Javantea in Japan

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Shibuya Youth Clubs
by Joel R. Voss aka. Javantea
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Aug 31, 2006 13:00 PST
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My Japanese friend took me to Shibuya after our visit to Kamakura. It was good timing, the first holiday of Golden Week. In Shibuya, there are many clubs. In fact, if you don't want to pay a cover you can listen to music playing over loudspeakers in the streets of Shibuya. It's a sweet place. Since Shibuya is close to Harajuku, we made our way over to see the excellent fashion designers, models and cosplayers. It's certainly a sight to see any day of the week.

Arriving at the club, I started meeting people. I met one of the performering groups, a rock band that played a very sweet mix of alternative and punk. They didn't want to be called punk or alternative, but we're simple over here in the States; we call an orange an orange even if it's a mikan (蜜柑 [みかん] /(n) mandarin). After a while of language incompatibility, I spoke in my best Japanese that I had visited Akihabara nearly every day that month. I was able to discuss favorite animes for a few minutes. We both like Irresponsible Captain Tylor, but I wasn't able to communicate Furi Kuri (FLCL), one of my favorite anime.

I paid the cover of 700 yen (~$7), which came with one alcoholic drink or 1.5 soda-style drinks. The club was dark, but well-built like an amphitheater so that all people could sit on the stairs and have a good view of the performers. Two bands performed and were quite high quality. I would compare them to good indy bands here in Seattle. The music is definitely different from music in the States, though. I like it.

The people at the venue were very social even though they came from a wide variety of social groups: preppy, high school, punk, college, older. This is an excellent place to hang out if you aren't as interested in technology as in people. If you want to speak English, you'll probably have a 50/50 chance.

Working from 4am-3pm and partying from 3pm-4am? Wieder energy gels, found in your grocer's refrigerated energy drink isle (no, I'm not kidding).

How do you get to Shibuya? If you're on the Ginza line, it ends in Shibuya (hooray!). Otherwise, get to the Yamanote line and head to Shibuya.