Once Upon a Tokyo

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Wrapping it up, part II

It was nearly 11:00 pm by the time I turned out the last light and headed away from school after our final performance of the Fall Play. I had to walk home, since I was long past the time they shut the gates for the parking lot, barring me from my bike. Not a problem, I thought, since I was still trippin' from the emotional high of a successful show, my home's maybe less than 25 minutes away, and I had recently charged my iPod.

I have to pass by many a, let's say, "quaint" shop on the way. One of them is a ramen restaurant-- the kind that is really only a counter and can barely fit six people elbow to elbow. During the day, it's boarded up at the front and often has large boxes or kegs in front, making it seem like the back entrance instead. This time, however, a little old lady in an apron was craning her neck from the open entrance, obviously interested but not-too-interested in the man down the street from both us.

This man must have just left her ramen place and was headed away, but it was clear that he had several beers along with his order of noodles. He had unsteadily mounted his well-worn, daily-use bike, the kind we call "mamachari." That's short for "mamma chariot" because of it's large basket in the front, space for tying boxes on the back, and industrial-sized frame. His knees sticking out at odd angles, the man was unsteady, to say the least. The ramen-lady looked on, her face and posture unreadable. Was she concerned? Would she help him? Or was her job done and she was just waiting to see what would happen next, like a detached scientist whose mad experiment was nonetheless lurching off into the night?

My thought? "Great..." Our paces were too matched. I would soon come upon him and have to walk behind the unsteady drunken ojii-san, "uncle." The Dr. Ramen-Lady watched me as I walked behind him, and we both watched as the man couldn't stop himself from running straight into a curb and then tumble into a random neighbor's flowers and pots along the narrow space that makes up what Tokyo-ites call their driveway.

Sigh. After 12 hours of high-strung theater students and higher-strung theater coaches, this wasn't on my agenda. I'm sure any other Tokyo-ite would just walk on by and never acknowledge seeing the guy. But I offered him my hand, asking if he was daijoubu, "okay," and helped the bicycle off of him. He was still unsteady, and I filled the uncomfortable silence as best I could, English mostly.  He seemed okay to walk with the bike, and even started to ask questions. But even two years in Tokyo isn't enough to translate Drunk-Old-Guy-Japanese, and I couldn't even be sure if he was yelling at me or if he was just thinking you have to talk loudly to foreigners.

Thankfully, my corner was coming up, and I said a quick ki o tsukette! ("take care/be careful!") and rounded the turn. The Dr. Ramen-lady was still in the street, making mental notes as I slipped out of sight. 

It's a Wrap

Last Sunday was our last weekend rehearsal (which is basically a dress rehearsal), then Wednesday our *real* dress rehearsal, and Friday and Saturday our performances. SMIS and Seisen students performed a stage adaptation of Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes. Somewhere in there, technically the Friday afternoon, was a matinee performance for our elementary kids.

You can check out a really tiny clip of the two scene-stealers, Charters and Caldicott, at SMIS's website.

We pretty much filled every seat for our 185-seat theater-in-the-round, but that wasn't a sign of success for me. Neither was the inordinate amount of well-wishing and congratulations. What was a sign of success for me was that the nearly-50-total students involved, cast and crew, banded together throughout the night and didn't want to leave even after the tear-down was complete! They started sharing contact information, taking pictures (with all 50 of 'em!), and laughing and joking even after we kept shooing them away.

Thanks to everyone involved! (And now in about four months I gotta put on a musical. Start those audition tapes rolling!)

Weekend Commercial Break: Dole Banana II

Hotaru means Firefly

Check out how I learned a new word.

It's from a site named Hotaru.

(After the message, you can click on the top link and write your own message.)

CSUN woes

Still in the process of trying to have some fun this weekend with Disneyland and all, but in the spare moment I thought I'd make sure I'm updating this stuff.

Well, this week I had some disappointing news. After *months* of correspondence (largely because it is all by the appropriately slang term "snail mail") CSUN has basically said it can do nothing for me, credential-wise. The words were, in effect, something like "because you have Crendential X, we don't offer and have never offered the Plus Y And Z to make what you need: Credential XYZ." Let me repeat the "we don't offer *and have never offered*" part. This, after I clearly stated in my beginning correspondence that I had Credential X and was only corresponding in order to ask about Plus Y And Z. Also after getting a money order-- a complicated business here in Japan, with fees that make it basically worthless now that they are graciously returning it to me.

On one hand, it makes me happy that I left the red tape of LAUSD and CSUN. On the other hand, it always finds a way to ensnare me, even across an ocean.

What does this mean for my teaching career? Honestly, I'm not sure yet. I will have to look at Plan B (or is it C or D at this point?) and figure out my options in the next few weeks.

Hello, Insides!

Perhaps just in time for Halloween, there's a new Hello Kitty design. This time featuring a special cutaway scene for you to learn your Hello Anatomy.

 

It's a new line from Medicom Toy, whose website is a who's who of Japanese pop culture toys.

Space-Savers!

Space is always limited in Tokyo, with most people living in small houses/apartments and with members spanning the generations. And yes, this is a typical studio apartment:

(although there are a variety of types, including 3-4 bedrooms.)

