Ginza is an elegant and stylish area with retro spirit on it. Land prices hit the roof which has a huge impact on real estate business.
Most of high class shops have their branches here - only for prestige as they permanently incur losses.
Also here there is the world's biggest fish market located - Tsukiji.
Except for Wednesdays, everyday at 3 am a peculiar ritual takes place - fresh fish auction.
Salesman use specific speech which could be taken as impression of choking for ones who have never came across it.
Traders and restaurant owners try to get the best parts for a reasonable price (as long as 10.000 US is a reasonable price for one tuna. Yes, everyday sale of the markets is 23 million dollars!).
My first visit to the markets started with little shops offering seafood and nearby eating-houses and small restaurants.
Versatility of goods is impressive. One can buy fish, prawns, crabs, lobsters, oysters, shells, octopus, cuttlefish, calamari, seaweed salads and many more.
Regardless of weather the markets are always busy.
Before I first came to Japan I had quiet different idea about the country. I though the cities are totally hi-tech, everything brand new and shiny.
I was wrong. There is no need for changing something that does it's work perfectly for years.
Contrary to mountain bikes ones like these are seen much more often.
Omnipresent vending machines. The prices are the same regardless of where the machines stand. A pack of cigarettes will cost the same in a mountain hut as in the middle of the city.
In some places you can even find ones offering beer!
This is one of so called sushi-go-round or sushi-train bars. Colors of plate brims determine prices for different meals.
Sushi bar vocabulary:
- Itamae-san - chef
- osara - a plate sushi pieces are served on (usually by two)
- hashi - chopsticks. The word stands as well for "edge" and "bridge". Ask Japanese person to say: Chopsticks on the edge of the bridge - good fun guaranteed. Another example - "god's hair" (kami no kami)
- oshibori - steamed hot towel for cleaning hands
- shoyu - soy sauce (also called murasaki)
- gari - conserved ginger flakes
- ocha - green tea
- tsumayoji - tooth picks
There are mainly three kinds of tuna (maguro). The tastiest one is medium fat chu-toro (third from the bottom).
Fish is being server raw on the rolls made of sticky rice soaked in rice vinegar. Usually wasabi paste and soy sauce are also available.
This is one of the best things I have ever eaten in my life. I find cooking or frying tuna blasphemous!
At every seat small tap serves hot green tea of awesome taste completely incomparable to any green tea I have had in Europe.
Kabuki-za - famous kabuki theater located in Ginza. Kabuki is a traditional japanese theater originated in XVII century.
Female roles as well as male roles are played only by men. Man playing female role is called onnagata. Single show can take up to nine hours!
Performers use ancient language only few of the spectators can completely understand. Also probably because of special emphasis characteristic to kabuki.
We took shelter from heavy rain in Nissan salon where nice ladies served us green tea and cookies.
The last part of today's trip - Sony Building.
New technology yet to come on sale is presented here.
An example: palmtop with gyroscopes build in - by changing position of the device you can move pictures on the screen.
Japanese toilets are something to mention. Heated board lifted and lowered automatically and exhaust turned on when seated are only some of the facilities.
More or less options of the pilot are available regarding to model (here - from left to right):
- STOP
- Oshiri, bum that is... - nothing more than a squirt right in the middle of your end
- Yawaraka - very soft, delicate spray
- Bide, bidet function
- hairdryer
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