Shiso Pepsi: Has Pepsi Finally Scored a Hit?

I have been waiting for several weeks for the new pepsi drink to hit the shelves. Unlike in the states, Pepsi gets creative with their drink flavors here in Japan. This year pepsi has decided to combine Shiso together with their classic pepsi blend. In the past, a lot of folks have despised pepsi`s ventures in cola experimentation. Even this year`s offering is getting some heat.

As for me, I actually kind of like Shiso pepsi. Hell, when I am hanging on the streets of Tokyo I usually go for two kinds of drinks; beer or soda. Well, it is not always the best decision to grab a beer. They say in Tokyo, `Remember T&P(time and place).` So, when I cannot have a beer I go for a soda. When the new pepsi showed up at my local quick stop I had to give it a go.

Well, how does my no good southern taste buds take to Shiso Pepsi? I actually found Shiso pepsi to be pretty good. My taste buds must be as adventurous as my general nature. It reminds me of an odd Mountain Dew kind of taste. It has a sweetness to it yet the after taste is surprising. The first time I drank it I ended up having a second round. Although, after a few days of Shiso pepsi being my soda of choice I am starting to have trouble getting through an entire bottle.

I guess Shiso pepsi is another temporary cheap trill to get the summer started off on a lighter note. I will end up having at least a few more bottles of the stuff before it is pulled from the shelves.

By the way, it is a good drink to have with Ramen. Drink it with your next bowl of Raman and leave a comment telling me what you think. Also, please feel free to offer your overall opinion about this odd offering from Pepsi.

Hard Times In Tokyo: Selling Our Tooth Fillings to Pay the Bills

As the market keep going to shit and everybody either getting fired or scared of getting fired, us Tokyojin are finding unique ways to keep our heads above water. When times get tough you just have to tighten your buckle and carry on. Many things we would not considering doing to save a few yen in the past now seem to made a lot more sense.

I was out in Ameyoko recently and ran across a rather interesting kind of Japanese pawn shop. They seem to understand that times are hard for the people of Tokyo. The bills have got to be paid no matter if you have a job or not. When you get really hard up this pawn shop will buy the metal right out of your teeth!

I am not sure how this whole exchange goes down. Do they remove the metal for you or do you have to have a dentist do it? If they remove the gold/silver for you it would be make the process a whole lot faster. Hell, you could most likely stop in during your lunch break, get the money making tooth removed, grab the cash and be ready for your evening shift. The only problem would be any pain issues involved. You always would run the risk of getting doped up too much and making a fool of yourself at work. I could see a situation which some hard-up salaryman took a bit too much pain killers at the pawn shop and passing out during a meeting. How does he explain? `Sorry sir. I sold my gold tooth on my lunch break. The guy at the pawn shop must have given me too much pain killer.` An awkward situation for sure.

Well, if we have to sell our tooth fillings to make ends meet then so be it! I got some silver in my teeth. I wonder how much I can get for it?

Green Tea Coca-Cola-In Name Only

Recently, a little buzz was created over the release of green tea coca-cola in Japan. I first got wind of it though rinkya blog. So, I checked the local quick stop until GT coke showed up on its selves. It took about a week or two until it finally showed up on the selves of my local 7-11. As I always enjoy trying something new, as soon as, I spotted it I grabbed a bottle.

Looking at the bottle, as I walked to the station, I felt that the bottle of soda in my hand was not going to be as good as it promised. I mean, coca-cola was a very strong taste. Green tea is a very light sensitive taste which can take years to fully enjoy.

Anyway, I sat down at the station waiting for my train to give green tea coke a go. Well...I must say this stuff is...really bad! For starters, coke plus is a pretty shitty drink. All the damn fake sugar is enough to make me toss the bottle away. I really had to force myself to finish the entire thing. I did not even taste a hint of green tea. Did they even put any green tea in the damn thing? What the hell was coke thinking? Maybe they were hoping that by putting green tea on the label Japanese people would just but it without question? I have tried some pretty bad drinks in Japan but this one really takes the cake. If coke is trying to compete with pepis in the flavored soda market they are doing a really bad job.

I have lost respect for coca-cola for producing such a shitty drink. I did not taste even a drop of green tea in the damn thing. It was like talking to a cute gal and taking her to a love hotel, only to find out that she is really a lady boy with a thing for gaijin men.

I could go on and on about this piss poor offering from coca-cola but I will let you be the final judge. If you live in Japan head over to the local quick stop and indulge yourself in a green tea coca-cola. Hell, you might actually like it; but I doubt it.

