Addiction - Why Settle For Less?

Sunday 1st February 1998

Addiction | Cuisine | Irish Theme Pubs | Japlish

Addiction

They probably didn't know what they were doing, the fools.

"I know," one of them no doubt said, "We'll take miniature bread sticks, about five inches long, and coat them with different toppings." "How about strawberry?" one piped up. And then the fatal blow: "We could even try chocolate..." And thus was born the chocolate-coated Pocky stick, and the seed of my addiction.

I only tried them once; just experimenting, really. Hell, we were all doing it - trying new things, stretching our legs in a new country; we were young and carefree - I'm not so carefree now; oh, no.

I get through a pack, maybe two, a day; on the train, at work, on the way home and then finally in the privacy of my room, I devour stick after stick, searching for and finding that delicious rush with every bite I take.

I'm constantly wondering where the next hit will come from - I could tell you exactly which platform and station kiosks sell them; I have to know because I can never be sure I won't suddenly finish the current packet in a recklessly-nihilistic surge of depravity. Also, I can never buy too many at once; I don't want the vendors getting suspicious, you see. What if the local 7-11 runs out? It's okay; I could name you three alternative retailers within a quarter-mile radius of the flat, two of which are 24-hour joints.

I'm worried that this could be leading down a dangerous path - what happens when the kick isn't enough, when chaining an entire pack in less than ten minutes no longer lifts me quite as far as I need? Then it's only a small step to getting Print Club stickers made up, and after that... well, the Class A drugs, obviously.

But I can handle it, of course. I could stop any time I wanted - at least, that's what I tell myself... but deep down I know that Pocky sticks rule my life. And so I slide ever deeper into a hedonistic quagmire of reckless self-indulgence. Ah well, at least it's cheaper than cocaine.

(The authors of this circular would like to point out that they do not condone the recreational use of hard drugs alluded to in the above paragraphs. Pocky sticks are fine, though, as long as you let us know where you got them, and pass us a pack or two...)

Cuisine

You can tell you're in a truly cosmopolitan, international city by the diversity and quality of the restaurants. Italian restaurants we have plenty of, most of them surprisingly good. There are Chineses everywhere; I could find you a Burmese or Cambodian place without too much trouble. What I wouldn't even have imagined I might find until earlier today, though, is a *Canadian* restaurant.

In all seriousness, the interestingly-named "Salty Box Grill" is a Canadian restaurant in Roppongi although I must admit I haven't checked out the menu yet. Moose? Beaver? Grits? French separatists? Stay tuned for more news on the Canuck cuisine front. Maybe I could get some genuine Maple syrup there.... mmmmm.

Irish theme pubs and Japanese housewives

It happened a while ago, but just because it's a great picture I still have in my mind, I thought I'd mention the school's New Year party last month in Ikebukuro - in the less-than-intriguingly-named "Dubliners", a themed.... (go on, just guess)..... *Irish* pub. I travel 6000 miles from Watford High Street, and what happens? The first party I go to is in an Irish theme pub. Still, at least whoever named it showed some evidence of having read a bit of Joyce.

I only mention it because of the scene inside: an "authentic" high-ceilinged Irish bar, full to the brim of Japanese housewives (our main demographic of student), none of them taller than 5ft5, all clutching seemingly-oversized pints of Guiness. Priceless.

That's it, really; just thought you'd like to know.

Japlish du Jour

(as seen on the menu of a pub in Shibuya:)

A Place for Communication Located
in The Center of City and Full of Life.
It is The Kirin-City!

Kirin City
BEER COMMUNICATION

(and also:)

Kirin - Beverage of Communication

(you know I couldn't make this up if I tried)

More later;

Chris

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