Aquest va ser un cap de setmana de festivals, d'entrada dissabte vaig anar a un festival de samba al barri d'Asakusa un dels més tradicionals de per aquí...sí sí, un carnaval de samba al mig de Tokyo, divertit veure els japonesos cantant i ballant en portugès! resulta que històricament hi ha hagut uns llaços migratoris importants entre el Japó i Brasil i tot gràcies al cafè! Sao Paulo per exemple és una de les ciutats amb més japonesos del món. Total que d'aquí la raó d'aquest festival que aquest any celebrava el 30è aniversari.
This has been a weekend of festivals, to start with on Saturday I went to a samba festival in the neighborhood of Asakusa one of the most traditionals around...yes, yes, a carnival of samba in the middle of Tokyo, funny to see japanese singing and dancing portuguese music! historically there has been strong migrative relationships between Japan and Brazil and all thanks to coffee! Sao Paulo for instance, has one of biggest communities of japanese outside Japan. So, this is the reason of this festival which this year celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Diumenge va ser el torn per un festival amb aires tradicionals japonesos, el Koenji Awaodori Festival se celebra anualment l'últim cap de setmana d'Agost i seria com un rotllo "love parade" a la japonesa. Milers de participants ballant en un ambient molt animat i ...diferent que segurament tornaré a veure l'any vinent :-)! D'aquest cap de setmana doncs, en trec unes conclusions:
-esdeveniment públic aquí vol dir participació massiva de persones
-capacitat organitzativa i de gestió brutal, superior al que coneixia de l'estimada Suïssa
-finalment queda clar que als japonesos els hi va molt la festa!!
On Sunday it was the turn for a traditional japanese festival, the Koenji Awaodori Festival is held annually on the last weekend of August and it would be something like the japanese "love parade". Thousands of dancers in a lively atmosphere and...very different, I will most likely come back again next year :-)! From this weekend then, I get some conclusions:
-public event here means massive participation of people
-the organization and management skills of japanese are amazing, much better than what I know from Switzerland
-and finally, it's clear that japanese love party!!
Awaodori festival from youtube
29/8/10
Mori art museum
El Mori art museum és un museu d'art contemporani ubicat a un dels pisos superiors de la Torre Mori. Gestionat per la dona del constructor, el museu tot i no ser molt gran és prou interessant, ja hi he estat un parell de vegades i sempre he trobat exposicions innovadores. La setmana passada hi vàrem anar amb la Concha i em va agradar sobretot un trio filipí anomenats Tromarama. Per cert, paga la pena pujar-hi doncs amb el preu de l'entrada pots entrar a l'observatori amb les vistes a Tokyo. Ja ho sabeu...
The Mori art musuem is a contemporary art museum located in one of the upper floors of the Mori Tower. Managed by Mori's wife, the museum although not very big is quite interesting. I've been there a couple of times and I have always found innovative expositions. Last week I was there with Concha and I liked especially a Filipino trio called Tromarama. By the way, it's worth to visit it since with the ticket you have access to the observatory with the views of Tokyo.
The Mori art musuem is a contemporary art museum located in one of the upper floors of the Mori Tower. Managed by Mori's wife, the museum although not very big is quite interesting. I've been there a couple of times and I have always found innovative expositions. Last week I was there with Concha and I liked especially a Filipino trio called Tromarama. By the way, it's worth to visit it since with the ticket you have access to the observatory with the views of Tokyo.
Roppongi Hills
com us havia comentat en algun altre post, a tocar de la residència hi ha la famosa zona anomenada Roppongi Hills. Roppongi és el barri per excel.lència dels estrangers i no mereix destacar gaire res més, ara el mega-complexe que representa les Roppongi Hills s'han convertit en un punt de referència comercial i d'oci per a la ciutat. Diuen que durant 14 anys el Sr.Minoru Mori, un dels principals constructors d'aquests país, va anar comprant a poc a poc el terreny fins arribar a les 11hectàres que representa actualment, canviant la fesonomia d'un barri tradicional per un dels més moderns de Tokyo. El complexe avui agrupa diversos edificis entre els quals destaca la "Mori Tower" on s'hi pot trobar de tot, botigues (desde Louis Vuitton a Zara!), restaurants, oficines, cines, una TV, un museu (mireu l'altre post). La torre és una de les més altes de la ciutat amb 238m i 54pisos. A destacar la vista de la ciutat que hi ha des de dalt de la Mori Tower, paga la pena pujar-hi especialment de nit!
