I have some pictures on my digi cam but not a whole lot. I do plan on going back to Osaka once more though. My enthusiasm in the following account will hopefully explain why!

So we took a night bus to get to Osaka. That was about 5,000 Yen. It was a nice ride out. They make the bus super dark so people can sleep. I slept for about three-four hours but I was pretty much awake after that.

Then, we got to Osaka. We stayed with a friend to rest up/shower and that was nice. Then I went to see Access (AXS) who are like a pop/techno-pop duo. It was fun. I saw them last year and they always have a lot of fun together.

Then we went to Namba! Apparently its like Osaka’s Shinjuku. (Shinjuku has a lot of restaurants and entertainment, etc.) We walked around this huge plaza area. It had like two Yoshimoto based theaters PLUS! The owarai geinin [Japanese comedian] school Hannya/others graduated from! I was so taken aback. Like, “Holy crap, stars are potentionally made here!“

So I’m walking around going, “Waaaaai~! Sugoi, sugoi!” [Yaaaaaay! Awesome, awesome!] Then I walk up to this big billboard type thing and see Kirin (another conbi) and I’m all, “Kirin! Kirin desu!” [Kirin! I'm Kirin!] (One of their gags.) And the Japanese girls by me smiled like, “LOL gaijin.” [LOL foreigner.] People always do that when I know things that are “odd for gaijin to know.” Its fine though! XD

For dinner we had okonomiyaki! [A savory pancake of sorts, filled with either meat or seafood. Usually made in front of the customer on a hot plate.] I was so excited – it was my first time eating it! I know it started in Osaka and so I’ve been really adamant. “I don’t want to eat okonomiyaki in Tokyo my first time!!! Its gotta be Osakan!”

I didn’t regret it either! We had this delicious seafood okonomiyaki. I was soooooooo amazed at how good it was! I almost cried, LOL. Fantastic food.

Then we stayed in a Super Hotel! Much better than the one I stayed in at Kameido. I was thankful for that. We woke up early ’cause we had to check out of Super Hotel. We put of things in a locker in Namba and then hung out there.

This is when I went into the Yoshimoto store there. Comedy/Manzai [Manzai is a specific form of comedy done in Japan. Read more HERE!] is very popular in Osaka and I wasn’t disappointed. There was comedy stuff and such up there. I walked in and was like, “AHHHHH SO MUCH STUFF O_O!” By the power of Rachel, I somehow managed to not spend over 2,000 Yen there.

I bought a Hannya face towel where its like cartoon versions of them. All the popular Yoshimoto conbi/pin geinin [Conbi: duo/trio/more. Pin Geinin: solo comedian] have these with their members draw in the same art form. I bought Hannya cookies. That’s it, cookies. It came with a trading card of Kawashima as his “Conbini Manager” [Convience Store Manager] character. I bought shop photos. Yeah I said it! Shop photos. Like, just like JE. Its hilarious. I also bought a Monthly Yoshimoto magazine with Hannya on it. That’s pretty much it.

Next time I go, I’ll get Shizuru/Fruit Punch/Jaru Jaru (I.E. Other conbis) stuff. This was Hannya Day, Deux. LOL

Then, we got cornered by these guys.

Guy: Do you like Japanese comedy?
Me: Hai… [Yes...]
Guy: Oh! Japanese OK!

Then they proceeded to tell us about this 500 Yen Manzai Show they were having. Rachel was like, “Its up to you!” and so I said Yes. LOL, so were taken to this yakiniku [grilled meat] restaurant that has a small theater inside.

We gotta take off our shoes and basically are sitting on zabuton [cushions - see all those Arashi comic haiku epis on GnA] They give us sheets of paper to rate the acts with and then the show starts.

Me and Rachel are the only gaijin. So we are IMMEDIATELY spoken to on stage.

Where are you from? (America…Las Vegas)
“Oh casinos! Millionaires!“

Apparently all Las Vegans are millionaires.

Anyhow, the show starts! The majority of the acts were Okay. Two or three were Good and one was just. Terrible.

I’ll talk about the terrible one! This guy based his act on being some huge Hanshin Tigers [Osaka's baseball team] fan. Not a big deal in itself. However! His jokes were so bad!

1) You totally had to be a Hansin fan to understand it.
2) Even from what I could gather it was just dull.

No one laughed! So I know it wasn’t just me being like “baka gaijin.” [Stupid foreigner] It wasn’t funny at all.

Otherwise though! The acts that were funny were *really funny* so that was a pleasure.

