Alcatraz/ER Restaurant

Welcome to Alcatraz/ER.

I love living abroad. I have said it before, and I`ll say it again. I love the adventure, the challenge, the daily accomplishments, the new things I learn, about both the people and culture. I love it all. But, everyone once in awhile I have the revelation that Japan will most likely not be the last place I live, which makes me want to run outside and try something new. I want to soak up as much of this country as I can. I want to leave with no regrets. And sometimes that means embracing some of Japan`s randomness, and facing some of my own fears.

I have always known of the Alcatraz/ER restaurant in Tokyo`s Shibuya district. The entire restaurant is over the top with hospital and prison decorations. We`re talkin eating in jail cells and mummies in the floor. Upon entering, the hostess, dressed as a slutty nurse, with an element of mummy, asked who in our party is least mentally stable. I immediately elected Kris. He was then handcuffed and we were all escorted to our table. We passed people eating in jail cells on our way to our izakya style room with hospital curtains separating us from other parties.

Kris and Keigo.

Deborah and Kate.

It took a while but we got a waiter, dressed in scrubs and white lab coat, to come take our order. We ordered the most bizarre cocktails possible, including one that was made up of test tubes, a shot that came in a syringe, and my sangria which was to be mixed, by a vibrating dildo.

The amount I could fit in my hand was how much we got for the table.
And for as long as I can remember, I've stuck out my tongue when I got determined.

Dildo stirred sangria.
Deborah's face says it all.

Test tube drinks.

Chicken in a cage. Food out of a barf basin. Rice shaped like a boob.

While we were waiting for our food their was a jailbreak.

Kris has warned me about these jail breaks, thank god. The lights flashed then dimmed, a siren went off and all the employees donned masks, running around scaring the patrons. Getting in their faces and yelling. All while shooting off fake guns, essentially making as much noise as possible. After that went on for 10 minutes, I let out an audible sigh of relief when the lights returned to full. Though and hour later, it went pitch black as we prepared for our second jail break. Everyone else chuckled that it was happening again. I stayed silent and essentially hopped in my friend Deborah's lap. Turned out it was only someone's birthday.
We were safe.

Everyone else at the table chuckled as they realized I really wasn't enjoying myself sans lights. `You're really scared aren't you?` says previously hand-cuffed Kris. I glared at him. No shit Sherlock.
It's my hell. I hate the dark. I hate people jumping out at you. I hate sudden loud noises in the dark. Hate.

Once when I was in high school, my friends convinced me that Knott's Berry Farms', Halloween themed Knott's Scary Farm would be a good idea. I protested, but ultimately went. The damn employees with masks and elaborate face paint, hired to scare the crap out of you, sniffed out my fear. They found me at every turn. At one point I bolted. The wear-wolf ran after me. I turned around, and faced him, decidedly standing my ground. He screamed inches from me. I hit him in the face. He immediately turned into a normal person as I got a lecture about how I would be escorted out of the park if I did that again. And that was the last time I`ll be going back there.

Or to this restaurant for that matter. The experience was fun, weird and different. Glad I went. Never going back. If you come to visit I'd recommend you try it, and I apologize in advance for not going with you.

Enjoy your dinner at Alcatraz/ER, call me when you're done and I'll come meet you,
Kate

[The Latest]

Must Read: More of a listen and think...Charlie Chaplin`s final speech from The Great Dictator

Google Search: Hakuba Mountain

Tune: Sunny Day By Joy Williams

Accomplishment: surviving this stupid restaurant, a successful class with Keima today

Obsessions: new bright green running shorts from Jessica, emoticon only conversations