Want to know where the biggest fish/seafood market is in the world? Well, if you guessed Japan, don’t feel clever because obviously it’d be in Japan if I was blogging about it. Tsukiji Fish Market is the world’s biggest wholesale fish market, found in central Tokyo between Ginza and the Sumida River. Attracting tourists from all around the world, the outer market hosts a variety of restaurants and countless numbers of merchants selling fresh seafood commodities.

I had the chance to go there, luckily! With my friends, we readied ourselves for a day of eating, eating and more eating. Honestly, the seafood is so fresh here that you’d be foolish not to drop a few thousand yen on the vendors and restaurants at Tsukiji.

Immediately upon arriving, it’s easy to notice the international atmosphere of the place. Tourists from all around the world can be seen weaving in and out of the crowds, consulting with nearby sellers who speak in their charming, albeit broken English to persuade them to buy their wares. It feels a bit odd. Having lived here for several months now, I feel more like a local and more alienated from people who are obviously tourists. Then again, I looked like a tourist with my camera around my neck, snapping photos as I walked through the hordes of human traffic. All of us were herding into narrow alleyways where the countless stalls of fish awaited us.

Definitely have cash on you as most of the vendors will only take bills and coins. Besides, you can grab small snacks like buttered shellfish or even deep-fried whale (to the left) for a few hundred yen. In the picture to the left, you can see that there is a sign for ice-cream, as well. It’s whale ice-cream. 500 yen. Go ahead and try it if you find yourself here. Why not, right?

My friends and I decided on kaisen-don (seafood rice bowl) for our actual lunch. On the right, you can see it. It comes with fresh miso soup with seaweed which you can see, also! The sea urchin (orange heap in the middle) was extremely delicious, in particular. Man, all the ingredients just felt so… refreshing. If you come to Tsukiji, I seriously recommend having one of these if not, some special Tsukiji-exclusive sushi (if you google this, results will come up).

All in all, Tsukiji was an amazing culinary experience. Not only was the food great, but the atmosphere was alive and exciting, filled with an international yet strong local presence. You can tell that the people who work here have a passion for their trade and while Tsukiji may be an interesting crossroad of culture, the pride and unique flavour of Japan remains prominent and strong.

Man, I’ve just been geeking out while I’ve been in Japan, but hey! There’s nothing wrong in that nor was there nothing wrong with the food in Akihabara’s Eorzea Cafe. With a couple of friends, we had a delicious expedition into the Final Fantasy XIV cafe here and boy, it was something. Not only was the place beautiful, but the food was absolutely delicious.

On the left here is a Moogle honey toast: a visual testimony as to why this place is a must-go for Final Fantasy lovers. Not only does the food look amazing, but it tasted as equally as great, kupo. Honestly, I was half-expecting some “decent” food considering the novelty of the place. However, the reservation was worth it (it was a lucky steal too, since we basically reserved last minute and they fill up extremely fast). Destroying our dishes was an exercise in tough love. Although we looked like a bunch of tourists snapping pictures non-stop at our table, it was simply impossible to ignore the hard work and effort the chefs put into our food. Just look at it! All happy and cute—until my friend carved its face out (rest in peace).

For my main dish, I ordered a plate themed after the Leviathan. You can see a nori cutout of the Sea King on my plate as well as a coaster with its name on it. With every drink and dish you got, you were handed a little coaster as a gift. Also, when you first enter, you have to choose your “class,” too. I chose the Bard card. I’d make a joke about being spoony, but I’m far from being spoony, darn you.

However, the whole experience was something you’d never be able to find anywhere else. The level of detail put into making the cafe is astonishing. Stained glass windows, game inspired plates and goblets, and the constant pleasant hum of music from the Final Fantasy XIV soundtrack helped make this cafe its own world. When we stepped in, we took a small trip away from Japan and entered a whole new world, it felt like.

I mean, where else do you get a dish that sizzles and threatens to explode your entire face off? Not that it would have actually exploded. The lawsuit would’ve been too heated…

Anyways, I recommend that if you’re a Final Fantasy fan to check this place out. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience. Not only is the food worth it (now that I think of it, it was relatively cheap), but it’s a memory I couldn’t have made anywhere else. I’m probably going back again, if not to collect the rest of the coasters, heh heh heh. Until next time! 

As soon as I laid my eyes on her, I could feel my heart attempt to tear away from the confines of my sweaty, shaking body. I could feel the blood pump violently through my veins. My face was flushed, my hands clammy. Suddenly parched, I tried to find the words to explain this feeling. This condition. But, this love can’t be expressed through words. No. This was different. Confession time: I fell in love with Ikebukuro’s Pokemon Center.