At the end, one of the guys in the last conbi (pretty cute guy by the way!!!) taps my arm and is like, “Arigatou!” [Thank you!] and I (in my unnatural state of calmness near a cute guy?!) go, “Iya, mecha omoroi!” [Nah, it was totally funny!] which is crazily Kansai-ben [Kansai area dialect. Think Southern accents] and probably hilarious coming from a foreigner. So they laugh in a “You’re hilariously awesome!” kind of way. Then I leave. XD

So then, we walked to the Mini Stop [convience store chain] that was parallel to the yakiniku joint to buy some lunch. (That was our original goal but we were distracted by amateur comedians. LOL) I got some spicy chicken thing. Then while we were sitting outside eating, the cute guy that was like “Arigatou!” walked by and kept looking our way until I looked up and he like waved all enthusiastically.

Me: O_o *waves back*

He was cute though. I’d date a Kansai boy.

So then we walked into some book store but I didn’t really see much. Also it was getting close to the time of the live event that we were actually still in Osaka for that day.

Daisuke Asakura (member of Access and DJ) was holding a club event in America-mura [America Town] and we had tickets to go.

So we headed to Amemura and see one of the girls who cosplayed as Daisuke the day before. She was really nice! Apparently her name is Takami-chan. Then another fan sat by us and was like, “Are you here for the club event?” and we were like, “Yep!” and we talked to her for a bit.

While I was waiting outside, on a big screen in front of us, Jaru Jaru came on!

Me: :O JARU JARU!!!!!! *runs to watch*

People were like, “WOAH she really likes owarai…“

Apparently, to add, its my new calling card. At first it was, “Hi this is Destini. She likes Arashi.” Now its, “Hi this is Destini. She likes owarai.“

I’d prefer if it was both because geinin don’t sing!! Please represent both my fandoms in your introductions!

Never the less, we waited a bit longer and then were finally admitted in. We opted to go to the 2nd floor (actually we had no choice – 1st floor was packed) and had a pretty decent view by the time the show started.

It was a lot of fun! It was my first time going to a club/club event/club anything so I didn’t know what to expect. He played a lot of his own songs and eventually did a Michael Jackson mix.

Funny story about this: Me and Rachel had prior decided that we wanted to dance. So, we moved out of our cramped area into a larger area where people were just kind of chilling out and started dancing there. As soon as Michael started played, me in Rachel (in unison) shout, “MICHAEL!!!!!“

Fans: *turns towards us* O_O
Destini: …sumimasen… [Excuse me.]

Then the dancing began! We were doing Thriller and Bad and it was epic!

Later that night when we returned, we found out from one of Rachel’s friends that we were mentioned on 2ch as “the omoshiroi [interesting/funny] foreigners on 2nd floor.” Epic win.

Land of Okonomiyaki.
Land of Manzai/Comedy.
And of course,
Land Of KJ8!

I’ve wanted to go to Osaka since I came last year, so I’m really amped. If you’re wondering why I’m here, I’m going to see a Access (AXS) concert. I also plan on finding a Yoshimoto shop to buy more (Hannya) goods. XD

I’ll probably take pictures and tweet about them (I’m shomygosh on Twitter if you don’t have me added already) or I’ll be posting them on Facebook (search Destini Johnson or my email, gorimuchuu@gmail.com).

I hope to have a lot of fun! I can’t wait to meet the people of Osaka!!

Also, I think amongst being a Journalist in Japan, I want to temporarily be a pin (solo) geinin. LOL

OKAY. Tonight was amazing.

Quick Intro: Hannya is an owarai (comedy) duo.

This is them on Arashi no Shukudai-kun. My fandoms collided. It was good.

There are two members! Kanada Satoshi (he makes up all the gags, is pretty noticably tall and skinny. Total boke.) and Kawashima Akiyoshi (he’s the tsukkomi but he’s stupid too. Usually he plays the serious one though. He’s small and chubby. LOL)

All you Buzzer Beaters, yeah. Hannya’s in it. They are the only reason I watch it.

DESTINI LOVES THEM. Destini paid money for the first time to see a comedy group. This is pretty shinjirarenai because she’d never do that back home. Hannya is worth is though. LOL

Short Version of the Day: I SAW HANNYA. KANADA INDIRECTLY MADE FUN OF ME IN THE AUDIENCE. I WAS SUPER CLOSE TO THE STAGE. THE SHOW WAS GREAT.

Long Version: So basically to explain from the entire start! I wanted to go to Live Stand 2009, but it was extremely expensive. So I found out about Yarisugi Fest! Much cheaper and Hannya would be there. cheap/Hannya = Win. So I wait until I get a bit of money & go to Family Mart to buy Hannya tickets.

BU BUU!

SOLD OUT, BOTH DAYS.

Destini’s Face: T___T

So then! I come back to the room, and tell Gwendy they were sold out. Well she took a look at Yahoo! Auctions & found some tickets for only 1050 Yen. That’s over half the price of the original tickets! So I buy now option them!

SHIKASHI!

Y! Auctions wont take Visa. “Visa jya nee shii!” basically. (Hannya reference. XD) So I’m like AHHHH DOSHIYOU. I tell my buddy Rachel & she tells me, “You should be able to send the money with a furikomi. That’s how I buy through Y! Auctions.” So she helps me out by e-mailing the seller, asking if furikomi is okay. He’s fine with it! I’m in the clear!

