Johanna Jarvis, Class of ’27, is a Graphic Design major studying at Tamagawa University this Spring/Summer 2024
As the time to return home approaches, much more stress and consideration has emerged for planning… But, with a clean-cut schedule comes more opportunities! Last weekend I (finally) went to what one would call “a home away from home” (you’ll know what I mean when you scroll down). An adventurous Monday to say the least, but the weekend was fun-packed with Sanno Matsuri and the famous Lucky Cat!
As I was looking up things to see– my mind off its leash because of our departure countdown commencing– I saw that an, all-too-familiar figure was just a 20 minute train away: Lucky Cat or 招き猫 “Beckoning Cat”. The symbol behind Lucky Cat is that it is said to bring good fortune and prosperity; to be placed on something valuable to you such as your desk for good studies and productivity as well. As the clock’s ticking, I knew I wanted to start getting some specific souvenirs for friends and family, so this would be for my mom! My first attempt at this was not successful; I went without looking up the closing times (a common mistake I make) and not a soul in the streets. Next day though, I was able to visit and see the immense amount of these cats spotted around the shrine. You could make it into a game of hide and seek if you really think about it! I had a good bit of fun to start my morning looking at all these :3 faces…
Walking down toward the shrine, you could see the area has prospered off of the famous tourist site: with lucky cat biscuits, lucky cat decorations, and numerous cute lucky cat statues and plushies to spot! I was most intrigued by this one scene, one house in particular placed out as a decoration. As I arrived, as with many other foreigners, there was a limit to how many cats one customer could buy, I assume from both the tourist influx and limited material. My mission was complete and I headed to Shinjuku!
Now, if you know me, you would know that I LOVE Korean barbecue (more than the next guy even). We went to this place that I would highly recommend, Kogiro! The atmosphere is really nice with mood lighting and wonderful placement for seconds… thirds even… The fun thing about this place that differs from when I usually get Korean barbecue at KPot is not only the self-serve environment, but also how you can boil your own eggs and ramen. I usually have my typical tteokbokki and ramen, but this day I went different: white rice. Perfect combination. It wasn’t as dense as ramen, and the meal satisfied our hunger for a solid eight hours.
Next stop was the Sanno Matsuri! The ride wasn’t too long and I’m glad we got there early since the crowd hadn’t started forming yet! Once we arrived, I gasped in delight since the Hie-Jinja shrine was filled with numerous monkey guardians and statues: our zodiac animal! As we walked through, we found our first, authentic ramune and watched a bit of the Kabuki showing. From what I could interpret, it was a Kitsune/Fox trying to plant seeds as the Saru/Monkey would provoke the Fox and try to eat the seeds in failure. What makes this festival different from the others I’ve attended is that it was the time of the festival period that they hosted the Bon Odori. During this time there is a stand/float in a center, as the citizens dance around it, making it a dance festival. Now, I had no idea what was in store for me when it came to traditional dances. I have dabbled in that sector, sure, but this was a festival where the experts seemed to be taking charge. Though I brought my yukata to be dressed for the occasion, I sat back in the crowd and enjoyed doing my own little dance practice while watching the moves.
Lastly, though this was two days later, I just HAD to end off my last trip-related blog with this great opportunity and restaurant: Nihombashi Philly. This started as just a simple instagram post I viewed quite some time ago that I found interesting. The owner visited Philadelphia, in love with our sense of community and cuisine, and had been studying to perfect his making of the cheesesteak for YEARS. It was so cool to see something from home be made across the globe! I respect him so much for his efforts, and I must say- with the ingredients given, from imported beef to homemade cheese whiz, it was DELICIOUS. It was a hilarious experience as me and Sophie, both Philly natives, talked about it the entire meal, to then be personally called down to take a picture with the owner and write our names on the wall. It was truly so heart-warming and fun.
Ah. As the blogs settle in, I hope you guys have enjoyed my writing! My last blog shall be for all of you who may want to study abroad during your time at Drexel– so make sure to look out and tune in!
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