The Seventh Day

On Saturday morning we were rounded up for a tour of Sendai city. We met at the main subway station in Sendai and fell into the crowds during the biggest festival Sendai has to offer; Tanabata. Tanabata celebrates the yearly meeting of the two gods Orihime and Hikoboshi. The story, to keep it brief, basically featured two gods; a weaver and shepherd who fell in love. However, because they were so involved with each other, they neglected their duties, and the gods were forced to separate them on either side of the Milky Way. Now they are only permitted to see each other once a year, and on that day the people of Sendai (and many other cities) celebrate their union with elaborate decorations, and by making wishes for the coming year and hanging them along with the traditional streamers hung at Tanabata.

The famous Tanabata decorations of Sendai

We sampled one of Sendai’s many specialty dishes, which was like a pancake cooked in a fish-shaped mold and filled with chocolate or other stuffings. It was so delicious. I broke off with a smaller group which ended up enjoying the absolute best ramen I had ever had. It was called something like “Joan of Arc Ramen” and was meant for women-somehow. But it was so good with a spicy broth and ground pork and a large leek (maybe?). I still dream about that ramen.

The best ramen I've ever had.

Later in the day we went shopping for a couple of things different people wanted, including foreign foods, purses, and, my favourite, the Sendai Pokemon center. Each area of Japan has a designated Pokemon center, and no more are permitted other than that one central store. Tohoku, the region where I live, was not permitted to have a Pokemon center until 2011 after the great earthquake and tsunami of Japan. At that time, Sendai was awarded a Pokemon center as a way to cheer up the children of Sendai.

So many pokemon!

I was able to pick up a Bulbasaur plushie and some pokemon cards.

In the evening, after saying goodbye to everyone, I went to shop some more at a local dollar store to try and stock my apartment with necessities like scrubbies and cutlery. After a very busy day I fell asleep on the couch and had to force myself to move to the proper bed in the middle of the night.