Anna’s Housewarming + Karaoke Torture

October 7^th, 2006

I hate Karaoke…but not wanting to spend the entire day sulking in my house because of the rain, I decided to tag along with some friends for an afternoon @ Maneki-Neko.

Btw: the rain hasn’t stopped for about a week. L

Me waiting for Jenny

Finally we arrive and I was content simply sitting there listening to: Harajuku Girls, Britney Spears, I’m a Barbie Girl and numerous Queen songs, all done in Japanese accents! It was actually really entertaining. It reminded me of Rush Hour when Jackie Chan is singing: WAR, huh! What it-is-it good for, a-s-olutely not-ing! HUH!

Me and Reiko

I actually think Jenny sang more Japanese songs than the actual Japanese people.

After a few beers, Takako gets bored with the singing approach and becomes a back-up dancer, showing Jenny her latest moves from Jazz-er-size class…

Needless to say, after 5 hours of this, I got bored and started reading the random food boxes that we had on the table. They are so funny, so I took pictures of a few.

Caption reads: More Beer!!! For instance~ Drink beer for a bit of relaxation.

HA. Leave it to the Japanese to try to be proper on a Styrofoam beer cup.

Is this sexism? Or just simply good marketing? This Pocky box says “Men’s bitter chocolate.” Maybe women don’t like bitter chocolate? I sure didn’t, is it because I am a woman and therefore inherently I don’t like this brand of Pocky? Maybe the Japanese know more about male/female taste buds than American manufacturers? STUPID RANDOM BOX! But it does make you think, what possessed them to write this?

After Karaoke for 5 hours, it was then onto Anna’s Housewarming party in Nakajo. Nakajo is about an hour away from Sanjo on the expressway (which you have to pay for in Japan). After picking up Melissa from the train station, we headed out for Nakajo in the pouring rain with my hand drawn directions for roads that have no names! Anna is in the red.

We made it. With so many foreigners in one room, it was like the paparazzi had taken over. Hours later, the picture session had completed and it was a great night! Well, for most of us at least!

From left to right: Pam (Ireland), Justine (Canada), Natasha (South Africa), Lindsey (England)