Divine Gate- March 15th

NEW NEW ANIME!!! I started watching a new anime called Divine Gate about how the three different worlds including the living world, the heavens, and the underworld were combined by the divine gate. It is said that whoever reaches the gate can get their wish granted and gain the power to shape the world. Apparently this anime was adapted from a smart phone game. My favorite character so far is Aoto, a water-user, whose history is as ice cold as his light blue eyes. I'm only on the first season but things are heating up! I don't want to spoil anything but the anime includes myths, legends, fairytales, gods, and monsters that you might find interesting. So you should check it out! 

Rick and Morti- March 13th

My friend Shelby introduced me to the the quirky yet funny sci-fi animated comedy Rick and Morti. The show is about a kid named Morti and his genious Grandpa as they go on crazy adventures all over the universe! It's hilarious and I'm sorry I only got around to watching the first season now. I'm going to watch the 2nd season next! Hopefully after I get more used to the comedic style I'll be able to share my favorite episodes and some funny quips to get people hooked on the show haha.  

Julio and Lisa's Goodbye Party- March 12th

Tonight was a sad night and morning because it was the last night I'd be able to hang out with Julio who is going back to New York! Also, Lisa is moving to Kanagawa near Tokyo so she is quite a ways away. Per usual, we did the nomikai at Tap, then went to OXO, and finally got ramen because we were all drunk and hungry at thus Chinese restaurant I'd never been to. We even did after hours at   Julio's apartment and played Crazy 8's, BS, and Egyptian Rat Screw. Julio had a plethora of rules to add to Crazy 8's that I have never heard of in my life lol, but it was fun to play a different version. After I took a short nap we walked Julio to the train station through the freezing morning air. After that we got breakfast at a new 24 hour family mart in Toyohashi Station. Julio and I bonded as true brothers over this past year and I'm sad to see him leave because I want to have more adventures together. When I come back to America, I really hope we get the chance go hang out and also travel around America a little bit! This is not goodbye.   

Aunties Ann's- March 11th

There is an Auntie Ann's in Tokyo's Seibu Shinjuku Station. One of the workers tempted me with a sample of fhe new cream cheese prezel with strawberry icing, but I had to go classic with the cinamin sugar prezel sticks. Before I left America, I got hooked on the pepperoni pizza prezel and strawberry lemonade, but of coarse they didn't have it and I should have known because Japan just doesn't do cheese like America. Besides that, I did enjoy my cinamon sugar prezel stick with cream cheese dip. 

Frijoles- March 10th

After coming to Japanese, almost fresh out of college, I have been feigning for some Chipotle! Mind you, Indian food to Japanese is like Mexican food to American which means that finding good Mexican food restaurants in Japan is difficult to say the least. So after some internet searching I came across the Japanese equivalent of Chipotle called Frijoles that's locates in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo. I wish I had good news like the burrito hit the spot, the price was resonable, and I'm glad I went, but alas Frijoles didn't get the job done. First of all I paud twice the amount of money for a burrito that was half the size. Where I would normally pay around $10 for a burrito, chips, and guacomole, I paid $20. The steak they used was quite different then the one used im America and the quality wasn't as good as the beef I've at at other restaurants with similar pricing and the guacamole wasn't mixed well. I was surprised that they had sour cream and cheddar cheese, but the cheese blend wasn't all that great. Even though it was pretty good. It didn't meet my expectations or my needs. The servers did speak English though so that was a plus. I guess I'm going to have to wait until I go back to America to get my burrito fix. 

Sakura's and Ridiculous Weather- March 9th

It's not quite spring, but the sakuras, cherry blossoms, and plum trees are beginning to bloom throughout Japan. Unfortunately, I think it might be a bit premature because the weather lately had been really contradictory and unpredictable. I mean one day feels lile spring, the next winter, the next fall, and the next summer. So many people are getting sick from the sheer inconsistency of the weather patterns as of late. This is not only happening in Japan. Back home in Cincinnati, OH they went from a snowstorm one weekend to 60 degree weather the next weekend. Can you say RIDICULOUS!!! I'm afraid that the blossoms are going to die because the weather is tricking them into budding too soon. I want all the trees to bloom so that I can enjoy my first authentic Sakura festival here in Japan!  

Toyohashi to Tokyo Night Bus- March 8th

Finally found a website that has detailed information about the over night bus from Toyohashi to Tokyo which may include the day bus. Its a bit late considering I'm moving go Nagoya, but non-the-less it might come up on someones search while they are in Japan so they too can be informed. If that's you, then I'm glad you are able to use the information I post on my shotty little blog for reference and help. Here is a link to a website detailing the night bus and links to Japanese websites so you can buy tickets for the bus:  

http://www.kanto-bus.co.jp/english/guide/nw_honokuni.html