Just pics of Tokyo!

This was at Kichijyo-ji. This was a bicycle parking lot that was FULL!



This was a bad picture of how crowded the station was... but it was crowded!



Again, another bad pic(it's really hard to take pics in Tokyo because you feel so rushed!)
this was a really neat clothing store's entrance.



Poor soichiro...this was before I left for Tokyo-and when I was babysitting him.

human traffic

I am exhausted from going to Tokyo. There is way too many people in one place...That's what I thought.lol I went to activate my JR-railpass in Ikebukuro. I forgot the overwhelming feeling of Tokyo in the summer. I think the huge amount of people wouldn't bother me if it wasn't for the humidness. My sister kindly looked up the railroad directions that I had to take, but I still took the wrong trains..haha. There was one Indian girl that was helping me out- she was gorgeous! Once I got to Ikebukuro, I slid my way through waves of people. First I went to the "Midori no Madoguchi"-which translates to Green Window- it just means customer service for the JR rail line. As I waited for this line that took about 10 min worth, the lady that helped me said that I needed to take a left to the information center for JR. So I trail down to the information center, and I felt releif because I was able to get to my destination. The lady quickly made my JR-rail pass and I was free to go to my next destination, which was Kichi-jyoji.
Kichijyo-ji is my kind of town. I really enjoyed Kichi-jyoji but I didn't enjoy getting lost..;p;
I get to Kichijyo-ji without getting lost, but I needed directions to the Red Bunny(tattoo parlor!) so I asked the "omawarisan"=policeman. There's always a police station near a railroad station, so I always ask them if I'm lost because they know the town:) or as least they have a map. The Omawarisan oppointed for me was a very kind younger man that gently explained and even wrote the way to Red Bunny- He asked me what store I was looking for... and I couldn't answer that because tattoos are still usually affiliated with Yakuzas-or it's still the mentality of it. Regardless, I just tell him Red bunny- I think he thought it was a clothing store of something. So his directions was good, it was just that I didn't understand his directions..:P While looking around for Red Bunny, I came across really neat and hip stores. I liked how everystore seemed unique. Even though I wanted to look around the stores, I just wanted to find where Red Bunny was and actually go in the parlor to see if it was the same as it was on the website.
I finally took the path that lead me to Red Bunny. The direction was sooo easy, but I was just not comprehending the roads of the new environment. I see the Red Bunny sign and I leap in excitment because I was walking around for about 30-35 minutes trying to find this bunny sign. When I go up the tight twirly stairs I see that the steps started to say Red Bunny as I got to the 3rd floor. When I got in the store, I see a man that was wearing those cute frontal hats. I tell him that I was Kawaguchi Wakako, and that I had an appointment with Akatsuki. He asks me what I want and I show Christine's samples. He asked if I drew them, but of course I didn't. In a very enlightened voice he said that they were impressive!!! There was a middle aged woman that I sat next to, and she was looking at tatoo books. She was kind of an odd one. She said that the only tatoo she saw that she liked was a butterfly one, but she said that she didn't even like butterflies! Even though she disliked them, she met with the tatoo artist and confirmed her appointment and dropped her deposit... I was so confused to why she wanted a tattoo from the first place. Tattoos are permanent and usually a thoughtful event to someone... anyways, I finally chose the sakura one because that represented Japan, and I liked the whole twig part as well.
Akatsuki was this petite little cute thing. I imagined her to be alot more bolder since she was a female tattoo artist, but she wasn't. She was really nice, and she asked me if I wanted pink for my sakuras. I told her I wanted blue just because I was going with the whole snowflake idea. She as well told me how well drawn the samples were!!! Anyways, I leave red bunny with my deposit and good feelings. The parlor had decorations of Aztec decor, and rockabilly aura! I'll take pictures the 21st.

Alright, I typed enough for 3 days!!Goodnight!

