Red Day

Happy Valentines Day!
Happy Singles Awareness Day! (maniacal laugh)
Happy Some Holiday Corporations Make You Believe You Need To Spend Money ........ (hippy shit)... Day!
and Here from Japan:
Happy Red Day!

Whatever you call it, you're thinking about love today. For me it gives me the chance to think last 8 years I spent with Ben (the last seven years he was my sweetheart, the year before I pushed him in a cardboard box to his girlfriends house where he jumped out of the box to surprise his girlfriend with a dozen roses! We were *just friends* at that time).

Image from: HarroJapan

Japan does things a little differently for valentines day. This is the day women give chocolates. Women give chocolates to their friends, their coworkers, and if they are feeling especially bold... to their crush. Different qualities of chocolate are chosen for the message they represent, cheap chocolates are reserved for obligatory chocolates, German chocolates are given to crushes, bosses, and best friends.

Toko Sekiguch of the New York Times says it best. "How a lovers' holiday in the west turned into a quasi-feminist chocolate orgy is unclear." Men do nothing on this day, they are completely off the hook until white day, March 14th. This means if a woman professes her love to a man on this day, he can mull it over for an entire month, an absolutely terrifying prospect.

Men are expected to one up what ever they have received for Valentines/Red day on White day. This means jewelry, dates and chocolate, or if the girl is really unfortunate a rejection with a side of conciliatory chocolate.

So what are Ben and I doing? I will be taking him on a fun date this weekend, which you and he will have to wait to hear about. He will be taking me on some sort of date that requires him to buy the tickets a month in advance, I have no idea what his plans for me are, but I am very excited.

Happy Valentines Day!

Please enjoy my favorite Japanese School Days Love Story Song!

25

I'm 25 years old, I'm not really sure what that means. I don't think anyone knows what it means to be a 25-year-old. I have no idea what I'm doing, but I really feel like I should.

Last night Ben and I made the conscious decision to make the stupid choice. Ben's friend Sam had a birthday in Tokyo, and we went knowing full well that we would not make it home that night, and decided to make the most of it.

My Battle Paint

Sam's party was really fun. He booked a Tabe-nomi-hodai (all you can eat, all you can drink) at a restaurant in near Takadanobaba station in Tokyo. The food was excellent, and the staff was nice enough to to make sure I had enough to eat (accommodated my dairy allergy).

There were so many interesting people at the party. Not only is Sam a fun guy to know, he has a knack for surrounding himself with interesting people. Sam is an avid YouTube vlogger, he's been in Japan for a long time, and has a lot of very interesting videos. Many of the people at the party last night were bloggers, and vloggers,I enjoyed meeting all of them last night, and  I invite you to enjoy meeting them online.

Tkyo Sam-Sam's YouTube Channel.
Sam has a great grasp on Japanese culture. He is entirely American, and the juxposition of his personality and Japan is very amusing.

The Olden Youth
He is a natural path, who shares his his thoughts on Japan and wellness on his YouTube Channel

Kanto Kitsune
Follow this bloggers adventures in Tokyo. He'll tell you the price of your adventure, and what to expect.

After the party, it was too late to head all the way back home, the last train had already left. We drank more than enough, and were ready to keep our fun evening going, so we headed over to a nearby karaoke joint. Karaoke in Japan means a private room with your friends. Only one of the 6 of us could sing, unfortunately it wasn't me. We booked the red-eye special, which is basically what you do in Tokyo when you've missed the last train. It's cheaper than a hotel, and much more fun. We sang long into the night, until we were all too tired, and fell asleep. The karaoke staff called us 20 minutes before the first train departed, letting us know it was time to pay. We said goodbye to our new friends, and made our way to the drunk train.

Drunk Train

An assault on all your senses
The putrid breath of 100 drunken lungs saturates the air
Blink,
The fluorescent lights glare, judging the life that led you there
Screech!
Are trains always so loud?
Flubadababa...
That's the sound of a drunk man forgetting to remain standing as the train leaves the station
What time does the sun rise?
Blue, the world turns blue in the first light.
Home,
Go to sleep make smarter decisions tomorrow
Re-read poem
It makes no sense Katie, please go to sleep.