The adventure to Tokyo has wrapped up, and the long flight home endured. I thought some of you might like a few more images.
First, I am a bit of a sucker for Tokyo subway posters. I marvel at them. So very… odd.
Another kind of subway poster, however, lead me to trek to Roppongi Hills to see a fantastic exhibit of a favorite, Katsushika Hokusai. He had some 30 names over his career. He died at 90. His production was olympian.
This was a different exhibit from the one I saw at the Hokusai Museum near the Edo-Tokyo Museum and the Sumo Stadium. In this exhibit there were about 500 pieces!
Alas, photos were not permitted in the exhibit. I bought the catalog, however. I only do that for the vest best exhibits.
He is most famous for the magnificent wave print.
At the cafe there I had some curry. Gimmicky, but fun.
The view from the museum floor. In Tokyo, you have get used to thinking vertically. The museum was on the 54th floor.
Back to food.
One of the best places for pork-based ramen is in Shijuku. Fuunji.
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Happily the queue was short.
Heavenly stuff, this ramen.
One of the more interesting buildings. Cocoon.
Of course we had to go to the food hall at Isetan.
Photos are frowned on. However, let’s just say that there are an underground football field’s worth of showcases with the most beautiful food you have ever seen, either prepared or produce. I’d like a couple months in Tokyo to cook myself through some of these marvels.
An example of one of the beautiful presented preparations.
One evening we went to have tempura from a true master of the art. Here is a leaf called shisu with uni, sea urchin.
There was a great deal more, to be sure.
Dessert, two large red beans.
There was, in the entry way, an antique set of playing cards for a game based on a set of poems by 100 poets called Ogura Hyakunin Isshu. This is played, as it was explained by the great Augustin-san who was with us, in January. He plays it and his children are learning.
The basic idea is that that you draw a card. There is half of a poem on the card. You have to complete the poem.
On a more commercial them. I am amazed at the artificial food on display outside of restaurants. Sort of a 3D menu to entice you in.
Which drink is mine?
A nice way to prepare a lime slice for your Gins and Tonic. Or is it Gin and Tonics?
We touched most of the bases in Tokyo: Shabushabu, ramen, tempura, sukiyaki. Of course we had sushi in Tsukiji.
Here’s our set, with a few closeups.
This ain’t your grocery store sushi friends. It’s in a whole different class.
With a slight char. I prefer without, but they were outstanding, nevertheless.
At the end of the set, we had an elective. Augustin-san and I went for the two on the right – shrimp – still twitching. I have a video HERE.
After those, the heads, after a bath in hot oil.
Crunchy.
A tsukiji street at night. Lot’s of places to try.
Some people have wondered about my Mass set up during trips. Here is how I set up this time in my little hotel room. Frankly, the space is not completely set up yet, and you can see, of the vestments, only the little antependium, and you can’t see the antimensium. This is from the reversible travel vestments that were given by JS, J&MS, JD. I remember you when I use them. I didn’t bring the travel altar this time. Maybe next time.
The room had a view, however. Fuji is in the background.
And so, having concluded a great trip, and having met wonderful Catholics and eaten good food and seen spectacular exhibits and enjoyed the sumo basho, it was off to the airport.
Surely Hoksusai would have made the following, final view of Mount Fuji into one of his (more than) 36 Views.
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