Kimonos and Garden

Kimono Loom

Motoji

We went shopping (didn't buy anything) but boy are there some beautiful and crazy clothes in Tokyo. We stumbled upon a fantastic museum: The Nezu Museum. Nezu Kaichirō  was a Japanese Industrialist who loved art. The museum is on the site of former home that they politely described as having burned in 1945. The art includes all kinds of Japanese and East-Asian Art. We particularly like the Giant Buddha statues. The most special part of the museum and what made it so special to us is in the middle of Tokyo it is surrounded by a beautiful Japanese garden. The Trees were turning color it was quite beautiful. Adjacent to the park is glass enclosed pavilion serving lunch. We just had a Ginger Ale, make from real Ginger but it is quite a setting and worth the visit.

Nancy, our friend and advisor on this trip, requested that we investigate Motoji Ginza a Kimono store in the Ginza. We trouped on over and a wonderful time talking to the staff about the fabrics used in making a Kimono and the dying techniques used by the weavers. The Kimonos are quite expensive easily 3,000 to 4,000 dollars, but they are unique works of art custom created for one individual. You are literally wearing a piece of art. This is a store worth going to, just to gawk.

Before going out to dinner, I decided to give them one more chance to make a proper Martini. I visually explained to the Waiter by the spread of my thumb and forefinger the proper ratio of Gin to Vermouth. The Martini arrived and it was acceptable! Progress was achieved.

We went to dinner at a Japanese-Spanish Restaurant: Tinc Gana. It was wonderful, however there were many courses of rich food. One needs training to attempt so many courses. This is of course the essential of Japanese Kaiseki style dinner. The structure of the meal is set out in 10 courses and the chef creates dishes that fit a proscribed order of main ingredients. The dinner was excellent and I would definitely recommend it. They even bake their own breads, and have Japanese Cheese (I didn't know there was such a thing). They had a riff on Paella that was intensely flavored with Saffron and a Shrimp reduction Another course was 3 kinds of Wagyu Beef, Try Tinc Gana if you are ever in Tokyo.