So today comes. Hannya Day! I wake up & check the mail and sure enough, my ticket is there! So, after resting a bit more, I head to Shinjuku. The event was being held in Okubo Park.

At some point on the train, I realize that I left my contact at home. Part of me was like, “I need to go back!” but…I didn’t. My vision up close wasn’t horrid, but far away was. So I was basically praying that I had a closeish seat.

So I get to Shinjuku and from there I am completely lost as to where to go. I go to the Yarisugi site on my phone and look at the map. Blackberry Opera browser makes images look like poo-poo so I could barely make out anything on it.

I did remember that it’s closer to Seibu Shinjuku line than JR Shinjuku line, so I head towards that. I’m mostly doing good (only had to ask one security guard) and eventually see some signs that say Okubo Park.

So as I’m walking I start to see signs that look like the one above. Eventually, I see a gaggle of people in line. Lemme start off with I was the ONLY gaijin there. Therefore, I got stared at like I was crazy. “Gaijin likes Hannya?! Is she in the right line?” etc etc.

So! I’m waiting & waiting. At one point I realize I’m in the line for people who wanted to buy tickets. So I moved to the I Already Have My Ticket Yay line and stood there for a bit. Then we were allowed in!

I saw all the stuff above and got someone to take a picture of me w/ them. :3 So then, I write a message of the huge white board the had out. It’s below.

アメリカからきました！はんにゃダイスキ！- デスティニー

THEN! I went to go buy goods. I didn’t have a lot so I got the cheapest thing. This clearfile! It’s crazy right?! Why they have huge laundry clips on their tongue is out of my reach.

Anyways, so I’m walking & walking! Then we get to go in! I didn’t realize they were calling numbers though & went in like 40 numbers late. Thank god I noticed when I did! So I asked a Staff, “Uhh can you help me find my seat?” and he was like, “Oh anywhere is fine.”

Destini’s Face/Reaction: O_O Maji de?

So I grab a seat in fourth row! This place is small too so I’m EXTREMELY CLOSE and can see (as much as my blindness will allow me!) pretty freakin’ well. I end up being seated by three really nice girls. They’ll show up again later in this report.

The show starts off with this epic mini-orchestra playing music on the side of the stage. No lie, I’m like, “What the.” It’s my first comedy show and all but…wut. I guess it was so calm our souls for the madness?

So anyways, after the music, HANNYA EMERGES. IN (SAY WHAT?) YUKATA. I HAVE A HUGE GUY-IN-YUKATA FECCHI. So I’m like, “….ARDSGFHMNBRNDTIKTUHAHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Then, here comes the part that will forever be engrained in my memories. Kanada asks the audience where people came from tonight.

Random Person: Osaka!
Kanada: Aa~ Osaka.
Destini: AMERICA! (Keep in mind I said this with a Japanese inflection so they’d understand me.)
Kanada: AMERICA?! AMERICA JYA NEE SHI!
Destini: MAJI DA YO, MAJI! AMERICA KARA KIMASHITA NYAAAAAAAA!!!!!

…

YOU LOSER! I REALLY AM FROM AMERICA! ;____; Anyways, I wont lie, I was just amped that he responded to me. LMAO The girls by me are cracking up because they can clearly see I am a foreigner but THIS GUY…tch. SEE IF I EVER ZUKUDAN TO YOU AGAIN. I so will. I think if I had said America like an American, they might’ve been like, “Woah. seriously?!” but since I was like, “Amerika~” it was like, “You sound Japanese! Lies!!!”

So the guests for the night are Shinagawa Shoji. I can’t remember who said it but when they come out, someone goes, “America kara kimashita.”

Destini: OI! MAJI DA YO, MAJI DESU TTE!
More laughing ensues. Stop making fun of my Maji-Americanness!!

They had this like one-on-one talk session with Hannya & Shinagawa Shoji. It’s funny because if you’ve even used a tradition Japanese shower, you sit down in it on these plastic stools. Well they brought out full-sized chairs that look like them. Kanada was like, “These look like bathroom chairs…O_o.”

Then! During the talk, some adorable kid in the audience goes, “Hannya!” it was TOO CUTE! Everyone on stage stood up like, “Huh? Who’s kid is that?!” It was hilarious. Later the same kid was like, “Ganbare~” and they were like, “Hai, ganbare!” LMAO I loved it.

So then, the skit starts. I thought they were going to end up doing a lot of different skits (some of the favorites, a new one maybe) but no! It was one long skit. Like a play almost.

Anyhow, Hannya’s theme was like “The World’s Weakest Wrestler.”

The story was that this wrestler, The Hammer was returning from hiatus after ten years. There are like pictures of this dude on the stage. Huge guy! Kanada is a staff member for the arena and a huge Hammer fan.