Yeah, there’s nothing to hide. I’m one of the biggest Pokemon fans you’ll ever meet. Ever since I’ve had my hands on those Gameboy cartridges, I was hooked. Lured by a world filled with electric rodents and slumbering giants, I spent most of my childhood daydreaming of a reality where these creatures really existed. And to be quite honest, I still do. We always crave for something extraordinary. Something new, something different. After all, maybe that’s why we study abroad. In fact, when I was very, very young, I was bullied by several upperclassmen at a Korean church (we’re all friends now, oddly enough). To endure it, I imagined as if they were gym leaders, people I had to overcome and defeat in order to push onward. I have a lot to be grateful for because of Pokemon. Those games helped me through some of the hardest times of my childhood.

T hat’s why I can’t “grow out of it.” It’s a part of who I am and like the dozens of children, teens, mothers and fathers who filled the Pokemon Center building, I can’t seem to shake off this infatuation with Pokemon. For those who don’t know what a “Pokemon Center” is, it’s basically a shop dedicated towards selling Pokemon related merchandise. There are several locations (one in New York, even), but the one I went too had been opened recently in the Sunshine City mall complex inside Tokyo. You immediately notice the hordes of people with their gaming handhelds, playing with each other and receiving digital gifts by Wi-Fi. In particular, I loved seeing a family of four, all with their handhelds out, enjoying each other’s company. It’s a testament to Pokemon’s timelessness: people young and old can find comfort in playing with their favorite digital creatures and with each other.

I wasn’t the only “foreigner” there, of course. People from all walks of life were there. The Pokemon Center had an international atmosphere about it, really. Tourists sometimes come to Japan with the sole purpose of visiting one of these stores. For me, visiting this place was just icing on the cake.

Sometimes I’m in awe of the fact of how long Pokemon’s popularity has lasted and is still lasting. Japan has a penchant for cute things (especially mascots), and you can see this clearly by the array of Pikachu dolls lining the walls. Perhaps Pokemon continues to live on because of how much money it makes. Yea, I’m guilty. I splurged here, but hey! It’s the Christmas season! Treat yo’self. Christmas is a time of giving. A time of giving to yourself—right?

After purchasing a soundtrack, artbook (I collect these) and a Christmas-themed doll (don’t judge, man), I left the shop with my friends. We may be hitting our mid-twenties, but we still feel young. Not to say that Pokemon is solely for children. Why enjoy things in childhood if you’re going to end up shunning them afterwards? It’s just that this sensation was mixed with a longing for simpler days. Days where we weren’t so concerned about our futures. Days that only held pursuits for trivial things. Days that contained lifetimes within themselves and refused to loom ominously over tomorrow.

Exchange occasionally prods at you with questions about your future. It’s inevitable. However, in my opinion, if we revisit the pleasures of our childhood, we can find comfort. While mapping out my life’s course, I make sure to dip my toes in the pool of those old memories to refresh myself. We may be adults, but honestly, most of us don’t know what the heck we’re doing. Hopefully, studying here in Japan will offer me some sort of clarity.

And more Pokemon.

Dedicating this post to Jerry because he kicked my butt into writing this belated post.

To be honest, I’ve been busy!

Moving to another city and relying on yourself  (and thinning wallet) to survive and create a normal living situation is more difficult than you think. Especially if you’re trying to get over a bout of homesickness—which I did! And settling into my apartment really did the trick. It was my own space: a place I could call home.

By building a home away from home I was able to overcome homesickness; I didn’t just construct a house over it like a haunted mansion above an old Native American burial ground. I excavated it, demolished it, kicked it away and I did it by following three tips.

1. DO NOT SKYPE YOUR FAMILY EVERY DAY.
Do it once a week if you want to keep a consistent personal contact. Distance yourself. Mute their voices. Forget their faces… Well, maybe not to that degree, but by slowly separating yourself from them, you’ll do yourself a big favor. You’re on exchange after all! You’re here to challenge yourself, to learn how to live independently and to explore your own limits. Make it an experience filled with stumbling and learning.

2. SET UP A ROUTINE
Get into a rhythm of doing things. Create a routine even if it’s filled with mundane tasks such as washing the dishes or folding laundry. Those chores will seem like nothing if you accompany yourself with music. Lately, I’ve been listening to the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack, the company of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell helping the time just fly by. A routine allows you to settle in easier because it creates a sense of familiarity to your every day life. Having and feeling stability in your life is something you will appreciate two-fold when you’re finding your way in a foreign country.

