Tokyo Swan 30: Tokyo Anime Fair 2008

Everyone knows that Japanese animation has become one of the largest exports out of Japan in the past 20 years. Anime has seen rising popularity in countries all over the world, and surely most people are familiar with at least one series. I had the good fortune of being able to visit the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2008, and it was a great experience!

The Tokyo International Anime Fair is the largest anime convention in Japan, and boy was it packed with just swarms of people! It really does take a lot of stamina to make your way through the massive crowds, just to catch a glimpse of the new upcoming anime shows. Of course, most of the content on display in the fair is propoganda to get viewers excited about new series, but when it is all on display in such a colorful and excited manner, it really does make the trip that much more worthwhile.

It was a fantastic experience (if not a draining one), and I hope I can catch it again next year!

Tokyo Swan 29: Youtube Hanami Party

While it's great to see the weather getting nice here in Kalamazoo, nothing compares to how beautiful it is in Japan when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. For a few very short weeks in spring, the cherry blossom trees are just a spectacular sight to behold, and the sheer visual beauty one can take from them is amazing.

During my time in Japan, I was able to attend a really fun party at the famous Yoyogi park with other Japan related youtube vloggers. It was great to meet many of the other guys and girls who also have been making videos about life in Japan, and to share this experience under the cherry blossoms was something I'll never forget.

Tokyo Swan 28: Akihabara Sunday

This episode sees another fun trip to the electronic district of Tokyo known as Akihabara. This interesting part of town became one of my favorite sections of Tokyo, because it was really interesting to see so many stores dealing only with electronics, anime, and comics.

One other main factor of Akihabara, is that on Sundays various people would line the main road and dress up as various anime or video game characters (or sometimes would just display eccentric fashion style). While such activites are not limited to Akihabara, it is one of the hot spots to go to if one wants to see such incredible costumes.

Also, there are various people playing instruments or putting on little steet-side shows. Imagine my surprise to see a group of people rapping on the side of the road! It's always a great time in Akihabara, and there's always someone interesting to meet.

Tokyo Swan 26: Harajuku Cosplayer

It's not uncommon on any given day of the week to see some truly awe-inspiring fashions while walking around Tokyo. In fact, one of the best days to see some of the more wacky and anime inspired costumes would be on a Sunday. Every Sunday in the Harajuku section of Tokyo, there's always a crowd of 'cosplayers' (short for costume players) who dress up either as anime/manga characters, or just exhibit daring fashion styles.

Harajuku itself, as I've previously mentioned, is one of the central locations in Tokyo to buy clothes. There are just roads and roads full of many different shops, and there's really something for everyone.

In this very episode, I take the camera into one of my favorite clothing stores found in Shibuya, to kind of show off the cool vibe and atmosphere of what it's like shopping for clothes in such a hip part of town. I hope you enjoy the experience!

Tokyo Swan 25: Daily Life

So for this episode, I decided to just turn the camera on and film whatever happened in the course of an average day off from school. This episode has a lot of good content, from showing off Keio University, the various shops that surrounded the school, and a fun trip for Chinese food in the classy Roppongi Hills area.

Also of interest in this video, is the footage taken at my dorm. Hopefully it will give students a better idea what dorm life will be like when they arrive in Japan. In a way, that’s remained one of the most important and lasting themes of the series. Those at WMU who are going to go to Japan in the fall are sure to meet just as many wonderful and unique individuals as I did.

I think this episode does a good job at capturing the good times I had with my friends. Funny, for an episode about just turning on the camera… I managed to get quite a lot done!

Tokyo Swan 22: Old House Tour

This week's episode is one that is more in tune with traditional Japanese culture. While it's great to wander the high tech streets of Akihabara, or hit up the exciting night clubs of Shibuya, it's also important to enjoy the more traditional side of Japan's culture when visiting. In Kawasaki (which was not too far from where I was living at the time), I took a trip to a local outdoor old house museum.

It was pretty interesting, being able to walk through many traditional style Japanese houses. After World War II, most of Tokyo had been rebuilt, so getting to go through these houses allows one to get a sense of what life was like many years ago in Japan.

This particular outdoor museum actually has some buildings that were designated cultural artifacts by the Japanese government, so it was certainly a great place to visit and soak up all the culture. While it's fun to enjoy all of the young and modern aspects of Japan, it's equally rewarding to step back and time and see how things used to be.

