Pokemon Center. I headed in that direction. For a bit, I got pulled off track by a game center, and I played some games, but eventually, I made it to the 大丸ビル.
Like I mentioned above, there are so many people here in Osaka, and the area I was walking through is a major shopping and transit center, so it took me a while. To get to the Poke Center, I had to head up to the thirteenth floor, which is no small feat. The elevator would have been packed and stop on every floor, but the escalator was not that much better. It too was full of people, and took forever and a day. But I finally made it to the Poke Center. Predictably, the majority of people there were either children or with children, so it felt a little strange to be by myself and looking at things. Since I dont have any of the Pokemon games with me, I didnt stop to watch people aquire special, new pokemon, and I also ignored the kiddy games where you could win Pokemon prizes. A friend of mine asked me to buy him some things if I happened to stop there, so I started looking for his stuff. I picked out two file folders, which I think he'll use. But also for sale were a multitude of things. There were pencils and pens, scissors and erasers, and bento boxes and much more. There were shirts too, but they looked the size of a child, so I didnt look too hard. There was also candy and other snacks imprinted with Pokemon characters. I did look through the Pokemon Card section, but they were all the new cards, which I have no interest in. After taking about ten minutes to wait through line, I made it out of there.
Tomorrow is Boy's Day, so even though it'll be late, I wanted to buy something for my nephews. I suppose that's one good thing for having three nephews; it's easy to find their Boy's Day gifts. 東急ハンズ Tokyu Hands, a department store I like, took up the three floors beneath the Poke Center, so I checked it out next. Predictably, there were quite an assortment of things on sale. I particularly enjoyed looking through the cookware section. In the housewares section, there was an apron you use when hanging out clothes. I really wanted to buy it, because it looks somewhat useful. It works like a kangaroo pouch: the front part has a pocket in which to place clothes in, to hold while to hang it out. 結局、買わんかったけど。 I'll think about it, and maybe I'll go back for it. But it's doubtful, because I imagine that it'll be very crowded in there. I dont do well with crowds.
簡単というと、今日は大失敗だったのよ。 The whole reason why I decided to come to Osaka during Golden Week was to go to MBLAQ's Japan debut and I completely missed it. Thankfully I didnt start crying in the streets, but I am bummed that せっかく大阪来たのに会えんかったんじゃ。 But there is a small part of me that hopes that this isnt the end. They're going to open their Japanese fan club soon, and I plan on joining it. Secondly, I've bought their last two albums, and isnt that the best thing a fan can do, support the artist? I heard that their album debuted at number two on the Oricon chart, so maybe if their sales are good and fan club support strong, maybe they'll come back to Japan. They already made another fan meet even in Shibuya 突発的に, so it's not impossible. Hey, I can hope, cant I?
In any case, this day is over, and I should start planning what I'm going to do tomorrow. I'm thinking of heading into the Denden Town, which my friend said is kinda like Akiba. If not, I want to go to Kyoto again, for some things I missed the last time. In any case, I must make the next few days worthwhile, if only to offset my failure today. この休みを失敗しないように頑張るよ！！
失敗第一 First Failure: Golden Week
I knew that Golden Week was serious business for the Japanese, but I made two mistakes. The first is that Japan's population is the tenth largest in the world; even if half of the nation had decided not to travel, there would still be a lot of people milling about. The second thing is that there are two popuation centers in Japan, one of which is the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area (the other being the Tokyo Capital Area). There are simply so many people everywhere you look. They crowd the trains, fill up the sidewalks, and are just unescapable. When I got lost and began to rush, there were times when I simply could not move faster because there was simply no space.
失敗第二 Second Failure: Double Checking
First of all, I should have checked the area surrounding the event location for cd sellers where I could have reserved my cd. There was a Tsutaya a block away, and I should have reserved my cd there. In Saijo, we normally go there for the used products, so I didnt think about it. A quick look at their website would have set me straight. The store I did reserve at, Tower Records, has two stores near each other, and that's what threw me off. When I checked Google Maps, it didnt mention that there were two stores, so when I passed by one yesterday, I assumed that it was the one I wanted. It wasnt, so I wasted time going to that store, and because I didnt plan on going to the other store, I got lost heading there. Furthermore, when trying to head to the event location, I got lost again, so I ended up being an hour and a half late.