He’s bringing promotional materials into the Hammer’s locker room and is generally trying to make things look presentable. His manner just turns out looking really goofy though, ’cause he keeps refixing things that don’t need to be fixed and you know. Silliness.

Hammer’s manager comes in and Kanada’s all, “NYAA I LOVE THE HAMMER! LOOK WHAT I CAN DO~” and proceeds to imitate the Hammer.

HAMMER PUNCH!
HAMMER KICK! (which was just him spinning 360 degrees with his leg sticking straight out.)
Then the HAMMER YELL, which sounded like, “HA-HA-HAMMA!!!!!!”

He’s being a fanboy. After some more shenanigans, the manager notices that Hammer is running late. So he checks and I’m pretty sure the joke was that he sent Hammer to the wrong venue. So they’re freaking out because apparently, this is some long/awaited return. The manager then tells Kanada, “You can pretend to be Hammer!”

So, because some of you probably don’t know how skinny Kanada is, allow me to show you.

He’s downright gangly!

He had to portray a wrestler, with a girth similar to this image. So as you can imagine, when Kanada emerged in basically a black tank top and biker shorts, it was hilarious. People were like, “HOSOI!” (Skinny!!) ’cause…he is.

To add, the Hammer is a luchador. I don’t know why! He has the mask and everything though. So the mask fits on Kanada like a helmet. He looks retarted.

Then, random people keep coming in. First a janitor who’s all, “OMG THE HAMMER I LOVE HIM.” Then later this guy starts stealing stuff until the Kanada!Hammer returns and scares him. They were both scared, actually.

Then some old fellow wrestler with freakish shoulders shows up. I think he can like dislocate them. It’s creepy as hell. I was thinking, “YARISUGI!!!!” (You’re doing too much!!)

Then a reporter and his photographer. Then I think it’s some old childhood fan. All these people basically keep getting close to finding out this guy either isn’t the Hammer or are just like, “How’d you get so skinny?!” It’s a pretty funny show all together.

I really liked what I could understand. Granted, a lot went over my head but part of the reason I like Hannya is because I don’t need to fully understand them to enjoy them. They do a lot of physical comedy which has no language barrier so I’m pretty sure that’s why I’m such a big fan.

I prefer their skits than regular manzai ’cause manzai kind of requires you to really understand Japanese. It’s like stand up in America. If you can’t understand English, it’s kinda boring.

So the show concludes! They do an introduction of all the participants and bow and such. It’s over. Aww. Afterwards, the girls I’m sitting are like,

You’re really from America? (Yes.)
Did you come to Japan just to see Hannya? (Not exactly?!)
Where in America are you from? (Las Vegas.)
How do you know Japanese? (I studied in school.)
Who do you like in Hannya? (Kanada)
What other comedians do you like? (Shizuru, Bananaman, FUJIWARA, Morisanchuu, Harisenbon, Furupon, etc etc)
You have Owarai Popolo?! (Yes O_O)

And others! Then we all leave & they ask me to take a picture with them (I don’t know why!) In the first one, I posed normally and then second I did the Zukudan pose.

Then the girl on my right ended up having to go on the exact same two trains as me so we rode home together! I used Japanese the best I could. I got her email~ She’s very nice.

…that’s about it. When Kawashima updates his blog, I’m gonna comment & tell him I’m actually from America & that he should tsukkomi Kanada. then hug him! and yeah. T_T

はんにゃ最高！！！

Ballots, yes yes. It all sucked. Mine didn’t hit for my friends. I also have mutually decided with my pal Dellie to not ballot for Nagoya. Seeing that I would only have five months (read as: not a long time) to save up for another trip here is like…no. Can’t handle it. I’d rather have an entire year to save and go to their 2010 tour.

Hannya! I’ve been raving about them. I’m going to see them at Yarisugi Fest on Aug. 3rd. I’m really excited. It doesn’t equal seeing Arashi but they are pretty much my owarai equivalent to Arashi.

Uh, this fall semester I have decided to not go to school and get a job. I’ll return as a full time student in spring. This is all up in the air though – gotta see what my mom decides.

I had gotten paid so I randomly trekked through Shibuya. First I tried to find the JFC Building. Uh, no. Then I went over to head to Shibuya 109 and saw that Moai Head up there. I didn’t even know there was one! I walked through all of 109 and keep RANDOMLY GETTING HAIR COMPLIMENTS. ._. I’ll buy your crap, minus the comments. Anyways, then I went into Cocolulu and…yeah. Fell in love. Gonna buy a set from them before I leave. I wasn’t into Cocolulu before but my tastes have changes I guess. Then I went outside and saw the EXILE truck! In the video up there it’s like “EXILE!…..MatsuJun?!” XD I WAS LIKE AHHHHHH. Then I saw Arashi playing on the big titantron thing in Shibuya! (You can probably hear me lightly singing in the BG. Ignore it. LOL)

Fireworks in Asakusa!