Tokyo Swan 21: Winter Wonderland

While the weather here in Michigan is now finally starting to show signs of spring, it has been interesting to reflect on the differences in the climate and weather here in Michigan versus the climate in Tokyo. In particular, I was really interested in how winter is like in Tokyo. Much to my surprise, it hardly snowed at all and even when it was at its coldest it was nowhere near as cold as it gets in Michigan!

So, one day when it did snow I decided to shoot another video to show what a really cold day in Tokyo is like. I went out with some of my friends to get some food, and we wound up going to a very well known Japanese restaurant known as Matsuya. It is kind of like the Mcdonalds of Japan, in regards to the fact that it’s very fast, very cheap, and very common. Certainly it’s not representative of finer restaurants in Japan, but it’s an interesting part of local food in Japan.

Also included in this video is a trip to the local starbucks. The starbucks there are actually very similar to the ones back home, but it’s still really interesting to check them out. Anyways, hope wherever you are in the world the weather is nice and you are having a good one!

Tokyo Swan 20: Roppongi and Tokyo Tower

Throughout the Tokyo Swan video series, I have to say that this one remains one of my top 5 favorite episodes. I think it captures the whistful sense of just exploring the city and being with friends. And believe me, in a city like Tokyo there's so much to explore!

The highlights of this episode include walking around Roppongi Hills. Now, when most people hear "Roppongi" they think of an area of Tokyo that is famous for having many bars and nightclubs that cater to foreigners living in Japan. However, Roppongi Hills is a subdivision of Roppongi and is a very upscale and classy place with art museums, giant movie theaters, and so much more.

Also, we walked around Tokyo Tower, which was actually not too far from where I was going to school at Keio University. This is one of the most famous landmarks in Japan, and it really is quite impressive just to stand near it. Throw in some footage from lunch, and some ice cream in the base of the tower, and you've got an all around fun episode!

Tokyo Swan 19: Shin Kawasaki Zoo

When I had arrived in Japan, did I ever think there would be penguins in my backyard? After a few months of living in the quiet area of Shin Kawasaki, I noticed a path that led up a very large hill that was just five minutes down the road from my dorm. I eventually ventured up the hill with a friend only to find a free local zoo!

Imagine my surprise to see zebra, penguins, goats, deer, monkeys, and all sorts of birds and smaller animals! It was really an eyebrow raising experience to find so many different animals so close to where I had been living. I had walked past the hill where the zoo was on so many times just to get to the train station, so it really was a shocker when I did go up the hill and found the zoo.

This is a pretty laid back episode, but it's nice to just focus on the interesting local surroundings, since who knows, perhaps other study abroad students will also have the pleasure of discovering such great local environments to spend their time in.

Tokyo Swan 18: Ice Cream City

Tucked away in the mega popular Sunshine City shopping mall of the bustling Ikebukuro section of Tokyo, Ice Cream City is perhaps one of the most fascinating places I have ever been to. I had initially heard of its greatness via some other youtube users had previously gone there to taste the varied and interesting ice cream flavors. Squid? Snake? Octopus? Curry? Garlic? Baskin Robbins has got nothing on Ice Cream City.

Ice Cream City is found in Sunshine City, which is a mega popular mall in Ikebukuro. There are plenty of shops and places to eat there, and I've gone there many times becuase it is such a fun place to be. The ice cream itself is located in a strange area of the mall called 'namjya town' which is a huge indoor amusement park. I had never been anywhere so off the wall before in my life, and it really is a unique experience to just walk around the fake forests and mine shafts of the indoor park.

So how does something like octopus ice cream taste? With real octopus chunks in the ice cream, I couldn't believe what I was eating... but it actually tasted pretty good! Oddly enough, I enjoyed the snake ice cream better (which I had on a return trip back). I strongly encourage anyone in the Tokyo area to scope out Ikebukuro's Sunshine City mall to catch a glimpse of the world's most talked about ice cream parlour!

Tokyo Swan 17: The Mos Burger Boy.

Sometimes, it's the little things that really leave a lasting impression. Such is the case with this episode of Tokyo Swan. Many people are curious about burgers in Japan. While most know that Japan has McDonalds and Wendys everywhere (with a few burger kings popping up again here and there), there are also some major Japanese burger chains to be aware of. Two of the Japanese burger giants are Freshness Burger and Mos Burger (pronounced like the word 'most' without the final t sound.)

Personally, I think Mos Burger is fantastic. While not as common as McDonalds, I was lucky enough to have one just 20 minutes down the road from my dorm in a cool little area called Kashimada. It was just a little place with some shops, a few places to eat, and a cool arcade. I really enjoyed walking there, and more often than not I would find myself in the Mos Burger.

