Damn, I remember that time. I lived in Kichijoji in Summer 2003. It’s a trendy spot now but was kind of a pit stop on the Chuo line back then. Anyway, I was friends with a kiwi lawyer older than I am now at the time and he took us to all sorts of wild spots. Shibuya, Shinjuku. https://twitter.com/jakeadelstein/status/1333424355347361792

Anyway, I never did any drugs in my life and never really saw anything in Japan. We’d drink like fish and eat like sumo wrestlers and party hard but no drugs.

One time I asked about Roppongi he said, “Don’t go to fucking Roppongi, Mike.” Seedier than Kabukicho for a foreigner.

Of course, I wanted to check it out at least once so I went down there and the vibe was so different. Very shady feel. I don’t know what I was expecting but it was a bad scene. Expats there didn’t even try to speak the language, from all over, zero respect, etc.

I remember that night well because I was like, I need to get out of here so I walked like maybe a mile to Ebisu where I found a random teppanyaki place. Needed a drink and some food so I ordered an ice cold beer and the largest prawn I’ve ever seen. 18 inch prawn, I swear.

Anyway @jakeadelstein’s book Tokyo Vice is always a strong recommendation, reads like that great thread and just super interesting. Put out the revised edition, Jake!