I decided to go for a walk up to Roppongi this afternoon, check out a couple of stores and generally get some fresh air in between my conference call fun and games of the day.
So, armed with my trusty iPod playing Anita Baker and a borrowed umbrella from the hotel doorman (it's raining on and off here at the moment) I wandered next door to Starbucks and then off up the street to Roppongi. First I to Tsutaya, the book/cd store I used to hang around in when I was spending lots of time here in 2008, browsed some interesting books for a bit and then noticed an interesting sounding museum exhibit that was being shown at MidTown - about 10 minutes walk back the other side of Roppongi Crossing and eminently achievable.
On my way back I passed a small shrine where they were serving something edible to a bunch of local people. One of the guys saw me glancing over and invited me in to try it. I turned out that they had been making fresh Mochi (like the rabbit in the moon does) with various toppings and they generously gave me some. I think they were surprised that I was so willing to try it, intrigued with my Japanese (I'm pretty good at pretending I know what people are saying now) and spent alot of time trying to tell me what it was and watching me eat it. Of course, I'd tried it before but never so freshly prepared - they were serving it with sweetened soy beans, a toasted sesame and salt topping, green onions and vinegar (nasty sounding but delicious) and some other powdery topping that I couldn't figure out. It was really quite an experience and it seemed like I made their day and that of the other locals that were there. I did my bit and made a donation to the shrine and then thanked them before heading back on my way to the way having had a great experience.
The museum, though, was boring. I say that only because it was very busy and the art was actually magazines and other publications from 18th century Edo (the former name of Tokyo) and because there was a lot of writing the local people in there were taking ages to move around the exhibits because they could actually read what they said. I just skipped those and looked at the cool paintings and wood block prints of period actors and prostitutes.
After that it was back out into the mall for a bit of shopping before heading back to the hotel, by way of a cafe - it was 3pm so time for dinner! - and here I am. I have a conference call with my team in 30 minutes during which I will pretend not to be tired and show enthusiasm for everyone that we talk about and then I will begin winding down at 5:30; which, coincidentally is when the lounge opens and I can get a free Gin & Tonic.
Or perhaps it will be a Martini...
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