Last night we had chicken teriyaki with bok choy and rice. Not pictured above, that one’s from our trip to Tokyo in 2023. It *is* related though – the smell of chicken cooking in oil took me back to walking through Shin-Okubo at night. We stayed in Shin-Okubo in 2018 and again in 2023 and something I’ve learned is they’ve got damn good chicken. You’d smell all the restaurants cooking it at night as you passed by whether they were more street facing vendors or actual sit-down joints.

Our neighborhood was beautiful but the intense summer heat made appreciating it difficult after a long day of walking everywhere. Our honeymoon was a different story. Being there end of October into early November is something I absolutely intend on experiencing again. The weather was gorgeous and aimless strolls were a daily activity.

I wish I had taken more photos then. I wish I had taken more in 2023, even. I even made an effort to take more on the second trip but it never feels like enough. Maybe now that I’m trying to continue this blog, the next trip will yield more photos and more memories.

Speaking of memories. Super Potato. I don’t think I ever bought more than a few souvenirs there. A kirby pencil maybe? Can’t remember. It’s still a fun spot to visit each time. Something feels cozy about the small store cramped with video game merch and classic. I’ll even admit to being tempted by the Densha De Go! controller. (I did end up grabbing the Yamanote Line switch game at a Book Off, which I was unreasonably excited about.)

A few of the cons we work at have video game setups and I had completely missed that one actually had a little booth set up to resemble the front car of a train. Next time, I suppose.

I’m going to continue posting here, shouting into the void – even with an audience of one it still brings me some peace.

Now playing: