James' (Late) Birthday Celebrations

I went in to Tenjin with James, Drummond, Binks, Flick, and Lauma, and once there we met up with Shin, Sawako, Mina, as well Kaori and another girl, who I have supposedly met before but I cannot remember. They were giving out free ice-cream-like stuff in plastic bottles in the station foyer, so we all grabbed one of them. They were so cold on our hands and the taste was only mildly appetising, but it was free, so we ate it.

We walked, at a slow Japanese speed to the restaurant in Akasaka, taking us about twice as long as it would have done if we were walking at a normal speed. The restaurant was cosy and we sat upstairs in a small room to ourselves in large chairs. It was an Italian restaurant, so I had some minestrone soup to start, followed by veal spaghetti. It was a set course, but rather tasty. We chatted a lot and somehow passed the time. I learnt of a Japanese comedy game show called Sh
ōten, in which old men make jokes and are awarded a zabuton (a square cushion to sit in the Japanese style on the floor) when they tell a good joke, and have one removed when they tell a bad one. If they get ten, then they win a round-the-world trip. Anyway, it gives rise to the saying "zabuton ichi mai", or “give a cushion to that person.” It is said when you tell a good joke.

We declined dessert, and instead went to a bakery nearby, where we sat in the garden and had cake. The two random extra girls left us at this point. I had an apple and cinnamon pie. Lauma left after eating cake, as did Shin, who went off to continue helping his friend move house. We stopped in at a Lawson’s where we bought alcohol, before going to a grotty little park to drink it. There were many people with netball-style tops on (you know the ones which say the position) with the number 22 written on the back. They were going around picking up litter, which was a very admirable thing to be doing. Flick got given a portable ashtray, for her mobile phone, by them as well. We drank, pretty quickly, as we had been faffing slightly, before heading off to the cinema.

Rushen and Akiko were there also (by arrangement) and we saw The Producers, which was very funny indeed, though slightly surreal. It was about a couple of men trying to put on the worst show ever in order to make money. The show was about how Hitler was a great man, which was rather hilarious and the characters were quite amusing. It was done in a musical style itself, with the characters bursting out into dance and extended dance scenes and various intervals throughout the film. We were the only ones in the cinema laughing, as I believe the Japanese philosophy is not to do so, even if it is funny, so as not to disturb other people’s viewing experience (maybe?). It might be that they have been brought up not expressing their emotions, but who knows the real reason? Strange atmosphere, either way.

After the film, we went back to near the restaurant, to a Scottish pub. There was a large selection of beers and various other drinks, though many seemed to not be available, or only in limited quantities. I think we managed to literally drink the place dry! There was also a rather fantastic selection of English food. It surprised me how much I wanted to eat everything on the list. I had not thought that I missed it that much, but obviously, I do. I had a steak and kidney pie, though, predictably, it was rather disappointing. It came in a small round dish, about the size of a tennis ball in diameter, and that was it. No vegetables or chips or anything. The pie itself was very tasty, but I cannot wait to come home and go out to a good little pub for some slap-up grub. That is what it is about! I had a couple of bottles of cider as well, to go with it: a Wood Pecker and a Strongbow. Shin reappeared with his friend Shingo, and Kimiyo turned up later as well.

We stopped off at a convenience store for ice cream, before heading off to another bar called Monochrome. I did not go, though, nor did Rushen and Akiko, and we came home on the train together. Rushen is looking for a flat to live in for when we finish the course. He seems to be enjoying it all, though, which is good.