失敗第三 Third Failure: Picking this Event
Today's fan meet event for MBLAQ's Japanese debut is one of five events. It is the first, being held on the day their album became available for sale. For these reasons, I shouldnt have picked this event. Tower Records, where I reserved my album, opened at 11:00 AM; the 受付 ended at 11:30 AM. Even if I hadnt gotten lost and all, I would have had only half an hour to go to Tower Records, pick up and buy the cd, and then get to the place. That thirty minutes made little space for error, which (LOL) happened. While Sapporo and Tokyo are far away and would have cost more money (transportation and lodging), Fukuoka is not as far away. And while I would have sacrificed a Monday and/or Tuesday, I wouldnt have been in such a rush. I would have made the ハイタッチ会 and maybe even the 超限定ライブ.
After being turned away, I am a bit proud to admit that I didnt lose my shit in the middle of the street. I did hang out a bit, just to watch what kinds of people would show up. Because there were only three ladies ahead of me at the (wrong) Tower Records and the fact that it was the day the album was released, I was really surprised to see how many people had shown up. There were people all over the street, and it was a very long street. Another thing that surprised me was the age of the people. I'd say the majority of people were in their late teens or twenties, which is pretty normal, I think. But there were a few girls who were definitely in middle school, and accompanied by their mothers. But I was amazed that there were a few older women too. Not grandmas, to be sure, but I'd put their age at late fifties or sixties. Definitely the kind that are known to watch KDramas. However, no matter their age, they all acted the same. The sighing, the laughing, the "Ohmygod they're so amazing!1!11!". Maybe it's just as well that I didnt get in. I would have been so conspicuous and nervous.
I thought about waiting for the whole thing to finish, and then maybe seeing if I could watch them walk out the building. But my legs were tired (I literally ran today), and I was feeling shitty, so I decided to leave. While lost, I had walked by 大丸 Daimaru, which is a department store, as well as the ポケモンセンター Pokemon Center. I headed in that direction. For a bit, I got pulled off track by a game center, and I played some games, but eventually, I made it to the 大丸ビル.
Like I mentioned above, there are so many people here in Osaka, and the area I was walking through is a major shopping and transit center, so it took me a while. To get to the Poke Center, I had to head up to the thirteenth floor, which is no small feat. The elevator would have been packed and stop on every floor, but the escalator was not that much better. It too was full of people, and took forever and a day. But I finally made it to the Poke Center. Predictably, the majority of people there were either children or with children, so it felt a little strange to be by myself and looking at things. Since I dont have any of the Pokemon games with me, I didnt stop to watch people aquire special, new pokemon, and I also ignored the kiddy games where you could win Pokemon prizes. A friend of mine asked me to buy him some things if I happened to stop there, so I started looking for his stuff. I picked out two file folders, which I think he'll use. But also for sale were a multitude of things. There were pencils and pens, scissors and erasers, and bento boxes and much more. There were shirts too, but they looked the size of a child, so I didnt look too hard. There was also candy and other snacks imprinted with Pokemon characters. I did look through the Pokemon Card section, but they were all the new cards, which I have no interest in. After taking about ten minutes to wait through line, I made it out of there.
Tomorrow is Boy's Day, so even though it'll be late, I wanted to buy something for my nephews. I suppose that's one good thing for having three nephews; it's easy to find their Boy's Day gifts. 東急ハンズ Tokyu Hands, a department store I like, took up the three floors beneath the Poke Center, so I checked it out next. Predictably, there were quite an assortment of things on sale. I particularly enjoyed looking through the cookware section. In the housewares section, there was an apron you use when hanging out clothes. I really wanted to buy it, because it looks somewhat useful. It works like a kangaroo pouch: the front part has a pocket in which to place clothes in, to hold while to hang it out. 結局、買わんかったけど。 I'll think about it, and maybe I'll go back for it. But it's doubtful, because I imagine that it'll be very crowded in there. I dont do well with crowds.
