The Tokyo trip!

Alright, so I haven't blogged in...forever. On the agenda: Tokyo Trip, Halloween, Farming, etc. Let's see how much I can write before next class.

So I went to Tokyo a few weekends ago to see the J-Rock visual kei concert. I got into the hostel (same one I used before) a little after 10. It was a little late cause I worked a full day Friday. Most of the staff there are nice and polite and such, but the girl that was there Friday night you could tell hated the job, wasn't very nice, etc. and I was slightly annoyed. Ah well.

Saturday morning, I got up super early to shower and start the hour long trip to the concert area. However, I got a bad leg cramp right when I awoke, which made me walk funny for the next few days ;.; Anyways, the last train I got on for the concert hall (called the Makuhari Messe btw) had 2 main types of people: families and couples bound for Tokyo Disneyland; and young people bound for the concert. You could easily tell who was who.

I got off the train and realized that I hadn't eaten breakfast, or anything, yet (this is at 10am and I woke up at around 7) so I found a bakery in the station and wolfed down a sandwitch. While I was eating, there was a foreigner fixing her makeup across from me. Of course, I walked up to her and asked if she spoke English, and we sat and chatted about the upcoming concert. Turns out she has lived in Japan for a few years now and knows sooooo much more about the visual kei music than I do, along with seeing many concerts. Her friend from Hong Kong (I think) came over and we walked to the hall.

Anyone that enjoys the lolita, goth lolita, punk, or any funky style imaginable found in Harajuku or anywhere in Tokyo would have been in heaven. Especially on Staurday, the lolitas and goth lolitas were out en masse. cameras were strictly a no-no, so I couldn't take pictures, thoguh even if they were allowed, I think it would have been reeeally uncoool to do so that weekend.

The first bands were already playing when we walked in, and I was immediately blown away. I had expected to hear a few really good ones, mostly only decent music. But of the bands that I hadn't heard up till then, most were amaaazing! The artists were also dressed up for the most part, which was cool. There were 4 venues in 2 gigantic rooms. 2 bands were playing at any given time, and the next act was being set up while they were playing. So sometimes I missed a few good bands, but eh, what can you do.

The Japanese at concerts (at least this kind of concert) are a little odd. For every song, there is a set of hand motions that go with every part. Everyone in the audience does the hand motions and headbanging completely on cue, so if you mess up or don't know the songs at all (me) you stick out. I quickly learned the usual motions and spent half my time trying to sync with everyone lol. Even the girls in their perfectly curled hair and expensive pink cute dresses headbang like there's no tomorrow (but only on cue!). There are also 2 types of headbanging: the front to back that I'm familiar with, and the "lean forward and shake your head side to side as violently as possible so you look like a caged lion with lice." I didn't participate in this kind since it gave me a headache >.< Messed up my back too from the other kind so standing for 2 whole days was pretty painful, but well worth it!

One of the acts that I didn't get to see that I wish I had was Moi Dix Mois. For those of you who don't know, it's Malice Mizer's Mana's new band, and mana is the person who basically started the goth loli style. During this time I was waiting for a good place in the crowd for Abington Boys' School (T.M.Revolution) who were btw, amazing.

For many of the acts, I got really close to the bands. One of them I was so close that if he reached out his hand and I mine, we could have touched. And of course, being a giant foreigner with blonde hair, I stick out alot, so the artists alot of the time stop their eyes on me for a split second. >.< Also! The poor tiny Japanese girls in their platform shoes come up to my shoulders at best, so there was always a gap behind me so they could see from behind >.< Gomen ne!

I barely ate anything or slept those 2 days, but didn't really notice that much. Staurday night, my new foreigner friends and I went out for dinner and to get out pictures taken at a photo booth. At one point, I was waiting outside a Mr. Donught for them to come back from the hotel, and totally felt like a goth hooker. Many African American men stopped next to me and said anything between "Hi, I'm Mr. Smith, nice to meet you" to "You're a fine looking lady." After about the 5th time I went inside the store to wait.

The Monday after the concert I took off so I could get my re-entry permit. It's a little thing in my passport that says if I leave the country I can come back. I took about 3 trains, and then a bus, and got to the Tokyo Immigration office. While walking up the stairs, I ran into another African-American who mumbled something to me I won't repeat. I came to the conclusion that people are cool in the U.S. but if I am alone in Tokyo it's generally a good idea to stay away from people of African decent (I know this sounds reeeeally racist and I hate racism, but I've had nothing but bad experiences while here >.< ) So anyways, I got the little stamp thing, paid for some overpriced curry since I realized that I missed breakfast again (amazing how easy that is to to in Tokyo), and caught my bus home.

That's it for now cause I have class soon and my hands feel like ice after typing so much. I reeeeally wish the Japanese would realize that central heat is not evil. They just set up the furnace in the teachers' room today, but the classrooms have nothing but body heat yet. I'm in thick pants, a shirt and a hoodie, sometimes scarf.

There's the bell, later!