shinkansen surprise

Shinkansen is the Japanese word for the bullet train. I and the 4 other Jets departing for Mie prefecture on Friday August 24 had to take a subway to the main train station in Tokyo to catch the bullet train to Nagoya, and then catch a Kintetsu line to Yokkaichi.

A Mie Board of Education representative escorted us the entire trip. As we walked to the subway, in our prefessional best (a lot of grey slacks going on), an Australian in a white dress shirt came up behind us.

"Mind if I attach myself on to your little gaijin bubble for a moment? Jet program I presume. Well, I am on my way to get a tie, need to look my best, so enjoy your stay in Japan." He sneered, then veered off. His voice sounded just this side of 17 whiskey-sodas and 400 Marlboro Reds.

We boarded the subway toward the end of rush hour. Instead of cramming ourselves onto a full car (yes, the cars do get as full as the pictures, though I did not witness any staff actually shoving people on) . "This is the busiest subway station in the world," the BOE rep reminded us. I have heard differen statistics--anywhere from 1 to 3 million people a day use the station. It was impressive in its scale. The station where we picked up the bullet train was literally awing. The mass of bodies forms into an organisim itsef, bulging here, rising and falling there. We became part of a big amoeba, going up and down a series of stairs, and through various tunnels. Reminded me of rock concerts.

We bought a boxed lunch at the station to take on the train with us. Ⅰ chose the vegetarian option. My box was filled with bite-size surprises. A trembly purple square that was slightly opaque. Roots shaved into funny shapes. I recognized eggplant, shelled edamame, and the rice. It was not particulalry good, but I took it as a positive omen that, if nothing else, my culinary ife in Japan would be dotted with surprises.