Val in Tokyo!

Saturday: Went to Yokohama Chinatown with Laurel and Val. We had conveyor belt dim sum. pretty cheap and it wasn't bad.

Shoronpou: soup filled dumplings.

Val felt at home here. :)

Lots of people around us were speaking Chinese and the streets were abnormally clean.

Of course we had to run into a parade. Laurel and I were talking about how we are always so lucky and get to see some cool shows. processions/parades/street performers...

Lion dance.

this was cool....some lady walking on stilts.

Nomihoudai

The original plan of the night was to go out and then sleep by futako-tamagawa river...but it downpoured....so we slept on the yamanote train for three hours. I got home at 11 the next morning.

After two hours of sleep, I headed over to Noriko's for dinner. Her auntie makes THE best gyoza! I was put to work and wrapped.

Chloe was born in Seattle. She came to Japan a couple years ago.

chips and salsa, gyoza, salads, pastas, steaks, nishime, AND sangria.


Monday: we had a cool guest lecture in class about Japanese textiles. This guy screenprinted by hand this huge clothe mural of Asakusa's sanja matsuri. The patterns are made from paper and are hand cut.

Long roll of cloth for kimono. The white patterns are made using a rice glue to act as a repellent when dipped in the dye. Then the cloth is rinsed in the river and the glue washes off, revealing the elaborate patterns. This roll of cloth was almost 3000 dollars.


Tues: Went to Shin-okubo to their Koreatown. Cheap and tasty korean food. All you can eat for 15 dollars.