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Land of the Rising Sun: Typical Tokyo days
BY LEHUA KALIMA / Special to the Star-Advertiser
Two of our 10 shows at Billboard Live are in the books. Tokyo has been treating us well, with unusually blue skies we’ve been enjoying very much.
Since we’re doing two shows a night, our days are pretty free. So we’ve been able to wander around, do some shopping, and — of course — lots of eating!
Here is a little bit of a typical day in my life when I’m working here in Tokyo.
Because we eat so much when we’re here, its always a good idea to get a little exercise in to counterbalance the effects (otherwise the airlines may charge me for the excess weight when we fly home).
Here is a little sampling of my running excapades in Shinuku:
While running, I came across a gardenia bush (of all things to find in the middle of Tokyo!) and for an instant felt like I was home again.
The gardenia bush I found while running through Tokyo. (Courtesy Lehua Kalima)
Mahalo to the random gardenia bush! (Courtesy Lehua Kalima)
Of course, we are here to WORK — which requires a little sound check and rehearsal. Here’s a glimpse of the stage here and awesome room we get to play in at Billboard Live in midtown Roppongi.
I know, I show you 72 minutes of us drinking and eating and two minutes of us rehearsing! Anyway, during the break between our two shows we decided to venture around the corner and down the block to Ichiran Ramen. Its been a favorite of our band since we first discovered it in Fukuoka three years ago.
There are a number of videos associated with this meal — it is a process, you know — so please forgive the length. But believe me, it’s worth the wait!
And with that, day two in Tokyo came to a close. I am that much closer to having to buy new pants, and of course with the metric system they use here, my pants would be like a size 83 or something — which is quite depressing. I just may do a little more running and try to stay in my size 72’s, or whatever my size is now!
Tomorrow: Random observances and fun signs!
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Born and raised in Keaukaha on the east side of Hawaii Island, Lehua Kalima is a member of Hawaii’s highest-selling female vocal group, Na Leo Pilimehana, and is also working on a solo album due out later this year. Follow her Pulse blog to keep up with Kalima while she’s on tour in Japan.
