November 16th, 2001. Brian goes in search of a pancrase school.

Ichigao Station, Denen-Toshi line, two stops south of where I am. The ward office where I got my gaijin card is here too. Ok, so I'm fed up with being out of shape and want to start up with some physical activity. I know that there is a pancrase school here somewhere. As you may have gathered from previous journal entries, finding places in Tokyo is not the easiest thing to do. In fact, it's damn well impossible if you don't have a personal guide. I think those Nepalese shirpas would do well here.

Anyway, I got off at the station and followed a map that a co-worker of mine drew for me. I couldn't remember the exact directions he gave me, so I just sorta guessed. Big mistake. I ended up in the middle of nowhere, with a huge set of stairs in front of me. I swear, it must have been at least 300 steps up, if not more. Figuring that I hadn't much to lose, since I was lost and sweaty already, I started my way up...

This is what I found at the top of the stairs. It wasn't worth the climb.

Looks like a major highway, but then again, it's not even close to being crowded. I wonder what it's like to drive in Tokyo.

Feeling a little dejected, I began my trek back to the train station and noticed this. Odd, I hadn't seen it the first time I passed. I wonder what is at the top? It had better be more exciting than what I found at the top of the other stairs.

Oh, it's a cemetary. Cool.

Everything in here is so tightly packed. It must be a nightmare to come here to pay respects on special occasions.

This was at the end of the cemetary. What is with these bits of nature in the middle of the city? It is so out of place, but nice all the same.

I didn't actually pick this, I just did this for the photo. I wonder what kind of fruit this is? Yeah, well, that's it. I don't feel much like writing today, but I liked the photos too much not to post them.