Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
New Years time in Japanese culture means a lot of things. 1) if it’s the end of the year, it’s a bon nen kai. It sort of means you get together and forget about the issues from last year. I saw that in some areas of the world, people schedule fist fights to settle scores. People watch. End of fight, it’s a done deal. You shake hands and more on to the new year. 2) if it’s after the new year, it’s a shin nen kai which is a get together to start off the new year hopefully well. So meals keep flowing, even after a week or so. The good thing is, once in a while I get invited to things like this. In this case, it’s for my friend Mitch’s moms birthday. 82! Pictured is perfectly executed tempura above by Eriko M. who made this spread. I’m not sure if Shin nen kai’s actually solve anything, except people getting together to celebrate being together, but birthdays are always cool. Renkon (lotus root). Simple and elegant. Mamma at 82. She still shovels snow in her backyard. 82! The cake was good. You can’t have cake until you eat all the food. I did. No, that’s not brownies and mochi! That’s konnyaku and imo. Look that up.
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Ramen. In one moment, anyone would know that this one spot is better than what you can get in America. The noodles are thick for ramen, the soup isn’t the typical USA thick and murky Tonkotsu that seems to fool everyone into thinking Tampopo woman made it, and everything in it, was done just right. It’s at the spot photographed below in Jyugaoka area of Tokyo. One of many great spots. I ordered the big one.950 yen. That’s my friend Kohei who ordered a different one that had cabbage in it. This is an interesting place. Indotei. It’s owned by Goodsmile. Like Giant Robot has gr/eats, they have Indotei. Yes, it’s great. Aside from the food being great. Seriously great. They give you individual small bowls to keep the dishes from sharing their juices! Not enough Indian places do this for you, and it’s just one more example of paying attention to detail. That’s Junko hiding in the shadow.Check out that naan. I swear it’s gigantic sized. Maybe the length from my elbow to finger tips. Yes, this was one of the best meals. That’s Yukie Kito, she produces movies. We’re at a spot called Butaya. Basically “pork shop” in Ebisu. Also at dinner was Ms Fujitani and Mr Mikami. Noodles at the end. The meal starts off with vegetables and more, and with the leftover broth you can choose rice or noodles. We opted for noodles.
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Tennis Bonenkai… funny because it’s sort of a year end party where you and your friends get together drink, eat, and sort of end the year and start a new one. I do play tennis more and more of late. This is the crew I play with some of the time. They do this in Japan in almost every industry and that’s why there are so many people out in late December. Above is Takashi and Cousin Jon. Takashi is a sushi man. That’s Hiro and Yuki who’s on the phone. Both are leaving back to Japan. Osada looking faded. He went from Volleyball or skiing and now plays tennis. That’s Yuki again. The photobomb in the background is funny. That guy sat with his eyes shut most of the time looking like he was sleeping, but he’d respond to comments like he was wide awake. We hung out at Wakasan in West LA until it closed at 2am
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Another year, another production for New Years Day. There’s too much food, I get full just by looking at it all. Leftovers the next day, and the day after that. It’s crazy. People say that Japanese food isn’t filling, or it’s light, but it’s not. This is proof.
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This was in Shibuya, Tokyo at the scramble crossing which has to be one of the busiest intersections in the world. I’m sure the same thing happened at the same time in a few neighborhoods, but this one probably had to be one of the largest. That said, Happy New Year.
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