Meeting the Coolest Man in Japan

You'll be faced with 16 bowls of mochi, a sticky rice cake, topped with a variety of flavors. It's incredibly difficult to eat and talk at the same time! I tried sesame, soy bean paste, and ginger. Be warned: the fermented soy beans are absolutely awful, so don't go near them if you come to Japan.

We met Shoji Sugawara, the club's owner, in the late afternoon. The club has a powerfully nostalgic atmosphere, like being in a giant time capsule. There's a piano covered in cameras, a bar packed with bottles and books, and a seating area where customers sit in silence, drinking and deeply appreciating the music. It's a peaceful, meditative experience.

This was my first time seeing theater in Japan, and it was a unique experience. Taishu Engeki, or 'light theater,' is entertainment for the masses that doesn't take itself too seriously, aiming simply to make the audience laugh. It felt like a cabaret performance with impressive facial expressions and hand gestures. I saw a guy with angry eyes, a couple arguing over a baby, a man dressed as a woman stubbing out a cigarette on someone's face, and a chubby character bursting from a bamboo tree. The audience was loving it, even giving gifts to the performers.