it's not life that matters but the journey...

I'm back again after a brief hiatus - more like a depression - that kept me from doing anything productive or creative.  On Sunday evening, I did manage to celebrate my birthday with a couple of my good Japanese friends, who brought me two little cakes, each with a nice Happy Birthday message.  Masahiko and I had also gone out to get Kentucky Fried Chicken and some other food and snacks and drinks, so we had a little feast here in our room.  Later, the two Naomis and I went to a coffee shop to talk some more.  We were going to do "karaoke," but one of them had to be up early for work (a job, what a concept!) so we will do that another time, hopefully. 

Anyway, the first thing I noticed when we walked into this coffee shop (which is a Coco's - an American restaurant chain - they also have Denny's here and several American convenience stores like 7-11 and Circle K) was the smell of cigarettes.  Did I mention that in Japan, almost everyone smokes?  It must be the same in other parts of Asia too, and I think even in Europe.  But here, if you go to a restaurant or bar, you will have to smell smoke.  Even though they have what they call "Non-Smoking" sections at these coffee shops, its just like the old days in the states when you could still smell the smoke coming from the other side.  And here, the non-smoking sections are much smaller, only a few tables, while the smokers are given the run of the place!  Nonetheless, we did have a good time - we ordered the "Drink Bar" which is unlimited hot or cold drinks (not alcohol), and we talked about American movies and celebrities, and I watched an extremely amorous young couple in the corner who seemed like they just couldn't get enough of each other.  Its kind of rare to see public displays of affection in this rigid country, but young people are more "Westernized" these days, and don't hide their feelings so much.

These days, we've been sampling the various brands of "sake" that can be found in virtually every kind of store in Japan.  (don't worry, though, I'm not drinking myself crazy, just "sampling").  You can even buy sake in those little individual cardboard boxes, like the little boxes of juice for kids, with the straw.  One of these has a picture of an angry, green demon, like from some old Japanese folk tale.  But actually, drinking sake is relaxing and doesn't make one look like an angry, green demon at all!

Luckily, my greatest vice, as always, is coffee and chocolate.  I need to go buy some chocolate today, since its been two days since my last chocolate fix.  It might help me to get through this period of discontentment and malaise.  I need something to distract me, and it might only come by getting out of this house and this town!