Mada Kekkon Dekinai Otoko Episodes 2+3

I can't believe no one is subbing KDO2 yet. What could be better than KDO2 right now? Edit: Didn't know blitzfansubs is doing this. You can get it here. Thanks to anon for letting me know.

I am declaring that I am sort of over the Hayasaka sensei ending not being final because KDO2 is as funny as KDO1. The three episodes had laughing a lot especially episode 3. Abe Hiroshi's penchant for physical comedy is unmatched.

Its the same formula but Ozaki Masaya's writing is genius.

Kuwano will pretend not to be interesting in internet dating or the neighbour. Everyone will gossip about Kuwano and enjoy watching him suffer.

In the end he will say or do something great but then will make Yoshida Yo angry. The writing seems so effortless but Ozaki Masaya's probably been thinking about KDO2 for 13 years. Must watch.

Japan 2019 trip Day 4: Yokohama Ramen Museum and Minato Mirai

This was my third time going to the ramen museum where I once discovered Kumamoto ramen many years ago and my partner's first time.

I think this is from Shin Yokohama station and the ramen museum is just 10 minutes walk away.

I hasn't changed much after all those years except for some new shops.

I got really really excited when I saw tonkotsu ramen with wonton.

The shop is called Hacchan ramen.

I ordered the small bowl so I could try the other ramen. My stomach is growling like crazy right now.

I wish I could eat more in Japan but there is a limit to the number of meals I can have in a day.

I believe this is from Muku ramen. It has a chicken broth and they use a cake mixer like thing to whip the soup up.

It certainly had a unique taste and I don't mind eating it again.

Last one was Ryu's noodle bar and it was very meh.

I was deciding between going back to Hacchan to get a big serving or try another small bowl and I thought might as well take the opportunity.

I don't see how ramen and choco puff go together.

Took the train to Yokohama.

Where we of course headed to the nearest book off. I don't think we went to the one in Shin Yokohama.

We walked around Yokohama debating whether to go Chinatown or Minato Mirai.

In the end we chose Minato Mirai.

When you see a ferris wheel with many lights in jmovies and jdoramas, its usually Minato Mirai.

Waiting for the sun to go down so we took a walk along the harbour.

Is that the rainbow bridge?

Came across these bunch of red buildings and we had no idea what they were.

Turns out they were originally warehouses from back in the day and they have been turned into shops and eateries.

It was getting dark and time to head back.

To see the ferris wheel lit up.

Went back to Kabukicho Shinjuku for dinner at Gyukatsu Motomura.

It was our first time at Motomura which was recommended by my friend Will, who had stayed in Kabukicho a year before.

The gimmick of Motomura is that you have to cook the meat on the plates in front of you.

I thought it was ok.

Dakara Watashi wa Oshimashita Episodes 5-8

What a beautiful series! Dakara Watashi wa Oshimashita is definitely one of the best jdoramas of the year along with Saka no Tochuu no Ie, Mukai no Bazuru Kazoku and Harassment Game.

These four shows will battle fiercely for all the Hamsapsukebe awards next year though I think Mada Kekkon Dekinai Otoko might also be an awards contender. As a jdorama fan, it makes me happy when there are so many quality jdoramas being produced in the land of the rising sun.

As I was watching Dakara Watashi wa Oshimashita around the same time as Nagi no Oitama, I can't help but compare the both of them. Both are about people wanting to be accepted by others and finding their place in society and feature interesting characters.

The main difference is that the characters in Oshimashita actually do things while the characters in Nagi just feel like they are lazing around waiting for their holiday to be over. Can't really blame Nagi's story for adhering to its title but point is, every episode as Oshimashita was exciting and the use of the police interrogation to start off every episode was brilliant.

I love the acting and I love how Oshimashita gets to the nitty gritty of the idoru system. Its a patreon system where fans project their dreams and money unto an idoru and get fulfillment from the sense of ownership and sharing in accomplishments.

In the end, the idorus survive because of whales or fans who are willing to bankrupt themselves just like the mobile game industry.

Oshimashita does not hesitate to show the ugly as well as beautiful sides to this system and I love it especially episode 6 when Ai realises the truth and wakes up to the obvious. I love the boyfriend analogy that Ai's friend uses because it is exactly what the idoru industry is.

Dakara Watashi wa Oshimashita is a beautifully crafted show that shows the faces behind participants in the money making idoru industry. Must watch.

Japan 2019 trip Day 3: Inokashira Park in Kichijoji

Went to the Rugby World Cup megastore in Shinjuku. I wanted to get a Japan jersey but they did not have my size

I spent the whole trip going back and forth between I should buy this to I don't really need this. 12000 yen is a lot for a shirt.

 We went to Nakano to go to my favourite tonkotsu Butayarou and it was supposed to be open. He's even got the preparing now sign up but there was no light inside. We waited half an hour before leaving.

Had lunch at a cheap tonkatsu place near Nakano station.

I've already covered Nakano many times so there's nothing new to show here.

Our main destination for the day was Kichijoji which is a couple of stations further west from Nakano. Its right next to Mitaka, where the Ghibli museum is.

Map of the famous Kichijoji Sunroad, a long line of shops.

We did not explore the shops that much.

Because I went straight to the nearest Hard Off.

Which unfortunately, did not have much in way of video games.

The place we wanted to get to was Inokashira Park which has appeared in many shows. Most recent I can remember was Netflix's Hibana Spark.

I believe that Kichijoji is said to be the most liveable city in Tokyo.

There were quite a lot of people here and no pesky tourists.

The sky of overcast but wasn't too bad.

Went to Horumonyaki Kouei in Kabukicho for dinner. I believe they've got two other branches in the Shinjuku area.

Service wasn't that good but meat as not bad.

I love my karubi.

 I got the most streetpasses in one day on this Kichijoji trip. Most of the time I get an average of 3 streetpasses, even in Akihabara. Yes, its really hard to get streetpasses in Japan now. :(