Last days in Tokyo

So finally I'am back! One week at the same place, and in an city i am familar with. Somewhat like home. Although Hotel Maruchuu in Minami-Senjuu is an interesting place. I thought about staying at the same place as when i arrived for the first time, but opted for this one, as its really tidier new and near to the next station. Although Minami-Senju is not far from minova, the surrounding is less inviting, infrustructure is rather low here, but i like the somewhat urban wastelandish atmosphere here, people all rather being workers than tourists, and the 9 floored building gets tottaly deserted after around 9am. Once again, i got a room with cool view, looking down on the freight-train terminal, having and the distant plattenbauten and innercity highway.

I am glad not doing too much of sightseing anymore, nevertheless couldn't prevent go to my favorite nearby places like Asakusa, Ueno and Akihabara of course shopping too (glad to have an additional suitcase by now...) and preparing to finally leave. Upcoming days it's finally say good by to fellows and friends...

Tokyo Fotos

Sumo!

As its tournament time now in Tokyo, i finally could witness the best in this traditional style of wrestling. The tournament goes on for two weeks, and takes from early morning until 6pm, when the two Yokozunas (grand champions) have their fights. Of spectators particular interest are of course the major rounds (makuuchi), where the highest ranked compete against each other, from around 4 pm. In fact those guys are not just fat, but incredibly well trained. (Its all muscles, you know...).
As this is thousands of year old practice, it is filled with ritualistic gestures and movements, but those aren't mere decoration. The preparations before the actual fights, with all that throwing of salt, getting in position and then raising again, slapping own bodyparts..., is already a form of engagement. And its possible to estimate who is going to win even before they touched each other. For that it was good to see the minor fights too, because there you see the uncertainties of the contrahents, who don't synchronise that perfectly as do the champions, the later making you think it was only a ceremonial.
Although japanese in tradition, sumo today is rather international, quite a few of the grand wrestlers being of Eastern European origin and the two Yokozunas both being Mongolian.
Watch the clip of one single competition:

And of course there are Fotos as well...

Sayonara Sobu-Line...!

In the meantime I moved to central Tokyo. From the tiny suburb mansions to modern several storeys high buildings (I live at the 5th floor now, getting a great view of Shinjuku...). Going to school by bicycle rather then by train, it takes laughable 15 minutes now to get there. Furthermore, there is no more temple gong in the morning, but much sharper church bells, and in the evening no more factory-pipes fluting from the distance but drive-by-promotional-enchantments (“Gyooooza yasuiiii....!”). And between the traditional restaurants, sake bars and workshops nestled along the main street, there is some american style coffee shop or a french bakery to find here and there.

Nonetheless Akebonobashi is a mainly residential area, my room is oriented away from the main street and its quite calm, not what i expected from living in Tokyo at least (Traffic here is just not what you are used to in big cities in the west). But it is not only the outside that has changed. I share the apartment with three people, who are all nice, and we are doing much things together, talking, cooking, going out. But no more of the hospitality of my former hosts, who I liked a lot, and who I really miss. Being on my own now meaning also preparing my own food, shopping (trying to find all the good things i simply ate and drank so far), doing my laundry and putting out the garbage (one of the few things i really think is unnecessarily complicated here).
And all these things work just a little bit different, but that's the fun finding out how...!

More Fotos of Akebonbashi...
Now I have Videos too!

Farewell Sushi in Hamano

Tokyo-Gagaga?

I Finally arrived. After so many weeks of preparation...

But despite many things here on the other end of this world are turned upside down like circulation, maps and so, and most people think I am American, and are suprised beeing talked to in Japanese, things are going very fine.

Okay, BA lost ma bagage, but they promised to deliver it directly to my school, so i will be spared the dirty work.

I am now at a Hotel in Ueno, a very nice place with a lot of tiny houses hosting noumerous workshops, people sitting on the pavement, a very relaxed atmosphere here, which I didnt expect at all.