[Ed. Note- rex doesn’t want to sound like a broken record but trust him on this story. As many of you who been members of our little Group for some time know, there is no doubt rex is a clearly a “Coincidence Machine.” Here we go with the next and possibly the strangest. Please be seated as you read this lengthy one…]
The Set- Up
This story starts with a shrimp head.
No, I am serious, a shrimp head…
While we were in Kyoto we stayed at the Hotel Granvia right at the station. After our book-binding class on Wed. April 1, we hustled back to the hotel for a reservation at their tempura restaurant.
We were seated at a corner table, not at the counter.
They began serving the tempura courses to us. After receiving and enjoying two shrimp tempura, we received the shrimp heads separately.
I waved those things off immediately.
A short time later, another couple was seated near us- to my left and slightly beside and behind Kimberly. The man was sort of beside Kim and the woman was back to the wall facing me.
At the end of our meal Kimberly went to the restroom. While I was sat alone, along came their shrimp heads. The young woman took one eagerly with her chopsticks. As she started to eat it, I looked away. I had to. She noticed and when I looked back she knowingly smiled at me acknowledging my distress. And so our brief conversation with Abigail and Sam began.
They are from Oakland, California and were not staying at the hotel. He works for a well-known tech company and she is an English literature student at Berkeley.
We exchanged a few trip tips. They have been to Japan several times and were very Japan savvy. They were intrigued about our book- binding class. They recommended a couple of neighborhoods in Tokyo. They were heading south the next day. We were departing north for Tokyo.
[Ed. Note- Has rex put you to sleep yet? Stay with him.]
The Event
On Sunday, April 5, we spent a brilliant morning attending the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. It was only one of the few things we purchased tickets from home before we left.
I could go on for an entire post on this Garden, but just one more.
We departed the Garden at a smaller entrance point near the station for the JR Line and stopped at this delightful little coffee shop for a cold brew and to plot our afternoon.
Kimberly mentioned that Sam and Abigail had recommended ASAKUSA. It is described by AI as follows;
After a nearly 30 minute train ride we stepped into a scene of bedlam. There were shrines and narrow lanes jammed with restaurants and stores. I took this pic early on our entry to the neighborhood because there was a “lull” in the crush of people.
We were working our way through one of the tiny, crowded laneways. Kimberly was looking for a certain knife store and i was walking a few steps ahead just soaking it all in when suddenly from behind Kim shouted loudly “SAM/ ABIGAIL!!”
And there they were- walking in the opposite direction.
We were collectively stunned. How could this have occurred? Seriously, how could this have occurred?
I have done some research. There are over 30 million visitors per year to this small, feisty neighbourhood. On (Easter) Sunday on the last day of the Cherry Blossom Festival there would have to be well over 100,000 visiting this area.
They were dumbfounded as well. They recalled once bumping into someone they knew on a trip that they hadn’t seen in years. But this? My mind is still trying to account. It is like a perpetual Pi.
It still stays weird.
Abigail and Sam had returned to Tokyo a day later than planned and were going to their favourite leather goods store and then a store for Animé before returning to the U.S. Monday.
We had to go for a drink. They led us to a crowded and noisy beer hall. I stated that I was buying the drinks. Abigail and I went up to buy tickets as is done in many establishments. As we were standing in line to pay the sign stated “Cash Only.” To my horror I realized I had left my small cash stash in the pocket of the pants I had worn the day before! Abigail paid.
It was bothering me seriously that I hadn’t paid, so I got Abigail’s email to use my newfound skill to e-transfer her for the drinks. She said the bill was just about 5000 💴 yen, or about $30 US funds. I realized I had a small bit of US cash in my wallet and checked. How much? You got it- exactly $30! We shook our heads at this too.
Soon after we parted company- “friends for life” now because of this staggering moment of coincidence, or whatever you want to call it.
It’s About Music rex
Section 25 🇬🇧 from Blackpool and are named after a section of the British Mental Health Act.
An early FACTORY RECORDS signing, their first single was produced by IAN CURTIS.
Buy today’s track is from a year or so later. It is the appropriately titled “Sakura.” (Japanese Cherry Blossom.) A perfect track for the last day of the Cherry Blossom and this random occurrence.
Here it is on YouTube, live and on Spotify.
Live-
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_m6HWDMAazg&t=47s&pp=ygURc2VjdGlvbiAyNSBzYWt1cmE%3D&ra=m
SPOTIFY-
https://open.spotify.com/track/2DsQNznE0CUZwY1FDmOfIS?si=swa2DWIESZ6mRf_A2aPqRg
(SONG 1647)
Play Loud Or Perish
4/8/2026
underground365 
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