Yuki I have put these photos up asap! I’m sorry for the delay!
We took an eight-hour bus ride to Tokyo. Now you may be thinking that sounds horrible, but it was surprisingly ok and an awesome way to see the Japanese countryside, which is beautiful. The bus was luxurious with big seats that reclined! In Tokyo we stayed with Shinji’s Aunt and Uncle Fuji-Chan and Kazu-San. Their house is the house Shinji grew up in until he was eight so it was very nostalgic for him! The next day we went to see Shinji’s childhood friend Shunsuke and his lovely family! They made us lunch oyakodon which is becoming one of my favourite foods. Oyakodon has chicken and egg in it on rice and the name means family bowl, you can guess why! Then Shunsuke took us to Harajuku!!! I have wanted to go there since I was a little. This is the place Japanese people dress in a strange fashion often called ‘Lolita’ because they wear baby doll outfits. However I feel it is baby doll crossed with punk rock! If you are unfamiliar with the Harajuku fashion I think this is a good website to understand the craze http://tokyofashion.com/harajuku-fashion-walk-pictures/. I didn’t get too many photos of people dressed up because I felt it was rude to take photos of random people but check out the dogs below! One thing I wasn’t prepared for is that Harajuku is also an INCEDIBLE shopping district. There were so many cute shops with awesome clothes. Some shops were too extreme for me but those bordering on cutsie but normal really were my style I think!! Aaah I want to go back just talking about this. Shinji and Shunsuke did really well putting up with me and coming into all the girlie shops. I was impressed!
We then went through Shibuya on our way home. The Shibuya crossing is notorious for being busy! It was crazy! We also got our photo next to the famous Hachikō statue. Hachikō is an akito (Japanese breed of dog) and this is his story. In 1924 a professor at the University of Tokyo had a golden brown dog called Hachikō. Hachikō greeted his owner at the end of each day at the nearby Shibuya Station. But one day Professor Ueno did not return. The professor had suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage and died, never returning to the train station where Hachikō was waiting. Every day for the next nine years the dog waited at Shibuya station. Hachikō attracted the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. They brought Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait. This continued for nine years with Hachikō appearing precisely when the train was due at the station. Hachikō’s legendary faithfulness became a national symbol of loyalty. I think this is such a sad but lovely story!
That night we also had dinner at Shunsuke’s place and we watched the movie ‘Water boys’. If you haven’t seen it, GET IT OUT NOW it was so good. It was about a group of schoolboys making a synchronized swim team. It was so funny!
Love Esmé
