Playing Ketchup

Whew that was a nutty one.

Finally got the first week off and boy do I need it. Its been a push every day to make the most of the time we'll be here and we all keep running.

On a trip to Fukagawa in Koto, just east of the Sumida River, Kim Tse (partner in crime) pickup up a neat little lunch from this spot in town.

Here's how you eat here:

1. Open the doors and grab a tray from the left.

2. Begin to grab dishes with meal segments on the and build your own lunch.

3. Go to the back and have the friendly staff re-heat the dish. Then order either a miso or rice.

4. Enjoy then pay out.

Simple, no hassle and very homely. Even the people eating were giving us a hand to figure it out.

Warm mum and pop shop

Still need to translate the name :)

Fukagawa. Highlighted in a faint red

Fukagawa

Fukagawa was surprisingly extremely comfortable for a foreigner. Definitely off the tourist road, nobody seemed out of place...except for us. Enjoyed great coffee (from ARiSE COFFEE ROASTERS) at a local hole, and traversed the cemeteries...for our project I swear. :)

Audio Snippet - Monks chanting inside Buddhist Temple

Now I don't know if it was a function of the day we went (Sunday) or the time of day but all of the temples in the Fukagawa area were chanting and praying. We even ran into a couple funerals, but no body seemed to be sad or mourning. It appeared tho that most of the funeral attendees were of high spirits, even though they were dressed in black and attending a ceremony that is in memory of a deceased loved one.

After Fukagawa we made our way to re-discover Yanaka Cemetery, yes I know this is starting get weird but I swear its part of our project this semester. Just wait and see.

Dead, Delapitated buildings. But they still have a charm

These trio of siblings were found on the main strip in Fukagawa, fronting the Jinja (temple) pond just behind.