Siliconchef by Brian Richardson
9-9-2003
An Aussie, a Canadian and a Scot in Tokyo walk into a British pub …
It may sound like a joke, but it’s exactly how I spent my Tuesday evening in Tokyo. After dinner on the seventh floor of a local restaurant, Bill and I headed for the elevator. That’s when we discovered the ad for the British pub in the basement of the same building. Due to the fact that most British pubs have beer, Bill had to investigate.
Our investigation turned into several hours of drinking with an Aussie, a Canadian and a Scot. Apparently these three blokes teach English in Japan and like to hang out here often. The Aussie and his Japanese bride are sitting at the bar to my left. Bill is talking world politics with the Canadian and the Scottish fellow. I’m ordering another dark beer.
The whole thing broke down into a conversation on World War II (don’t ask me how, we were drinking and these things can happen). The Scot spent most of the conversation on how Churchill was “the man”, while I pointed out that the grand Japanese plan of joining up with the white supremacists was possibly a bad move. I have to respect Churchill, not only for hit handling of the war but also his colorful quotes.
Churchill was accosted by a woman one night. She called him a drunk.
His reply: “Mam, I may be drunk but you’re ugly. And in the morning, I’ll be sober.”
This was a different experience from past visits to Tokyo. The area near Tokyo Dome doesn’t stay open late, so I don’t get night life in that part of town. Most of the Tokyo night life I have experienced is in Rappungi, very expensive and mostly for business. This excursion into Ikebukuro’s bars is my first unescorted search for night life in Tokyo.
In the end, it was just a short night of drinking with interesting people. It’s not my typical evening plan, but hanging out with Bill does come with the risk of social interaction over a beer. Not a bad way to spend an evening away from home.