As I mentioneded in previous posts, nearby my residence there is the famous aera called Roppongi Hills. Roppongi is the wellknown neighborhood for expats but doesn't deserve too much to say, nevertheless the mega-complex of Roppongi Hills has become a commercial and entertainment landmark in the city. It is said that during 14 years Mr.Minoru Mori, one of the most powerful building tycoon bought little a little this land till getting the 27acres that nowadays represents, changing the appearance of a traditional neighborhood to one of the most advance in Tokyo. The complex today gathers several building among them "Mori Tower" where you can find everything, shops (from Louis Vuitton to Zara!), restaurants, offices, cinemas, TV station, a museum (see next post). This tower is one of the tallest in the city with 238m and 54floors. Above all I'd highlight the view of the city from the top of the Mori Tower, it's worth to go up there, especially at night!
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| la botiga d'en Doraemon / Doraemon's store |
24/8/10
Ascens al Mt.Fuji!
Per completar el cap de setmana diumenge vàrem pujar al Fuji-san, la muntanya més alta del Japó amb 3776m!!
Vàrem anar fins a Kawaguchiko un petit poblet als peus del Fuji a la zona que li diuen dels 5 llacs. Ens vem allotjar en un hostel que no estava malament tot i que no tenien la cortesia típica japonesa (potser perquè van sobrats de clients...) i després de planificar la ruta ens vàrem preparar per fer l'ascens, la veritat és que tampoc anàvem gaire preparats i tothom ens deia que fer la muntanya en un dia seria molt just o sigui que no les teniem totes. Al final però vàrem fer la muntanya en un dia, 15km i 1500m de desnivell en unes 7hores! És increïble poder estar al sostre del Japó i tot i que va ser dur em sembla que repetiré...qui s'apunta? Per cert com podreu veure a les fotos, estava ple de japonesos però em sembla que ja no és novetat!!
To finish the weekend on Sunday we climbed the Fuji-san, the highest mountain in Japan with 3776m!! We went to Kawaguchiko, a small town at the base of the Fuji in the zone of the 5 lakes. We stayed in a hostel that although wasn't bad it didn't have the typical japanese courtesy (perhaps because they have as many costumers as they want...) and after planning the route we prepared for the climb, honestly we weren't that well prepared and everyone said it would be too difficult to do it in one single day so we weren't very conviced. At the end however, we did it, 15km and 1500m of height difference in 7hours!! It's incredible to be at top of Japan and eventhough was tough I think I'm gonna repeat it...who's in?? By the way, as you can see in the pictures there were plenty of japanese...but I think it's not anymore new!
Vàrem anar fins a Kawaguchiko un petit poblet als peus del Fuji a la zona que li diuen dels 5 llacs. Ens vem allotjar en un hostel que no estava malament tot i que no tenien la cortesia típica japonesa (potser perquè van sobrats de clients...) i després de planificar la ruta ens vàrem preparar per fer l'ascens, la veritat és que tampoc anàvem gaire preparats i tothom ens deia que fer la muntanya en un dia seria molt just o sigui que no les teniem totes. Al final però vàrem fer la muntanya en un dia, 15km i 1500m de desnivell en unes 7hores! És increïble poder estar al sostre del Japó i tot i que va ser dur em sembla que repetiré...qui s'apunta? Per cert com podreu veure a les fotos, estava ple de japonesos però em sembla que ja no és novetat!!
