hello kitty!!!

these are birthday kittys
with embroidered dates on each kitty
there is a kitty for every day of the year!!
(tokyu hands shibuya)

room with a view...

...from my school in shibuya

it`s a bit grey and wet today...
...but still interesting!!!

it was pouring today

zara in omote sando

omote sando is the shopping street...
...with all the big fashion houses
tree-lined with beautiful architecture
and zara sits comfortably in this very nice building

i was reminded of england yesterday...

...when i walked along cat street

from harajuku to shibuyai am a fan of this label
and isn`t the shop stylish?
i like the bike!!

burberry is very popular here
i heard that the black label was created
to suit the japanese physique

i came across some film shoot today...

...on the way home to my flatthere was one actor...
...the guy on the bridge with a dark suit
and his back to us
i don`t know if he is famous or not
i counted 25 other staff!!!
incredible!!!
why are there so many???

this is an ad for...

...men`s grooming products
at harajuku JR stationthis is the japanese david beckham...
...hidetoshi nakata
actually TBC used to use david and victoria!!
we used to see their huge faces everywhere!!
but not anymore
actually i never minded david!!

valentine`s day is coming!!!!

display of gifts in sony plaza... shinjuku

valentine`s day in the uk means we send a card to someone we love..often anonymously..or buy something for our special someone...chocolates, red roses, jewellery...it is a time for love..tho many people choose to ignore it!!!

in japan it is different...women buy or make chocolates for the men in their lives...work-mates, boss, father, class-mates, etc...some say it is an obligation...some enjoy the buying and giving... women in a big office may (have to) buy 10 or 12 small gifts...but they don`t love all those men!!

but it doesn`t stop there...on march 14th there is WHITE DAY...this is the day when the men (have to) buy a return gift..a hanky, chocs, toys, etc!!!

some think the winner is the chocolate/toy/hanky manufacturer and retailer!!!
others enjoy the act of gift giving/receiving!!!

public phones...a basic respect

outside okachimachi JR station
yes outside!!!!
...not vandalised..everything intact
including phone books!!

this kind of scene is taken for granted here...
a basic respect for public property...
or for someone else`s property

more vertical parking!!

in gotanda
so clever!!!

more ikebana

the containers are as important as the flowers

wonky building....

in meguro

tokyo urban landscapes...route 1...gotanda

a rainy sunday in gotanda..where i live

moving clockwise around the photo
starting at 7 o`clock
excelsior coffeee shop
family mart convenience store
MUFJ..my bank
the yamanote line bridge with train
gotanda station atre building
a securities company
a pachinko parlour

i came across george`s today...in tabata...

...and got some very nice dishes...
...i had never seen this shop beforei love what is written on the carrier bag

George`s in the city, an oasis of greenery and light providing products for a happy life filled with gifts of joy to give to those we love adding happiness to everyday life. Always full of new delights to be discovered each time you visit. Putting a smile on everybody`s face. GEORGE`S cooperating with the community to put joy in every place.

a funny fruit

this is a DECOPON

i had often wondered what it was...and i read about it last week...it is a citrus fruit solely developed in japan..bigger than an orange but smaller than a grapefruit...and with a funny protuberance on its top...the thick peel comes off easily and inside it looks like an orange but with soft membranes..i am salivating just thinking about it!!

the story is that japan got worried in the 70`s about its citrus market..californian oranges were on the horizon and nothing in japan could compete with them...so some farmers in kyushu put their thinking caps on and after lots of trials came up with the dekopon..it was brought to market in 1979

i like the dekopon very much..and i also like the fact that the farmers had the spirit to develop it!!!

a balanced meal

i love tokyo restaurants....
....but nothing beats a home-cooked mealmy friend made this for the two of us:
rice with aduki beans
tofu topped with seaweed/sesame dressing
miso soup with tofu and veggies
stir fried veggies
stir fried veggies with sliced tofu pouches

thanks tomo!!!

