Gambaro, Miyagi

Today, I took my first trip to Sendai proper. As I was planning where I would go/park/ect., I stumbled upon this video from The Telegraph. It is a quick video montage about Sendai and the city's spirit in the wake of the 3/11 earthquake.



Better than I could say it.

I spent my time in and around the Ichibancho Arcade, a sunlit mall connecting several major shopping steets. There was everything from 100 Yen shops, to souvenir venders, to restuarants, to a truly impressive array of international clothing stores. I managed to guard my wallet and only bought one cappuccino from Starbucks, a satchel bag for bringing things to school, and my first serving of Gyotan, Sendai's speciality dish. The Gyotan took some courage. The texture--having not eaten beef for quite a while--was unnerving. But the flavour was excellent, I'd even say one of the tastiest new things I've tried.

I look forward to more trips to Sendai (maybe even this weekend for the Jazz festival) and getting to know the city better. My near-illiteracy is still an obstacle for confident exploration, but between my iPhone and helpful shop clerks, I know the city will prove a fun and helpful resource.

I hope you didn't mind my outsourcing, and I am glad to see first-hand that Sendai--the capital of Miyagi, the prefecture most affected by the earthquake--has endured through its historic tragedy. I decided to title this entry after the tagline I hear at the end of every radio station broadcast: Gambaro, Miyagi (Stay Strong/You can do it, Miyagi).