Journalizing Japan: Sayonara.

• Our last day in Japan. Did I mention that I don't want to leave? I don't. Really. If I didn't love Winnipeg so much and had no real ties to it, I wouldn't come back. I'm sure Sarah would have something to say about that, too. Life is gonna seem a lot slower.
  
• We're in suite 902 of the Citadines in Shinjuku. This is one fine hotel, and I hope to return.
• I oughta have my head checked for coming back with so little manga. I have, however, found some kick-ass illustration books and magazines. And yeah, I've barely drawn anything while in this country, but I have many photos that will provide years of inspiration for drawing.
• I was planning on going to the Animate location in Ikebukuro to pick up one hentai title, but opted to hang out in Shinjuku and Shibuya. For some reason, I'd feel like a bit of a perv for having a filthy Japanese comic in my luggage. Can't put my finger on why.
• The next time I go to Tower Records Shibuya (if there is a next time), I'm just gonna give 'em all of my money. The bastards. I need the entire seventh floor (books and imported magazines) in my living room.
• At Tower, I picked up the new soso & Kutdown album, which is available through Japan's Hue Records. Gotta support my homies.
• I listened to healthy portion of the new Eminem album at Tsutaya in Shinjuku, just to form an opinion of it. I now have one: it's mediocre.
• Vinyl heads: if you didn't know already, the Osaka location of Tokyu Hands has a ton of second-hand vinyl. Some jazz, a lot of 70s rock, some classical. I suspect that the Tokyo location has the same, if not more, but I missed that section.
• Bed is where I should be.

Journalizing Japan: Sensory Overload

• Our time here so far in one word: overwhelming. But in a good way. There's so much...stuff. Lots of it.
• Just came back from a jaunt that included New Japan wrestling merch, a sumo tournament, and the amazing Shibuya crossing. We're crazy tired. Not as tired as yesterday, though. Yeah, we're taking a ton of JR trains and Tokyo Metro subways, but we're also hoofing it quite a bit, trying to find these obscure/not-so-obscure places to satisfy my esoteric jollies. Sarah's been saying that I'm getting my revenge for all of the estrogen-laced shopping excursions I've been dragged to.
• For the record, Brad Pitt is your gaijin-to-go-to for SoftBank, and Beyonce is representin' Crystal Geyser. Apparently, it's "her water". Uh...you'd have to watch the commercial. It's kinda boring.
• I just watched Lily Allen get asked somewhat personal questions in a 2001: A Space Odyssey-type environment by a disembodied voice. I wanna get that famous. I fucking love this country.
• If you're wondering why I've been stingy with the links, it's because I'm faster at placing those with a mouse, and I'm using a Eee PC. Me and the keypad don't get along very well.
• I spent 98 bucks on an issue of Arkitip (that Evan Hecox issue). I don't feel bad about that at all. Domo arigato, Tower Records Shibuya!
• I fully recommend a trip out here to anyone, but if you can't handle cuteness, well...I don't know what to tell you, jack. Japan has an endless supply of it. Characters and mascots are everywhere. If you can't deal with that, I suggest visiting a country where things are less kawaii.
• I'm surprised at the amount of black people I've seen out here. It's not like I was expecting to be the only black Canuck among the nihon-jin, I just didn't plan on seeing more than 20 in my first couple of days.
• For the record, there's no fade-to-black between commercials or programs out here, so what you get is a non-stop barrage of television. I find it strangely comforting.
• I've been drinking everything under the sun, mainly because I can, but also because it's hot, so there's a method to my usual madness.
• In Tokyo, vending machines are pretty much everywhere. It'll be interesting to see how Osaka compares.
• I've got some e-mail to write. Peace.