Umeda, Tenjinbashi, DenDen Town, Shinsekai (Did I Miss Anything?)

There seems to be a lot to be seen today. Like this whole trip, so many things, so little time. Today's route is a little different. Instead walking outside under the sun, we will travel underground. Why can't we have a transportation system like that? If Japan can connect its four main islands, why can't we find a way to connect the islands? I wish Maui had some sort of system like that. Can you believe that about 2 years ago Maui finally started a public bus system? Maui is far behind of Oahu.

We head to Yodobashi Camera in Umeda. We have a little over an hour and 30 minutes. There are many floors of electronics and clothes shopping. It's amazing how many Uniqlo stores there are in the Kansai area. In Tokyo last year, I remember only seeing one. This year, it seems like Uniqlo finds you. I wonder how hard it would be for Uniqlo to expand to Hawaii.

Time to leave Umeda and head to Tenjinbashi. From the Kansai Collection website, it says that this area is 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles) of shops and restaurants. Each section has different color torii (Shinto gates) probably to help you locate a shop. This area reminds me of Soko Ga Shiritai (そこが 知りたい). All are mom and pop shops. I wonder how they make it through during a slower economy. It must be a hard time for them. Maybe that's why they are so friendly towards customers as they patron their shop. Also they do have their loyal local customers. Everyone stops at the hanko shop. A hanko is a legal stamp that is your signature. Each find their name except for me (T_T). Yoko says to go inside and ask. The couple looks through their records and finds my name. Is my last name that uncommon in Japan? Maybe next time I will look in a phone book to see how many Nikaidos there are. The couple is really nice and starts a short conversation about their kids. They said that their kids have friends from UH Manoa. It must be refreshing to have foreigners come for them. It really shows how much department stores and national chains have taken away from the social aspect of the merchant world. Osaka is the city of merchants, but department stores feel cold and unemotional compared to the warmth of the mom and pop shops in Tenjinbashi.




On the way to the station, we pass by a shrine. It seems like they turn up anywhere. Osaka is a merchant city. They don't have time to go out of their way to pray at a shrine. Instead, shrines are found on the way to the station or to work.





Our next stop, Den Den Town. It isn't like Akihabara. I don't know what to do here. This place seems like Osaka's response to Tokyo's Akihabara during the anime explosion. In Akihabara, there were more maid cafes, manga shops, and cosplay stores. In Den Den Town, there are more discount laptops (パソコン) and other electronics. There are a lot of Ero (エロ) video stores. There isn't much time to explore, so me and Bev look around a toy store and to our meeting place.

As we walk around, I wonder if otaku is dying in Japan. My friend raved about Den Den Town when I said we were going there. I don't think it's the same place as he saw it in high school almost 10 years ago. Is Japan moving on from otaku and into something more modern? Japan is constantly changing itself to improve on itself. Can America keep the otaku spirit alive?










The last place to see today is Osaka Shinsekai. This is the sight of Tsutenkaku ("tower reaching heaven"). I was surprised with the line to go up the tower. I never really knew about this place until I read it in the handbook. It isn't listed in the DK Eyewitness Travel. The tower is 103 meters total, but the observation area is at 91 meters. It is not the original tower. It was taken down during World War II to prevent any air attacks on Osaka.

The tower is also home to the Billiken. The Billiken was created by the Japanese, but a by an American school teacher who saw the creature in a dream. This year is the 100th anniversay of the Billiken. Maybe that's why so many people have gathered. Billiken reminds me of other magical creatures like the Menehune or Leprechaun. The Billiken must be in the same league as these creatures.

On the observation deck, you can have a 360 view of Osaka. I could see the Don Quixote building and Den Den Town. Everything looks so close together. It looks like we can walk to each location instead of getting on the subway.

After a short look around the observation deck for pictures, we have to head back to the hotel and get ready to meet the Osaka graduates.

This time it was a different experience. They were quiet at first. They didn't know as much English as the Ritsumeikan students. I guess it shows what areas are emphasized. It took a little more for the students to open up to us. My Japanese helped me a lot in making the students more comfortable to speak.

Our time is almost up at the first izakaya. Things have just gotten started and decide to go to another izakaya. We learned quite a few Osaka dialect words. We also tried to teach Hawaii's dialect, pidgin. It is very interesting trying to teach some words that really don't have an explanation. It's even harder to explain it in another language.

Hopefully we all can stay in touch with each other. Last year we did for about a month and then they stopped writing back. I can just hope for the best.

I cannot believe that tomorrow is the last class day. The time has gone by so fast. A couple more days and we will be heading back home.