Sumo in Tokyo

This post is about a week late, but since I'm sitting here listening to Vanessa sleep and waiting for a utility company in the states to open so I can call and cancel the service that I've not utilized since early August, I thought I'd supply a little fodder for you. (yes, that was a very long sentence. Don't make me do an entire post in one sentence because you felt you needed to point that out.)

Last weekend we loaded up the family and took the Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) to Tokyo. The main purpose for the trip was to attend a Sumo Tournament. Secondarily, we went because, hey, we've never been on the Shinkansen, nor have we been to Tokyo. I suppose that's not entirely true cause we flew in to Tokyo on our way here, but we didn't really see much or get off the bus. And actually I've been on the Shinkansen once for a business trip to Sendai. So as I prattle on with half-truths, let's just say we've never done Tokyo nor all ridden the Shinkansen together.

The idea for the trip came from some of Vanessa's co-workers who have made an annual trip to Tokyo for the Basho (Sumo Tournament). They opened up the invitation, and after a brief discussion, decided to check it off our list. (That list is unofficial, but it does exist in our minds of the things we must do whilst we are exiled here). Needless to say, the Basho was pretty awesome, even if our seats were a bit lofty. Surprisingly, even the boys enjoyed it and seemed to remain captivated by the rotund gents smashing into each other and whose nether regions were covered only by a towel or mawashi (the size needed for those guys could easily be large enough for a family-sized beach towel. And now that I think about comparing a silken cloth that has been firmly set betwixt a 400 pound Japanese guy's sweaty cheeks, perhaps that wasn't the best analogy). I can only imagine that EW was thinking Santa Clause decided to ditch the red leisure suit for something a little less constricting. (See previous post)

In addition to the Basho, we also visited the Edo (that's Tokyo before it became the capital) Museum, and Tokyo Tower at night (great observation deck).

The next day we went to the Ueno Zoo. According to their website they have a giant panda, but according to the sign at the entrance said panda died almost a year ago ... c'mon update your site and stop misleading uninformed tourists ... I mean Vanessa was devastated and almost cried. We also stopped in at a really busy shopping area that had loads of vendors and people. I really didn't see anything that would create such a large crowd, but perhaps it's a place for people to go hang out when they're missing the crowded subway. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped in Akihabara (the electronics district) and Ginza (the 5th Avenue of Tokyo). We didn't buy or need to buy anything, but now we can say we've been there.

On our final day, we ventured out to see the Tokyo Dome (I guess it's a baseball field), but we could really only see the outside of it (mostly uninspiring, but it was on the list of things to do in Tokyo). Across from the Dome was a shopping mall with some amusement rides. There was a roller coaster that circled around the roof, so I had to take a spin (alone of course). The first downhill was exhilarating, but that was about it, then it was over. We all rode the huge Ferris wheel and enjoyed a nice birds-eye view of the city (during the day this time). We then finished our morning with lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Vanessa and I have now eaten at BGSC in San Francisco, Honolulu, Minneapolis, and Tokyo. I know, you're jealous. Finally, we gathered up our things from the hotel and made our way back to the train and home.

If you made it through this lengthy summation, I feel obligated to inform you that AX finally lost his first tooth today. I'm probably more excited than he is, because now I don't have to check it for him daily and give him my opinion as to how near it is to detaching. And since the Tooth Fairy is asleep, I'm going to stand in and hook the little guy up. I don't know what the going rate for a first tooth is these days. I guess I'll see what I have in my pocket; he may get an inkpen and some lint.

Time to have some mooch's water turned off (honestly, the house was a steal. You'd think he'd have the decency to change the utilities over),

Marty