To finish the weekend on Sunday we climbed the Fuji-san, the highest mountain in Japan with 3776m!! We went to Kawaguchiko, a small town at the base of the Fuji in the zone of the 5 lakes. We stayed in a hostel that although wasn't bad it didn't have the typical japanese courtesy (perhaps because they have as many costumers as they want...) and after planning the route we prepared for the climb, honestly we weren't that well prepared and everyone said it would be too difficult to do it in one single day so we weren't very conviced. At the end however, we did it, 15km and 1500m of height difference in 7hours!! It's incredible to be at top of Japan and eventhough was tough I think I'm gonna repeat it...who's in?? By the way, as you can see in the pictures there were plenty of japanese...but I think it's not anymore new!
Matsuri a Azabu-juban!
El cap de setmana passat vàrem tenir les festes del barri, en japonès els festivals o festes populars s'anomenen Matsuri, i concretament les d'Azabu-juban són unes de les més famoses de Tokyo. Durant 3 dies els carrers s'omplen de gent a rebentar que venen a menjar, beure i divertir-se amb l'animació que hi ha.
Començo a entendre que al Japó (o com a mínim a Tokyo) qualsevol esdeveniment social esdevé massiu, imagineu-vos si hi havia gent que el recorregut des del metro que normalment hi estic menys de deu minuts vaig trigar-hi una hora! Les paradetes de menjar oferien de tot, okonomiyaki (ja n'he parlat), takoyaki (unes boles farcides de pop), soba (fideus japonesos) o tot tipus de peix. Per veure des de cervesa fins a xampany francès, i déu ni do com beuen...això sí a les 22h tot estava net com una patena, fins i tot diria millor que els suïssos en això.
This last wekeend there was a festival in my neighborhood, in Japanese festivals are called Matsuri and particularly this of Azabu-juban is one of the most famous of Tokyo. During three days the streets are filled with stalls of all kind of food, drinks and other stuff and as usual it is overcrowded of people. I begin to understand that in Japan (or at least in Tokyo) any social event becomes massive, there was so many people that the route from the metro station which usually takes less than 10 minutes it took an hour!! The food stalls offered all kinds of food, Okonomiyaki (I already talked about it), Takoyaki (octopus balls), soba (Japanese noodles) or any type of fish. To drink from beer to champagne and for god's sake I can say they drink a lot...however at 10pm everything was clean and tidy, even better than the Swiss in this.
Començo a entendre que al Japó (o com a mínim a Tokyo) qualsevol esdeveniment social esdevé massiu, imagineu-vos si hi havia gent que el recorregut des del metro que normalment hi estic menys de deu minuts vaig trigar-hi una hora! Les paradetes de menjar oferien de tot, okonomiyaki (ja n'he parlat), takoyaki (unes boles farcides de pop), soba (fideus japonesos) o tot tipus de peix. Per veure des de cervesa fins a xampany francès, i déu ni do com beuen...això sí a les 22h tot estava net com una patena, fins i tot diria millor que els suïssos en això.
This last wekeend there was a festival in my neighborhood, in Japanese festivals are called Matsuri and particularly this of Azabu-juban is one of the most famous of Tokyo. During three days the streets are filled with stalls of all kind of food, drinks and other stuff and as usual it is overcrowded of people. I begin to understand that in Japan (or at least in Tokyo) any social event becomes massive, there was so many people that the route from the metro station which usually takes less than 10 minutes it took an hour!! The food stalls offered all kinds of food, Okonomiyaki (I already talked about it), Takoyaki (octopus balls), soba (Japanese noodles) or any type of fish. To drink from beer to champagne and for god's sake I can say they drink a lot...however at 10pm everything was clean and tidy, even better than the Swiss in this.
Ja tinc un amic! - I've made a friend!
Per fi puc dir que ja he fet la meva primera amistat al Japó!!! és un conegut d'aquí al barri, es diu Bombo i em sembla que tindrem una molta bona amistat :-)
Finally I can say I've made my first friend in Japan!!! he's from the neighborhood and is called Bombo. I think we'll have a very good friendship :-)
Finally I can say I've made my first friend in Japan!!! he's from the neighborhood and is called Bombo. I think we'll have a very good friendship :-)
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| Bombo and I |
22/8/10
La primera visita - First visit
Aquesta setmana he tingut la primera visita!!! La Concha en el seu tour mundial va decidir fer una paradeta a Japó i ha anat de conya, una mica de socialització i de pas jo també he aprofitat per fer turisme i conèixer noves coses!! Sobretot han estat dies de descoberta gastronòmica...es menja mooolt bé aquí!!
