Back in Tokyo - the home stretch pt 2

Part 2...the end

19.05.2008

Harajuku - spent the day in Harajuku and i could have stayed the whole day just in Yoyogi park. It had a street lined with hopeful bands that played throughout the day (rock mostly) and people were just watching, clapping and buying CDs as they saw fit. The inside of the park was also filled with other groups of people that were practicing their dance routines, salsa routines, juggling, etc.. and other people were just having a picnic on a nice day in the park.
Went to the infamous bridge where goth/lolita-type people stand around and surprisingly, actually welcome people asking them to take pics with them. It's considered a compliment to to be asked to get a pic taken of (according to our friend Jay,see below). Took a pic with a couple girls giving free hugs (yep i got two) and two goth-type girls. There weren't very many cosplay-type teens on the bridge but something definitely worth seeing on a Sunday afternoon!
Met up with an old-school friend (went back to P.A.C.E. since grade 4), Jay, in Harajuku and couldn't have asked for better company to hang with and spend the day in Harajuku with! Met up with him in Yoyogi park, right by the Rockabilliy boys (another Harajuku sight/tradition). He's been teaching english for 8 non-consecutive years and is enjoying every minute of it there.
Jay gracously took us around Harajuku/Omotesando (high-end Yorkville-type place) /Takeshita-Dori (small, narrow street a la Kensington market). Spent a lot of time catching up (we went to P.A.C.E. together since Gr 4 (the real old school P.A.C.E.rs eh Jay? lol) until end of High School and havent seen each other since (10+ years..). Jay also explained a few Japan-isms that we had questions to and even managed to write 'Sandico' in proper Japanese text/symbols! Like we said Jay, if you're ever in UK anytime soon or back in T.O., give us a call!!
May Grand Sumo Tournament - went with a half-day tour to watch a sumo tourney - we were lucky in the sense that there was a real sumo tourney going on at the time and it was day 9 of 15. A very Japanese experience and the crowd really got into to it when the bigger wrestlers were up. As usual, they save the yokozunas and ozeki (2nd-highest ranking) wrestlers bouts' towards the end of the day but the rituals and pre-fight routines and the actual match were off the hook!! There are currently 2 yokozunas, each with their own personalities, and when one of them got pissed, Ashawaroyu (or something like that, the other yokozuna was Hakoucho or something), he starts slapping his belt and body angrily, and the crowd goes wild! Seriously, these 'fat' guys are like huge mounds of muscle and it is very surprising to see their quickness, agility and all the humour/hype surrounding each bout. Another definite must-see in Japan if you get the chance!
Went back to Shibuya 109, the place we've been told by a few locals, is THE place to go to see the latest trends and to see the hottest of the hott! Siick.
Common trend #1 - short short shorts with thigh-high black stockings and heels
Common trend #2 - country-style-quilt-pattern short dresses with cowboy boots
Common trend #3 - 80's is back! Fluorescent-pastel coloured jeans with shirts with big glittery writing
Common trned #4,5,6,etc... - you just have to go youself and see it. wow. Really the best place for fashion.