簡単というと、今日は大失敗だったのよ。 The whole reason why I decided to come to Osaka during Golden Week was to go to MBLAQ's Japan debut and I completely missed it. Thankfully I didnt start crying in the streets, but I am bummed that せっかく大阪来たのに会えんかったんじゃ。 But there is a small part of me that hopes that this isnt the end. They're going to open their Japanese fan club soon, and I plan on joining it. Secondly, I've bought their last two albums, and isnt that the best thing a fan can do, support the artist? I heard that their album debuted at number two on the Oricon chart, so maybe if their sales are good and fan club support strong, maybe they'll come back to Japan. They already made another fan meet even in Shibuya 突発的に, so it's not impossible. Hey, I can hope, cant I?
In any case, this day is over, and I should start planning what I'm going to do tomorrow. I'm thinking of heading into the Denden Town, which my friend said is kinda like Akiba. If not, I want to go to Kyoto again, for some things I missed the last time. In any case, I must make the next few days worthwhile, if only to offset my failure today. この休みを失敗しないように頑張るよ！！
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Vacation Again
So after two weeks of school, I'm going to be back on vacation. While there is school on Monday, that is the last time I'll have class until the following week. You see, it's Golden Week right now, a week in which many Japanese holidays fall. For a full list of holidays, you should check the Wikipedia article on it. A lot of people are going on short trips around Japan, and I so am I.
I mentioned a while back that I started getting into a new Korean band, MBLAQ. On May 4th, their Japanese debut album is going to be on sale, and they'll be promoting it with a set of live appearances. Their first one, on the fourth, is going to be in Osaka. I wanted to buy their album, and because of Golden Week, I had the time. Furthermore, Osaka is not as far from Hiroshima as Tokyo or Sapporo is, so it seemed like a good idea to go. I managed to find a really cheap hotel room, which is going to offset some of the cost of transportation, seeing as I have to take the bullet train to get there on time. It's been a long time since I've been to Osaka, so I'm really excited to go! I leave Hiroshima on Tuesday afternoon, and leave Osaka on Saturday. Technically, Friday will be a regular day, but because I have no class that day, I decided to take it easy and stay there a little longer. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do in Osaka, though. I'm looking up places to go, and things to see, but I havent really compiled a list or something. I asked a friend of mine, who studied in Kobe, which is real close, what he thinks I should do, so I have a vague idea. And also, I know someone who is currently in Osaka right now, but I havent spoken to her in years. Perhaps I should contact her.
I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I do have my reservations about going. For one thing, getting to the place where the live is going to be is a bit problematic. I made it so that my hotel room is close to the store where I have to buy my cd (which has my ticket), which is close to the club where they will be performing at. However, I havent walked around Osaka before; the streets are completely foreign to me. I have looked at it on Google Maps (both the regular maps and Street View), but my time limit is very short. Tower Records, where I have my CD on reserve, opens at 11:00 AM. The 受付 for the event starts at 9:00 and runs to 11:30 AM. Of course, I'm not going to get to Tower Record at eleven - I'm going to get there a bit early, in the even that I can get in there faster. But still. I cant help but wonder if the staff thought about time and all that. But in any case, I will have to move my ass as fast as I can in a city I dont even know. Assuming I get to the club on time, I have a feeling that not only will I be the only American, but I will probably be the only boy there too. Most idol groups have girl fans, and MBLAQ is no different. I have a feeling I will be judged hardcore by people there. And finally, the actual live performance is not open to everyone who will be there. I didnt realise it until today, but there's going to be some kind of raffle or lottery to determine who will get to see it. And even assuming I get in, it's planned to only be half an hour long. To be quite honest, if I had known all of this three weeks ago, I would have just given up and decided not to go. But I've got all the tickets paid, and reservations put in, so I suppose I have no choice but to go. I need to keep a positive attitude that everything will work out, and that I'll have fun and be happy. C'mon good, positive karma!
