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Newer Page 807 of 1276 Older Full Trip Report
Japan Tokyo Ikebukuro Guitar Curry

4 November 2015

Need to step up my game

Eating vegetarian curry in Ikebukuro

As the title says, I feel the quality of what you see here has slipped.
Steps are being taken to improve this situation.
Perhaps I need to hire an editor and proof reader.
Perhaps I need to do interesting things.
Perhaps I should just make shit up.

This evening I went around in an anti clockwise circle for a few minutes to Ikebukuro, one of the 3 big places to go in Tokyo.
The other 2 will likely follow on remaining nights here.
Ikebukuro is often underestimated compared to Shibuya and Shinjuku, but its still a busy place to be. It also has Tokyo's Chinatown in its back streets.
Actually theres Chinatown everywhere now, with more and more places selling mapo tofu and noodles with sweet black sauce which is Chinese food for Koreans.
When I first came to Tokyo, you had to go to Yokohama to find Chinese people, now your average Chinese tourist is spending more than any other kind, so the market is starting to adapt. Adaption is slow though, cause this is Japan, and external influence is to be ridiculed, unless they come with bags of money.

I cleverly disguise my appearance to that of homeless person who has overstayed visa. This means I get plenty of room on the train because no one will sit next to me even if the train is full.
It also makes people uncomfortable when I sit near them at the restaurant counter, I love the fear in their eyes, I buy my meal ticket from the machine, then have to choose a seat, people stop eating and start praying to the spirit of Hirohito that I dont pick the seat next to them. I single out whoever looks the weakest and ruin their day.

Despite the overt racism, which I believe is getting worse, this evening I was served in a convenience store by a black African man.
He spoke Japanese well, although I noted a couple of girls he served kept their heads pointed at the floor whilst they exchanged cash and change so as not to catch his evil gaze.
He then served me and tried I believe English, French and German greetings, and when I answered in English, he proved himself to be just as fluent as I am, which is merely passable.
Of course, the fact I seem surprised that a black man can speak Japanese and English and works in a convenience store probably points to my own acceptance of a stereotype, but at least I could look at the guy whilst he was serving me.

Japan-Tokyo-Ikebukuro-Guitar-Curry - I just wanted to get to the other side of the tracks! It took me about 30 minutes of trying, and at one point I almost reentered the train platform ar

I just wanted to get to the other side of the tracks! It took me about 30 minutes of trying, and at one point I almost reentered the train platform area just to get to the other side.
Finally I realised I needed to go further down, not up.


Japan-Tokyo-Ikebukuro-Guitar-Curry - Neoness. I did warn that I need to step up my game.

Neoness. I did warn that I need to step up my game.


Japan-Tokyo-Ikebukuro-Guitar-Curry - This is the fairly new majesty guitar. Not sure how I feel about it. Looks Japanese despite being American.

This is the fairly new majesty guitar. Not sure how I feel about it. Looks Japanese despite being American.


Japan-Tokyo-Ikebukuro-Guitar-Curry - Everyone needs a libidoll. Your risky internet use of the day is to enter the web address they have provided, www.libidoll.jp

Everyone needs a libidoll. Your risky internet use of the day is to enter the web address they have provided, www.libidoll.jp


Japan-Tokyo-Ikebukuro-Guitar-Curry - I found a suitably dark and mysterious back alley to locate my dinner.

I found a suitably dark and mysterious back alley to locate my dinner.


Japan-Tokyo-Ikebukuro-Guitar-Curry - And I found a great dinner! Vegetarian vegetable curry with works vegetables, all vegetable include!

And I found a great dinner! Vegetarian vegetable curry with works vegetables, all vegetable include!


NewerPage 807 of 1276OlderFull Trip Report