Fun With Okonomiyaki

On Sunday night, an impromptu okonomiyaki party happened at my apartment. I spent the day with Hessen and Chizu, first at a tea ceremony, then the Kure food festival. We ran into everyone we knew, and eventually it was a huge hoard of us roaming the streets of Kure. Around 6 p.m., it had finally boiled down to Greg, Brian, Chizu, and me, and we didn't know what to do. I didn't have any money, and no one wanted to go home... so somehow we decided to make okonomiyaki at my apartment. Well, on the way, we ran into Brandon, and of course Hessen came, and we couldn't not call Julie... you see how it goes. Chizu was the cook, with Greg and I as alternating helpers. It was insane. Just imagine a 90 pound Japanese girl stirring up cabbage and flour and eggs and pork and noodles and daikon, with two fry pans on the only two burners in my tiny Japanese kitchen. It was cute. So we ate okonomiyaki, drank beer and chuhai, and made a mess. Greg told racist jokes. We had a southern accent contest. We made fun of Canada (for Hessen's benefit). Chizu explained the usage, or lack of, "I love you" in Japanese relationships. Overall a very educational evening. Pictured above from left to right : me, Brian, Greg, Hessen, Julie's bum, and Brandon.

That's Chizu and me during her turn in the cage. It was quite the hot spot. Later when Hirahara showed up, a long black wig and a Tom Cruise mask were thrown into the mix. Hirahara plays violin in an instrumental band, and they love to dress up goofy for their shows. During the last show I saw, he came out in a giant black fro wig and a fake black mustache. I guess the stuff he brought to okonomiyaki night is for their next show. Here's a preview...

Julie is a lucky woman!