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the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Tokyo, 2005.07.22

I've started my day with the supposedly 'acquired taste' of natto, which is made of fermented soy beans. I feel confident in saying that I doubt I'll eat anything more raunchy throughout the day.

Last night Jon and I met with a friend of his at the 'dog' (a statue of a dog that returned to the trian station here in Shubuya every evening for years after the passing of its human) at "Panic Crossing". Panic crossing is a large five-way intersection that wraps around one corner of the station. It's one of those systems where the cars have a turn then the pedestrians have a turn. It's large enough that you have to hustle a bit to cross the whole thing, a feat made more interesting by the many other pedestrians bent on crossing at a sharp angle to your direction.

Anyway, we crossed (in a panic I suppose), and went for Sukiyaki. This is one of those art-form types of food. You arrange a bunch of meats and veggies in a pan full of searing watery soy sauce and/or a boiling pot of water. Then you take whatever you've plucked out and dip it into a bowl into which you've just emptied/stirred a raw egg. It was a bit challenging to eat, but quite good.

rand()m quote

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

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