January 28, 2012: Tokyo Day #1! Earthquakes, interviews, and chicken butts!

When I woke up this morning, my eyeballs felt like desiccated husks swarming with fire ants.  Compounding the issue was the fact that "morning", in this case, was 3:37 a.m.  Following a series of travel-related delays, we didn't end up checking into our hotel until 9:00 p.m. local time.  After grabbing a quick meal, showering, and trying unsuccessfully  to get a wireless connection in my hotel room, I turned in for the night a little after 11:00 p.m. – which was a little after 6:00 a.m. Vancouver time, meaning I'd been up for approximately 24 hours.  Following an early start to my day, I was greeted this morning by my very first earthquake (apparently there have been three successive shakes today).  It was a weirdly disorienting experience. Even though it was more of a sway than a shake, I felt off-balance, as if I'd "caught a touch of the vapors" as they used to say in the old days.  Akemi shouted "Earthquake!".   I stepped out of the bathroom and insisted it was impossible.  I was sure I'd checked off the "no earthquakes" box when I checked in yesterday.

Anyway, here I sit in the business centre, updating today's entry.  In an hour, I'll be meeting my friend Keiko and heading out to Le Salon de Chocolat over at the Shinjuku Isetan.  Good times, but I miss my Tokyo wingman, Ivon Bartok.  Star Bar won't be the same without him.

Thank you again to everyone who has left comments and touched base with me re: Maximus.  I do read all the comments, once when I moderate them and later at night, and truly appreciate your taking the time to write.

I leave you today with some travel photos:

Hmmm. When I got on the plane, I found this sitting by my seat. P. 12: Window of seat 1A keeps coming loose and getting sucked into left engine along with occasional occupant. Double-check on next flight.

I always enjoy the "if this plane has to make an emergency landing on water" announcements. Yep. We'll just land on that nice patch of ice down there. The secret is too think warm thoughts when treading water, waiting for rescue.

Akemi gets right back into Japanese fashion. This is a look I'd love to see Ivon rock the next time he's in town.

They say that nothing quenches your thirst like a nice hot can of corn soup.

We had a late dinner at one of the hotel restaurants. Among the many terrific items we sampled were these two interesting grilled selections: Japanese shisito peppers on the left, and chicken butts on the right (what my father would fondly refer to as "the Pope's nose"). Thought the latter would be a little meatier.

When we got back from dinner, there were a couple of surprises awaiting me. One was a designer belt and cashmere scarf from Akemi's father (domo arigato gozaimasu!). The other were these Dark Matter Kit Kats Akemi created and ordered prior to our departure. Pretty cool, no?

Speaking of my comic book series, Dark Matter, I did an interview with Bloody Disgusting over here: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/comics/1870

And the awesome Garry Brown makes the Best Covers of January list for his work on Dark Matter #1: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/01/26/best-covers-ever-this-month-january-2012/

Tagged: Dark Matter, Tokyo