Saikoro Boom...

Day 1162:

I'm not gonna lie, but change is just a matter of time and time is all it takes to change. Let's just hope it all works out in the end. Or for that matter, let's just hope it never ends.

Boom may have left basa, but sooner or later everyone has to leave, right? Btw, Boom looks good in red.

If not Bassanova, then Saikoro may be the next best place to work.

Boom 頑張って！Make some good men dammit!

I still had some days left on my juhachi kippu so I decided to take a ride to Mt. Takao.

Unfortunately, the sun was beginning to set and the last tram down was 30 minutes after we took our tram up.

But I got some good shots. Peaceful shots.

On the way back I made a stop in Hachioji for some curry.

Just kidding. haha.

Hachioji is known for Shoyu Ramen with diced onions. And Hirotomi (弘富) represents!

I needed that.

Afterwards it was time to meet up in Nakameguro with an old friend. No not this guy. (Hiroshi...lol!)

Chicken balls!!

Good to see you Reina!! We need to get DNo back in Japan!!!

And one last beer for the road.

Thanks So!

29の日...

Day 1122:

On the 29th of every month Niku Niboshi Saikoro in Nakano hosts "Niku no Hi (Meat Day)!"

Where every bowl of Niku Niboshi Chuukasoba is only 500 yen. Yup, one coin!!

Yusuke-san was hard at work dishin' out six bowls at a time.

Sometimes it pays to know the chef. Free gyoza!!

Now isn't she a beauty...

Homemade noodles...

And a voluptuous egg.

A beautiful bowl calls for a blissful break in a beautiful park.

By the way, this is what I love about Japan...

Hiya nibo...

Day 989:

It was hot and I needed something to cool me down.

Hiya Nibo aka Cold Niboshi Ramen.

Gotta love it!

Classic Saikoro aka Jiraigen.

Koitani-san is a true ramen G!

Eiraku...

Day 977:

If there is one bowl of tsukemen that you need to eat in your lifetime, it is here. No, not Higashi-Ikebukuro Taishoken or Rokurinsha or Tomita (although all highly respected), but here...at Eiraku (和風つけめん栄楽) in Nakano.

And you'll need to do it soon because it's what they call shinise-kei a.k.a. been-around-fo-evah.

Now this...

THIS!

Is tsukemen!

O.G. tsukemen.

The arrival...

Day 917:

I was anticipating the arrival...

So I went to eat at one of my favorite ramen shops in all of Tokyo.

If you don't know where this is...

Then you must not be paying attention.

Alright this is your last chance.

Saikoro!

It was almost time...

But a bowl at a yatai was calling.

And then so was she...

Ramen Resolution 2012...

Day 789:

2011 was an eventful year. It started off with such promise, but I must say that I fell short on almost every resolution I set out to achieve. Well, maybe it wasn't that I fell short. Maybe I just tried to do too much on my own. Or maybe it was just...well...you know...okay maybe not.

Ryu-chan

All I know is that I won't ever be discouraged. Someday might not be good enough for some of you, but I still believe I can someday finish everything I started.

Spicy Shio Chashumen

So what does all this mean for 2012? Being that my visa expires in November, my 2012 resolution will be to work even harder. In life AND in work. There will be no stopping me. All I ask is that you keep believing. Believing in dreams, believing in love, and believing in life. I have no regrets so far and that's how I'd like to keep it.

Anyway, being the first day of the year there isn't really much open. But after making a few calls, Tsukemen Usagi-chan (つけめん うさぎちゃん) in Nakano was perhaps still holding on to the year of the rabbit.

This shop is run mostly by young ladies and has been gaining a considerable amount of publicity in recent months. The shop is very cute, but I must admit that seeing all this pink was a little strange and uncomfortable.

I ordered the Usagi-chan Tsukemen, but before it came out I was given some fresh squeezed carrot juice. Do rabbits drink carrot juice?

Usagi-chan is an interesting new concept, but I wasn't really feeling their tsukemen.

I did like the pasta-like noodles, but everything else lacked impact. In fact, I seem to have already erased it from my mind.

2012 is definitely shaping up to be an interesting year...

On the hop...

Day 719:

Lunch was average (thanks for helping out Tak!) but the GCS is not.

Afterwards it was time to roll the dice again. Saikoro is the **it!

Tokyo Ramen Show 2011!!!

Anyway, Saikoro will be there.

Oh did you want a closer look?

From the left?

From the right?

Haha.

Now go try it for yourself.

Lates.