Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Hanko
I had lots of bureaucracy to complete yesterday, so I didn't bother coming into work. First stop was Shinagawa, to get my re-entry permit. 6000 Yen just to be able to get back into this country. To remove the risk of having money involved in a government procedure, you have to buy stamps for you application from a 7-Eleven downstairs. Coffee with your passport stamps, sir?
Then onto Mizuho bank, to open an account. I was refused. Sorry - you live to far from here. Go somewhere nearer to where you live. Next branch. Sorry, we are closing, go somewhere else. Next branch. Sorry, you dont have a hanko, we can't process your application. "but there are branches of Mizuho which dont require a hanko - why do you?" "sorry, let us make some calls......[wait for 1hr].....looks like you can't open one anywhere. why dont you go to Citi?". "because my agent, Fat Tony, refuses to pay through them. i need an account here". Despair, and suffering for waiting so long and achieving nothing. So i opened one in Citi anyway. My name is now Danieru Dasoza.
I also did lots of walking yesterday - from Akasaka to Roppongi, and then onto Shibuya after stopping off at the Mori Museum. Mori took 1500 of my yen, which I begrudged initially, until I realised that it was on the fifty second floor, with a viewing level on the floor below. this was cool. very. So now i have photos for November updated. Then, on the way out, someone asked me for another 8,500 yen to become a member of the place. After I left the building, I became unsure as to why I signed up. But hey, at least I got a free pointless book on modern art that has already found it's place in the bathroom reading rack. Enroute to Shibuya, I took a photo which I have been staring at ever since. I dont know why.
Shibuya has the best Starbucks, ever. Really. They've got a floor overlooking the main crossing, from which I can enjoy one of my favourite passtimes - PeopleWatching. Big ones, small ones, fat ones, thin ones, scarily dressed ones, bumping into ones, slow ones, fast ones, timid ones, agressive ones, on-a-mission ones. The day quickly passes, and it was good fun until I got told off for taking pictures. And, with this glee, I left for home.
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