Damp and Happy: Tokyo Farmers Market Outing Report

Damp squash family members at Earth Day Market.
Photo courtesy of Nicole Bauer.

Indeed, those two words well describe the hearty bunch that braved yesterday's torrential rains to join me at the Earth Day Market in Yoyogi Park. Eight of us total (down from 15 who initially planned to come out) wandered between the stalls surveying the seasonal goodies - a variety of squashes, awesome jams, heaps of good rice and grains, wine, beer, moroheya and other greens, peanuts, and a few early radishes - under our umbrellas and plotting our purchases.

We chatted, learned about  the vendors and their products, indulged in some free samples, and tried to stay relatively try. Tomiyama-san, the Earth Day Market manager, paused in his full rain suit to welcome us and chat for a moment before bustling off to help finish setting up tents and strategize about keeping things dry. Business was brisk despite the weather, and I can only imagine what it would have been if the sun had been shining. We grabbed yummy lunches from the handful of food carts there to talk and laugh together some more. A good day, if I do say so myself.

If lack of a wet suit kept you away, never fear. I plan on doing another soon. Stay tuned!