Useful advice from this church. Seems to echo something I remember from Jesus Christ Superstar musical. Eternal salvation, financial success, and the gratitude of strangers can all be achieved with this simple technique. That costs nothing. Wow!
Any excuse is a good reason to visit the male host club section of Kabukicho. Of course the real life hosts and want-to-be hosts are the main attractions. I like how those climbing the ranks are on the streets trying to hustle clients, host wanna-bes and anything with a heart beat.
The plentiful club ads are also something to marvel over. I love this ad for Trust and the possible false quote from Ernest Hemingway. What great advice: “The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.” I will overlook the lack of symmetry between “somebody” and “them.” But generally I find it hard to trust young men who are exchanging booze (and maybe more) for gobs of money.
Visiting a major shrine in Tokyo, I decided to stop and read some of the wishes written on wooden placards. I had thought they would all be about love and world peace. Of course, many are, but some are hilarious. Not sure if it’s bad to read others’ wishes, but they are public and I could not help myself.
Here are some of the best ones in English. Above: “I want a BMW 3 Series with real leather seats and a Bose sounds system and a GPS nav. system with a cute Japanese girl voice and seat warmers so my butt stays warm in the winter.”
“Simon has clear direction in his life and is determined to be + stay debt free with a house that owns . . . . He understands that it is all down to him– go for it tree!!!”
“Wish my daughter Linting (?) come to her senses + break away from Dario completely and never see him again. Wish good health, safe . . . Heal me + let me live a long healthy happy life.”
Below is what all the cards called ema in Japanese look like underneath the giant tree.
More wish cards after the jump.
Japanese love bakeries; unfortunately, most of their breads and pastries are fluffy, over-processed and unsatisfying. My in-laws gave me some bread from a nearby bakery in Nakano called Boulangerie Lebois, and now I am hooked. This is the best French bakery in Tokyo!
The exterior, viewed from Nakano Dori near the Kanda river, is not promising.
However, once you get near, the smell of butter and fresh baking are intoxicating. Inside, it is a treasure of whole wheat bread, butter cookies, quiches, ham sandwiches, bacon twists, creams, custards, and pastries. The only seating are the two benches outside.
The friendly chef and staff made me think immediately of the boys love anime and manga Antique Bakery. (Antique Bakery episode one, fansubbed into English; Antique Bakery cosplayed by Bangin; Antique Bakery, the Korean movie version trailer).
Here’s Boulangerie Le Bois’ website: http://www.boulangerielebois.com/
Tokyo Moe 