Shinsaibashi

I have been super busy at school with midterms! Watashi wa isogashii desu. Hence why I haven't been blogging recently. I wanted to blog today about my absolute favorite place in Osaka, Shinsaibashi. Shinsaibashi is a district filled with J-fashion, J-music, and generally alternative people. I like it there because I feel the least uncomfortable, there are other people that look like me (and far more extreme than me too)! It has some of the biggest designer stores I have ever seen, an Louis Vitton tons of stories tall for example, and two Dolce & Gabbana stores on one street. As interesting as all that is, I like Shinsaibashi because of the back streets. The back streets have parks, J-fashion stores, second hand stores, funky people, skateboarders, live music on the street, like home in Asheville, only Japanese. My other favorite part of Shinsaibashi is the highly touristy part, but that is only because of the water and the bridge surrounded by neon signs reaching to the sky. The first time I went there I felt like such a country girl, because I was standing there staring up with my mouth hanging wide open. Now I am used to the giant buildings and signs, used to the high fashion boutiques, used to the massive groups of people walking down the street (very slowly I might add).

These are all photos of Shinsaibashi, some night, some day, some in the back streets, some in the big city part. Also, some random anthropological photos of people walking around, because I enjoy looking at them. And my food obsession continues, with Caitlin and I sharing a plate of Takoyaki (octopus balls) in the park, and a photo of lychee fruit, which I love. Here is a video of a band that was playing on the street, they were actually really good. love that live music can just happen here, you don't have to have a permit, or anything. Well then, off to study! Jaa, benkyooshimasu! Sayonara!