This week I've got the first visit!!! Concha on her worldwide tour decided to stop by in Tokyo and it has been lot of fun, socializing a bit and I took profit to do tourism and to know news things as well!! Above all, it has been some days of gastronomic discovery....food is sooo good here!!!
Gonpachi: restaurant on van grabar la peli Kill Bill! Hi ha molts estrangers i el menjar tampoc és d'escàndol però em va agradar sobretot pel local. // Restaurant where the movie Kill Bill was shot! There are many expats and the food is not the best one but I liked it above all for the local.
Un altre dia vàrem anar a un restaurant especialitzat en Sashimi (peix cru) que estava boníssim, però poca cosa més us en puc dir ja que tot estava en japonès...normal...
We went to a Sashimi (raw fish) restaurant another day, as usual it was excellent but I cannot tell you many things because everything was in japanese...normal, isn't it?...
i com no podia ser d'altra forma, doncs també vàrem anar a Tsukiji (mercat de peix) a esmorzar sushi, em sembla que serà un clàssic!! Aquí ni mongetes amb botifarra, ni res de res...peix cru a primera hora del matí i està boníssim, això sí llevar-se a les 5am és una mica dur!!!
and finally as expected, we went to Tsukiji (fish market) to eat Sushi for breakfast, I think this will be a classic! First thing in the morning...raw fish and was excellent, however waking up at 5am is a bit tough!!
This week I've got the first visit!!! Concha on her worldwide tour decided to stop by in Tokyo and it has been lot of fun, socializing a bit and I took profit to do tourism and to know news things as well!! Above all, it has been some days of gastronomic discovery....food is sooo good here!!!
Gonpachi: restaurant on van grabar la peli Kill Bill! Hi ha molts estrangers i el menjar tampoc és d'escàndol però em va agradar sobretot pel local. // Restaurant where the movie Kill Bill was shot! There are many expats and the food is not the best one but I liked it above all for the local.
Un altre dia vàrem anar a un restaurant especialitzat en Sashimi (peix cru) que estava boníssim, però poca cosa més us en puc dir ja que tot estava en japonès...normal...
We went to a Sashimi (raw fish) restaurant another day, as usual it was excellent but I cannot tell you many things because everything was in japanese...normal, isn't it?...
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| Sashimi |
i com no podia ser d'altra forma, doncs també vàrem anar a Tsukiji (mercat de peix) a esmorzar sushi, em sembla que serà un clàssic!! Aquí ni mongetes amb botifarra, ni res de res...peix cru a primera hora del matí i està boníssim, això sí llevar-se a les 5am és una mica dur!!!
and finally as expected, we went to Tsukiji (fish market) to eat Sushi for breakfast, I think this will be a classic! First thing in the morning...raw fish and was excellent, however waking up at 5am is a bit tough!!
19/8/10
A la platja! - To the Beach!
Aquest diumenge vaig fer cap a la platja...no podia més, després d'uns quants dies a 35ºC amb la humitat que fot necessitava refrescar-me una mica o sigui que després de fer una ullada a les opcions disponibles me'n vaig anar cap a Enoshima, una petita illa que hi ha a una hora al sud de Tòquio en tren. Total que ara ja sé que fan els japos el diumenge, la platja semblava un formiguer i tot i que tampoc matava es va posar de perles, a més hi havia un ambient molt xulo amb uns xiringuitos i una festeta a una platja que feia estiu! Per primera vegada em vaig banyar al Pacífic! L'ílla a més ofereix una sèrie de santuaris sintoístes prou interessants i una bona vista. Per cert, deu ser que tinc pinta a raret perquè dos grups de joves em van parar per fer-se una foto amb mi, i això que em pensava que el turista era jo!!
