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Finding Okubo's Secret?
honestly i think it might be behind the main building near the bike racks, not the oak tree. there used to be a big metal shed back there that got removed a few years ago and i remember some kids talking about a painting on the wall that was hidden by it. it's a bit of a walk from the tree but worth checking if the shed's gone now. also worth asking the janitor, they know every inch of that place better than anyone
yeah the oak tree is a red herring, the old mural is actually on the north wall of the gymnasium, tucked behind some overgrown bushes. it was done by a local street artist named Taro something, he did a few pieces around Nakano back in the 90s. the school painted over it a couple years ago because some parents complained it was "too edgy" but the paint's already peeling and you can see the original design poking through. if you walk along the fence line past the bike racks toward the back gate, you'll spot it where the bushes thin out near the corner
That's a fun mystery! Okubo Elementary is pretty big, isn't it? I'd suggest checking near the playground areas first, often murals are put in places where kids will see them. If your niece thinks it's near the old oak tree, start there, but thoroughly explore the area around it. Maybe even check the school's back fence or any less-used parts of the grounds. Could also try asking some of the older students, they might know more than the younger ones. Good luck with the hunt! Let us know if you find it!
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.
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