We went to go see fireworks! It was fun but I was pretty tired that day. Also my feet really hurt and yeah. It was nice to see fireworks though.

Went to Chinatown. I was going to go see Sakurina before or after this but I didn’t because I didn’t feel like it. So anyways, it was a lot of fun~ EVERYONE IN YOKOHAMA IS SO NICE. Like, I’m pretty much decided (I was decided last year but whatever) that I don’t want to live in Tokyo, but outside Tokyo.

Accidental Johnny’s Roke GET

We went to Bairan. I think that’s the name. Kanjan8 (like Ryo and Hina?) went here on Canjani. .___. We weren’t even TRYING to go here on purpose. We looking at the menu and were like, “They look cheap and good!” That was hella lucky. Anyhow, the food was GREAT! Best Chinese food I’ve ever had. Me, Emily, and Gwendy have ths silly goal not really of going around Japan and ordering gyouza, but only leaving one no matter where! It’ll be our signature. Like, “That’s right, the One-Gyouza Girl Gang was here!” o_O We’re weird…

Am I seriously fangirling over a comedian?!

You’re right! HEY, at least I didn’t buy the UCHIWA…basically comedians are like Johnny’s. Uchiwas, cell straps, stickers, etc. It’s amazing. AND MY DECO GOT ALL FUG!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!! ;_;

Destini’s Crazy Owarai Obsession
So these are like two of my favorite comedian groups – Hannya (on the PARCO Grand Bazaar ads) and Audrey (from the BAPE Fall Collection catalogue). I love comedy *_* Lately I’ve been on a Hannya kick bigger than a pregnant belly. Like, they are funny even if you aren’t fluent. However! Some kind soul subtitled one of their skits. Prease to be enjoy Hannya.
Conbini Robbery Skit (Subtitled) | Original Zukudanzunbungun Game Skit | My “o-susume” (recommended) Skit!

Mishiranu Joe Jackson Joukyaku
So we went to the theater as previously mentioned. Here are the new pictures I took. That first picture is the huge Nino that scared the living crap out of me. The others are smaller versons. The last is just the podium thing. To explain the Joe Jackson thing up there, we couldn’t remember the Joukyaku part so we called it Mishiranu Joe Jackson.

Destini: O_o
Plus he was like, “NANDE ANATA NO NIHONGO UMAI NO?” [Why is your Japanese so good?!]
Destini: Daigaku de benkyou shiteimasu…Haa?! Umakunai yo! [I study at college...wha?! It's not good!]

Keikarou, As Of Now!
Last year, there was a really well-drawn portrait of Aiba out. Now it’s this! It’s a big Aiba image created from a bunch of tiny Aiba images! Isn’t that neat? Plus the Dream A Live caterpillar Aiba created, re-created by a fan. CUTE!

My Ultraman-related Dreams
Last year, I missed the huge Ultraman festival deal they had. NOT AGAIN!!!! I love Ultraman. ;___; So I posed with him. We went into Tokyu Hands yesterday and they have SCIENCE PATROL GADGETS! I WANT THEM ALL!!!!

Today was fun! We woke up and headed to Shibuya to try and get me a phone (again). They didn’t have it. I was pissed. We’ll leave it at that.

Afterwards though, we met up with Emily’s schoolfriends. They were nice, Korean girls! One was a Sho fan~ <3 And shes like Big Bang, too!

Guess who her fave was? TOP! My man~ <3 So I think she has a thing for rappers, like me. LOL XD

So then we head to Harajuku and meet up with Shoulmate Gwendy and head through Takeshita Doori. Once we get to the end, we go back to the KDDI building, because Emily hasn’t seen it yet. Her schoolfriends decide to go to Starbucks so we they them we’ll meet up afterwards.

Here are some shots of the huge banner in the front. Funny story before I show them: When I came to the KDDI building the first time, a bird had taken a dump on Sho’s chin. T__T It was kinda sad! They cleaned it though & I was happy. So onto the pictures. XD

Then we went inside~ Here are more pictures from that.

Really, it’s the same after a while. ^^;; We looked at the phones, same deal. Emily had never seen Oguri’s au ad when he’s all crazy and changey! She was like, “O_o” at the poster of it. Haha, they said, “He even looks weird normal!”

Then we left and headed to Jonathans in Harajuku. It’s like Dennys – Japanese style.

Haha, when we went grocery shopping that one day, we bought pens with built-in hanko stamps of (most of) Arashi member’s last names. So I had my Ninomiya one with me and stamped it after Emily’s name on the reservation list. The guy was like, “O__O Is this you??” It was a good laugh.

