FC Tokyo and GINZA

I recently got a request from a reader to discuss the intreaguing season of FC Tokyo thus far to date. And I know ALL my readers must be sorely missing my match commentary since the Newcastle season is still about a month away. So until then, I'll try to do a better job of keeping everyone up to speed on the intruiging and somewhat enigmatic J-League season as seen from the eyes of a Tokyo FC supporter.

The season started out as well as we could hope for. J-League starts in March, and goes into November, lining up with MLS and opposite of the English Premier League. We started off 1-2-1 and then won 3 straight to ease into the third position in the league. At this point, the League went into the "golden week" schedule, similar to the christmas schedule in the Prem, where teams play 5 matches in a 15-day span. During this span, we won 2 and lost 3, but somehow we remained 3rd in the league. We continued at third place, after the following two games earned a win and draw.

Last week, we had to play the first place Urawa Reds, who I like to thnk of as the Japanese equivalent to Manchester United. A very large fan base, continually successful, and red uniforms. Urawa lost first place last season in the VERY LAST match of the season, by losing to one of the lowest position teams. We weren't as lucky as they were against them this time, as the Reds beat us 2-0, and that, coupled with some other unfortunate results for FC Tokyo saw us drop all the way down to 6th.

Finally, this week on Tuesday, the 15th, Tokyo lost ANOTHER match to drop even further - this time to Antlers of Kashima. After a 58th minute go-ahead goal by one of our Brazilian wonders Cabore, Antlers went on a rush with four goals in the final 30 minutes. This is a very disheartening loss, dropping us down to 8th place, and putting Antlers into 1st in the league, just above Reds by two points.

I'll be going to Japan in October and REALLY hope I'll be able to attend another match. If so, expect more photos. Until then, keep reading for more updates...

GINZA

Staying on the Japan front, we went to a new Japanese place for lunch today in River North at a restaurant called GINZA which is on the ground floor of the Tokyo Hotel. The Tokyo Hotel is straight out of Blade Runner, which is why I always thought the two restaurants on the street level (GINZA and a similar-looking chinese place) would also be ghetto and not worth my time or money. But at least in GINZA's case, boy was I wrong. Yes, it looks ghetto on the outside AND inside - no getting around that - but it's the BEST kind of ghetto. Inexpensive blond colored wood paneling, imitation "Oriental" style lights, and rice paper covering all the windows gave it a real hole-in-the-wall feeling that is so typical of only the best, cheap, street-food restaurants spotted throughout Tokyo. And surprisingly, once we got in, we heard a LOT of Japanese being spoken, between us and the waitresses AND between the waitresses and chefs. We went for lunch, sat at the bar (they've got a sushi bar that takes up over half of the space in the restaurant - great for atmosphere, and my favorite place to sit - always) I had the katsu-don (fried pork cutlet over rice and onions) and Mrs. Architecturefootballandfood had the sashimi special, both of which were delectable. Asako's sashimi was not only great tasting and a good variety, but also very interestingly presented. I got the katsudon because it's greasy and heavy and perfect for a ghetto environment such as GINZA's. So, if anybody is ever near ESPN Zone but don't want the crowds or overpriced fatburgers, I HIGHLY recomend GINZA at the foot of the Tokyo Hotel for a great time and a great meal.