The Toyo Bowl in Kanagawa was built some time in the 90’s and was abandoned around 1999 when the mother company went bankrupt. It had 108 bowling lanes spread over 3 huge floors, a large pachinko hall, restaurants, gift shops, arcades, and a kid creche. It boasted ‘natural lighting’ and ‘beautiful blue carpets’ on all floors.
2 weeks ago my good friend Scott and his long-time girlfriend Makiko had a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony, in a hotel up in Niigata. I say ‘had a ceremony’ rather than ‘got married’ because of course- as things are done here in Japan- you get married first in secret at a local ward office, just by signing some papers. Then, when its too late for the parents to protest, you notify them that they’ll need to pay for the ceremony.
Hay-ah! How do you like that, parents?
I went up with some friends on the Shinkansen to attend. I’m on the left in the picture below, alongside Scott and Makiko.
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Push Pops!
When I was a kid in England we had these. To have a Push Pop was a total status symbol. Adults may have walked around with ivory gilt gold-headed canes and peacock feathers in their caps, but for kids the only thing that mattered was the Push Pop.
Lots of things get politicized in life. Rock has been political for a long time- Band Aid, Live Aid, U2 are heavy into politics. Food got political with Freedom Fries vs. French Fries for a while. Environmental concerns politicize a lot of regular products, as they switch their packaging and production methods to more eco-friendly ones.
This is the first time I’ve seen water politicized though, especially for such a short term duration. This water is from Mt. Youtei in Hokkaido, where the 2008 eco-summit will be held for 3 days next week.
This past weekend Jason and I revisited our old Saitama free-camping ground via an 80km ride up the Arakawa river, this time with Can. Mike in tow on his new black Trek, as well as assorted women who took the train and buses to meet us there for a BBQ and the Cotton Cafe.
This is a short story set to music with visuals. It’s called ‘The Tower’. The visuals are from Sports World and the Negishi Grandstand. The music is by ‘A Silver Mt. Zion’- ‘Stumble and Rise on some Awkward Morning.’
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