Went to a Yakitori (BBQ chicken on skewers) in a very little know hole in the wall (and I mean serious hole in the wall) place near the Shibuya station in Tokyo. Its in a area called Nonbei-Yokocho about 2 minutes from the Shibuya crossing. I think the entire restaurant including upstairs seats 10 people max and it is tiiiiight. So tight that if anyone want to leave, pretty much everyone has to get up and out.

But the yakitori is awesome! So tasty. The owner only uses chicken that he hand selects and is delivered fresh daily from various chicken farms throughout Japan. He only uses free-range chickens of the highest quality. To top it off, the chicken soup is so taste! If your ever in town, and get a chance, check it out. But be warned, its not a place for the ambiance. They don’t take any reservations, and only complete parties are allowed in, so if your going to go with friends, make sure they are the type that show up on time. The restaurant opens at 5 and closes once the chicken runs out, usually the place is done by 9, so try and get in early.

先日、渋谷ののんべい横丁にあるち～～～～～さな焼き鳥屋さんに行ってきました。鳥福って言うんだけど。ここがまためっちゃ旨いんだ！お店は多分１０人ぐらいして入れない狭いお店だけど、味はばつぐん！こんどチャンスがあったら行ってみてください。予約なし、全員そろってない入れないから時間にルースの友達と行くのはやめたほういい。

Even the tail pipe of the buses at Disneyland is a Mickey.

Went to see Cirque Du Soleil Zed this weekend. 2nd best Cirque Du Soleil next to “O” in Vegas. I guess these shows turn out better and you can do alot more when you build a theater especially for the show. The clowns were hilarious, and the performances were spectacular. I recommend to anyone in the Tokyo area or visiting to go see it.

Probably wont help my game, but every little bit helps

Spent NYE in Tokyo this year for the first time in my life. Turned out to be a hybrid kinda NYE with American style food for dinner, and then going out and getting plastered in the city with the rest of the crazy folks of Tokyo.

The spread for the evening. Simple Bagna càuda dip with plenty of veggies, smoked salmon mousse over baguette with light citrus sauce.

Of course a big chunk of meat with cream corn on the side

Some African American dude on TV names “Jero” singing Enka (genre of Japanese popular songs). During this song festival thing they do every year, where the popular singers of the year battle it out boys vs girls.

What Tokyo Tower looked like at night. Sorry for the blurred pic, going home drunk didnt help the focus.

I didn’t know this, but apparently on the 31st of Dec, the trains in Tokyo which usually stop at around midnight, run all night so everyone can still get home. Lil tid-bit for those who might be in town during new years in Tokyo.

Took advantage of the 3 day weekend in Japan to make a trip out to Hokkaido for some R&R. First city we hit was Hakodate (southern tip of Hokkaido). Best view in the country is what they were claiming. Can’t really argue with them.

This is what it looks like during the day. Not bad

Looks better at night.

But being that this a sea port, the sea food is amazing! Everything fresh (mostly still alive) and soooo damn good!

Here is the combo sea food bowl I had for brunch. Crab, Salmon eggs, and Uni. Yumm…. Better chill on the cholesterol for a while though.

OK, had plenty of sea, now it was time for some mountain. So we decided to cruise to another place called Jyosankei for a change of scenery. Picked up my rental car, and I guess because it snows here, most cars in Hokkaido are 4WD. Cool, nothing every wrong with more traction.

So we get to the resort

http://www.jyozankei-daiichi.co.jp/club_j/index.html

, and first think I do is take a plunge into to hot spring “onsen” to loosen up the muscles from a long drive and take out some of the toxins from my body. Awesome!

Then it was dinner time. Yesterday was seafood, today is…..mountain food? Yeah you got it MEAT!

Not just your ordinary USDA Prime whatevers, this stuff is the real deal. 100% Japanese beef, beer fed, massaged and all. Yeah, the unhealthy stuff. All the marbled fat you can eat. Teppan baked along with those grubbin garlic chips they make for you one at a time

Fillet and Rib Eye! Just the way I like.

Wash it all down with a couple of glasses of wine and the evening couldn’t be any better.