Rain, rain pour away all those mosquitos\heat!

what a day today was. I was basically researching all day for my solo trip that is beginning this monday. It`s official that I am visiting Totori, (which has the desertland), O-saka(has one of the biggest castles..it`s also known for their AWSOME takoyaki/okonomiyaki), and than Kyoto to visit my sister and the Gion festival that is running right now until august. My sister and I are planning to get dressed in Furisodes which is usually worn on the coming of age ceremony. Since I am turning 20 this year, it`s a custom in Japan to get dressed in Furisodes which are kimonos with longer sleeves that come down near the floor. I can`t wait to get dressed in kimonos and get hair and makeup professionally done.
Anyways, today was a very humid day. I thought I was going to melt when I took Hanaco for a walk for only 20 minutes. I think the official summer had begun today. When I came home, my sister said that my butt was drenched with sweat! How embarrassing! Hanaco is feeling a little better today. We really enjoyed the cold watermelon.

Brain Dead

Today was kind of a lazy day for me. It was a bit cloudy outside, so I didn't really feel like doing much. I hung all the cloths that were washed today in our room, since it was possible that it was going to rain today. I was going to go to Ikebukuro(Tokyo) to get my JR-railpass activated so I can venture out for my solo trip- and than afterwards I was going to go to Kichijyo-ji(Tokyo) since that was where I was going to have a meeting w/ Akatsuki to tell her what I wanted for my tattoo but- I figured I should wait until Christine finishes my design. My sister said that Japanese people like specifics so, it was a better idea to wait until I get a full picture.
My sister and niece/nephew and I decided to go for a walk- since Hanaco needed a refreshment. She had a lot of fun with the fountain at the park. Her hair got wet and curly...it was a fun sight. At home, my brother in law was frustrated because he works at home, yet because of the kids being around he said that he cannot focus. From tomorrow the kids will be sleeping at my mom's which is only about 5 min walking distance from here. Hopefully that will help, because no work means no money! not good!

hospitals and sick babies.

So, I awake from my nephews and niece's cry and scream and all that lovely noise children make. but, for some reason Hanaco had a fever and so she was not going to pre-school today.
Poor child. Apparently someone at her preschool gave her the fever.. My sister called the pre-school and apparently Hanaco was not the only one knocked out.
Well, I went to go get my MRI at 9:00 AM. The hospital looked pretty old. It was called Seiwa hospital. The techinician that instructed me about the MRI test was pretty imformative. He explained that the M for the MRI meant Magnetic. So, anything that I wore that was metalic needed to be put away. I changed into my Japanese looking hospital wear(it kinda reminded me of a yukata style) and was handed my ear plugs since the MRI made really massive noise. He gave me this noice maker to hold in my hand, just in case the MRI hurt me and that I could stop the machine if it was nessasary. That really made me nervous. If it was going to hurt me, I wondered if it was a electrifying pain.
During the process of the MRI, I sat still as possile since this test cost me close to 6000yen=which converts to about $60.00. I wanted the test to be accurate to the a. The MRI machine was kind of like a cubicle. No wonder the techinician asked me if I was clastophobic or not. When they put me under the MRI machine, I wondered if anyone was stupid enough to leave their peircings on. That would mean that the peircing would rip apart from the person and attach to the MRI machine.. in a way, that made me laugh. I realized that there was a camera hole near the level of my eyes as well. I wondered if the techinicians saw my facial expressions. The only facial expressions I had was closed eyes and stillness. I'm sure if they were able to see my expressions it wasn't that exiting..lol The MRI scanning was actually pretty harmless. I was dozing off, and just thinking about these ridiculous things. I was especially thinking about the careless person that lost my check via mail for my transcript. I called the bank last night and they had said that my $40.00 application fee was not cashed.. so, I'm just thinking that the IVCC people forgot to put it in my envelope or the University of Illinois Chicago admissions people didn't carefully look into my envelope. It really makes me mad, because my application will not be finished by the time I come back from Japan.
Anyways, I carry my test results to the hospital that I've been going to(Hanazono Seikei geka) and I wait patiently for about an hour for the doctor to tell my results. My result was that I didn't have a hernia... and that it might have been just an inflammation. This made me feel better about my leg, but at the same time I lost about 8000yen for this ridiculously non-serious illness. I guess I should of waited longer if my leg healed or not. Now I know that I just need to stretch more and excercise my legs more..lol Finally, before I left the doctor's room I asked the doctor if I could have my X-ray tests from the MRI. They look neat. I've always been fascinated by these X-ray tests, but unfortunately he said that it was law to keep it in his hospital for 5 years. He suggested me to take camera pictures or pictures from my camera phone, but that was not what I wanted. I wanted the X-rays!!!
well well, this is what happend so far today. During the waiting period in Hanazono I was looking at a magazine that had all different kinds of things to do in my city and cities near me. There was one male hair stylist that caught my eye. He looks unique and cute. check him out here...lol http://www.b-april.com/ I'm such a sucker for cute men:p

I don`t think I`m ready for Japan.