This Sunday I headed to the beach...I couldn't stand it anymore, after several days at 35ºC with the humidity we have, I needed to refresh myself and after checking the available options I went to Enoshima, a small island one hour south of Tokyo by train. So, now I do know what the Japanese do on Sunday, the beach was swarming with people and even if it wasn't the best beach ever seen it felt me like being in the paradise. On top of that, there was a very nice atmosphere with "xiringuitos" (bars in front of the beach) and a party with DJs that felt like real summer! First time in the Pacific! The island offers as well several interesting sintoist shrines and a nice view at the top. By the way, it must be that I look weird because two group of people stopped me to take a picture together...and I thought that the tourist was me!!
This Sunday I headed to the beach...I couldn't stand it anymore, after several days at 35ºC with the humidity we have, I needed to refresh myself and after checking the available options I went to Enoshima, a small island one hour south of Tokyo by train. So, now I do know what the Japanese do on Sunday, the beach was swarming with people and even if it wasn't the best beach ever seen it felt me like being in the paradise. On top of that, there was a very nice atmosphere with "xiringuitos" (bars in front of the beach) and a party with DJs that felt like real summer! First time in the Pacific! The island offers as well several interesting sintoist shrines and a nice view at the top. By the way, it must be that I look weird because two group of people stopped me to take a picture together...and I thought that the tourist was me!!
15/8/10
Focs d'artifici a la badía - Tokyo bay fireworks
Aquest cap de setmana coincidint amb les festes d'Obon hi han hagut els famosos focs d'artifici a la badia de Tokyo i ho volia aprofitar per fer una volta per la zona d'Odaiba, una àrea bastant nova sobre illes artíficials que sembla prou interessant. Ja m'havien avisat que hi anés amb temps perquè es reuneix molta gent per veure els focs, tot i així poc m'esperava trobar-me el metro ple a rebentar tres hores abans de començar els focs, i un cop arribat allà ha estat espectacular, poca cosa he vist d'Odaiba perquè la zona estava ple de gom a gom i he baixat directament a la badía, la gent es reserva el seu tros de parcel.la posant trossos de plàstic a terra, i ho respecten!! la veritat ha estat molt divertit veure tots aquest japonesos relacionant-se socialment, a més hi havia molta gent portant vestits tradicionals japonesos (diria que la majoria portaven Yukatas que és la versió estiuenca del Kimono) i moltes parelletes joves :-). Total que m'he tirat dues hores donant voltes, tirant fotos i contemplant-los a tots. Després els focs, només us haig de dir que han durat una hora i mitja de rellotge, sí sí, increíble, llàstima que sense trípode les fotos no han sortit gaire decents...
This weekend coinciding with the Obon festivity there have been the famous fireworks at the Tokyo bay and I've decided to go see them at the area of Odaiba, a fairly new area of artificial islands that seem quite interesting. I had been already warned to go sometime in advance since many people goes there to see the fireworks, but I would have never thought that the metro would be so crowded three hours before, and once I got there it has been spectacular, finally I saw little of Odaiba because the area was already overcrowded and I went directly to the bay, people booked their piece of place putting a kind of plastic on the ground, and everybody respected it! It has been very funny to see all these Japanese interacting socially among them, in addition there were many people wearing traditional Japanese costumes (I would say most were Yukatas the summer version of kimono), and also many young couples :-). At the end I've walk around two hours wandering around, taking pictures and watching them. Then the fires, I think that just saying they lasted for an hour and a half you can already have an idea of it, amazing, shame that didn't have the tripod to take more decent pictures...
This weekend coinciding with the Obon festivity there have been the famous fireworks at the Tokyo bay and I've decided to go see them at the area of Odaiba, a fairly new area of artificial islands that seem quite interesting. I had been already warned to go sometime in advance since many people goes there to see the fireworks, but I would have never thought that the metro would be so crowded three hours before, and once I got there it has been spectacular, finally I saw little of Odaiba because the area was already overcrowded and I went directly to the bay, people booked their piece of place putting a kind of plastic on the ground, and everybody respected it! It has been very funny to see all these Japanese interacting socially among them, in addition there were many people wearing traditional Japanese costumes (I would say most were Yukatas the summer version of kimono), and also many young couples :-). At the end I've walk around two hours wandering around, taking pictures and watching them. Then the fires, I think that just saying they lasted for an hour and a half you can already have an idea of it, amazing, shame that didn't have the tripod to take more decent pictures...