3. STAY COMFORTABLE
Don’t be afraid to say no to things you don’t want to do. Sure, you should test your limits like I’ve said before. Sure, you should face fears and make adventurous forays. But, if there are anxieties or fears that you have, make sure you work to resolve them. Those worries don’t exclude financial scares, as well. Make sure you feel comfortable in every way possible. Not only does this combat homesickness by keeping your wits about you, it also lays a foundation for you to enjoy yourself. If you’re occupied with troubled thoughts, then how can you really embrace your experience experience?

That’s how I overcame homesickness. Hopefully, you will be able too as well if you go abroad!
I’m going to sign off now and eat. At 4:37AM.
Please don’t judge me.

A shot taken nearby my friend’s house in Sibayama.

I’m gonna miss Sibayama’s lush green fields. I’m gonna miss the frantic chirping of summer cicadas. I’m gonna miss seeing the occasional flattened corpse of a snake, the seductively pointed legs of the spiders that invaded my room and the occasional rumblings of an airplane reminding me how far away I am from home.

Tomorrow, I’ll be saying sayonara to the countryside and moving a bit closer to Tokyo to a place called Ichikawa. It’s the thought of “moving” again that’s bringing back that crippling homesickness. I’ve skyped my family a couple of times, but it’s not the same. It’s a bit heartbreaking too when your dog can’t recognize your voice or your face through a screen (or maybe he did and he’s just foolin’). But, school hasn’t started yet nor has this exchange experience, really. I heard from a friend of mine who just completed her Go Global program in Hong Kong that the beginning and the end were the times where she was most homesick. I just gotta get to the middle of that delicious exchange sandwich after struggling with those dry, crusted slabs of whole grain. Don’t get me wrong, I love the bread on sandwiches, but seriously, no one eats a sandwich for the bread.

With the idea of heading into an apartment, the worries start to pile on. Money. Food. Space. Money. Laundry. Commuting. Transit. Money. Money. Money. Japan’s an expensive place to live in, but there’s ways to cut corners, to make sure you pay the bills and to be cheap-cheap-cheap. I for one, plan on heading to a Supermarket late at night where they markdown everything in an attempt to sell the last of their stock. 19yen udon noodles. Cheap frozen vegetables. I’m already salivating over savings.

While school hasn’t started yet (and it won’t until September 22nd), I hope I get used to the hustle and bustle of things before it does. My friends back home are already getting ready. Seeing people leading Jumpstart and or posting pictures of their return to UBC’s campus have bitten me with the vengeful venom (perhaps from a run-over snake) of homesickness. Though, I guess, you always carry a little bit of home around with you where ever you go. I just need to build my foundation. Build my house.

Originally published on August 16th.

Thankfully, I arrived safely.
As soon as I got my baggage, I immediately took a shower in the basement floor of Narita’s Terminal 2 building for around $10.
Even though it was a bit pricey, there’s something priceless about the violent, skull-crushing pressure of a hot shower after being on a plane for ten hours.

For the time-being, I’m living with a friend in the countryside. The countryside might seem boring, but there are moments like the one captured on the left that you can’t really find anywhere else. They’re stray cats. Country stray cats. Superior to their city-counterparts.

But by bus and train, you can go far. To a Pachinko Parlor. Although, my friend and I didn’t try our luck with those notorious silver-balls. Instead, he tried the slots while I watched. While the slots might not be the most… appealing part of Japan, it was still a place I wanted to experience at least once.

When you enter, you’re bombarded with the sounds of coins smashing into metal trays, the coarse coughs of smoking grandpas, and the slapping of flashing buttons. When you leave, you’re lucky if you can hear your own voice. The blinking machines and the animated scenes that accompany them are colourful and extremely vibrant (probably because if you wanna make a profit, you gotta invest the time and if you invest the time, you’ll probably fall asleep if it weren’t for them and the dramatic voice acting).

By the way, my friend did make a profit. Turned $10 into around $110. We made it rain—quite literally since we were flushed with a sudden downpour afterwards.

SO, using that dirty money, we went to a conveyor belt sushi place for lunch.

You gotta lift the plate in order for the plastic cover to pop-up. Also, at the end of the video, you’ll see some orange plates passing by. Those are for orders you have specifically chosen using a touch-screen before you. On the touch-screen, advertisements flood the screen like screensavers and at times, animated cartoons replace the menu. These cartoons offer you a chance to win some capsule toys. That is, if you get the good endings.

The food was great, although I’m not sure if it was because I was extremely hungry. My favorite had to be the tuna with uncooked-yolk (seen first in the video above). Slid down the throat reaaaal nice. Thinking about it has made me hungry for more, but I’ll contain the beast for now.

Tomorrow’s apparently steak night, after all.