After being done with all the visiting for the day, we were allowed some free time to roam about on our own, so we enlisted the help of one of our senior, then studying in Japan for a year, for her help in bringing us around.
Ikebukuro was where we went.
Along the streets and its dizzying lights, were street performers hoping for a shot at fame, giving live performances in hope that someone would buy their CDs, or maybe, even get spotted by a producer.
With the huge HMV store in front of you, who wouldn’t wish that one day their CDs would be on display on their shelves, waiting to be snapped up by eager fans. The only contrast was that, before you can have a share of that cosy achievement, they would have to work very hard, strumming their guitars out in the cold spring of Tokyo.
And also because it was just the starting of the night, we saw groups and groups of youngsters, university students alike, in large groups heading for restaurants for a drink, also known as nomikai, as explained by our senior to us.
One by one, we saw these groups disappeared behind the doors of the restaurants, while we headed on for Shinjuku by foot.
この長い旅で 