Japan: Sayounara '09: Eating Deadly Blowfish, & a Week of Parties
Parting from places and friends for a time usually results in a farewell party; this time leaving Japan was no exception. In fact, it resulted in a week's worth of partys.
Not only was I parting ways with Japan and my Japanese friends, but also with Jeff and Bradley. Since every group of friends wanted to get together before I left, this resulted in the whole week being devoted to farewell get togethers.
As Bradley and I where walking through Kabukicho (the yakuza district, and his hang-out of choice) one day trying to figure out what to do for my farewell, I heard a commotion. I turned to see a man being loaded into an ambulance on a stretcher coming from a restaurant. We where fairly close to this, and got a good look at the guy; if he wasn't dead, I would be shocked. I looked up to see that the place was a fugu restaurant. I turned to Bradley and said "That reminds me, I want to eat fugu before I leave."
For those that don't know, fugu is the Japanese blow-fish that, if not properly prepared, can paralyze or even kill the person eating it. People must go to special lengths to become fugu chefs as a result. I'm also fairly certain the chef at that restaurant with the dead man got fired...
After declaring that I wanted to spend my farewell eating fugu, we both decided that we knew nothing about fugu. Bradley had an idea: next stop- the internet!
According to the website he found, there are many different kinds of fugu, but the rarest and most delicious ( and most deadly...) was the tora fugu. Of course, it is usually more expensive, with servings averaging around 200 - 300 usd. Unfortunately, we couldn't find actual restaurant listings on the internet, so it was up to us to wander around and find one.
So we did just that.
Upon our wandering, we even found some restaurants serving tora fugu for the low price of 150usd. I suggested we keep looking. Next up we found one for 100usd. Too rich for my blood. We wandered and looked.
Then I saw it.
A place serving tora fugu for 10 usd. "This is the place." I exclaimed proudly. Bradley was indifferent, but wanted to try new things. Jeff did not share my enthusiasm. "Why is this so cheap!?" Don't know, don't care. "This food could kill you!" No, it could kill YOU though..."I'm serious, I don't want to be a part of your early death." I'm pretty sure my outlook on life has that part taken care of. "Listen! This is dangerous." I'm sure it is. Hey, maybe that chef from the other place is working here now? I bet he got fired after killing that guy. "More reason not to do this."
After some coersion, he agreed to go with me.
We went, and it was Delicious. I enjoyed it greatly, despite the fact that tensions between Jeff, Bradley, and myself where high. Everyone was dealing with their own problems, be it school, girls, or promises that needed to be kept. Despite all the fighting, the meal was good.
Party day 2:
The fugu dinner had been for me, but Jeff felt compelled to take Bradley and me out for a night as a good bye to Bradley, and a second one for myself. We went to Bar Blue in ShinOkubo, where Jeff's apartment was. The place was a basement Korean bar, with an awesome neon sign. It was made up in the classic American style with pool tables, and a small stage for live music. All the staff was Korean, and so was the food, and it was Delicious. We where all much more relaxed, and everyone had a great time.
Party day 3:
Day 3 was the day of the Kyokushin Kaikan weight category world karate tournament. The day was spent there, with all the festivities such an event encompasses.
Party day 4:
Party day 4 was Nakazawa's favorite Korean restaurant. As he and I where leaving the dojo one day, we realized we lived one street over from each other. He suggested that we all go out to this restaurant as a going away dinner. Sounded good to me. It was an authentic Korean barbecue, which I had never experienced, and it was delicious. Nakazawa organized it, and many people from the dojo came, like Alle and Hatate.
Party day 5:
Day 5 was a combination all dojo sayounara to me, and a congratulation dinner for Zenjuro for winning the world middle weight kyokushin karate title. Everyone was in high spirits and ate and drank a lot. After excessive picture taking and much well wishing we left the restaurant and a group of us continued the party at the dojo, eating and drinking and frollicing for hours. Zenjuro was exhausted from the tournament and the festivities and went to sleep at about 1 am. At about 4 am a couple more people fell asleep, and the rest of us went out to Yoshinoya and went out to eat again. After eating, a few grains of rice where stuck to the bottom of my bowl. I ignored them. Inoue said " you have to be a good Japanese and finish your rice completely." I cam back with "I'm not Japanese....", to which he replied "you've been living here long enough, plus as a martial artist, you said you can't waste food." He had me. I would not be a hypocrite. I ate the last few grains to earn my "happy plate". We went back to the dojo. It was 6am now. Inoue had to head out to school. This would be the last we would see each other before I left. We exchanged emotional goodbyes. It was now 7am. Zenjuro woke up and got dressed for work. I told him I would see him that night at training. As for everyone else, they wanted me to be a guest at the Waseda noon training that day, so I would see them in a few hours...
Party day 6:
I ran back to Jeff's apartment and showered. Then, ran back to the dojo. It was now 11am and preparations for noon training where underway. I was introduced to the 2 people who didn't know me, and we commenced training. At certain points I was called on as a guest lecturer to teach certain things. After training I went back to Jeff's, ate, then headed back to the dojo for evening training. Zenjuro said that if he and the others weren't so tired from the tournament, I would be fighting everyone again... Lucky them. I had food in me this time, and a place to sleep. I was much more ready. Instead though, I was asked to teach some specialties, such as certain intracasees of the sanchin kata. I obliged. Afterwords we all said final goodbyes, until next time, and parted ways.
I went back to Jeff's apartment and didn't sleep much. I was hoping 6 days of partying would leave me tired enough to sleep on the plane. It didn't. After Jeff and I said our farewells, I headed out to the airport, boarded the plane, and couldn't sleep. I then proceeded to watch movies for the next 18 hours. At least they gave me something to do.
