Showing Japan to the Japanese

Posted on 2005/12/17 06:15:09 (December 2005).

[Friday 17th December]
In the evening I went out with one of my colleagues, and one of his former colleagues from a previous job. The three of us met up in Shinjuku, however following a brief discussion it turned out none of us really knew anywhere decent around there, so instead I suggested going to my favourite night spot - Ikebukuro.

So we headed over to Ikebukuro and I showed them my two favourite places. First, the ever excellent Rohlan for dinner. My dining companions had never really eaten this kind of food before and literally couldn't believe it was all vegetarian (which started to give me doubts too!). It seemed to go down rather well anyway. Next we headed over to Quercus for a few whiskies and a bit of a chat with Watanabe-san, this too was great as always.

The conversation in Quercus had several times touched on 80s music for some reason, and so it seemed only proper to round the evening off at the karaoke place round the corner. We sang almost exclusively 80s music, ranging from the classics (like U2) to songs that really should have been left behind in that largely dubious decade - including, in a fit of insanity, I Should Be so Lucky. I had something akin to a panic attack part way through the song, when I "woke up" and realised I was in a karaoke booth in Tokyo singing a Kylie Minogue song. If somebody had told me five years ago this would one day be a standard Friday night out for me I wouldn't have believed them!

Can't wait to come out with you guys next time I am in Tokyo!! If you dare going to Seattle again I personally bomb Redmond!

Posted by Lox at 2005/12/17 10:22:44.

It is beginning to look, somewhat to my displeasure, that my trips to Seattle are going to be a fairly regular event - once every two or three months... Hopefully though they should not be so long in the future though (perhaps just one week at a time) so I'm hoping our schedules will be more compatible next time...

Plus *hopefully* in the next few days we should be signing the contract for our new more permanent flat, which ought to mean we'll have a decent place if you want to come and stay with us on your next trip... If you come at a time of year with reasonable weather, then we ought to be able to enjoy a couple of drinks out on the balcony, amongst the bay trees and rosemary bushes :)

Posted by John at 2005/12/17 14:14:21.

Reverted to November in the dates have we? Backwards in positive attitude as well? List your assets, John, like Shirley Conran did in Superwoman. Her list started with "mother" and ended with "continental duvet", and she assured her readers there WERE other items in between.

Otherwise I shall have to come over there and sort you out.

Posted by Mum at 2005/12/17 15:38:15.

Kylie Minogue eh !
Stillyou will be pleased to hear (well possibly) .... that the only time I every performed a popular muscial song on stage it was 'I should be so lucky' ... with John Theophilus (you remember that mad family !) as Jason Donovan (and look what happened to him ...seemed like a nice boy ?) .. it ended with me rushing across the stage (Narth Village Hall) and leaping madly into the air and (thankfully) John catching me in his arms .... and you think you've got problems ! Sorry ..must be hereditary !
I do sing 'off stage' quite a lot ... and can come up with a passable rendition of that old favourite 'Is this the way to Llangwnnadl ? Otherwise I'm up a creek withou a paddle' ....and so on ... it get's worse....

LOL

Dad

Posted by Dad at 2005/12/17 21:09:54.

Post a comment