Samurai-i-am

This weekend we decided to take the plunge. Unsure of what to do for dinner Saturday and still unsure about venturing into a very formal Japanese restaurant, more out of fear of making some social faux-pas than of the food, we had a Japanese free-for-all. In the basement of our new favorite department store (More's City), there was a grocery and gourmet shop. It had everything from the new Beaujolais to Thai hot sauces. This was not what we were looking for; we went for the good stuff, the Japanese everyday, "I need to grab dinner" food. The seafood section of grocery stores alone feature more than some American seafood markets found next to a seaport. Roe was sold by weight, there were tongs tethered to plastic bins full of every kind small fish (whole) imaginable, much like choosing a bagel in self-serve bakery. We went to the prepared foods and ended up taking home with us a panorama of unidentifiable goodies. The only thing we knew we were purchasing was the sushi, which was amazing. Not a hint of fishy smell or flavor, it melted with the rice. There were intestines on a stick that tasted like bacon, and these fried seafood and mayonnaise balls. The fried vegetables, the one thing we were sure we would like, were horrible. We now feel ready to try a real ryootee.

I also began Kengekitai, samurai sword techniques for stage performance. Our sensei (teacher) is a stunt choreographer for Japanese samurai soap opera and a Judo master, I am sure I could take him. I am taking the class with Marshall Morton a very close friend's 17 year old son. Marshall told me he had heard about the class in school. I assumed I would be among a large group of teenage boys geared up for hack and slash; oh to the contrary. Marshall and I were the first Americans they had ever taught. The rest of the class was made up of two Japanese 21 year old guys and two Japanese women, one of whom was an interpreter since the instructor does not speak English. I felt out of place and like a huge load on the students who had obviously been doing this a while. I think this will prove to be a fantastic experience and will be sure to keep you all updated since the sensei is anticipating our performance in their April opening of the base to the Japanese public!