After work last night I went over to Junpu to meet the Denya gang and catch up. It was the first time in a long time seeing everyone – the Master, his brother and his family, and the other Denya regulars who I drank with routinely back when I lived in Futami. Everyone looked good, and we caught up over drinks and teppanyaki dishes. I couldn’t believe how big the Master’s brother’s kids had become. They were chattering away in Japanese despite their parents’ best efforts to get them to speak some English. Once they got comfortable with the environment they started speaking, though.
The staff at Junpu did a really good job and the food was excellent. I was glad that we could spend our money at a local place. After dinner we went our separate ways, but the master talked me into stopping for one more drink at a place near our house called Jin. I walk by the place twice a day but I had never been inside, so my curiosity got the best of me and we went inside. The inside of the place was completely different from the image that I had in my mind – sort of like a comfortable living room with lots of alcohol – and the owner was a friendly lady who seemed to know the master well. He had grown up in Okubo so he knows a lot of the people and stores around the area, so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. After a quick drink I begged off because it was a school night, but I got the sense that the master was ready to keep the party going. Sorry, dude – I’ve got to get some sleep!
