More random Japan pictures - Tokyo to Yokkaichi

Waiting in line at Fuunji in Shinjuku.

Big Box outside Takadanobaba station. Used to be the place for SF4.

The reason I came here: Tonkatsu Tonta

Can't tell from the picture but this is the softest, juciest tonkatsu I've ever tasted. Really melts in your mouth. I would put the one in Shinjuku slightly over tonta. Can't remember the name atm.

Stopped by Nagoya for Yabaton teppan miso katsu. Hell yeah!

Fatty sushi or something like that.

Picture with mama-san of snack we usually go to. First we tried a rip off girls bar and then a really good kyabakura where bframe got this cute girl with distracting cleavage. Hope his wife is not reading this before hitting the snack. Should have used the girls bar money for the kybakura.

Gundam at Odaiba Pt 2

Whole shelf of pillow cushions.

Last time I was here, the sky was grey so it was nice to get reasonably clear skies.

One Piece bar. You can see the statue of  the kicking guy standing in there.

Tokyo tower in the background.

You have the anime playing in the back and twith lights, smoke and head movement in accordance with the story.

The stomach section opens and there a screen showing Amuro Ray as if he's in the cockpit.

Ramen museum like thing.

Found out later that I was supposed to put the rice in the middle from my Fukuoka friend who has never heard of this men. Not bad.

Sambomaster Owaranai Miracle no Youkan Tour 2013 at Rensa Sendai

Fark, I am so tired. That was the longest two hour plus live I have ever been to, and I mean it in a good way.

I went 3 hours early to in case I got lost looking for Rensa and there was a sign stuck on the 7th floor button at the elevator saying only staff was allowed to use it.

Spent one hour walking around Kokubun street which is where the nightlife of Sendai is and looking foe the location of this girls bar I wanted to go after.

Went back, tried the escalator but I doesn't go past the 2nd floor. Luckily ran into a Mensa staff member and found out that they were selling the Sambomaster goods at the second floor stairs!

End of queue at basement.

Didn't pay attention to the 販売 sign stuck to the stairs. Had to queue all the way down to the basement. I guess since its being held on the 7th floor of a building, there was no other way to queue.

There were like 1000 people there at most which is awesome. One third the size of Zepp Nagoya which was the first time I saw Scandal.

Though it was a live house, we had to line up according to ticket number. Had to pay 500円 for drinks, put bag in locker and have a smoke. I noticed some fans not trying to get close to the stage and hung around the back. I was going to find out why.

Sambomaster singer said female fans had increased due to some reason and chikan is not forgiven. Sambomaster fans not only make Scandal fans look subdued, they jump all over the place knocking into people like pinballs.

Doesn't matter where you stand cause you will end up elsewhere. Lets just say I ended up inadvertantly jumping against girls due to the crowd.

I can say I'm familiar with most of Sambomaster's songs except for the last album which I could not find as a free download. I didn't know quiet a few songs but this turned out to be a good thing cause I lost my voice three times.

At the end of it I was comepletely drenched in sweat, my rars were ringing をand my feet hurt like hell. Had to abandon drinking plans and save my voice for Osaka tomorrow. Should have gone drinking last night. Ggrr.

Anyway, songs. Happy they played Rock and Roll is not dead, Kodoku no Rendevous, Slow Motion Love and of course Sekai wa sore wo ai to yobun daze. Disappointed they didn't sing Anata no koto shika kangaerarenai. Actually I don't even think its available on Dam. My hope against hope song was Anata to ikitai. I wonder if they song I love, I need you Fukushima at the Fukushima live?

Too tired so decided to get this take away grom Coco Ichi for only 1000円. Only in Japan can you get this from a curry house.

Really awesome live. Crowd was just crazy and surprisingly young but its Sendai after all. Stoked I got to see Sambomaster up close. The bass dude messed up a queue which lead to chants of missushitenai which lead to it being used many times to great comedic effect. Instead of the usual ankoru chants at the end, it was rock and roll.

Huge thanks to bframe for getting the tickets. I really want to see Samomaster again. I have no idea if they are doing live houses cause they are not popular or on purpose but the intimate jrock experience is the best.

Beginner's guide to snack/girls bars in Japan V 1.2

After spending the night out in Yokkaichi with bframe, its time to update. Updated stuff are in italics or at the bottom.

1) What's a snack/girls bar?

Bars where you have conversation with girls, sing karaoke and have fun. Can be 1 on 1 but depends on how busy it is.

2) Any difference between the two?

Girls bars are registered as a dining place or something like that. The only difference is that girls bar staff don't light your cigarrette and they are not allowed to smoke.

Generally speaking girls bars are staffed by 20 year olds and snacks by 25+ women and snacks have a mama-san who can be young and hot. Girls bars usually charge for karaoke. Also girls bars might have a kitchen and be able to serve hot finger food ie fries and fried chicken wings.

They will show you how much you owe them every hour and whether you want to extend while you find out how much at the end.

3) How much do I have to pay? 

Depends on where and the system. Average price I would say 3000円 an hour. Tokyo you're looking at 3000円 to 4000円. The important thing to look for is 飲み放題 which means all you can drink. There might be other minor charges like service charge so be careful.

4) How much Japanese do I need?