While we were there, Gwendy brought some shop photos she needed to get rid of. O____O I was so happy! Because of her I have a ton more! How sweet, yeah. I’m blessed with the greatest friends. =\

Oh and I ran my basic Korean phrases by Emily’s friends! They understood me so I guess I did okay. LMAO

We finally got in and I had a Tomato, Eggplant, and Parmasean Hamburg. I’m a moron & didn’t really gather that hamburg is salisbery steak and I wasn’t in the mood for it. Good thing I ordered that side of karage! It was DELICIOUS~!

Then we left there and stood on the outside roof area, looking down at the busy street. Here’s a shot of what was directly in front of us.

LOL JAPAN. I love how instead of just saying, “You’re small!,” they call it “Smart Boy.” Amazing.

We were rating boys while we were up there too. It was pretty fun. While we were bullcrapping around, we were trying to get in contact with Emily’s schoolfriends but couldn’t. So we decided to just head to Johnny’s Shop! I got a few more pictures of Sho from Everything, one of some epic Ohmiya from Crazy Moon, and a really cute Jun one from Everything!

We leave there and get ready to try and find her friends again so we can go do purikura and go to the unofficial Johnny shops in Takeshita Doori. Well we finally get in contact with them and find out they are in line at Forever 21. Earlier we walked by Forever 21 and you’d think SMAP was in there playing an impromptu concert! HUGE LINE! Apparently, it’s the first F21 in Japan so people are lining up to get things from there. So Emily tells them to keep shopping and that we’ll meet up later.

So we go down Takeshita Doori to the purikura shop and it was fun! I can’t take any good shots of it though but lets just say that purikura like photoshops your picture for you or something! You can never not look nice! LMAO

After that, we peeked through the Johnny’s shops and I came up on that ticket shop. The night before, me and Emily pretty much mutually decided that we had kinda already got over not seeing Nino’s butai. And I’m glad we did. I misread the prices.

135,00 Yen.

THAT IS INSANE.

So we got out of there quickly! Then we went into the Daiso and bought jewel sheets and such to deco/Age-fy our stuff! I deco’d my DS Lite, Blackberry Curve, and iPod Video.

I like it! I wanna actually lay down each stone individually one day but this will do for now. That was pretty much the jist of the last two days. We’ll be doing laundry/who knows what tomorrow! Will update. I hope these updates have been okay so far? Not that I have a real goal/format. Haha, my goal is to do this for my ENTIRE trip. So far so good!

I also think I’m going to start running at night time!

“We don’t have any right now.”
“…haa?”

So I asked her to write a note to take to the other Softbank Store because I’m still getting in the groove of speaking Japanese ALL THE TIME again. I.E. I’m rusty! So she does.

We take it to the other Softbank store. Read: the WRONG Softbank store. Who knew Shibuya had like 4,000 RANDOM SOFTBANK STORES. The guy in the wrong Softbank store leads us to the correct one mentioned in the note. So, we go there.

“We don’t have any.”
“But they called earlier and you said you did.”

She goes to check.

“We only have one.”

So…Emily takes it! Which, you know, WHATEVER. We’re friends. I’d be lying though if I said I wasn’t like, “AWWW MAN!!!”

It’s fine though, we got her a phone so at least if we’re together and are in danger, then yeah. Then we head towards her school. I look at the address and it’s not exactly in Shinjuku, it’s in Okubo. So we get off at Okubo Stn.

And then, nothing.

I don’t know that area at all! However while walking I see…

BIG BAAAAAANG everywhere!

And Tohoshinki but um. W’ever.

Okubo is apparently K-Town! Interesting discovery.

But I digress.

We’re walking aimlessly to find UNITAS Language School. I ask the people in the conbini (convience store. Like 7-11/AM-PM’s).

Nothing. They lead me to a koban (police box).

I ask him. He tells us, “MAAAASUGU DOWN THS STREET AND TURN ON THE MAIN ROAD AND THEN KEEP WALKING AND YEAH HAVE FUN.”

…

So we “have fun.” I have fun while in my adorable Chucks.

CHUCKS THAT CAUSE BLISTERS.

By the time we find it, I’m limping. To make matters worse, earlier, I (thought I) lost my SUICA (train pass). So Emily heads of to school and Ol’ Gimpychan (Read: Me) wanders into the Book Off across the street from her school. Naturally and aim straight for the Arashi  sector.

Couldn’t find it. o_o

In my discouragement, I run into Koakuma Ageha magazines. 150Yen! So I buy the 2 listed at 150Yen, as well as the most recent issue they had.

So then I decide to get on a bus and ride into nowhere! My thought process was, “I’m bored and can’t walk so I’ll get on the bus and ride back and forth a few times!” Not how it happened.

What did happen was, I rode the first bus and got told it was the last stop, so I got off. Then, crossed the street and got on the bus that I ASSUMED was going the opposite way. Oh, it went opposite alright.

OPPOSITE TO MY WISHES!

I don’t even know where I was headed! So, I decide to get off at the next stop with a familiar sounding name – Iidabashi.

