Meow.

Japanese boys have far exceeded my expectations as far as looks go.

DO THE TIME WARP

I stepped onto the El Shuttle today, that is, El Shuttle de TIMEWARP. Let's party like it's 1980 y'all. It was a pretty hectic day and it seemed like most people didn't know about this but my sister had called earlier to warn me about subway difficulties because there was a jumper at 8th and Market. Not something we really hear about around here but this is the second incident this year.

This is what Wikipedia says about suicide by train in Japan.
Trains are also used as a means to commit suicide. Its relative popularity is partly due to its practical ease, and to avoid causing a nuisance to one's family, though families are often charged or sued by the railway companies to compensate for the trouble caused by the accident... The costs to the surviving families by the railway companies' "delay fee" is often in the 100 million yen range.
Talk about two hits in one blow.

THIS PLACE IS HAUNTED

Tokyo - Akasaka - Weekly Mansion Akasaka: "There have been reports from many people that the weekly mansion building No.1 is haunted. Many have seen visions standing at the end of their beds, white mists coming in through the air vents, the room becoming suddenly very cold. There have also been reports of lights going out or coming on by themselves, television and radios turning themselves on and a feeling of someone stroking their heads while they sleep and even being pushed into the bed by some unknown force or being forced into a state of being so frozen they cannot move. One person even reported being dragged from her bed to the other side of the room and then back again, she had scratches on her back the next day!"

from Haunted Places in Japan
hahaha this is going to be so much better than I ever thought. Here are pictures from the hotel's website. And here are pictures from a former student. I've also seen pictures of rooms with balconies, but let's not get our hopes up, ay?

My New Home

Dear Lillian,

HOUSING ASSIGNMENT
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY JAPAN
Fall 2009

You have been assigned:

Akasaka Double*

Roommate: Jade ---*

*Please note that both this housing and roommate assignment are tentative and could change before arrival.

International Plaza Akasaka is a residential hotel located in a business district in Tokyo, and is an approximately 30-40 minute walk from the TUJ campus (or several stops by subway). Each two-person unit includes a bedroom, kitchenette and bathroom. Basic furnishings, linens, dishes and kitchen utensils are provided. Each unit also has a television, phone, and air conditioning. There is ethernet internet access for students bringing a laptop. As the floors tend to be cold and removal of shoes is mandatory, students are strongly encouraged to bring a comfortable pair of slippers. There is a coin laundry in the building. There is also an on-site manager.

The Akasaka International Plaza is centrally located. Nearby you will find a supermarket, convenience store, a 100 yen shop, office supply stores, and a Starbucks. Roppongi, the center of the entertainment district for foreigners, is a 10-15 minute walk from the Akasaka facility.

Sincerely,
International Programs

haha I asked for a single in Ontakesan and got neither. At least the commute won't be as long. I guess I will never know the experience of using a bathroom shared with tens of other girls, but that's okay.

This is Japan.

Hello! Since I killed my other blog, I am going to use this one to document my adventures in Tokyo, which will begin three weeks from today. I probably won't post much until then so please stop by later. In the meantime I will be practicing taking pictures with a steady hand so I can try something like this when I get back.

This is Japan! from Eric Testroete on Vimeo.