One Yen For A Good Year

Tokyo knows how to ring in the new year, and thanks to trains running all night for the occasion, I joined the party. We did the countdown, from 7 to midnight, at a pub in Shibuya, which was packed, K-1 boxing and pride fighting taking us into the night. An American nearby was bitching at about midnight -- where was the ball? Where is New York City? Being several hours ahead of the game, I suggested that they show last year's ball, kind like when NBC cut to year-old footage of the M&M baloon at the Macy's parade when the 2005 version decided to attack innocent bystanders. But even without the ball, 2006 arrived.

We instantly left the bar and joined the masses as they flooded the streets. I offerered a "happy new year!" to roughly everybody I could utter it to. I exchanged high fives with random people. I was offered a pull from a fifth of whiskey. We made it throuh the person-to-person crowd and caught a train to Asakusa, a famous historical district and home of a temple. Japanese good to these sights en masse on New Year's eve and day. We joined the huge crowd in the narrow walk way, about 15 feet across, and took babt steps to the temple. Once there, you offer a financial gift and make a wish. People were throwing their money from feet away and moving on. I had a 100 yen coin, but I had somehow lost it. I scrambled. I found a 1 yen coin and gave that. I doubt my wish is going to come true. I felt like that guy in church who ackwardly passes the collection plate without giving any cash.

And now here we are, 12 hours after Japan welcomed 2006, and I need to go back to sleep.