Week one has come to an end. Making the most out of everyday, I could easily put together a poorly written novel from my adventures to date. I sat next to a loud mouthed American on the flight over. Not afraid to cover everything and anything. You could see the kids losing their innocence right in front of my eyes.
After a couple of mix-ups, I end up at Iidabashi station (Tokyo) and successfully operated the payphone to call Jody a rocking, couch surfer hook-up. (Found via searching for vege and zines). The first of many Rice burgers from Mos Buger was consumed.
Following day we hit up a gig at a 3 level venue call Unit who were celebrating their sixth birthday. Petty dam intense, crowded to the point I simply couldn’t move. Boris was easily the stand out. Walking into a smoked filled, pack venue with a band rocking out. Breathe taking rock moment that felt too good to be true!
The bike culture in Japan is amazing! Everyone rides from oldies to the preppie girls. Bikes may even out number the cars. I’m seriously thinking about getting a bike and shipping it back. The shops a filled with killa bikes.
Seeing Japanese Rockabilly crew dancing in Yoyogi Park with surf rock music blasting in the background was surreal but one of the highlights so far. The big highlight is being immersed with the beautiful DIY, Zine and Anarchist community in Tokyo. I’m currently staying at Tuka’s place in Kunitachi. One extremely generous and amazing human being! He’s currently working on a zine library and recently held a festival live under a bridge. Too many beautiful people to mention here but all the crew at make up the Koenji are totally kick arse!
For a place that’s impossible to be vegan I’ve been eating like a king. One particular standout would be Nagi-Shokudo . It’s actually a vegan restaurant with zines to read and buy in Shibuya.
Wrapping up the week, I went to a gig at Miyashita Park. Now called ‘Nike Park’. The corporate giant has paid a truck load of cash for naming rights and to build a skate park and climbing wall. Issue is the park was occupied by a large community of homeless people. The homeless have mostly been moved but groups of activists have now set up tents. The show was amazing, until the police shut it down.
Random facts for the week:
• Street names don’t exist, so when you get lost and ask randoms on the street, police, taxi drivers and 7/11 workers no one has a clue even if its just around the corner even when you have a photo of the place where you’re staying.
• Bins simply don’t exist but the place is super clean and;
• Anime girls and guys walk the streets of Tokyo.