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Metropolis Issue 923

December 2, 2011

Choc

Never mind the gravy train

Plan

As if Harajuku needed more sumptuously designed temples of commerce. Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku (4-30-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, nearest stn: Harajuku) is slated for opening in spring, right on the corner of Meiji Dori and Omotesando St. It will feature American Eagle Outfitters, Tommy Hilfiger, and Baroque Japan Limited, with upper floors offering up the first ...

Warm Woolies

Knit for Japan and Cosplay for a Cause

Winter blossoms

Companies press Japan’s native camellia flowers for age old—and ageless—beauty

Mediabox

Lettering us have it

Japanomatopoeia

Waku waku

Virgo

Honesty is natural to you, but being backed against the wall is not. If you have felt transparent before you were ready, you may have reacted in a manner not like you at all. Your ruling planet, Mercury, is retrograde in a sign which is optimistic and visionary but not entirely sure-footed at the moment. ...

Aries

You can track people’s lives by the mood they are in. That said, Aries has a tendency to move so fast you’re a blur. Your feelings have to catch up with you this week! Mercury is retrograde. Be aware what you hear may not be what they meant (or what you said, either). Uranus in ...

Gemini

As long as you don’t expect your beloved to make sense, you’re in great hands this week. Mercury retrograde and the North Node won’t reverse your direction, but they may give you pause to reflect. Take a deep breath, step back and let the waves of feeling flow through you. A bit of practice and ...

Scorpio

Bringing things out of the closet is great for making space, setting yourself free, taking a different path in the hallway of life. On the the other hand, everything you touch will send you back to the moment you left it behind. Are you ready for that this week? Juno is in your Sign, so ...

Season’s Secrets

Unwrap Tokyo with our Christmas gift to readers

Leo

Go get that pot of gold. Be the alchemist you were meant to be. Smile alluringly and wait for the court to fall at your feet. Forgive yourself for being vulnerable or misunderstood as Mercury retrograde laughingly washes out the bridge. It’s only temporary. The sun will soon be out and you’ll be looking for ...

Capricorn

As an Earth Sign, you’re considered both wise and strong. Inside and out, flexibility is your key. Give yourself permission to see yourself differently. With Pluto in Capricorn, you’re supposed to change. But in what way? To be authentic is a path towards comfort. Perhaps not at first, but as your environment, friends and interests ...

App

Snot lantern

Taurus

No need to get strung out on Jupiter in your Sign, you’ve got Mercury retrograde to consider. That’s when people somehow don’t do what they said they would do. Keys disappear, train schedules rearrange themselves… You can use this to your advantage. Have a cup of tea. Give a flower to someone who doesn’t expect ...

Pisces

Sometimes you just have to go for broke. In fact, if you don’t follow your instincts this week, you could end up living in clouds of dreams. To make those fantasies real, take the steps to get yourself there. Lay your foundation. Build. Enter. Considering this may take longer than seven days, write it down ...

Libra

One moment you’re in perfect balance, the next you’re sliding into an area you didn’t even know existed. Saturn is almost through your Sign, so you’re in the masterclass now. Combined with a retrograde Mercury in your house of communication, your thoughts are like beacons in the night. They may coalesce into the reality of ...

Cancer

About Venus in your relationship sector. Yes, but! This lovely goddess is next to Pluto, who wants to appear powerful and sexy—right up until he abducts her to his underworld. Before you jump to the sultry smile you’ve been waiting for, consider the slow approach. You’re lined up to meet a powerful love with the ...

Sagittarius

Find a healthy way to make your body tingle. Live up to your dreams of yourself. Limit your limiting judgements. Know that your inner beauty shows all the way through. You made it through the Sagittarian eclipse, now you’re onto your destiny. A kaleidoscope of choices colors your options. You’re in your Birthday Zone. Make ...

“Just Looking Samurai”

Japanese cabbage farmers find their way in the Arab Spring

Aquarius

Maintaining the status quo is not thought Aquarian, but with Saturn as your ruler before Uranus took charge, you can always hold up the fort. Authority figures have nothing on you this week (unless you are an authority figure, in which case you’re promoted). 2012 isn’t quite here and you’ve got time to play on ...

Map

Britain as a gothic anime character

November 30, 2011

This week's required reading

Statshot

Merry KFC

Jingle Bell Flock

A merry menagerie of animal accoutrements this Christmas

Trend

More attention to legs, please

Mass Debate

The expat wives/stay-at-home dads controversy rages on

Izmir

A Turkish delight in Asagaya

Club Dragon

Countdown to the Year of the Dragon at Club Dragon (1F Stork Nagasaki, 2-11-4 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku; 03-3341-0606), Ni-Chome’s spacious gay lounge staffed with friendly English-speaking waiters dressed in hot pants like go-go-boys. Not only are they foreigner-friendly, female entry is also allowed—though ladies may not get the same great deals as the men. Drinks are ...

Wineya

For Antipodean wines galore, visit Wineya (7-20-16 Nishi-Shinjuku, www.gordianwines66.com), a specialty shop and bar that negotiates with small and medium-sized wineries, and directly imports New World vino still undiscovered in Japan. That’s how they keep the prices of their wine (from ¥330/glass & ¥1,880/bottle), beer (from ¥580), and sangria (¥580) low. Match your glass with ...

Modern Times

Nostalgic highball bar Modern Times 1923 (3-20-9 Akasaka, Minato-ku; http://meturl.com/moderntimes1923), features a five-tap “highball tower” that dispenses high pressure carbonated soda, each premixed with Kakubin, and lovely aged varieties of Yamazaki, Hakushu, Macallan, and JD. There are also highballs from homemade ginger (¥450) to seasonal fruit (¥630), and everything in between. Get 30 percent more ...

Bar High Society

Membership has its privileges

Kurayami Shokudo

Ever had a Christmas feast in pitch darkness? Blindfold dining event Kurayami Shokudo, previously reviewed by Metropolis (http://meturl.com/rr917), returns Dec 9-23 at Tanger (1-5-48 Takanawa, Minato-ku). Upon entering the world without light, surrender to the poetic narration guiding your full course meal with wine (¥9,860). Some Japanese is preferred, but curiosity and hunger for inspiration ...

Anzai

Eat seasonal botan nabe (boar hot pot) in Mejiro at Anzai (3-1-1 Shimo-Ochiai, Shinjuku-ku; www.gibier-anzai.com), a house-turned-restaurant where the hunter/chef only serves one group (four to ten) per day. Aside from the boar, the full course (¥6,000-¥7,000 pp) includes low-pesticide veg, noodles to cook in the rich broth, and sweets. Lucky punters can try boar ...

Matsujin

Hokkaido’s long-established jingisukan restaurant Matsujin has opened its second Tokyo branch (B1 Hitotsugi LIP, 4-3-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku; www.2989.net). The dish of seasoned lamb griddled over a skillet is especially good for the holidays as it can be communally eaten with a large group. Fill up on their 100-minute all-you-can-eat-and-drink meals (from ¥4,500) without stressing over ...