Select Shop

The select shops in Tokyo (some the size of a closet) sell anything: clothing (both new and used), accessories, furniture, light fixtures, electronics, stationary, food, anything. Unique and one of a kind items that the store buyer falls in love with and tries to sell.

Well, I walked into a select shop near my house today that was selling a Charlotte Russe shirt, and an H&M shirt for more than a James Perse, or a C&C California shirt! First of all, I was surprised at seeing Charlotte Russe in Japan, but besides that, the difference between the quality of these trendy American (or Swedish) fashion items is not huge, and yet when I saw the prices I thought, "only in Japan," or more specifically, "only in Tokyo."
A Charlotte Russe top and an H&M top both priced at roughly $100.
Very simple tops made out of very simple fabrics. The store definitely didn't have stock of these shirts, it was only one size, one color, one item.
I was shocked.
I think I made a noise, like a "I don't believe this," kinda "pshaw" noise, and the shop owner gave me a look, like "what's the big deal, guy's gotta make a living"/"your being rude" look.
So, I left.

What I like about these select shops though, is that they sell $600 Chloe sandals and $8 plastic bangles in the same store, or they'll hang a black Alexandre Herchcovitch dress next to some frilly over sized shirt made by one of the thousands of obscure Japanese labels. You'll find what you're looking for, especially if you don't know what that is.

Japan Today

My friend sent me this article.

A boy who cut his mom's head off and turns himself into the police with the head.

oh my


Japan Today Article

A Visitor!

Alyssa came to Tokyo!
She flew in from Kobe, tagged along with her friend until Akasaka-Mitsuke, then e-mailed my cell phone from some internet cafe, and then we met in Shibuya!
We went to my grandparent's house, and my grandfather said if you really want to see Japan, you should go to Kyoto. Being 93 years old, you get the feeling he does not waste his words. We got a used travel guide, some train tickets and luckily we found a room available for the next day. This was during the beginning of Golden Week, a national holiday, so I was worried we wouldn't be able to find a room.

I had been to Kyoto, maybe 10 or more years ago, and I had seen a lot of the temples and gardens. Alyssa wasn't really sure what was what, and since the guide was in Japanese, and I could barely understand it, we basically looked at the pictures, and went to the places that looked interesting.
The photo above was taken at Arashiyama, in northern Kyoto. Temples, a river, and this bamboo forest.
We saw a geisha and maiko in Kyoto. Alyssa wanted to ask them for a picture, but they looked busy.
Alyssa came by boat, Semester at Sea. It was docked in Kobe, so we went there by train, and then said adieu.

I moved into a new place, and just got my internet set up. I am incredibly lucky to be living here. It's an open room my aunt has below her house in Nakameguro.

Let me list all the amenities that came with my room, only proving a portion of my good fortune.

-kitchen with two electric stoves, a small refrigerator, a pot, a pan, plates and silverware (although they aren't in the best condition, I can be impartial to it)
-bathroom (what they call a 'unit bath' with toilet, sink and tub)
-table and three chairs
-foldable bed with sheets and pillows
-air conditioner/heater
-a washer
-an iron
-cleaning supplies
-shelves
-TV (with cable)
-curtains
-internet

They also have a dog in the garage, and a cat upstairs.
It's a five minute walk to the train station, and a fifteen minute bike ride to my school (I'm also borrowing their bike).

I cleaned everything from inside out, but there's still dust everywhere, and it settles quickly under my bed, and on top of the TV. The walls are also pretty dirty, so I was thinking of painting them, white and orange.

Now, a list of how I can repay them:
-keep my room clean, so they can come in whenever they want
-take care of their pets when they're away
-let them use my Vonage phone to call their son in California
-try to sell their toys on ebay
-?