I wished everyone I parted ways with the best, and to the fighters I told them they better train hard because I would be, and I'd be coming back!
-Nash
Not only was I parting ways with Japan and my Japanese friends, but also with Jeff and Bradley. Since every group of friends wanted to get together before I left, this resulted in the whole week being devoted to farewell get togethers.
As Bradley and I where walking through Kabukicho (the yakuza district, and his hang-out of choice) one day trying to figure out what to do for my farewell, I heard a commotion. I turned to see a man being loaded into an ambulance on a stretcher coming from a restaurant. We where fairly close to this, and got a good look at the guy; if he wasn't dead, I would be shocked. I looked up to see that the place was a fugu restaurant. I turned to Bradley and said "That reminds me, I want to eat fugu before I leave."
For those that don't know, fugu is the Japanese blow-fish that, if not properly prepared, can paralyze or even kill the person eating it. People must go to special lengths to become fugu chefs as a result. I'm also fairly certain the chef at that restaurant with the dead man got fired...
After declaring that I wanted to spend my farewell eating fugu, we both decided that we knew nothing about fugu. Bradley had an idea: next stop- the internet!
According to the website he found, there are many different kinds of fugu, but the rarest and most delicious ( and most deadly...) was the tora fugu. Of course, it is usually more expensive, with servings averaging around 200 - 300 usd. Unfortunately, we couldn't find actual restaurant listings on the internet, so it was up to us to wander around and find one.
So we did just that.
Upon our wandering, we even found some restaurants serving tora fugu for the low price of 150usd. I suggested we keep looking. Next up we found one for 100usd. Too rich for my blood. We wandered and looked.
Then I saw it.
A place serving tora fugu for 10 usd. "This is the place." I exclaimed proudly. Bradley was indifferent, but wanted to try new things. Jeff did not share my enthusiasm. "Why is this so cheap!?" Don't know, don't care. "This food could kill you!" No, it could kill YOU though..."I'm serious, I don't want to be a part of your early death." I'm pretty sure my outlook on life has that part taken care of. "Listen! This is dangerous." I'm sure it is. Hey, maybe that chef from the other place is working here now? I bet he got fired after killing that guy. "More reason not to do this."
After some coersion, he agreed to go with me.
We went, and it was Delicious. I enjoyed it greatly, despite the fact that tensions between Jeff, Bradley, and myself where high. Everyone was dealing with their own problems, be it school, girls, or promises that needed to be kept. Despite all the fighting, the meal was good.
Party day 2:
The fugu dinner had been for me, but Jeff felt compelled to take Bradley and me out for a night as a good bye to Bradley, and a second one for myself. We went to Bar Blue in ShinOkubo, where Jeff's apartment was. The place was a basement Korean bar, with an awesome neon sign. It was made up in the classic American style with pool tables, and a small stage for live music. All the staff was Korean, and so was the food, and it was Delicious. We where all much more relaxed, and everyone had a great time.
Party day 3:
Day 3 was the day of the Kyokushin Kaikan weight category world karate tournament. The day was spent there, with all the festivities such an event encompasses.
Party day 4:
Party day 4 was Nakazawa's favorite Korean restaurant. As he and I where leaving the dojo one day, we realized we lived one street over from each other. He suggested that we all go out to this restaurant as a going away dinner. Sounded good to me. It was an authentic Korean barbecue, which I had never experienced, and it was delicious. Nakazawa organized it, and many people from the dojo came, like Alle and Hatate.
Party day 5:
Day 5 was a combination all dojo sayounara to me, and a congratulation dinner for Zenjuro for winning the world middle weight kyokushin karate title. Everyone was in high spirits and ate and drank a lot. After excessive picture taking and much well wishing we left the restaurant and a group of us continued the party at the dojo, eating and drinking and frollicing for hours. Zenjuro was exhausted from the tournament and the festivities and went to sleep at about 1 am. At about 4 am a couple more people fell asleep, and the rest of us went out to Yoshinoya and went out to eat again. After eating, a few grains of rice where stuck to the bottom of my bowl. I ignored them. Inoue said " you have to be a good Japanese and finish your rice completely." I cam back with "I'm not Japanese....", to which he replied "you've been living here long enough, plus as a martial artist, you said you can't waste food." He had me. I would not be a hypocrite. I ate the last few grains to earn my "happy plate". We went back to the dojo. It was 6am now. Inoue had to head out to school. This would be the last we would see each other before I left. We exchanged emotional goodbyes. It was now 7am. Zenjuro woke up and got dressed for work. I told him I would see him that night at training. As for everyone else, they wanted me to be a guest at the Waseda noon training that day, so I would see them in a few hours...
Party day 6:
I ran back to Jeff's apartment and showered. Then, ran back to the dojo. It was now 11am and preparations for noon training where underway. I was introduced to the 2 people who didn't know me, and we commenced training. At certain points I was called on as a guest lecturer to teach certain things. After training I went back to Jeff's, ate, then headed back to the dojo for evening training. Zenjuro said that if he and the others weren't so tired from the tournament, I would be fighting everyone again... Lucky them. I had food in me this time, and a place to sleep. I was much more ready. Instead though, I was asked to teach some specialties, such as certain intracasees of the sanchin kata. I obliged. Afterwords we all said final goodbyes, until next time, and parted ways.
I went back to Jeff's apartment and didn't sleep much. I was hoping 6 days of partying would leave me tired enough to sleep on the plane. It didn't. After Jeff and I said our farewells, I headed out to the airport, boarded the plane, and couldn't sleep. I then proceeded to watch movies for the next 18 hours. At least they gave me something to do.
I wished everyone I parted ways with the best, and to the fighters I told them they better train hard because I would be, and I'd be coming back!
-Nash