Nipo-brasileiro

So last night was yet another night of random occurrences and extraordinary chance events that converged for an incredible night. Andy and Ian came to drop me off in a hostel in this normally sleepy neighborhood when re ran into the Asakusa Samba festival - I kid you not. I had heard that there were many Japanese that emigrated to Brazil from some of the school teachers we met, but I had no idea of the extent of influence on the Japanese culture. There are some 1.5 million Japanese living in Brazil or claim Japanese heritage. Apparently , many settled there after WWII. Now many Japanese-Brazilians, called Nipo-brasileiroin Portuguese, are returning to Japan for more opportunities. Interestingly, it was the Japanese immigrants that gave rise to Jiu Jitsu in Brazil.

The 28th annual samba festival held in Asakusa was incredible in its size. There were some 30 odd krewes or troupes that paraded in the streets. Each parading troupe had several samba dancers, a large group of marching dancers, a full samba band compete with multiple singers, and a man-powered float. The crowds were huge, but disconcertingly made up of many men with video and still cameras aimed at the girls. Besides sky-high school girl skirts, Japanese don't normally show that much skin which explains the throngs of old men. I was stunned at the reactions of the crowds though. Aside from the grinning old men, not a single onlooker was dancing, swaying, tapping their toes, or having any other emotion show. I guess it:s pretty typical Japanese that I have come to realize - totally stoic, unless alcohol is involved. These people looked they were at a funeral procession. Well, I didn't let that stop me from enjoying the music as it should be enjoyed. I was the sole dancer in the crowd for the entire parade. Andy and I had great spots near the competition judging of the parade, check out some of the photos.

Later that night, we again stumbled into heaven - this time sushi heaven. After traveling to many countries, one principle about lines is universal: if there are natives standing in line to a restaurant you had better get in it also. Though we had to wait in a line for about 20 minutes, this conveyor belt sushi restaurant was everything that a non-Japanese speaker could want. Color coded plates held scallops, 3 kinds of tuna, salmon, fried squid, mackrel, brain (I could not tell from which animal, but we ate it anyway), prawn, sweet rock shrimp, clams.... It went on and on until were were all stuffed, a stack of plates in front of us.

To top off the perfect night in Tokyo, we rented a karoke box and sang our hearts out. Then we partied with the Brazilians in some basement bar. Now off to India, no girls in thongs there....