12/8/10
Obon
aquesta setmana se celebra la festivitat d'Obon al Japó, i què és l'Obon? doncs un col.lega japonès m'ha explicat que és una de les tradicions familiars més importants en la cultura japonesa i una de les poques vegades que els japonesos agafen vacances voluntàries, normalment per anar a veure la família. Es creu que durant aquesta època els esperits dels ancestres familiars tornen a casa seva i per això la família es reuneix per pregar per ells, sent una festa familiar important. Jo he aprofitat aquests dies per conèixer millor la ciutat i com que he descobert que aquí a la residència tenen bicis, m'he aficionat a voltar per la ciutat amunt i avall en bici, una gran forma de descobrir-la tot i que una mica perillosa, com que aquí condueixen per l'esquerra he estat a punt de provocar algun accident...jejeje,aquí us deixo algunes fotos.
this week there is the celebration of the Obon festival in Japan, and what is Obon? a Japanese colleague told me that is one of the most important family traditions in their culture and one of the few times that Japanese take holidays, usually because they go to their hometowns to see the family. It is belief that during this time the spirits of ancestors return home so the family gathers to pray for them, being an important celebration. I've used these days to know better the city and as I discovered there are bikes at the residence, I have started to do city tours by bike up and down, a great way to explore it although a bit dangerous, as they drive on the left I was about to cause some accidents ... hahaha, I leave you some pictures.
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| Tokyo tower: 13m taller than Eiffel tower |
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| Akasaka |
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| Zojoji temple with Tokyo tower behind |
9/8/10
Perruqueries!
No sé si és perquè m'haig de tallar els cabells aviat però avui m'he adonat que hi ha moltes perruqueries per tot arreu, i és que sembla ser que els japonesos donen molta importància a l'estètica i imatge externa...fins i tot als animals, aquí us deixo una foto de la perruqueria canina que hi ha al costat del pis, boníssima, el que més m'agrada és que tenen taules exterior on pots demanar una beguda i veure com pentinen els gossos :-)
Perhaps is because I have to cut my hair soon but today I realized that there are many hairdressers everywhere, actually it seems that Japanese give very importance to the aesthetics and external image ... even for pets, this is a picture of a dog hairdresser next to the studio, the best thing is that they have tables outside where you can order a drink and watch the dogs care :-)
8/8/10
Vida social
La meva vida social comença a activar-se, aquesta setmana vaig sortir a sopar amb uns quants Suïssos, per no perdre el costum :-) , això sí recomenació, aquí als restaurants normalment t'has de treure les sabates o sigui que feu atenció amb els forats dels mitjons, per experiència... :-) També vaig anar a dinar amb un grup de la feina on un company japonès ens va portar a un restaurant de Sushi a prop del mercat del peix a Tsukiji, quin peix més bo!! m'encanta!! Després vem anar a donar un vol al mercadillo del costat on s'hi pot trobar coses gastronòmiques excel.lents!
My social life begins to activate, this week I went out to dinner with Swiss people, to don't lose the habit :-) one advice, here usually you have to remove your shoes in the restaurants so watch out to wear socks with holes, own experience ... :-) I also went to lunch with a group of work where a Japanese colleague brought us to a sushi restaurant near the fish market at Tsukiji, what a good fish! I love it! After this we went to visit a food market where you can find excellent products!
My social life begins to activate, this week I went out to dinner with Swiss people, to don't lose the habit :-) one advice, here usually you have to remove your shoes in the restaurants so watch out to wear socks with holes, own experience ... :-) I also went to lunch with a group of work where a Japanese colleague brought us to a sushi restaurant near the fish market at Tsukiji, what a good fish! I love it! After this we went to visit a food market where you can find excellent products!
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| Calamar sec / Dried squid |
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| Wasabi fresc / Fresh Wasabi |
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