Usually we don’t get into Osaka very much. Despite being the third largest city in Japan, and being just a 45 minute train ride from our home, we don’t have much need for it since Kobe pretty much has everything we want and it is only 20 minutes from our place.
But sometimes there are things that only Osaka can provide.
Monday night after work I met Kuniko in Osaka station. When I came out of sakurabashi gate in the station, she was there waiting and it was once again one of the moments when she catches me off guard and I do a double take, because I can’t believe the beautiful woman waving at me is actually my wife.
We walked through the underground walkways that make up the catacombs of the Osaka Umeda area, which is nice because even on rainy days you can walk through the city without getting wet. Kuniko led me up and out on the street to a little restaurant that she had researched for tonight. It was kind of a Spanish/Italian tapas bar with an emphasis on vegetables, and it was very good. The atmosphere was nice, too – good music and a dark restaurant on a busy street. They got the European feel just about right, too. The place was empty on a Monday night, so the service was prompt.
After catching up on our day over tapas and Cava we hit the road and went to our next stop, the Ritz Carlton hotel. Kuniko’s friend and former co-worker does some jazz singing at the hotel lobby lounge, and so we went in and grabbed a table with a good view of the piano and stage. Her name is Eppi Esperanza, and she’s got a single on iTunes if you want to check out her music. She introduced her pianist, a Japanese guy who did his best to play some of Kuniko’s requests. Eppi’s voice was quite nice, and she started out with a husky-voiced rendition of Etta James’ “At Last”. Her voice reminded me a lot of Norah Jones, but she also had a song in Spanish that I really liked. Her performance and stage presence were worthy of the Ritz Carlton, that was for sure.
While we watched we split a cheeseburger and we each had a glass of red wine with our (second) dinner. We wanted to spend a little money there to let the management know that Eppi’s friends were bringing in business. Between songs Eppi chatted with us, and after the set she came over to take some pictures with us and talk some more.
After that we decided that we had stayed out quite late enough for a school night, and so we made our way back to the train station. We passed big tents and temporary restaurants that had been erected for the summer beer garden season. There is big money in summer beer drinking in Japan, and it is really on display in downtown Osaka.
Kuniko bought me Tuesday’s lunch at the Ritz Carlton gourmet shop, so I’m looking forward to a nice quiche today at lunchtime, with a macaroon or two for dessert. It’s nice to live the good life once in a while!