Enough to hold basic conversation for 20 minutes and ask about charges. Make sure you have a Japanese dictionary on your phone. Karaoke is not only fun but useful to kill silence in conversations or kill time until the next change if your current girl doesn't strike your fancy.

5) What about kyabakura/maid cafes?

Not that worth it IMO in terms of value for money. Maid cafes are ok for a meal but if you want attention you need to spend more. With kyabakuras you can get really beautiful women to lavish all their attention sitting next to you. Problem is not only do you have to pay the hourly fee, their's the nomination fee for every hour as well. Just came back from kyabakura in Yokkaichi and it was 6000円 per hour and 2000円 指名 fee and that's cheap compared to Tokyo and Osaka.

6) Can I take pictures?

Always ask and the kinnen shashin excuse on your last day never hurts.

7) Any problems accepting gaijin customers?

Never had any problems but I look asian. Pretty sure non-asians won't have problems as long as you demonstrate you can speak. They're mostly worried about miscommunication.

You might get no gaijin sign, show your Japanese and if you get told no, go to the next place. I do no recommend dogeza cause it probably works only in tv and movies. If they don't want your money, go someplace else that wants it.

8) Any recommendations?

I've been patronising this snack called Gift in Osaka for the last few years. Walking distance from  Fukushima station and 3000円 per hour all you can drink and sing. Tell them Michael from Australia sent you.

Cheapest so far is Kumamoto  where you can find girls bars that charge 1000円 for 40 minutes 飲み放題. If I didn't have stuff to do in Tokyo, I'll be there right now.

The only Tokyo one I've been to is Emu and its got a weird 1200円 for first 30 minutes, and then 1200円 for every 30 minute block not including drinks which cost like 800円 and a 1000円 all you can sing charge. 3 hours damage of 12000円 when it would have cost 9000円 in Osaka or even cheaper in Kumamoto. Karaoke is free after one and they have half price happy hour. If you can read the website, you're good to go.

Plenty of snacks around the Ikebukuro north entrance and I've seen sign for 3000円 an hour 飲み放題 though I've never been to any yet. If you see that, just try it since it standard price. Just make sure to ask about other charges before you sit down.

9) What time should I go?

My experience has always been one on one but according to bframe its because I go late. Avoiding the hours between 7 to 9 is a good idea. I usually start after 10 and walk back to where I am staying early morning. Japanese trains stop after 12 so unless you want to pay for a taxi, try to stay within walking distance.

10) What happens when they ask me to buy them a drink?

If its your first time at a place and within 5 minutes they want a drink from you, you've stumbled upon a rip off snack bar. You're options are to bear it until the hour block is over or refuse and risk getting bad attitude which may not be a bad idea if the store changes girls rapidly and they all ask for a drink straight away.

11) Can I go as a group?

Yes. If there are two of you, you'll get the counter and 3 or more will get you a table. Most likely on girl maybe 2 at the table depending on staff number.

12) Why are there so many snacks/girls bars in one building but no price list anywhere?

You could go in and ask but its considered rude or look up the place online or try out my recommended places. A lot of times, you can find girls soliciting business in the streets so ask them.

13) I'm in xxx and I need a drink.

Just type the place's name in Japanese and girls ｂａｒ／ガルズバー／スナク. Alernatively, just head to nightlife area which is usually next to the main shopping area. There is usually an 案内場 which can direct you according to your price range etc.

Anything else?

They'll give you a wet towel when you sit down and after going to the toilet. If you are a non-smoker be prepared for lots of cigarrette smoke. Oh yes, have fun!

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica: Hangyaku no Monogatari review

The Madoka tv series had a great ending. The story was about Homura's friendship with Madoka and in the end she became god and freed the magical girls from the cycle of becoming witches.

THE GOOD

- Homura vs Mami fight. No idea why Homura's time stop doesn't work on her but whatever.

- Elements of the matrix story as the girls fight nightmares and uh do a cake ritual except the ending.

Film that I got from Wald 9 of nothing interesting.

THE BAD

- The whole movie is an elaborate plot by the incubators but its just an excuse for Homura to become the devil and allow Madoka to return to and make them enemies.

Did I miss the part where Madoka is suffering everyday as a god? Was she getting totured everyday ala Angel season 5?

Nope, Homura's love/friendship for Madoka gets twisted.

THE UGLY

The witch that bit Mami's head off becomes her pet Bebe and turns out to be the new magical girl for is there for to be a red herring?

SUMMARY

Pointless continuation. Homura's motivation is so meh and they've changed the heart of the story in the series to a meaningless one. I'm expecting a fourth movie with Homura telling Madoka that they will become enemies one day but I don't care.

Gundam at Odaiba Pt 1

Roppongi in the distance.

If you go Odaiba, must must go to Tanaka Shoten and order the char siu ramen. Omfg, the chat siu is so fucking heavenly.

This might be my 2nd favourite ramen. Ougi beats Tanaka Shoten because of soup and noodles.

1000円 to enter Gundam Front museum. There's a 20 minute Gundam movie on a planaterium screen. If they showed the dogfights from Macross Zero and Plus on this 360 degress screen, I would die.

You know you've become an ojisan when...

... you are told..
1) Ah Sambomaster! My dad likes that band!
2) Natsukashi! Densha Otoko was really popular when I was in primary school!