While it does cost a little bit more than McDonalds, the atmosphere is a bit classier and the food itself is great. Since coming home I've wanted to have a Mos Burger so bad, so I'm really hoping to find my way back to Japan in the fall. It may seem silly that something as simple as a burger joint can invoke such nostalgic emotions, but like I said earlier, it's the little things in life that sometimes leave the biggest impressions.

Tokyo Swan 16: Asakusa

Asakusa is one of the more traditionally cultural areas of Tokyo. Full of shrines and towering pagodas, it is clearly an area of Tokyo that all visitors should travel to at least once. Leading up to one of the main temples in the area, there are just so many different stalls and shops full of traditional goods and food. If one is looking for a good gift to get someone back home, Asakusa is always a good bet because there are so many unique Japanese items to buy there.

In the past, Asakusa was a hot spot for geisha, both of the legitimate and somewhat seedy kind, but today it’s a pretty popular spot for tourists and locals alike. I really liked some of the giant statues they had near the shrines, and as you can see in the video it’s a very beautiful location.

Over the course of my year in Tokyo, I visited Asakusa a number of times with my friends, because it is one of the areas of Tokyo that really makes you feel like you have stepped back into time, but it’s just a quick train ride away from central Tokyo. I’m looking forward to when I’ll be able to walk amongst the temples again!

Tokyo Swan 15: Return to Akihabara

Akihabara is probably one of the most famous sections of Tokyo amongst young people. It is known as the "electric town," a place where there are streets and streets of just electronic stores. It certainly does live up to its name! Akihabara is full of shops selling computers, video games, DVDs, and other electronic products.

It is also famous for being the central hub of Japanese animation. There are plenty of shops selling anime and manga, and while some of these shops may not have been appropriate to take younger shoppers, the vast amount of manga found within Akihabara is staggering.

Another aspect of the electric town is that there are plenty of Japanese citizens who will dress up as famous anime and video game characters and walk the streets. Many people come to just take pictures of these dedicated fans, and it really is something that has to be seen in person to be believed. I loved going to Akihabara, there was always something new and exciting to see!

Tokyo Swan 14: Ueno and Harajuku Shopping With Girls

Before heading out to Japan, many study abroad students wonder how shopping for clothing will be. What will the sizes and styles be like? How about the price? Let me put any concerns to rest becuase shopping for clothes in the Tokyo area is great. First, there is Harajuku which is a fantastic section of Tokyo that is known for different fashions and styles. There are so many different clothing shops that there is really something for everyone. The prices range from very pricey to very cheap, and if you look around it won't take you long to find something great.

Ueno is another sectin of Tokyo that is typically known for the great park and zoo there, but there's also quite a few clothing stores over there as well. In general, the Tokyo area has many different options for fashion. While this video focuses on fashion for girls, I of course did shopping for myself on numerous occasions, and the same holds true for guys. I really enjoyed the variety of stores that are found in Tokyo.

Also not present in this video is the famous Shibuya 109. This is basically the most well known clothing shop for girls in Tokyo, and it was just floors and floors of different clothing stores. Shopping with the girls certainly tired me out, but it was a fantastic time!

Tokyo Swan 13: Dorm Room Tour

This episode should prove very useful for students who are interested in studying abroad. It's a tour of my dorm room from when I was staying at "Plume IS." As you can see in the video, there is a little kitchen area, a private bathroom, and a nice little balcony. The room had a great heater, so it was always warm when the weather got cold, and there was enough space to not feel cramped.

The dorm itself was about 50 minutes away from Keio university, so it did take a bit of a commute in the morning to get to school. This became second nature, and now I find myself missing the train ride to school every morning.

The dorm was home to about 40 or so international students, and it was a great place to meet a lot of wonderful new friends. It was awesome living with people from all over the world, and I would not trade the experience for anything. Anyway, hope this video can be of use to anyone who is going to study abroad, particularly in Japan, so they have a better idea of what they may be working with in terms of housing once they arrive.

Tokyo Swan 12: Elton at the Budokan

Now this was a fun day! Never would I have dreamed that I would be able to see Elton John live in concert in Tokyo! I’ve been a massive fan of his music for many years, so when I heard that he was going to be playing a special show at the Nippon Budokan I knew I had to be there!

Getting the ticket proved to be somewhat challenging at first. I eventually found out that you can buy concert tickets at pretty much any convenience store, so all it took for me was a trip down the street to the local Lawson’s to get my ticket.

