Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Japan: Osaka rocks!

If Tokyo is the sophisticated, cultured, cosmopolitan capital of Japan then Osaka would be it's opposite.  The city is louder, livelier, and seems a bit more aggressive.  Osaka, a city famous for it's food scene and nightlife, is also home to the much beloved and often maligned Hanshin Tigers.  If the Tokyo Giants are Japan's equivalent to the New York Yankees then the Osaka Tigers would play the unenviable role of the Boston Red Sox.  Osaka is Japan's 2nd most important city and the major commercial and financial hub of the Kansai region.  However, having to perpetually play second fiddle to the much larger and more famous Tokyo has produced, at least in my humble opinion, a unique and richer, more flavorful urban culture.  Also, we were able to meet up with one of Chantra's friends, Hiroko.  She was nice enough to take us out and show us around. 

Hiroko showing us how to make our own Okinamiyaki, Osaka style.


Booo!  Our's broke.

5 dollars a person per 30 minutes of karaoke AND it's all you can drink!  Forget the singing bring on the liquor!

Yeah shes faded.

Just thought it was funny seeing Tommy Lee Jones on a vending machine.

All you can eat Shabu Shabu.  Pretty darn good.

Some ghetto sake from seven eleven.

More ramen!  I love RAMEN!

Omlete with curry rice and pickled ginger and pickled garlic.  Looks gross but tastes pretty darn good. 

Chantra had to get her cream puff.  Tastes just like the one in SF.
The streets of Osaka, particularly around the Namba region, are filled with a frenetic energy that is best captured by the youthful residents of this city.  Every weekend, young and old alike, walk these well worn roads, to see and experience the multitude of street performers, musicians, and dancers that flock to Osaka in droves.  On this particular day, me and the wife were planning on visiting American Village, Osaka's version of Harajuku, but instead we were treated to an incredible dance performance by some local kids.  And believe me these kids were amazing!  Some of them couldn't have been more than 6 or 7 and yet their performances were incredible.  As good or better than anything you would have seen on Americas Best Dance Crew.  It was an astonishing mix of hip hop, jazz, and break dancing the flowed seamlessly from one performance to the next.  It was a free performance and we stayed and watched for 4 hours.  That's how good these kids were.


Sprout.  The name of the performance we saw.

Some local style from the kids.

Some of the dancers.

She's so cute!  She was my favorite dancer.

Some more kids playing on the Osaka ball.




Some more Osaka styles.


The venue.  It was actually right outside of the train station.  Locals gather here to practice dancing all the time.


Those two were incredibly talented.  Unfortunately they were eliminated in the second round.

This was pretty cool.  A whole dance routine that incorporated double dutch. 

What can I say.   Kids are just so cute!

Jazz/Hip Hop routine.

Japanese kid with dreads?  Awesome!


Aside from checking out the street performers we also went to Osaka castle, which was cool but much smaller then Hemiji, and we checked out the Osaka Aquarium.  This particular aquarium is one of the largest in the world and to say it was massive would be an understatement.  The Pacific tank alone was huge and large enough to hold a whale shark and several huge rays along with all manner of fish.  It was a nice way to spend a rainy day.  Well see you all next time.
Entrance to the Aquarium.

Little girl connecting with a puffer fish.



A capybara.  World largest rodent.  Bears a striking resemble to my dog.  And it's about the size of a small golden retriever.

Emperor Penguins.









A local practicing his music near Osaka Castle.



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