This was the white wine for the appetizers, and of course switched to red for the meat.

Woke up in the morning to discover the fabulous view outside. The leaves have already started to turn the color of autumn. In Japan Hokkaido is the last to get warm in the spring and is also the first to start getting cold in the fall as it is the northern most island of Japan.

Headed to Sapporo for our flight back and one last meal. Soup Curry! Thought it would just be a watered down version of Curry, but was actually very tasty. Crazy spices used in the broth. Awesome. Wish I could have stayed longer.

This is the last fun shot of the trip. A poster with a logo similar to the brand Puma,  with “Kuma” = Bear in Japanese. Must be lots of bears in Hokkaido.

Was out to dinner with Toshi on Friday and he got a call from Ito-san of AG Jeans Japan. We were recruited to go hang out and drink at their office. We had just finished dinner and were thinking of where to go next, so why not. Saw a bunch of people in the fashion industry that I’ve never seen in my life. And then of course there was “Ito-san” the famous guy that used to hang out at Suzuran (the place with the specials on mini-Budweiser beers and all you can sing Karaoke) in Gardena. If your ever in Gardena and need a cheap place for drinks and Karaoke, check it out. Actually, scratch that, don’t check it out, I don’t wanna take blame for recommending it. So we were catching up with each other, and in his usual drunken manner, he was makin fun of me strolling in with Lucky brand jeans. Its been ages since I even owned a pair of jeans, let alone know anything about brands. As the night progressed I guess it continued to bother him that I was wearing Lucky jeans. So I finally succumed to the criticism, and asked for a pair of AG Jeans. Thanks to the help of Toshi, and his deep knowledge on jeans, I think I’ve finally come to the realization that jeans are not just for construction workers, and could be a vital part of anyone’s wardrobe.

Thanks Toshi, and thank you Ito-san and everyone at AG Jeans/AG Jeans Japan

Ｇｅｒｍａｎｙ

London

Ａｕｓｔｒａｌｉａ

Ｇｅｒｍａｎｙ

Ｈｏｌｌａｎｄ

Ｉｔａｌｙ

Ｇｅｒｍａｎｙ

Ｃａｌｉｆｏｒｎｉａ

I have noticed that in recent years the LPGA has had some new comers that have helped to tour liven up. Additions like Michelle Wie, Natalie Gulbis, and Paula Creamer have upped the attractiveness of the females participating on the tour. But they only look somewhat attractive because they are being compared to some seriously hideous looking others ( Laura Davies, Chirstina Kim ) just to name a few. But I ran across an LPGA rookie today that would qualify as being a genuine hottie on or off the tour. Anna Rawson is actually not bad looking. What more could you ask for, great looks and plays awesome golf. Well…..sorry I could think of a few more desireable features…..

最近って言うかこの２－３年の間でＬＰＧＡ(ＵＳ女子ＰＧＡ）にちょっとはましな女性が参加するようになった事に気づきました。Michelle Wie, Natalie Gulbis, Paula CreamerなどのおかげでＬＰＧＡに人気がちょっと上がったかな？まぁー過去にいた女子選手たちがひどかったからかもしれないけど。最近発見したのがAnna Rawson、なかなかセクシー。最高じゃない？ゴルフができてルックスもよければ。

Cruised over to Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Tokyo yesterday. 1st one to open in Japan. Haven’t had a US style steak in ages, so was pretty damn good grubbin. In Japan most of the good steaks are the super marbled kind, Kobe, Matsuzaka, Tokachi, etc…. super fatty. Good in small portions but watch out cholesterol. US style steaks are not as tender but still pretty damn good. Had my usual ribeye cooked just the way I like over sizzlin butter. That with a great bottle of red wine, and its all good! Sides were damn good too. BBQ Shimp and Crab cakes!

昨夜、日本初のルース・クリス・ステーキ・ハウスに行ってきました。最近ぜんぜんアメリカスタイルのステーキを食べてなかったから、久しぶりに食べられてめっちゃ旨かった。和牛は美味しいんだけど、スーパー霜降りっておもいよね。沢山は食べられないからアメリカンスタイルのステーキがいいかな。