So I’m in Iidabashi – aimless. I decide to buy a coffee and the actual most recent Ageha (Koakuma Ageha Count: 4) and sit it out inside their little cafe area.

I’m pretty sure I’m being stared at (Look at her hair. O_O kind of stare.) To add, I’m looking at my face and the mirror and realize that while I decided to “go natural” today, I left on a huge area of caked on foundation on my forehead/eyebrow area!

So I’m like, “NYAAAAA!!!” and run to buy some Biore makeup cleansing wipes, and run outside and into a phone book to furiously clean it off my face.

At this point, I’m in pain, tired, have to pee, and have no idea how to get back to where I was. So I get on a train in Iidabashi, and try to head back to the Okubo area. I’m back there but leave the wrong exit so I see nothing familiar! Not that I was “familiar” with the area anyhow!

All I see s Korean and keep thinking, “I’m in Japan darnit! WHAT IS THIS MADNESS?!” So I’m walking, and walking and run into a Don Quixote (it’s a huge Japanese like megastore. Kinda like Walmart but less corporate). I’m instantly like, “Yes! Maybe I can find some cheap shoes!”

Know what Don Quixote said?

“No you can’t!”

Okay, 3,900 Yen really isn’t expensive, IF YOU HAVE IT.

I didn’t have it! So alas, I was stuck in my painful shoes. Good news was they had a bathroom. So although shoeless, my bladder is intact.

So I leave Don Quixote and I walk some more.

And some more and…what do you know. I walked ALL THE WAY TO KABUKICHOU.

I MEAN WHO DOES THAT?!

WHO?

I’m just feeling insane at this point! So I ask a cab to get me back to Shin-Okubo Stn. Nice guy, by the way. I keep trying to find a internet cafe so I can e-mail Emily and tell her to just meet me in front of Shin Okubo. Well, I finally found one and it’s the WORST MANGAKISA EVER.

No it’s not dirty. It’s not..what, expensive.

IT’S FULL OF NAKED CHICKS!

To make matters worse, they’re ON THE WALLS WITH THEIR NINNES HANGING OUT.

Think that’s bad?

THEY SELL LUBE AT THE FRONT COUNTER.

So I’m just like, “AHHHHHH FML I JUST WANT TO SEND AN EMAIL!”

I paid 1,000 Yen for a thirty minute session what I wouldn’t have even needed if Shibuya Softbank Store #3,999 would’ve had my phone! However, I sent the email and caught up with some others and went on my way. I didn’t see Emily waiting so I decided to walk up and see if I’d run into her. And I did.

She told me that Salwa called and wanted to hang out ’cause it’s her last night in Tokyo. Even though I was in pain, I’m no jerk. I can go home and change~ I wanted to hang out with her.

So we went home together and go to Ikebukuro Stn. We got to Ikebukuro Stn. TOGETHER.

I look around, there’s no Emily.

THE CROWD OF PEOPLE SEPERATED US IN 5 SECONDS.

Completely lost, vanished, no sign of her.

So I’m freaking out big time. I can’t find her, I don’t have a phone to call her, AND I’m like on Level 3 Japanese here. NOT VERY HELPFUL.

I looked and looked and then I went through the Seibu line gates and asked the Station Office to help me. So they do, but they can’t call it out in English.

Uhh.

So an announcement of, “Emily Chanmanivong, Destini Johnson’s looking for you.”

Is made.

In Japanese.

USELESS.

So I’m waiting and waiting and nothing. I get ready to tell the guy, “Don’t worry about it, I’m just going to head home,” when my Blackberry beeps.

It’s Emily.
She’s home safe.

O_O

And I don’t get mad, I’m like relieved! But I’m tired and need to change my shoes urgently. So I change and we head to Mejiro to meet up with Salwa, Gwendy, and two of Salwa’s Japanese guy friends.

It was a nice izakaya too~ Everyone laughed and we finally got some Arashi lovin’ done.

Then Salwa was like, “Why don’t you guys come to the hotel room and we’ll watch Arashi no Shukudai-kun together!”

So we did and it was a lot of fun~ Then we just sat around laughing and chatting. The next thing I know, it’s morning and we got ready to leave and said our goodbyes to Salwa. We headed home and Emily got ready for school while I messed around on my PC for the day. When she came home, we went grocery shopping.

Wednesday, I met up with my friend from Aibaka and I met her at NYCC, Maria. We met in Shibuya and ate curry. Then we went to Harajuku to the Johnny’s Shop. I bought some shop photos of Sho and one of Ohmiya for Emily and of Aiba for Doomchan. Then we went to the KDDI Building!

They have a HUGE theater setup where you can watch all of Arashi’s au CM’s! It was so fun.

Then we walked upstairs where you can find a HUGE au phone model….SIGNED BY ARASHI! It’s so cool! I’ll edit this with what each member said because I can’t remember at the moment.

