2010.07.18 Umeda, Tsutenkaku, Taishu Engeki, Kushi katsu

Went down to the a massive underground food court underneath Umeda Station. Couldn't decide what to eat so I eventually settled on tonkatsu. Kind of odd that in Japan, tonkatsu (pork) is the main breaded meat while in Hawaii, any kind of katsu is generally chicken unless otherwise specified. Must be one of those minor differences in "Japanese food" (even though 'katsu' is simply the Japanese approximation of the English word 'cutlet'.

Maybe next time I will get a parfait with a slice of chocolate cake on top of the glass?



Or a pizza with a fried egg in the middle.


Down to Shinsekai to go up Tsutenkaku!


There was a guy there with a pet monkey (that seemed to be painted yellow!) shopping for sneakers or something.


Pepsi Man action figure and what looks like the follow up product to Mugen Puchi Puchi (Infinite Bubble Wrap), Mugen Peri Peri (Infinite Cardboard Box Opener).

Ant's eye view of Tsutenkaku.

"How embarrassing! We're wearing the same outfit!"

Billiken: created in Missouri; revered in Osaka.

Tsutenkaku Robo!

Taishu engeki: has elements of kabuki, but they actually have women playing women's parts, sometimes. And most of the male actors have hairstyles that make them look like hosts or members of a visual-kei band. Photos/video were prohibited during the play so all of these are from the dance numbers.




The play was about a man who went blind and was trying to reunite his son with his ex-wife who went off and married a rich man. At first, she rejects the boy, but later agrees to adopt him. The boy decides to stay with his father in the end.
More pictures from the closing song/dance numbers. More to come later!





One of the cool things of taishu engeki was that the performers went outside after the show so the audience could meet them and take pictures. So I did!

Had kushi katsu after the show and it's amazing! Basically it's just about anything put on a stick, then breaded and deep fried! No pictures since the owner was reputed to be a bit of a 'ganko Osaka oyaji' or something like that. Maybe later there'll be some pics from google image or something but until then check it out on your own and start planning to go and get some!

Went to a bar and had an interesting conversation with a random middle-aged woman. I think I learned a lot about the outlook that unmarried Japanese women have in modern Japan. Not to say one person's opinion represents a majority, but it was eye-opening to realize not everyone is feeling the societal pressure to settle down and have a family.