But such space-crunching certainly allows for some innovative designs for products to maximize the minimum space. Here at Boingboing.net, they've assembled and explained a few of these products, including a Transformer-like ironing board taking the shape of an iron cozy, futon mattress suitcases, and a briefcase that can become a toilet. So really, all of 'em kinda makes sense. Well, except that last one.

Tokyo DisneySea: Overview II

In my last post, I wrote a bunch of stuff about what to expect on a trip to Tokyo Disneyland. This was, of course, assuming you already *knew* a bit of all the fun stuff to expect-- castles, costumed characters, cheery music, cutesy rides, and culinary sweets… etc. But what about Tokyo DisneySea? There isn't that same  frame of reference, so it's all a bit more mysterious…

What's the difference?
The short answer is that "it's hard to explain," but that's not really an answer. First of all, in many ways, it's a park just like Disneyland in the sense that it has several themed "lands" that radiate from a central point. Except in this park, that central point is a giant volcano called Mount Prometheus, which itself holds another land, the Jules Verne-inspired Mysterious Island. The other lands include the American Waterfront, the European-style Mediterranean Harbor, Port Discovery, the Lost River Delta, the Arabian Coast, and the Mermaid Lagoon. Each of these lands have themed restaurants, shops, and rides, many of which incorporate Disney characters from the "classic" line-up or the movies.

The main difference is that the park is themed on a level far and above that of any Disney park I've been to (and I'm only missing one continent!). Each land is so immersive that you'd be hard-pressed to remember you're in a fun park. The other difference is that DisneySea has a reputation for skewing to an "older" crowd, as opposed to the "kiddie" fare of Disneyland. Now, this really means you'll just find more teenagers on first dates rather than families with small children, but it does takes some level of maturity to really soak in the Atmosphere more than the Stuff To Do.  

What's this about Stuff To Do?
As much as I could praise DisneySea for theming, presence, and atmosphere, where it really doesn't hold up is the Stuff To Do. Your chances for jet coasters are even more limited than Disneyland, as there are only two truly E-Ticket class attractions for the entire park-- the Tower of Terror and the Indiana Jones Adventure. There are other rides, yes, like the (rather dull) Raging Spirits coaster and the (more innovative) Journey to the Center of the Earth, but these rides feel more like missed opportunities than completely satisfying experiences. It's especially noticeable in an area like the Arabian Coast, which has one 3-D show, one Small World-like dark ride, one carousel, one restaurant and a few merchandise stalls-- that's pretty much about it, all in the square footage of the entire Fantasyland, which contains twice that.   

There are more reliances on live entertainment than in Disneyland, with several shows happening in dedicated venues and two elaborate "lagoon shows--" one during the day and one at night.  

So is it worth it?
It's definitely an experience worth having. The plus side is that DisneySea is nowhere near as crowded at Disneyland while taking up the same amount of space, so it feels incredibly different. (Except during the lagoon shows, in which everyone crowds around the lagoon area.) The popular rides (like Tower of Terror and Indiana Jones) also have single rider lines in addition to Fastpasses, giving you another time-saving option. Heck, the biggest line you'd probably get in is for the gyoza bun at the Mysterious Island (which, incidentally, is totally worth it.)

Because of the lack of crowds (and lack of attractions) my strongest suggestion is to take advantage of the Starlight Passport on a weekend/holiday, getting in after 3 pm for a reduced rate. The same thing can only be done after 6 weekdays (and it's even cheaper) which still gives you about 4 hours to complete the park. The good news is that you could pretty much do every ride you wanted in that time, but the bad news is that you miss out on some show opportunities, including the daytime lagoon show, The Legend of Mythica.

One of the neat things about the park is that it's so familiar (being Disney, after all) but so unique at the same time.  For example, "our" Tower of Terror is different than everyone else's, because it features the shenanigans of a li'l demon called Shirikir Utundu. And there's a Sinbad ride that looks like a great Disney film never made. But it's more than the buildings and sets. Even the attendants all get in on the act, really embracing what it means to be an actual part of each attraction. It's what we all hoped themed parks could be. So all in all, you can't help but feel that you are a part of something special, something that no one else has, and it's on a scale that no one can ever repeat again, (not in this economic lifetime anyway.)

So who wants to go? :)

Tokyo Disneyland: Overview!

It's becoming a tradition-- this October break I'll be heading to the Tokyo Disney parks! For someone who grew up in Southern California, nearly became a professional animator, and worked for many years (here and there) in the theme park business, it's like "going home" in a weird way. I'm psyching myself up for the assault of nostalgia that will surely ensue. But for anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of making the Happiest Place on Earth their home away from home, let me give you a bit of a pre-tour in the form of Q & A.

Isn't it going to be crowded?
Basic answer: Yes. I'll fully admit that Tokyo Disneyland will be *crowded.* We're talking near-peak levels of 40 to 45,000 people everyday. I even attended on a rainy day, it did nothing to lesson the crowds. It means that there will be much weaving in and out of crowds, standing in long lines, and having limited choices of seating in restaurants and standing for parades. You man not have time to hit every single attraction, if you had your heart set on *everything,* including Snow White or Peter Pan or the Merry-Go-Round. Forewarned is fore-armed. Thus, use the Fast Pass system as much as possible, ask about single riders lines, be flexible with "second choices," and, my personal favorite, consider people-watching as a main attraction.

