Date night 2009: Daikata Horumon

Since Anna Mae left for Matsusaka ahead of us on Christmas eve, the wife and I had a chance for a date. This year, instead of having Hiroko head all the way into Tokyo, we decided to stay closer to home.

On the few times that I have walked home from Kobayashi Station to our home, I've noticed that a Korean BBQ place had just been renovated and reopened. Since it was within drinking/walking/stumbling distance I suggested the place to the wife and she liked the idea. It was about a 10 minute walk from the house. Since it is not near a major traffic area there were no crowds and very quiet.

We ordered liver, rib, and other cuts of meat from various parts of the cow. With the Kim Chee and beer the food went down very nice and we both had a nice buzz for the stumble home.

The place is called Daikata Horumon (台方ホルモン) and can be found on a short walk south from Kobayashi Station on the Narita Line in Chiba Prefecture.

- Posted by Mark from his iPhone

The Many Gatchapins seen at our New Year Party

First, the freind of all children and amazing stunt.... thing, the real Gatchapin.



Watchapin the timid



The Happy Yatatchapin



and... The wild Godatchapin

Godatchapin could be seen running around the UDX Akiba building the night of 12/16, harassing the security guards there.

- Posted by Mark from his iPhone

Last Night's Not So Fun Trip Home

Due to a suicide by train last I had a real tough trip home last night. When there is a problem on one train line, the mass of humanity that was supposed to take that line spills into others, causing overcrowding on the platforms and the trains.

As the investigators cleaned up the mess, the crowds on the surrounding stations caused more injuries and delays as people tried to stuff themselves onto the trains. My trip began at Akihabara Station. There on the platform, I found shoulder to shoulder people waiting for a train that was not coming.

From there I walked to the next station, Asakusabashi where I would have changed trains for the trip out to Inzai. I come down to the gates where another crowd has gathered. The Asakusa Line was down also. There I was told that the only way home was to go back to Akihabara and then ride onto Ueno to bypass the Keisei line.

The trip from Ueno was not so bad until I had to change trains at Aoto. Another packed platform told me that I was in for a rough ride. Once on the train, we stopped at Takasago where another full platform was waiting to press onto the train. I had worked my way towards the center of the train away from the doors to avoid being crushed or spit back out. Even so, at every stop, another group would push onto the train making it feel like my shoulders were being folded into my chest. Plus, the old fart next to me had decided that the best way to combat the pressure was to wedge himself under the luggage rack and stiff arm his body rigid whenever the train braked at the station. I would think that the best way to avoid an injury in these situations would be to have everyone relax and just move with the train, but that's just me.

Finally, the entire crowd stayed on the train until Chiba New Town. This is where the train conductor decided to slam hard on the brakes, sending us all falling towards the front of the train.

All in all, it took me two and a half hours to get home. This is a new record that I prefer not to attempt to break again.


- Posted by Mark from his iPhone