Pro-Wrestling On My Mind

Was ELP actually eating oranges while on commentary at the 3/15 show in Osaka? If so, does anyone have pictures? I want "ELP eating oranges" to be my personal "Bitch eating crackers."  

If you were unaware, LIJ’s Bushi has a karaage * shop in the north-east section of Tokyo** called Marubu Shouten. Now that you know that, hold that thought. A Tumblr post I have come across multiple times on various platforms discusses a drink called “The Flavor.” The original poster, heedra, describes how they have mixed the cranberry flavor of Mike’s Hard Lemonade with Lime Cucumber Gatorade to create a drink that has a taste. What that taste is, however, is unknown. The taste buds recognize a flavor, but you experience a mental 404 error when you try to piece together what exactly that flavor is. As someone who loves to try new and... unique flavors, I have longed to drink “The Flavor” ever since I first read about it. Unfortunately, the ingredients are hard, if not impossible, to come by in Japan. That’s where Bushi and his shop come in. Dear reader, let me introduce you to “クロピス.” Read as kuropisu in the Latin alphabet, it would probably be written as Curopis for a brand name. T...

Kota Ibushi is my favorite pro-wrestler. Hands down, no contest, no one else comes close. One of the reasons is that, every time I see him wrestle, it feels like a religious experience. The way he performs, he moves, he acts, all of it is a glorious spectacle to behold. Ritualistic dances are par for the course when he is in the ring, as the following pictures show.    I should get these images made into a triptych... Notice Okada in the middle picture, kneeling in reverence, mouth hanging open in awe (as he should be). I would be in this same posture every time I watched a Kota Ibushi match if there was not someone in front of me to block my view. What inspired me to ruminate about my pro-wrestling god today was having another religious experience, though this one was food-based. I tried a croiffle, a croissant waffle, for the first time today. From now on, any time I read about manna from the heavens, I will be imagining this. Dear reader, my soul transcended to a higher pla...

One of my greatest assets (or greatest flaws depending on who you ask) is my willingness to try new foods. I do have my limits,* but I'll give pretty much anything a go as long as it seems edible. And sometimes even if it does not seem edible, if it arouses my curiosity enough.** Hence, when I went to the Tokon Shop this past weekend I decided to buy this: I'm also weak to things that come with free trading cards. I honestly did not have high hopes. I've only ever had protein bars in the States before, and none that impressed me much. The closest thing I have had to a protein bar in Japan is Calorie Mate, and that stuff was NASTY.*** However, I had previously tried the NJPW protein powder and it was ok, so I threw caution to the wind. Regret wrapped in a shiny package? The verdict? Edible. And the chocolate flavor was strong enough to satisfy my craving for sweets at the time. It was a little too hard, but I was drinking tea and that helped. The only bad thing was the packa...

Second post today as this just popped up. I'm still playing "Ace Attorney Investigations." Made it to the third case, "Turnabout Legacy," and the name of the accused murderer threw me for a loop. This is Samson Tangaroa, a confectioner accused of killing a sculptor.  Check that last name again. Seem familiar? Yeah, the spelling has changed slightly now that he's wrestling for WWE, but Tanga Roa is one of the variations he has used over the years. I highly doubt this is a direct reference, but who knows. Whatever the case, I'm never going to be able to look at Tonga Loa again without imagining him singing, dancing, and extolling the virtues of making sweet. Thanks, "Ace Attorney!" (And, oddly enough, a comment was just made on the episode of "Lucha Underground" that I have playing about confusing "Aztec Pride" for "Aztec Pie." I think the universe just decided to be silly today. Or is craving sweets).