scoey53

One of the best places I have found for Japanese Anime drama and movies. The staff have a great deal of knowledge about Japan’s film industry and have suggested some of the best films for purchase. Classics like The Seven Samurai along with newer and more exciting films are available. They have a huge Anime section with package deals for full seasons. They also carry Japanese and Korean dramas with english subs. This is my favorite place to go for purchasing asian films, anime and drama series.

Kushi Tsuru is one of my favorte restaurants in Japantown. Its not that they make a a killer platter of sushi and sashimi… all the people who work there are fantastic. I having been taking classes learning Japanese and go there after class, and the young ladies who work there are always helping me with my homework!! Two of them became my language partners for a little while. I got to help them with their English while they helped me with my Japanese.

Still it all comes back to food there at Kushi Tsuru. Its really quite good. I have been to most of the other places in “Nihon Machi”-Japantown and I feel so welcomed there. One of my favorite dishes is “Otoko Yama”. They also have great Bento box dishes, Udon,
Yakatori, Green tea and Mango Ice cream, and do serve tea (Ocha!)Japanese Beer (Biru!)and Sake.(Both hot and cold.) Kushi Tsuru is located in the center section of Japantown (Next to the Peace Plaza Tower)just past Benihana and Mifune in the Mall.
When you go there be sure to say “Konnichi wa!!”
The food there is “Totemo Oishiiikata desu!”
Domo Arigato Gozaimashita!
Tanoshin de kudsai!!! Jaa Ne!!

There was at time I thought people were crazy to live in the Sunset district. It was always Foggy, so in the Summer it was grey, in the Winter it was grey, and seemed like all year long it was grey. But..Having lived here now for over five years I have come to love the fog in the Summer time, because I know when the East bay has temperatures over 100 its a nice cool 65 here. In the winter, it gets a bit colder, but hey—better than snow!! My Uncles bought a house out here, and though its sold now, I still enjoy living out here. All of the older generation of my family are gone now…but I still have great memories of them being out here in the Sunset. It sure beats the mice and coachroach infestion called the Haight Ashburry where I lived for ten years. Though it was cool place to visit, I like the quiet better out here in the aves.
And…they even allow pets out here. Not only that there are a number of great Asian restaurants popping up out here…and I love eating Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean dishes. Sure glad I moved out here, even with the fog.

Kushi Tsuru is one of my favorte restaurants in Japantown. Its not that they make a a killer platter of sushi and sashimi… all the people who work there are fantastic. I having been taking classes learning Japanese and go there after class, and the young ladies who work there are always helping me with my homework!! Two of them became my language partners for a little while. I got to help them with their English while they helped me with my Japanese.

Still it all comes back to food there at Kushi Tsuru. Its really quite good. I have been to most of the other places in “Nihon Machi”-Japantown and I feel so welcomed there. One of my favorite dishes is “Otoko Yama”. They also have great Bento box dishes, Udon,
Yakatori, Green tea and Mango ice cream, and do serve tea (Ocha!)Japanese Beer (Biru!)and Sake.(Both hot and cold.) Kushi Tsuru is located in the center section of Japantown (Next to the Peace Plaza Tower) just past Mifune in the Mall.

When you go by Japantown check it out. The food there is
Totemo Oishiii desu!
Domo Arigato Gozaimashita!
Tanoshin o kudsai!!! Jaa Ne!!

Back in 1992 my girl friend and I spent 10 lovely, heavenly days at Club Med Moorea, Tahiti. Now, I have been to many places including Spain, Scotland, France, Italy, Canada, England, and all over the United States but nothing…nothing compairs to Tahiti. The Island of Moorea is surrounded by a reef that does not allow the huge ocean waves to come in. The water ripples in like a lake, and is as warm as any bathtub could be…but not hot enough to kill the thousands of small fish that live there. From Manta Rayes to Eels..which live in the streams on the Island it is pure tropical paradise. Forget Hawaii…Its become too commercial, too populated, and with too much civilization. Moorea Tahiti has only one road, and it goes entirely around the island. The resorts are hidden among the vast lush tropical plants, the waters must have twenty shades of Blue. By the way, tap water there tastes like citrus is in the water. Incredible. The weather always warm, very bright so much so that many of the huts we stayed in had no screens in the windows.

Club med was special too.It offered things to do-with your day. You could take a tour of the island, or stay back and snorkel, scuba dive, waterski, play tennis, play vollyball, drink at the bar, lay on the beach…swim, horseback ride, and at night there was always entertainment from live shows to native Tahitian dancing. You can learn how to open a coconut and a pineapple…and how to mix them into the best drink you ever had. There was dancing and some of the best food you would ever lay your eyes on.

Unfortunately Club Med Moorea is gone now. Its been bought out and purchased by some resort. One last Club Med remains in Bora Bora Tahiti. We plan on going there next year.

Once you have been to Tahiti, you truly have been to paradise. You will want for nothing, excect maybe a few more weeks there ..or even a few more months!!!

I hope to tour Japan for three weeks…

I had really wanted to go this year, but thought better to wait til next year, as I just started classes back in November in Japanese. My Girlfriend’s mom just came back from a vacation there. She had a guide to most places she went. I suppose having a guide would be good, however, it would be great to beable to speak well enough to get around, on our own and that would be wonderful.

We thought about going to Tokyo first, and spending three or four days exploring first. Next, to take the Bullet train (Shinkansen) north to Fukushima, Yamagata and on up to Aomori where we would spend five or six days. Return then to Tokyo, and spend another two days there before heading south to Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and down to Miyazaki. Perhaps take a flight to Okinawa while down there. Then back to Tokyo for a final three days before flying out.

Well, we won’t becoming home yet. Going to spend the fourth week in Bora Bora Tahiti. Something we also wanted to do.

Oh yeah, its going to be expensive. I figure we might be able to do it all for about twenty grand. Japan will not be cheap nor Tahiti. But, I have saved for this, and its going to happen next year and I can’t wait.

We hope to go around March or April for the “Sakura Matsuri” Cherry Blossom Festival. Things we hope to do while in Japan?
Visit shrines and Castles of course. Go up the Tokyo tower,
visit the bay of Tokyo (Where in 1953 Godzilla walked out of the bay for the first time!!! Oh..and see his little statue in Ginza near the Toho Studios.)Attend a real Sumo wrestling match, attempt to do Karaoke, do a Kabuki theatre, see about visiting a master swords maker, to see how Japanese Katanas are made. See Mt.Fuji! Visit a Samurai Village, where they re-enact life back during the time of the Shoguns. Look and shop for great Anime collectables, try and catch a JPOP concert if possible. If its the right time of the year catch
a Yomuri Giants game at the Tokyo Dome. Go to the festivals for Sakura Matsuri. Visit a Japanese Hot springs bathhouse resort. Swim and do the Hot Tubs. Visit the Peace memorial in Hiroshima. As a High School student, one of my mandatory required readings was about Hiroshima. I am sure it will be a very moving experience. Spend some time in Akihabara and go to Ginza. There will probably be many more things to do and see,
(like visiting the largest Fish market in the world where you can taste samples and watch companies bid on the fish.)Learn more about the History.

I have been to Barcelona Spain, Napoli Italy, Cannes France,
Moorea Tahiti, Toronto and Vancouver Canada, and to most states in the United States, but this undertaking will be like none I have done before for here we will beable to have three weeks to do everything insted of one. Forget Disneyland..this is going to be a Blast!