Watch Your Money or Else you will End Up Homeless in Tokyo Real Quick

It is very true that Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world. You must have money to survive in Tokyo; at least a decent amount of money. Unless you are living off of daddies bank account, you also must have a job which provides you at least around 200,000 a month just to be able to avoid living on the streets. I have met a few people who are pretty much homeless, because they lack the ability to hold down a steady job and spend money like water. For example, I know this guy who runs around Shinjuku often. He has no job yet somehow survives in Tokyo. He usually has to do all kinds of crazy shit just to get by. He sells pot, pimps a few young gals looking for some spending cash, pimps himself out to lady boys, and has a few mama-sans. Yeah, his life is tough for sure. So, if you don`t want to live as hardcore as him I suggest you spend your money wisely.

If you got a stable gig in Tokyo you must be fully aware of how hard it can be to survive from day to day while maintaining some kind of budget. Hell, just trying to manage daily spending during an average work day can be a real pain in the ass. Almost everything has an overpriced tag on it. From experiencing the chaotic lifestyle I have build for myself here in Tokyo, I have developed a few tricks to stretch my yen out a bit.


1) Getting your coffee fix

Coffee is pretty much the liquid of life in Tokyo. There are enough coffee shops in Tokyo to give Seattle a run for its money. I assume that most Tokyojin drink a good amount of coffee every day. All that coffee can really put a dent on the old wallet after a while. The price of the coffee does not always equal the quality. Some shops are expensive coffee which tastes like dog shit, while others shops featuring cheap coffee taste like the nectar of the gods. If you want to save money on your coffee hit a mister doughnut. They got coffee for under 200 yen, although cheap it really does taste like crap; and you cannot smoke. For the highest quality and best price hit a Doutor. You can get a glass of ice or hot coffee for 200 yen.


2) The lunch time hustle

A common issue for just about everyone is how to get a cheap yet decent bit to eat on lunch break. It can be a little hard to get the cheapest lunch when you are pressed for time. It is easy enough to hit up a McDonald`s or some other fast food spot; yet that is not the healthiest or cheapest option. There are several Japanese fast food places which have kind of low prices, but they are still not the best deal for someone living in Tokyo on a budget. For a real cheap lunch hit up a convenience store. There are convenience stories all over the place. There is always one within short walking distance in Tokyo; as well as most of Japan for that matter. Usually I can have lunch for between 250 to 350 yen. I can have lunch for 250 yen if I do not get a drink. Two rice balls will cost me just about 250 yen. I can drink some water from the sink in the restroom at work. If I do decide to get something to drink, I can usually find a vend machine offering a small drink for 100 yen.

Thinking more in a month to month basis, packing a daily bento really is the best option. A bento is a Japanese lunch box; kind of like the one mother used to make for you in Jr. High. They are very popular and there are many different types. For saving money off the monthly budget, just make the damn thing at home the night before. When I pack a bento to work I usually have a couple of rice balls and stir fry or even jazzed up leftovers from last night`s dinner.

3) Drinking

It is very true that many people in Tokyo drink heavy. It is just the way it is here. People work their balls off and need to unwind after work. Well, drinking can get expensive if you drink on a regular basis. Of course you can find bars which offer really cheap beer. Hell, I know of a few places which offer a glass of beer for 300 yen. Yet, we cannot always hit up a bar and keep within out budget. A good way to catch a decent beer buzz and not break the bank is to simply drink on the street or at the station. I know that some people will turn their noise up to such an idea but it really saves money in the long run. All you have to do is hit up a convenience store; where you can get cans of beer for under 200 yen in most cases. After you stock up on enough beer to catch a decent buzz, find a nice little spot outside. It is great for people watching and enjoying the energy of the night.

So, there are just some things I do on a daily basis to save a little yen. While I am not rich by a long shot, I do earn enough money that I could spend a little more if I wanted. At the end of the month I can see how my yen cutting efforts have paid off. My bank account never runs low and I can still have a hell of a good time. Even if that good time is somewhat lowdown and lacking class.

This post is my entry for this month`s J-blog matsuri. It is hosted this month by tune-in-Tokyo. If you fancy getting some extra attention for your blog submit a post. This months topic is `living in a budget in Japan.`

How do I get there? The Easy Way to Find Your Train Route.

One of the common questions I hear fly out the mouth of my fellow gaijin is, `How do I get there?` Japan seems to have one of, if not, the best train systems in the world. You can reach just about any location in Japan by train. It is truly amazing for me to see just how detailed the train system is at times. Even some of the more remote areas of Japan have a train station!

While the system is very detailed, clean, and on time; it can be a challenge to get your head around how it works exactly. When I was visiting Japan I usually had a native with me to lead me around. It was not until I started actually living in Japan did I realize the challenge of trying to use the trains on a daily basis.

