My Brother's DaiTime in Tokyo

I've been blessed to have 3 of my family members visit me in the past year. My dad came last August, my grandmother came during cherry blossom season, and my little brother came for summertime. He starts college this year and I had to make sure he enjoyed his time in Tokyo. I think it ruined him really. I don't know how you go back to life in the U.S. after experiencing this as a young man!




Arcades+Diverse Friends+Game Nites+Musical Performances+Horse Sushi+Korean BBQ+Curry Rice+Sake+Shibuya+Harajuku+Roppongi Clubs+Block Party in Yoyogi Park+Crowded Trains+Morning After-Club Commutes+Museums+Lupe Fiasco, Cool Kids, and Mickey Factz Live @ The Club+Rollercoasters+Beach BBQ+Mt. Fuji @ Sunset+Fireworks+Ferris Wheels+Incorrect Engrish+Chopsticks+Noodles+Late Nites+Early Mornings...

College is fantastic and I am excited for him! Japan will be waiting for him to come back!

Put Your Tea On" The Calm-A-Sutra of Tea 2009 Scholarship Entry

さようならMichael Jackson

Friday morning, I awoke at 6:30 am and turned on Wendy Williams online and heard The King of Pop was rushed to the hospital. I just knew he was going to be fine. He is Michael Jackson! As we were commuting to work here in the Far East, news of Michael Jackson's death spread through text messages. I couldn't believe it and I sat at my desk dumbfounded all morning. I told my junior high school students that Michael Jackson had passed away, and after they translated what I said from English to Japanese, they gasped and said "What!? Really!" I told them to watch the news and read newspapers. The following week consisted of singing Michael Jackson songs and watching "Thriller" and them learning that Michael Jackson was Black and actually had brown skin and an afro when he was younger. Many of the students grew up on the white skinned Michael Jackson and had no idea. I was happy that the teachers I work with wanted to pass on the legacy of Micheal Jackson, many of which bought in their own CDs and talked about how they enjoyed his music.

The foreign community celebrated his life all weekend. I immediately called for a visit to karaoke singing only Michael Jackson tunes, so friends and I got together to sing and dance. Then we spent the weekend attending clubs and DJ sets of M.J. only.

I am still in disbelief but I know he will live forever. He definitely was the only person in the entire world to bring everyone together of all ages, races, and cultures through his entertaining and music alone. I really hope another Michael Jackson star arises in another generation, even if I don't live to see it.

Rest in more peace than you had on this earth Mike. I hope you find your childhood...

In "The GHETTO"

I went to "The Ghetto" with my friends todai. It was weird to roll up on a building that looked like this, in Shin Okubo, "Korea Town," next to Shinjuku. I didn't know what to expect. I thought it was a biker gang hangout, like in "The Golden Child."

It turned out to be a restaurant & bar-Hells Kitchen, art gallery, shops, and Hip Hop/skater hangout.

This is a cool, Hip Hop, skate haven, with a real ramp built inside one of the rooms, and some of the oldest Hip Hop memorabilia all over the place. "Wild Style," and Fat Boys videos were playing on VHS and projector screens. There was graffiti DJs were free to get up and spin on the tables as the wished.

Upstairs held a small art gallery-HYAKU, and a children's skateboard clothing store-FLAKE, along with a section of throwback figurines and toys.

B-Girl and DJ, Sarasa led us into "The Ghetto" and I can't wait to go back for some live graff, breakin', skating, and Hip Hop!

End of Cherry Blossom Season Haiku

I'm trying to do laundry and hang my clothes outside, but seeing as I am on a Cherry Blossom tree lined street, there are petals falling all over the balcony. These are some haiku I just made.


Blowing pink petals
Swirl as they fall to the ground
Short lived Sakura

Blossoms fall like snow
Outside my window I see
Men sweeping the streets


Grandmom enjoying the sakura from my apartment, while visiting Tokyo.

Fatness First-BBQ Chicken Cafe

Grape Drink-check.
Selection of Sauces-check.
Fried Chicken Wrapped in FOIL-CHECK!

Somebody must have lived in the hood for this one. I have never seen fried chicken sold wrapped in plastic and wax paper, with crispy fried outside, served with potato wedges, and grape drink outside of the corner spots or the Amish stands at the market. It is called "BBQ" Chicken & Cafe but it should just be called Fried Chicken & Sauces. I didn't even bother to see any BBQ sauce options. It served 2 piece combos or additional chicken pieces (over priced) with the option of hot sauce (sort of a Texas Pete flavor or thai sweet chili sauce). Japanese have got this one right. It is all fried in olive oil too. They also offer a large selection of fried chicken sandwiches and chicken fingers.

It was delicious and did cause the itus immediately, which I tried to fight off but I ended up sleeping on my grandmothers shoulder on our bus ride back to Shibuya. Thanks to Mike for treating us to this one!

Technological Advances

Japan's electronic stores have nice offers if you're willing sign-up for certain services or make purchases. I decided to get reliable wireless for my laptops since I started grad school and I'm about to move and will spend crucial half hours on the trains where I can be doing work. Japan, surprisingly, isn't wired well at all. Wi-Fi locations are difficult to find making that built in wireless inaccessible. I went to purchase a wireless USB that uses cell phone service areas as Internet service. While in Yodobashi Camera, I kept an E-Mobile representative for an hour and a half to explain, completely in Japanese, how the device worked and the contract details. He then offered me a free PSP or new Nintendo DSi with my purchase of the wireless and service. It also came with a wireless router, and I could walk out of the store with all 3 items priced at ¥100 ($0.88). I asked what was the catch, and of course they want your soul for 2 years of service. Well I picked the black DSi (with the ashy matte outside like the MacBook-I can't stand that texture!) I'm not a big gammer but I figured I can play Japanese language games, Bust-a-Move, and Tetris of course!

I still can't believe the ¥100 purchase. I wonder, like Jay-Z's single I'm titling, "When The Money Goes and The Bills Stay", will I truly benefit from this recession and the low $0.88 USD to ¥100 rate?

HIP HOP NEWS @ DEFSOUNDS.COM