The walkers at dawn are without the comfort of others around them.There are few things to distract themselves with, since businesses are not open, and store windows are darkened. It is not good to be preoccupied, as the promises or despairs of the day to come seem to hang about in the air with too much nakedness. It is best to walk, a stranger in thought and reality, to a familiar destination that will restore oneself to oneself.

At 5 AM there are still a few inhabitants of the night out on the street. Their “work day” is coming to an end, with perhaps one last assignation. They are calculating and sober,  unlike the person who deposited a bottle of wine and a four dollar umbrella on the sidewalk, who is by now sleeping in some bed.

At 5 AM at a certain chain restaurant, which describes itself as…

“So nice this place is open when you want it to be– 24 hours! Morning drinking, daytime drinking OK!

For those who haven’t found out about us yet, our restaurant serves alcoholic beverages along with very fresh or live seafood, as sashimi or grilled on a wire mesh. We’re opening new locations all over the city, and already have a branch in the major stations.

Since we are open 24 hours, for drinking, drinking, at the after-after party, at the after-after-after-party, we are the obvious choice, the clear winner. For drinking in the morning after a night shift, or if you just want to party during the day, you can do it here with no worries. We are the truly convenient drinking place.”

This blurb uses the phrase “nonde nomarete” which comes from a song by Kawashima Eigo “Sake and Tears, Man and Woman”

A man enfolded inside

a loneliness he can’t get rid of,

who has something he wants to forget

that’s the one who drinks sake,

drinks and drinks, drunken he drinks (nonde nonde nomarete nonde)

drinks till he’s gone, drinks till he sleeps

Quietly he sleeps, this man.

This image of the tough guy with a craggy face and a broken heart drinking sake (alone) is full of nostalgic associations. Today the number one drink at this establishment is an icy chuhai (shochu or vodka and soda) with a green shiso leaf and a chili pepper.It is the drink of today, and will never appear in a sad song.

(promotional photograph)

an early breakfast (at Fuji soba)

or, on the street

different cities

that seem like different worlds

“California at play”