Goto Osaka

Pia: Sasamahan mo ba ako?
Ako: Saan?
Pia: Iinterbiyuhin daw ako ni Neriza-sensei para sa community newspaper.
Ako: (Tonong tinatamad) E ano naman gagawin ko roon? Saan ba yon?
Pia: Sa may gotohan daw sa Shinsaibashi.
Ako: GOTOHAN!!?? (katchiiinnnnggggg!!!!!)

If there is something that could bring out the pinoy in me, it is a steaming bowl of goto straight from the gigantic kaldero. Busy as I was with all my imaginary itinerary for the day, I decided to set them all aside.

Goto aside, the Shinsaibashi/Namba/Nipponbashi area in Osaka matches the pinoy taste. It is a first world version of Tutuban, Raon and Mabini mixed together in a blender at low speed. This is one zone where you can feel Japan’s pulse beat. More like Cubao than Ayala Center. It is the average pinoy’s neck of the woods, where one would feel at home.

So we're off to Mabini, este, Minami (South in Japanese, also the specific location of the gotohan) where the goto waited.

The place was named well, ‘Gotohan sa Minami.’ What else?

To get to the gotohan, we passed through a street lined with bars (the Mabini variety). Since it was only mid-afternoon, the strip was still asleep but just about ready to wake up. Dozens of posters outside the entertainment houses promised a lothario’s feast. Unfortunately, it was for goto that I came so maybe some other time, hopefully in more liberal company.

Too early customers (like ourselves) were welcome at 4:00 pm despite the place’s 6:00 pm opening hours. “Feel at home,�? said Manong. So we did.

A real live ‘manong’, supot na pambalot, Datu Puti, Ligo sardines, Barrio Fiesta bagoong. Kris Aquino!!!

Philippines-Japan technical cooperation.

Sto. Nino image, weapons of moroland. Note the Japanese business permit on the wall.

Kutsara at Tinidor na kahoy sa pader. Iba ang may pinagsamahan.

Why no pictures of goto? I learned from this experience that when a hot bowl of goto goes up against the need to take pictures, something has got to give. I promised myself I’ll be back for more goto, perhaps after ‘happy hour’ someday. Meanwhile, it felt great dropping the gaijin mask even for just a few delicious moments in gotoland.