I'm a nerd. I spent a good portion of today explaining to my new friends, Rasmus, a Dane, Ryan, a Scot, Becca, a Swede, and Barbra, a German, the finer points of Shinto religion, Tokugawa era and Meijji Era Japanese history. Granted, they knew I was a history nerd from our conversation last night, and had asked me to explain. Doesn't help the fact that all of a sudden I've become the kid from Eurotrip who's constantly got a Frommers in hand and jumps up and down at the idea of seeing a monument.
Oh well, rock it.
Our expedition had started around ten thirty, we'd stayed out late the night before shooting the shit and just getting a feel for each other. In the morning, Ryan and I ate breakfast and quizzed each other about our plans. I had planned to visit the Imperial Palace, but discovered that Ryan and Becca were planning on heading to Harajuku, a part of the city famous for cosplay, a kind of dress up that people who are into comics and anime do. After politely asking if I could tag along, we picked up Barbra and Rasmus who also wanted to go. A short metro and train ride later we were in Harajuku.
Three hours later we had seen a total of one cosplayer. I'm not sure if we got the location wrong, or our guidebooks just deceived us, but we did find an upscale shopping district, Barbra and Becca were in hog heaven, Rasmus, Ryan and I were just bored. Around one or two in the afternoon, we came to the consensus that the cosplayers must be in the large park directly to the north of us.
Half an hour later, intrigued by a giant torri (a wooden structure that serves as a symbolic gate) we found ourselves wandering through wide pathway surrounded on all sides by dense forest. When we saw another torri in the distance my brain finally engaged and I realized where we were.
We were on the path to the Meijji Jingu. The resting place of the ashes of Emperor Meijji and his wife. The holiest Shinto shrine in the city.
I probably should have toned down my excitement, but again, I'm the history nerd. When we arrived at the shrine there were thousands of people there, I noticed a few people off to the side in traditional Shinto garb, but thought nothing of it until I was politely asked by a police officer to get out of the way. Turning around, I realized that Ryan and I were blocking the procession of people in formal wear from getting to the shrine. I was confused for all of two seconds before I realized that we were getting to watch a traditional Shinto wedding!
Then I got to get my teach on by explaining to everyone what was happening. Good day? I think so.
-Doug
I'm glad you got to get your teach on. It's good for you and it's good for those who meet you. Keep it up.
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