At first, I got lost often. I tried to understand things as best I could, but I would end up taking the wrong transfer or head in the wrong direction. It was pretty embarrassing sometimes. Yet, after a few months I got the hang of things. It is rare for me to get lost using the trains these days.

While I used the trail by fire method to get a handle on the train system; there are plenty of people who are either too busy or not brave enough to jump in head first. Well, I have found the best tool to find your train route in Japan. Jorudan.co.jp is the best resource for finding exactly `how to get there` in Japan. The link I provide is the English version. I have tried it on several spots around Japan it has given me good results every time. The best part is that it gives you several ways to get to your desired location by sorting results by: fast,low price,easy,air and bed. It will even give you routes by price and time. You know, some companies ask employees to choose the cheapest route to work.

I suggest giving this site a go. It is very useful for traveling in Japan.

Salty Chocolate in Japan

So, I was returning from work last night when I decided to make a quick stop at the local 7-11. I was just looking to pick up some milk but ran across something odd enough to catch my eye. Now, in Japan I have found some pretty strange snack food, yet a salt and chocolate candy bar may be the strangest thing yet. There are many things which fit well with chocolate. Peanut butter is always a favorite mix of mine. Yet, can salt provide a enjoyable taste with chocolate?


I was hooked by this idea and picked up a pack of salty crunch. Once I got home I showed this stuff to the gal. She laughed at me for buying such a strange item. Despite her mocking me she also wanted to give it a go. So, after dinner we decided to give salty crunch an official taste test.

So...how is it?

Well, to tell the truth the salt taste is very light. The chocolate over powers most of the salt. Only after chewing it up did I get a sensation of salt in my mouth. After two or three though, I did experience a surprise tingle which did, oddly enough, add to the chocolate a bit. A good point of this odd snack is that it does provide a rather crisp texture due to the salt additive. It is by far packing a little more crunch as compared to other crunch type of candy bars.


Would I try it again?

I am not so sure I would give it a second go round. I expected more from this little snack and it kind of let me down. The salt part seems to be just a hook to get people to buy the chocolate. The additive provide almost nothing in the way of taste. The texture can be had by other means than salt.

Give it a go and let me know what you think.

In Tokyo You Must Escape Sometimes

I have been living in Tokyo for around a year and a half now. I have learned a lot, as well as, grown up a bit too. It has had it ups and downs but I am still here standing tall. To be honest, this is my first time to live in a large city on a long term basis. While I have adjusted to the fast pace of city life pretty well, I have discovered that it is sometimes hard for me to find time to get away from everything.

Back in good old West Virginia, it was easy for me to get away from everyone and be by myself. All I had to do was jump in my car, head for the woods, and I could be all by myself for as long as I wanted. In Tokyo, running off into the woods is not an option. Never the less, I have found ways to get away from people.

One of the things I do is trek off into Yoyogi park from time to time. If you walk a bit from the entrances at Shibuya gate and Harajuku, there is a lot of out-of-the-way spots to get some peace and quiet. I like some of the trails deep in Yoyogi park. Sometimes I grab a few beers from the quick stop at Harajuku station and walk down the trails. I do not run into a lot of people on the trails. Although, I do see homeless tents set up from time to time. Oddly enough, I do not see the homeless coming out from these tents so often. I guess they just hide out in them for most of the day.

When I get lucky enough, I see something really off the wall in the less traveled parts of Yoyogi park. One time I ran up on some guy slumped over a tree with a bottle of Jack in his hand. At first, I thought he was passed. I grabbed a stick and poked him a bit. To my surprise he stirred ever so slightly. I will never forget what he said to me, `Women, drink, give me more!` This happened at 3:00 pm in the day.

There are, of course, the lovers who decide to take a romp in the park. There are many stories about this kind of behavior, yet few people can say they have actually seen or done this kind of thing. Well, I have seen this kind of playful behavior go down at Yoyogi park. You will usually never see this kind of stuff going down at the more popular parts of Yoyogi park. It almost always goes down in the less traveled sections of the park. While I have, unwillingly and unexpectedly, caught a few people having a little fun in the park, only one couple sticks out in my mind. I had wondered down an odd path I had not noticed before. It was a pleasant day and I was just floating in the wind so to speak. As I was heading around a bend in the path a heard heavy breathing of both male and female nature. I expected to have the misfortune of seeing two people making out or something. What I did see was some older gentlemen having his way with a young gal; fully butt naked. The young gal screamed and hide behind the older gentlemen as he attempted to cover himself. All I could really do was laugh and make a quick exist from the area.


So, traveling to the deeper parts of Yoyogi park is a good to get away from the normal insanity of Tokyo; while running head first into the more unseen insanity of Tokyo.