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Jenny Messerle's avatar

I love your beautiful stories of synchronicity, Oscar! With your delightful storytelling and sweet side thoughts, I feel like I'm in a charming movie watching lovely experiences unfold and knowing that these are also seeds of moments that will blossom into more magical experiences for you and your wife. :) :) :)

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Oscar Obregon's avatar

Ohh Jenny, such kind words! I'm really flattered. And excited it makes you feel like watching a movie. You put it beautifully, they are indeed seeds, and you have planted a few of those seeds with your recommendations! Thank you for your encouragement!

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Sandra Yvonne's avatar

Damn, Oscar. Film premiere? Invited by the director? Jazz kissa and drinking red wine? Stop being so cool. Everything you’ve shared about the places you’ve been while in Japan so far sound like they have such pleasant atmospheres!!

I clearly have a higher vigilance than you because if I were you and saw that video playing 4 blocks from where you lived, I would have gotten a little suspicious lolol

“we've had children spit out the peculiar spicy sweet pulparindo”

Hahahahahahah I love this detail.

I love that you’re taking us along with you on this trip and I’m excited to see what sights you bring us to next time. By the way, did you buy any special vinyl records at that guy’s store?

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Oscar Obregon's avatar

Well... I don't know if I would call myself cool haha but definitely enjoying these atmospheres. I'm sure you would too, since they're very focused on being quiet in public, allowing yourself to mull over things and just space to think.

It did feel pretty weird to be in that situation and hadn't even thought about the suspicion part, so yes maybe I'm much more careless haha!

So glad you ask about the record store, I actually left a whole part surrounding that. I bought a CD (apparently some of them are more rare than vinyls in Japan) from a Japanese singer from the 90's that mixes (other) kind of traditional music with electronic. He played it there and sounds amazing. She's called Nozawa Micha and is apparently very obscure, as only a few CDs of hers survive.

Hahaha glad the bit about the pulparindo made you laugh!

Thank you dear Sandra!

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Sandra Yvonne's avatar

Hahaha you're much cooler than me!!

Quiet in public ✅

Mull over things ✅

Space to think ✅

Perfection.

Some CDs more rare than vinyls? That's surprising! I didn't know that. I wonder what the reasoning for that might be. How Millennial of them haha

I tried searching for Nozawa Micha but clearly very obscure. See, there you go being cool again with your obscure Japanese music. You're officially tapped into the culture.

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Oscar Obregon's avatar

Hahah don't about that! But it is indeed perfection! I'll be so happy when you someday experience similar places.

Yeah, crazy about the vinyl culture here, it is indeed the most millenial thing hahaha

When I'm back I'll try to digitalize the CD and share it with you! Meanwhile will keep collecting interesting music to share, which I know you appreciate :)

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Elizabeth Edwards's avatar

Oscar Zen on the Rocks 2

Oscar, I’m really loving your serendipitous adventures in Japan! Especially the day you spent with the Japanese film director you just met. That kissa looks so cozy. And your meta-moment at the Mexican restaurant, that’s crazy how that street in your neighborhood became a film that you’re watching in Japan!!! I also thoroughly enjoyed listening to the Echoes of Japan playlist while reading your article.

Resonating with your section on recommended places, and see them as opportunity for gaining new recommendations. I also like to prioritize recommended places when traveling somewhere new. There’s something special about it and I love that your serendipitous adventure with the Japanese film director started because you met someone in a place that was recommended to you!

Looking forward to reading more of your adventures in Japan =)

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Oscar Obregon's avatar

Thank you for your kind words Elizabeth!

So glad you highlighted the meta-moment, don't know why but I it was my favorite moment of the whole interaction haha

As for the recommendations, happy to hear you do it too. It is very important who it comes from, and as you say, prioritizing is key.

And in general yes, just happy to have lived this whole ramification from a single recommendation.

It also made me happy to put into words, and more reading comments like yours.

Thank you for reading!!

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Rachael Tiss's avatar

Wow I love the first edition and the second is just delightful. You have confirmed that Japan is the next place I will travel to with my partner. From the jazz kissa, to music bars, to pizza toast - your trip keeps getting better. Enjoy!

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Oscar Obregon's avatar

That sounds awesome Rachael! Already excited for you two, I'll keep gathering recommendations so I can point you in the fun direction ;)

Thank you so much for your kind comments!!

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Andrea G's avatar

Me encanta como fluyes y como vas permitiendo que la vida te sorprenda con momentos tan auténticos ... Qué increíble que tu viaje se esté conectando con el cine.

Y me encanta leerte. Tus artículos son dignos guiones de escenas para tus futuras películas.

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Oscar Obregon's avatar

Qué increíble comentario Andrea :) Muchas gracias por tus palabras.

Es algo que tu ya vives muy bien y seguro tendrán muchos de esos momentos por acá pronto!!

Y estaría padrísimo eso de usarlas para escenas, así siento cuando las vivo, y también me emociona que se haya conectado con el cine!

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

"Pay the bill, you scoundrel" -- you had me laugh out loud here. Great reportage, Oscar! You're spoiling us, and keep raising the bar of our expectations from your trip. I really enjoyed this and look forward to the rest! Bravo :)

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Oscar Obregon's avatar

😂😂 It was just so perfect that that song was playing 😂

The one that is spoiled is me by getting such great comments Silvio, grazie mille!

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Michelle Elisabeth Varghese's avatar

I love this! I’m so glad you didn’t do work instead. Also it’s so cute you carry around candies!

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Oscar Obregon's avatar

😂😂 I'm glad too haha and the candies do wonders! Haha Thank you so much Michelle :)

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Jon Vasquez's avatar

I love the videos you’ve included! The music is awesome and is delightfully surprising.

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Oscar Obregon's avatar

Right?! I would've never thought but it is awesome. Thank you Jon!!

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Steven Foster's avatar

“He loves pizza toast but we don’t have any!” 🤣

Grateful for this update. I wish I could share a drink at that Kissa with you but the photos were the next best things!

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Oscar Obregon's avatar

I knew you'd appreciate that part 😂😂 Thank you my friend, and looking forward to sharing that drink + jazz one of these days :)

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