As the days pass in Japan I realize the Japanese customs alot better. I feel as though I am a foreigner in my own country (More like my parent`s country).
I went to the doctor because my leg/buttocks region hurt like someone was pulling at my nerves and squeezing it and stretching it. The doctor said that I might have a hernia-which was quite embarrasing considering the fact that usually older people get them. After the possible symptom that the doctor had said, they recommended me to have a massage everyday. So, today is the second day that I am getting my massage. Although the electric massage, hand massage is pretty relaxing- I don`t like how unrelaxed the massuers look! I forget that Japanese people are really serious/tense with their jobs. More like they don`t even enjoy it sometimes... I wanted to say to my massuer, " You need to smile more" in english.

Other than realizing how tense my Japanese culture is, I realized that they are all about consideration of other people. Every place has a sign that says something about caring for one another- or shutting the door quietly- or it seems as though there is an instruction for every purpose. It`s lovely, but at the same time I feel contricted from my own ideals.

Another thing that I realized about Japan is that they love cute/compactable things. Cars look like toys, pens look like their edible, and food look super delicious.

Anyways, as soon as I got here in Japan we were welcomed by teenage boys that can`t understand instructions. I specifically told the boy that was carrying my luggage that I was going to "HIGASHI TOKOROZAWA" not TOKOROZAWA. So when we arrive from our bus to Higashi Tokorozawa, we weren`t able to get our luggage. This was because the boy\boys put it all the way in the back with the rest of the Tokorozawa customers. So, my brother-in-law had to drive us to Tokorozawa to get our luggage. My brother in law was probably the best person to greet us, because the flight to Japan was quite hectic. I also think his pretty flowers helped calm our nerves down.

Alright, I know I`ve only been talking about cons it really hasn`t been that bad overall. I got my tattoo apointment on July 14th, and a meeting about what I`m going to get\design this thursday. I can`t wait. The lady that is doing my tattoo was booked for 3 months but my sister managed to squeeze me in her schedule:) oh, a surprising factor when I got here is that my niece is soo not like my sister or my brother in law. Hanaco is this active cute little thing that eats like a sumo- wrestler and knows what she likes/dislikes. Although she is only 1 and a half- I can safely say that she is going to be a very outspoken child.

Are you ready for me JAPAN?

In approximately 2 days, I will be heading to the land of spiritualism/art. In a way, I don't think alot of traditional Japanese people would appreciate me because 1. I am an Americanized Japanese girl 2. I can be very opinionated about subject matters that I am passionate about. 3. I don't see the tradition in catering to men.... But, we'll see. I would like to understand my Japanese roots alot better. Oh, and another thing, I am getting a tattoo which is still quite taboo in most places in Japan.
I cannot wait to eat Japanese food though. The fresh sushi, squid, tofu, udon, ramen(actual ramen noodles) w/ much more ingredients other than just the noodles itself, takoyaki(octopus bundled in usuta-sauce/katuo flakes/nori), Japanese pastry/cakes, ugh.. and so much more!
The activities that I am looking forward to doing in Japan is getting a tattoo(at this cute parlor in Tokyo which is called Red Bunny), traveling alone(I better becareful because there are random stabbing murders, unstable people kidnapping foreigners and killing them, and sexual harrassers on trains..lol), meeting up with old friends/family, going to Tokyo night clubs(we'll see about this one:), going to kool bars, and believe it or not riding in trains..
In a sense, I feel like this is the last trip I am having without responsiblities/money troubles/ and being a teenager. Well, it is going to be.

well, I better go off packing a month worth of fun.

My exploration of Japan is about to start, and I feel like I am about to discover a part of
my history.. we'll see I guess:)