The crowds are very eclectic. You'll have a lot of young people, and it's fun to pick out who's there for fun, who's on a school trip, who's on a date, etc. The best, of course, are the kids. Watching kids explore Disneyland, especially those for the first time, is a pretty unique experience. Especially around Halloween. I think it's becoming one of the most popular times to visit, which make it interesting (as many people dress up!) and frustrating (as many people queue up!)

What kind of rides to they have?
If you love jet coasters, you might be underwhelmed. The American parks have one major "E-ticket" attraction per "land:" Matterhorn in Fantasyland, Space Mountain in Tomorrowland, etc. Tokyo Disneyland only has Big Thunder Mountain (Westernland) and Space Mountain (Tomorrowland) for coasters and Splash Mountain, the log flume ride (Fantasy Land/Critter Country). The majority of rides are fun house "dark rides" that range from the old-fashioned like Pinnochio to the very innovative and state of the art Pooh's Hunny Hunt. (That last one is so state of the art I can't help but call it a favorite!) There's the simulator of Star Tours, and the more elaborately dark ride-y Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion, so there's surely no shortage of attractions, but you shouldn't expect Six Flags-style jet coasters.

Again, to me that's a feature, not a flaw. I love jet coasters, but Disney is first and foremost a *theme park,* not an *amusement park," a distinction that I've known people to get very adamant about. As such, each ride will have more to the "experience" than just riding in a vehicle. Many of these are also quite different than their counterparts elsewhere in the world. Their newest addition, Monsters Inc.: Ride and Go Seek, contains an interactive "flashlight" game kind of like Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters. 

What else can you do?
All in all, even despite the crowds, if you wanted to do *every single* ride, even stuff like "It's a Small World" and the Beaver Brothers Canoes, it would be pretty much impossible. You'll have a full enough day with just your top five or top ten or whatever. But that's not to say you couldn't round it out with other entertainments. I usually don't go to shows, but they have a couple of small song and dance numbers, plus the Country Bears show, and some dinner shows, too (but they're expensive and require reservations). Also, since this is October, there's a Halloween themed parade, and there's always the Electrical Light Parade and fireworks. Plus shopping, with unique Disney items you won't find anywhere in the world. Let me tell you about my Pooh boxers...

Speaking of Country Bears, it's important to remember, of course, that everything *is* in Japanese. Except for a chorus or two of "It's a Small World" and a few of the songs in the parade (which has been "imported," you might not understand the language. This could be a problem for the Jungle Cruise and the Enchanted Tiki Room (which now features Stitch). It's hard for me to judge for some attractions since I know the storylines already.

What's a typical day?
What's worked for me in the past? Get there early. The park hours are 9 am to 10 pm, but the tickets start selling at 8. You'd want to get their early enough to be among the crowds upon the entrance. The first thing you should do is get a Fastpass for either Pooh's Hunny Hunt or the Haunted Mansion, and then stand in line for either as your first ride. These are the most popular and you'll find them quickly getting to 100 minute wait times and staying that way the rest of the day. Once you get those done, you could get into Star Tours and then Astro Blasters (the former usually doesn't have a line, the latter? Yeah, a line). I imagine that, if your second Fastpass is purchaseable, get one for Monsters Inc. since it's so new. Otherwise, you'll need it for Space Mountain. But if either of those lines are manageable, do it! Then use the pass for the Hunny Hunt/Mansion and it'll be time for lunch already!

I like the Asian food in Adventureland the best. You get things like Mickey-shaped nikuman (steamed buns.) Then hop on Pirates and the Jungle Cruise, and get your third FastPass for Big Thunder before circling back and riding Space Mountain (or whatever Fastpass you got.) I'd walk through Toontown (if a parade got in my way, I'd stop to watch) but just Toontown's more for people watching. I'd cut through Fantasyland for some cheesy nostalgia with the Mickey Mouse Revue (quick edit-- apparently this attraction closed its doors finally last March! I'll have to find something else to do!) More people watching on Tom Sawyer's island, this time with a milkshake. It should be time to for Big Thunder's Fastpass, but I think I remember ducking into the Country Bear jamboree first, last time. Depending on the wait times, I'd repeat a ride about now, and then settle in at one of the cafe's outside Main Street.

Because it should be getting dark by then, and the cafe's not too terrible to watch the electrical parade from a distance. I remember repeating Astro Blasters afterwards, since it's close enough to duck into before the parade ends, and then circle the park for anything random that peaks my interest, repeat or not-- Tiki Room, Peter Pan, maybe even Haunted Mansion. It's time to watch fireworks pretty soon, and then to brave the crowds as they descend upon the gift shops at Main Street-- a spectacle in itself.

I'm not sayin' I got a perfect system, but if anyone is interested in joining me, there's my suggestion! What do you think?