America Mura, known as the “American Village,” is a bustling city district in Osaka that attracts a young crowd. However, as people enter their 30s and beyond, it tends to naturally lose its appeal.
Last week, I went on a business trip to a pearl cultivation farm on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Over the weekend, my company had a pearl exhibition, so this Saturday was a rare day off for me. I spent about four hours practicing instruments at a music studio in Osaka with a friend from my band. The studio rental fee for the two of us for four hours was approximately $57. We finished our practice at 3 p.m., so we decided to visit several music stores in Osaka. Then, from around 6 p.m. until about 11 p.m., we had dinner at a famous pork restaurant known for its Iberico pork dishes. The pigs raised at this restaurant are fed with high-quality food such as olives, resulting in a completely different taste compared to any other pork I have ever eaten. It had a very delicate and transparent flavor. While it is common to eat pork that has been raised on acorns and other food, such as Iberico pork, this taste was entirely unique. We enjoyed having shabu-shabu in a hot pot, but if you left the meat in the boiling water for more than 10 seconds, it would start to melt. It was incredibly delicious.
A Productive Sunday: Cleaning, Meeting a Chinese Buyer, and Discovering a Musical Bar
On Sunday, the following day, I spent time tidying up my quite messy home. Due to the exhaustion from the business trip and the previous day’s activities, I wasn’t feeling well, but I pushed myself to clean up the room. In the evening, I went to Osaka again. It was to show the necklaces I’ve been creating to a Chinese buyer. This buyer is incredibly kind and generous. They always treat me to dinner. We had various fresh and intriguing conversations, not only about pearls but also about work philosophies, attitudes, and new ideas.
Osaka is a lively city known for its energetic atmosphere. While it may be slightly untidy and prone to litter compared to other parts of Japan, simply walking around is an enjoyable experience in itself.
The second place they introduced me to was a bar where you can play musical instruments anytime. I plan to perform something at this bar next time. In places like Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, it’s extremely rare to find establishments where bands and musicians can casually play anytime.
Even if it’s possible to perform, it usually requires reservations and incurs costs. However, the bar they introduced me to apparently doesn’t require reservations or fees. Moreover, it’s located in Dotonbori, which is one of the top tourist destinations in Osaka. I felt incredibly fortunate to be introduced to this place. Unfortunately, I couldn’t drink alcohol as I had come to Osaka on a motorcycle that day. As we were chatting, it was already around 11:30 p.m., and I returned home on my motorcycle a little before 1 a.m. The next day at work was quite tiring. However, I had productive discussions with the Chinese buyer about the price and quality of the necklaces, which helped solidify the direction of my necklace-making. Despite feeling tired every day, I’m determined to create a lot.
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