Kurumaya Ramen is like the Japanese equivalent to diner food in the U.S. It was our tasty, inexpensive answer to lunch before getting ready for the Kabuki theater.
This beautiful building located in Ginza, is known as Kabuki-Za, and is the principal theater in Tokyo for the traditional kabuki drama form. It opened in 1889, and we caught the very *last* performance before they demolish and rebuild the structure.
The performance started at 4:30 and went until 9:30, with 3 intermissions. During the second intermission everyone in the audience opens bento boxes at once. We bought these bento boxes just outside the theater.
Random Fact 14: During the Edo Period (some 200 years ago) Sushi was sold by vendors from stalls on the side of the road. The Kaki (Persimmon) leaves preserved the sushi, and made the food easily transportable, making it the first known 'fast food.'
I wish I could have taken photos of the actors and the sets, but of course that was forbidden. This poster is a hint as to the complexity of the costumes and makeup, but says nothing for the performances themselves, which often included acrobatics. The dialect these performers use is so old that many fluently speaking Japanese cannot even understand, so you can purchase a small set of headphones to hear a translation in real time.
The art of kabuki is passed through family lineage, so you're either born into it, or you're S.O.L. (sorry). In addition, all roles (male and female) are performed by men only --no women.
During the break I took photos of these advertisements -yes, advertisements! These are not set backgrounds. Actually, these ads pale in comparison to the sets, but they are very impressive nonetheless.
Random Fact 15: It is difficult to spot litter on the ground anywhere in Japan. However, it is even more difficult to spot a garbage can believe it or not! The garbage and recycling bins blend perfectly with their surroundings and are few and far between. (Obviously, this is in stark comparison to the U.S. where there is no shortage of either!)
The next day we began our long loooong journey south toward Kyushu Island. Between the subways, the local trains, and the bullet trains we transferred 7 times over the course of our 9 hour journey, and then took a car to the final destination!
The Bullet train moves so fast it makes your ears pop.
The finger on the right represents our starting point, and the finger ont he left represents our end point.
We had bento for lunch -this one was much more elaborate than the one we had a the kabuki theater.
Along the journey we passed Mount Fuji...
...and although I was shooting at 1/125th of a second...
...I still managed to take...
...several *incredibly* bad photos of this glorious sight! (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!)
Ahhh, finally! Still, this is nothing compared to the real thing.
(Naturally, I was not the only one fascinated by this breath-taking sight.)
The country side of Japan is completely different from the city (obviously).
On our last transfer, which was very late at night, we passed this vending machine which sold hot foods, including french fries! (Just when you think you've seen it all...)
Finally, after 9 hours we took our last train ride of the day! I was well accustomed to falling asleep sitting up, much like these folks.
