Sushi Showdown

Now I know what your wondering, because I once wondered it myself. In the question of Man vs. sushi, sushi vs. man... who will win?
Well, I can tell you now.
The answer is not man.

The Sushi Showdown
After trying to sleep past 5 am, due to jet lag, Tucker and I finally rolled out of our hotel around 7:30 AM. After starting our day in a truly Japanese way (OK FINE, we went to starbucks), we hopped on a train. We went where every tourist goes in Tokyo, when they can't sleep till a normal human hour: the Tsujiki Fish Market. We were actually too late to see the fish auctioning, but we walked around for a while, seeing the bustling market vendors and then finally decided to sit somewhere and taste some of the "freshest fish in the world."

Nestled next to each other was tiny restaurant after tiny restaurant (they are so tiny!). There was a line outside of one, which we assumed had to be a good sign - so we got in line as well. After a short wait and a lady yelling where to stand in a language we didn't understand, we got in. The place was like 2 ft wide and had about ten seats total - all at the sushi counter. We sat down and they asked us something we didn't understand. We struggled to answer. So, the sushi chef (see photo) showed us this menu w/ pictures and basically implied "this is what we serve." (or "this is what you will eat.") Tucker replied with a resounding "HAI!"

As the chef prepared our sushi, he asked the one thing he knew how to say in English "Where are you from?"
I responded "USA. Boston."
He thought for a second...and then responded.
"Boston. Daisuke Matsuzaka?"
We replied "YES!! HAI!"
We had had a conversation! Success!

Soon enough, the sushi started coming. And, we were in over our heads. The chef just placed piece after piece of unrecognizable sushi and fish on our plates. A few things were good, but after a little while - we realized they weren't going to stop giving us more fish, and we had to continue eating b/c otherwise, it was rude. I started to get panicky. Eating sushi at 9 am is one thing, but eating stuff you don't want or like is another. Some of it was sort of grossing me out. I got really hot. I looked around for an exit. I started flipping through the phrasebook as fast as I could to try to find how to ask "Where is the bathroom" but I couldn't find it. The chef and waitress saw me looking at the phrase book and waved it away, saying "eato! eato!" and then pointed at the line outside. Apparently, we were eating too slowly! I looked at Tucker who appeared to be happily(?) throwing it all down, so i decided I also had to power through.
I finally quietly checked in w/ Tucker and he was like "oh my god, the sushi is never going to stop. We are eating too slow. we have to finish..."
I eventually admitted to myself I was going to be rude, and not finish everything. There was no way to "move the food around" either to make it look like I had eaten it all.

Tucker paid. 7000 yen (around $70) for the two of us.

We left and stood outside. We were quiet. I offered Tuck a piece of gum. He yelled YES so loud and then said, "that was the most money I've ever spent on something I hated in my whole life."
What a morning!
It was definitely the freshest fish I've ever had. And it was definitely an experience. But it was no Inman Square Spice and Rice.
Welcome to Japan. Sushi showdown? Check.
Or check mate? Whatever.


Other highlights/thoughts of the day:
- Friends who have been to Asia before said we should be prepared to be stared at. I have to say, though, besides two adorable Japanese girls asking to take a photo with us in it, we haven't been stared at all. In fact, its quite the contrary. I am the one doing the staring - at white people. I think, every time i see a white person - i'm just curious to know where they are from, if they are American or whatever. So apparently, we aren't the starees - but more the starers.

- After walking around taking photos of everything, carrying and using a Phrasebook, and stopping to look at EVERY map we see - we will never make fun of tourists we see in Boston ever again.

- People constantly say something to us in Japanese and we have no idea what they are saying. And for some reason every time - i look to Tucker for an answer. haha like HE speaks Japanese ?!

- Our Japanese is really lacking. Basically we just say Origato (thank you) over and over again. At least we are polite!

- DANA JAY BEIN- today we saw this huge line in the street, that was being crowd controlled by cops. We had no idea what was going on. We finally get to the front of the line - and realize they were all waiting to get into the brand new H&M! Haha. I have some great photos of the chaos that I'll upload soon. This line spanned for BLOCKS!

- We saw some absolutely beautiful gardens today. Check the photos labeled "First day in Tokyo."

Tomorrow night, we are having dinner with a friend of a friend. It will be nice to have someone who speaks Japanese order for us.

oh, Happy belated birthday to my brother, Ben!