Then then! We were looking at Shun Oguri‘s au ad (where he kept changing faces and stuff) and were all, “He’s a pretty woman~” and we’re pretty much like “Blah blah Arashi, blah blah Shun, blah blah yay!” and the lady asks us, “Do you like Arashi?” (in Japanese)

Us: YEAH!

And we talk to her about Arashi for a bit and find out she likes Jun! LOL So after that, we leave and I head home.

Today, all I did was hang out online. I got a bit restless, so I left. Besides, it’s not good to stay inside all day. In you know. A foreign country you’ve never seen all of. So I head out and look around Higashi-Nagasaki a bit.

I’m walking.

And some o-mise (store) boy, who’s SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING CUSTOMERS AND SUCH.

Says, “Chou kirei! Ii na…” (You’re super pretty! How nice…) TO ME.

NANDEYANEN OMAE. (What’s up with that, man?!)

WHAT IS THIS MADNESS?

I AM NOT CHOU KIREI.

>.> Janky O-mise Guy.

DO YOUR JOB.

So I’m like, *laughs* *walks away* *blegh face*

Then I find this neat drug store ’cause I felt my head starting to hurt. Oddly enough, once I walked in and started looking, my head stopped hurting. That also might be because aspirin was crazy expensive.

I did find some face wash though and caramel macchiato mix. Trip not wasted!

Then I head home and bs’d on the computer a bit more until Emily came home. We cooked dinner and then watched Himitsu no Arashichan!

No spoilers from me.

YAAAAY SHO!!!!!

>.>

Tomorrow, we’re going to 1) Try and get me a phone and 2) Try anf buy those Strangers on a Train butai tickets I saw!!!

So timeline of events, yeah?

I arrived at Narita on July 4th, around 4PM. We took the N’Ex train from the airport to Tokyo Station and then headed to Kameido to stay at the Super Hotel there. It was nice! Tiny, but nice. Didn’t even eat that night because we were utterly exhausted.

Woke up on the 5th and headed to Shinjuku. In Shinjuku, we went to Sakura House’s building to check into our guest house. It was fun and lots of paperwork but we got it done! I had never used my card in Japan (it’s a prepaid VISA) and so I was surprised that it worked but so relieved! Then, we, once again, had to drag our luggage down to Higashi-Nagasaki. That didn’t go without injury, Emily-chan ripped both her toenails up some. They bled and I felt so bad but she’s such a trooper.

We finally decided while in Yoyogi I believe to take a taxi because it was just too much. We got to Sakura House and dragged our luggage (and ourselves) in and unpacked and cooled down.

Then we headed to Shibuya to get prepaid phones, but they were sold out for the day! So we’ll be going back this morning. Here’s hoping we wont have any issues. They did say we can get a prepaid phone with *just* our passports though for 7,000 Yen! How cool, plus we can keep the phones forever.

Then! We ate at a nice place in Shibuya. I had tsukemen~ I love tsukemen.

Then! We went to Shibuya 109 because they are have a huge 5-Day Bargain Sale! I like, loved it. It was MADNESS, gyaru everywhere! Whenever I went into a b-kei shop, I got looked at like, “O___O ACTUAL AFRICAN AMERICAN!”

Then I went into Baby Shoop and they spoke to me after they realized I knew some Japanese and it was AWESOME~ They liked my hair…they said, “It costs us like $500 to get that done here!” My mom keeps telling me I need to learn how to do extensions. I can make serious bank out here! It’s on my to-do list for sure.

Anyhow, I walked out Baby Shoop with new stuff. Only $39 bucks though and I got a free gift! Best timing too because I was just complained to Emily about my makeup bag and here they give me a new one~ <3

Then we went to Harajuku! I know, it’s like “Don’t have all your fun at once!” but we were hyped still. I showed Emily where the Johnny’s shop was. It was a lot easier than the first time that I wanted to go and like, walked ALL THE WAY TO OMOTESANDO HILLS because I didn’t get where to turn. That was a big waste of time. So, this time I found it immediately!

Then we walked down Takeshita Doori. Everything was closing but we found a purikura shop that was open. They had TONS of idol stuff around! We had like fangirl aneursyms! It was madness. We got cellphone charms engraved (mine say 櫻井くんのFAN) and and used the capsule machine and got charms with their pictures in them! >.<!!

Then, we looked around a bit more but headed home and…!! Didn’t get lost! It was awesome. Thn, we got the internet working so that’s how I’m even able to type this~ Then!!! We watched MUSIC LOVERS live! It was like icing on the cake of our long long day.

More as it happens~ I’ll try and take lots of pictures too. ^^

We’ve purchased plane tickets.

Have accomadations.

Those are the two most important things. I got my passport last year in a heated battle with the U.S. Government who were being all kinds of slow. Nevertheless: passtport aquired! So now…just gotta wait. It’s kinda annoying.