The venue as I stated was the Nippon Budokan. This is mainly a large martial arts hall, but it was made famous for rock concerts when The Beatles played there back in the sixties. It’s located right in the heart of Tokyo, not too far off from the imperial palace.

The concert was amazing, and Elton really put on a show. The crowd was mostly Japanese, but there were some other foreigners there too. While I don’t feel the crowd as energetic as some other concerts I had been to, it was an amazing night and I’m so glad I got to Elton perform many rare and classic songs live. I recommend that other students in Japan try to get tickets to concerts they would want to see in Japan as it is a fun experience!

Tokyo Swan 11: Minato Mirai

Ahh Minato Mirai, now this was one of my favorite places to visit in Japan. Tucked away in Yokohama was this amazing outdoor theme park that required no entry admission fee. Instead, you paid for each individual ride you wanted to try out. The great thing about this is that you were free to just walk around the area and take in all of the great scenery at no cost! The giant Ferris wheel overlooking the water, the haunted house, the various arcades; Minato Mirai had it all.

I went to Minato Mirai multiple times over the course of my year in Japan, and it was always a pleasure to be there. The roller coaster that went underground was also a lot of fun! Also, there were a few huge, nearby shopping malls that had tons of great stores and restaurants. It was also not uncommon to see various cool street performers like singers or magicians around the park, and it was always a fun place to go to.

There is an old legend surrounding the giant Ferris wheel about the different colored lifts or cars one would ride in. There is only one purple one, and it is believed that if a couple rides in the purple compartment, then they will fall in love. Sadly, I think I wound up in a blue one, so no such luck for me! I hope one day I can go back to Minato Mirai and try my luck again!

Tokyo Swan 10: Tokyo Disneyland

What a fun time this was! The story begins with my school having a day off due to a big baseball game against Waseda University, the rival school. Yup, these games are such big deals that classes are cancelled and everyone gets a day off. I decided to spend the day with some friends going to Tokyo Disneyland. It had been many years since I had been to Disneyworld in Florida, so I was quite excited to see how similar and different the Japanese version would be.

The first thing that really struck me was how amazingly crowded it was! Even though it was a weekday the place was packed with families and children. Large crowds are certainly no stranger to life in Tokyo, but when you add large crowds to Disneyland it equals hours of waiting in line. I think we waited about 2 hours or so just to get onto some of the rides!

Still it was a fun time, and I was surprised as to how similar the park was compared to my memories of the one in Florida. There were many of the same rides, and many costumed characters could be seen walking about. I remember the price being decent, perhaps even a little cheaper than the American park.

While it was unfortunate that we didn’t get to ride too many of the rides due to the long lines, it was a fun experience to compare the Japanese Disneyland to the American park. Hopefully when I return to Japan I can visit again and scope out some of the rides I passed on last time due to the crowds!

Tokyo Swan 9: Buddha in Paradise

Now this was a lot of fun! Away from the towering buildings and bustling streets of Tokyo is the close by and beautiful area of Kamakura. One of the main attractions there is the giant statue of Buddha, or the great daibutsu as it is known. It was huge! I went with some friends and many school children on field trips had come to see the giant statue. There are two such giant buddha statues in Japan, but the other one is around Kyoto I believe.

Another really fun area of Kamakura was Enoshima island. I had a blast exploring the island, as it really looked like something out of a movie. Kamakura was such a beautiful place to visit, and it was amazing to think it was so close to Tokyo and all of the hectic energy that is associated with such a large city. Here, I was able to catch a breather and just relax as I looked at the world around me from the top of paradise. I recommend that everyone who finds themself lucky enough to study abroad around the Tokyo area to also check out Kamakura, as it is truly a great place to visit!

Tokyo Swan 8: Yagami Festival

In this episode, I went to the school's fall festival. I guess the best way to think about this, is that it is like the Japanese version of our Bronco Bash. There are many booths set up outside by various student groups, and they encourage other students to join clubs and activities. Unlike Bronco Bash, there are also quite a few booths with incredible food (at decent prices), so even if someone wasn't interested in getting involved on campus (which I would say is a wasteful move), then one would get a load of great food.

There was also a lot of live entertainment in the form of various bands and dancing groups. This was really cool, and a lot of the performers were actually quite good.

The other campuses of Keio also had festivals, but I enjoyed this Yagami one the best as this campus was a bit more spread out then the Mita campus where my classes were usually held. Also, this was just a quick 7 minute walk down the street from where my dorm was, so it was great to just walk a few minutes and then be engulfed in so much fun activity. It was a great time, and all of the delicious food was not to be missed!