I get in on Tuesday, and MBLAQ will take up my Wednesday. I dont leave until Saturday morning. This means I have to plan for Thursday and Friday. While I am taking suggestions and thinking about it, I have yet to make concrete plans for those two days. According to Wikipedia, there's a Poke Center near the Osaka Station, so I want to go there. And I am thinking of going to Kyoto again, if only to shop at some stores I really liked there. My friend has suggested Denden Town, which is like Akihabara. And like I said, it wouldnt be a bad idea to see my friend I havent talked to in ages. I still have time to plan (and I should probably start packing...), so I guess I can wait a bit. While definitely worried about all the bad things that can happen, I am trying to look forward to my Osaka vacation. It'll be the last time for me to relax before I get stuck with school, school, and more school.
I mentioned a while back that I started getting into a new Korean band, MBLAQ. On May 4th, their Japanese debut album is going to be on sale, and they'll be promoting it with a set of live appearances. Their first one, on the fourth, is going to be in Osaka. I wanted to buy their album, and because of Golden Week, I had the time. Furthermore, Osaka is not as far from Hiroshima as Tokyo or Sapporo is, so it seemed like a good idea to go. I managed to find a really cheap hotel room, which is going to offset some of the cost of transportation, seeing as I have to take the bullet train to get there on time. It's been a long time since I've been to Osaka, so I'm really excited to go! I leave Hiroshima on Tuesday afternoon, and leave Osaka on Saturday. Technically, Friday will be a regular day, but because I have no class that day, I decided to take it easy and stay there a little longer. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do in Osaka, though. I'm looking up places to go, and things to see, but I havent really compiled a list or something. I asked a friend of mine, who studied in Kobe, which is real close, what he thinks I should do, so I have a vague idea. And also, I know someone who is currently in Osaka right now, but I havent spoken to her in years. Perhaps I should contact her.
I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I do have my reservations about going. For one thing, getting to the place where the live is going to be is a bit problematic. I made it so that my hotel room is close to the store where I have to buy my cd (which has my ticket), which is close to the club where they will be performing at. However, I havent walked around Osaka before; the streets are completely foreign to me. I have looked at it on Google Maps (both the regular maps and Street View), but my time limit is very short. Tower Records, where I have my CD on reserve, opens at 11:00 AM. The 受付 for the event starts at 9:00 and runs to 11:30 AM. Of course, I'm not going to get to Tower Record at eleven - I'm going to get there a bit early, in the even that I can get in there faster. But still. I cant help but wonder if the staff thought about time and all that. But in any case, I will have to move my ass as fast as I can in a city I dont even know. Assuming I get to the club on time, I have a feeling that not only will I be the only American, but I will probably be the only boy there too. Most idol groups have girl fans, and MBLAQ is no different. I have a feeling I will be judged hardcore by people there. And finally, the actual live performance is not open to everyone who will be there. I didnt realise it until today, but there's going to be some kind of raffle or lottery to determine who will get to see it. And even assuming I get in, it's planned to only be half an hour long. To be quite honest, if I had known all of this three weeks ago, I would have just given up and decided not to go. But I've got all the tickets paid, and reservations put in, so I suppose I have no choice but to go. I need to keep a positive attitude that everything will work out, and that I'll have fun and be happy. C'mon good, positive karma!
I get in on Tuesday, and MBLAQ will take up my Wednesday. I dont leave until Saturday morning. This means I have to plan for Thursday and Friday. While I am taking suggestions and thinking about it, I have yet to make concrete plans for those two days. According to Wikipedia, there's a Poke Center near the Osaka Station, so I want to go there. And I am thinking of going to Kyoto again, if only to shop at some stores I really liked there. My friend has suggested Denden Town, which is like Akihabara. And like I said, it wouldnt be a bad idea to see my friend I havent talked to in ages. I still have time to plan (and I should probably start packing...), so I guess I can wait a bit. While definitely worried about all the bad things that can happen, I am trying to look forward to my Osaka vacation. It'll be the last time for me to relax before I get stuck with school, school, and more school.
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