Well spending my first New Years in Japan certainly didn't turn out to be what I had imagined. Sure I wasn't in Tokyo where lots of the partying may have occurred, but upon hearing that Osaka was a party city in itself, I would have thought there may have been a more celebratory atmosphere.
My fellow companions (Holly and Matthew) on the Osaka trip, had discussed several options of how best to welcome in the New Year. Admittedly, most of them involved Karaoke. However, there were some other interesting options like heading to the food hub of Dotonbori or be outside in Umeda. Ultimately, because the night was blistering cold and windy, we decided to spend it indoors at the Umeda Sky tower. We thought that the sky tower would provide the best view of any fireworks that may have occurred and plus there was also a band that was meant to be providing the entertainment.
This is a picture of the Umeda Sky Building from the bottom.
Inside the building, they had re-created how Osakan streets and stores would have looked back in the day. Of course, they were all closed on this night.
This was a model of a villiage. Kind of reminds me of Gulliver's travels, Japanese style
This was a model of the Umeda Sky Building with the Floating Garden Observatory at the top.
The view of Osaka from the top of the Floating Garden Observatory.
Another view of the city. I have to mention that it was extraordinarily windy on this night and Holly, who is terrified by heights, had to retreat inside after being afraid of being blown away.
Below is a video from the Floating Garden over Osaka city.
After wandering the building for several hours waiting for the big countdown, the moment finally came. The boy band (Yes, boy band), had been on show for about an hour already, didn't catch their names. They were singing in Japanese, but I've discovered that all boy bands no matter what the language, still sounds like a boy bands. So think of Backstreet boys, Boyzone, etc. Coincidentally, they did sing in English and it wasn't half bad.
The boy band started the countdown, with the familiar cry of "JU, KYU, HACHI, NANA, ROKU, GO", we're getting close (why I thought they would count in English is beyond me). "YON, SAN, NI". I'm preparing myself for the huge celebration and release of euphoria, people screaming, hugging, kissing. Alcohol spilling, Champagne bottles popping .... "ICHI" ...... well, watch for yourselves.
As you saw yourself, the Japanese went crazy .... clapping their hands ... and then just looked at each other. I mean maybe we were in a upper class area, and they were too prim and proper to let their hair down ... but I can't help but feel somewhat disappointed.
Well, we then went to cheer ourselves up and sang Karaoke till the early morning.
Happy 2008 kids.
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