Ootoya & Mister Donut

It drizzled the entire day today (and it has yet to stop), but that didn't stop me from getting lunch opposite my dorm at Ootoya - quick Japanese meals at reasonable prices, with many branches all over the Kanto region.

I just had to have their 750yen (just under S$10) black vinegar pork and scallops set (熟成豚ロースと陸奥湾産ホタテの黒酢あん定食), forgot to take a picture but here's grabbed one tiny one from their site. It's so warming and appetising (to me at least) that I could actually have it for dinner again!

Of course it also comes with pickles, rice and miso soup.

I also bought two delightful donuts from Mister Donut for later.

Chocolate-something-Danish (147yen) and Strawberry Shuu (80yen!)
[which I just polished off in 5 minutes]

Singapore desperately needs Ootoya and Mister Donut.

Ikebukuro

The second busiest train station in the world

2.71 million passengers on an average weekday

Two of the world's largest department stores - side-by-side

Commuting to and fro Ikebukuro station every day, I can't help but feel I'm just a tiny statistic lost in a sea of people - more than half of Singapore's population pass through the gates of the station alone - and it's not difficult to imagine as jam-packed trains pull into the station every minute during the morning rush - unloading thousands at a go (myself included). Of course just minutes away Shinjuku station is even more utilised (3.5 million a day). This has got to be one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Overwhelming.

First "thunderstorm"... and Kanazawa

Yes it said "thunderstorm" on the weather forecast today, although I didn't hear any thunder. There was, however, heavy rain with strong winds - you'd be better off without an umbrella since it would be blown out of shape anyway. Thankfully I was already near Ikebukuro station so I only had to sprint a few steps before reaching shelter. It's stopped by now though.

I've been so lazy, but finally did a post on my pre-Tokyo travels - here's one on Kanazawa.

Akihabara Stabbing

A crazed man killed 7 people and wounded many others in busy, anime-heaven Akihabara today. Chilling, considering the number of people (including many students) who would go there during the weekend, especially on Sunday when the main street is closed to cars.

http://www.reuters.com/article/wtMostRead/idUST27752620080608

Here's hoping all the injured recover quickly.
Which makes me wonder - how long must the police have taken to bring this man (who I think is not unlike a suicide bomber) who killed without any regard at all. Such cases are, sadly not entirely surprising in Japan.

Yurakucho

Was walking back from school today after the free lunch kindly prepared by members of the Rikkyo alumni when we saw 20 yen ($0.30) CDs on sale! They were all singles, but some were really recent (EXILE, Yui, Mr Children). Grabbed five rather random ones for 100 yen (which was much less than what everyone else grabbed), considering how little Japanese music I actually listen to.

Then we met a few of Clarence's visiting friends from HK before heading to Yurakucho and Ginza to get a feel of some up-class shopping.

That fancy-looking, cute castle tower structure with a pretty white pyramid roof? A kouban (police box). Police help people who lose their way in Japan. Probably people will be attracted by cute buildings when lost?

Krispy Kreme - so sweet (or so I heard) yet so crowded. They hand out free donuts to those in line if the queue goes beyond 30 minutes (which definitely was the case yesterday).

As a side note, from June 14 it will be possible to take a through-train all the way from my dorm to Shinjuku/Harajuku area and Shibuya (at the moment I have to change to the Yamanote at Ikebukuro)! Amazing how the train systems keep improving and developing here, despite how heavily-build up Tokyo already seems to be.

MTV VMAJ!

I must have yet to mention this, but my Saturday class involves a fortnightly "tour" around one part of Tokyo - where we're supposed to get a real feel of the city and try to gauge its past by walking through certain places of interest.

Last Saturday we were around the Tokyo station area, walking past Hibiya Park and the Imperial Palace Gardens in the unrelenting drizzle that made what should be a pleasant stroll a rather uncomfortably cold one (it turned out to be one of the coldest days last month).


Our rendezvous point (Marunouchi Bldg Starbucks)


Umbrellas up





Sakuradamon Gate


Delicious burger set lunch (added the pineapple - much to everyone's horror) ~1150yen


Meidi-Ya at Marunouchi Bldg! Didn't really see one anywhere else so far


Then it was time to leave for the Saitama Super Arena for the MTV Video Music Awards Japan! Got the tickets through a friend who had an account to bid at Yahoo Auctions. Poor pictures because picture/video taking was prohibited (of course), and Japan is a place where (almost) everyone abides with the rules.

Pity I didn't know most of the Japanese stars that appeared (EXILE won 3 awards though, while Mariah and Fergie took one each).


The futuristic-looking Saitama Shintoshin station




Queueing up patiently in the rain - there must have been 10000 people with standing tickets (of which we held two)


Saitama Super Arena


Waiting to enter




Finally our number was called


Inside


Blur shot of Mariah Carey in her opening performance (which was really good!)

Simple Plan


Bono!




Waiting to exit



Two little videos:

1) Waiting for our number to be called to be let into the arena

2) Mariah appearing


Back to finish my homework.