yesterday i saw sao-chan again

i wrote about her a few blogs ago..sao-chan is the new baby in the kubota family
she was born just before new year
her dad made me laugh at the time because he said to be born before the end of the year was good for his tax..he was joking of course..but it is a fact!!
she has a day bed in the living room...
...and displayed by it was this writing
it was painted by her grandmother...
...and it celebrates her birth
detailing her name, parents` names...
...and date and time of birth
it will be displayed for about a year
lovely custom, isn`t it

today`s weather..osaki

8 degrees sunny
remarkably blue sky
tokyo winter

(another haiku???)

the weather

it is cold tonight

and started to snow a bit
white flakes all around

(is this a haiku??)

the buses in tokyo are......

friendly!!!!

the airport bus..in ginza

the economy in japan

i wouldn`t want everyone to think japan is escaping the global economic problems
here are some things i read in the newspaper today:
sony....
warns markets of 260 million yen loss
opts to shut tv plant in aichi with 1,000 job losses
will jettison 30% of its designers and related support staff in the LCD tv business
will outsource part of its software development to other countries, including india

soft hearth bread!!!

nice bread..but the name????
2 pounds for HALF a loaf!!

moving ads are big here!!!

this was being driven through the busy streets
of harajuku, an area where lots of young trendies go
the moving ad is for a new j-pops single
the music was also being played!!

interesting advertising idea????

softbank...

...ad on a station platformof course japanese know this company..
but others...
can you guess the product?
cool advertising!!!!

tesco express

tesco is a very successful uk supermarket chain...
....and has recently opened a few shops in tokyothis one is in okubo
regrettably there are almost no british products
i was looking for marmite!!

it is raining today in tokyo

outside harajuku station

shoes by prada?

no..these are worn by all shinto shrine priests

and of course taken off when the shrine is entered
amazing design!!!

more vertical parking!!

which do you prefer?

community art?or graffiti?

i have just noticed graffiti beginning to spring up..it is relatively new here

budgies....

..... on the way to work today i saw these two!!!!

why i ask!!!!

a roundabout near liverpool

i have never seen a roundabout in japan
do they exist here?
maybe notbasically a circular road with several exits

often planted with trees and flowers

requiring careful circular driving
to get off at the correct exit!!

i am beginning to think they are a british phenomenon?

more ikebana

space and balance are important

cooking before your very eyes..again!!!

kushi-yaki cooking
deep-fried breadcrumbed food on sticks
this restaurant is in ebisu
enter under the noreen curtain
into a rustic dark-wood interior

sit at a counter facing the chef
he cooks it while you wait
and serves it piping hot

mochi, cheese ball, green pepper, pumpkin, pumpkin

eat the food with sauces and green pickles
served with rice, miso soup, salad and tea

absolutely delish..and a fab experience!!

some things are very expensive in japan!!

we usually buy bread in packs of 6 thick slices or 8 medium...and i have even seen packs of mega-thick 4 slices!! most of it is very soft and very white....only in speciality shops with speciality prices can we get wholewheat or seeded or something special

this pack of 6 slices
costs about one pound seventy!!!
bread seems very expensive to me!!

zen moment of the day

courtesy of inter-fm radio today

the first lesson of zen....
......what we seek...we are

it is easy to forget that tokyo is a port....

....because we don`t really see the water
when we travel around the cityand it is really busy
with about 90 incoming vessels a day

and 90 million tons of cargo
pass through the port every year

and doesn`t it look beautiful at sunset?

the rainbow bridge across tokyo bay

started being built in 1987 and completed in 1993the rainbow bridge spans tokyo bay

double-decker structure
carrying vehicles, people and the yurikamome train line
breathtaking day or night
when it is illuminated using solar energy

it is no wonder japanese are so proud of this bridge

anyone for buckwheat noodles?

what topping would you like?
tenpura
grated mountain yam
tofu
2 big fat fried shrimps
a selection of vegetables plus an egg

cafe croissant!!!!

i agree!!!!!!

mcdonalds launced a new product in japan

a kansai quarter pounder
one source reported that mac hired 1,000 customers
to wait in line for its debut!!!

i really laughed at work yesterday...

.....because
one of my japanese colleagues
had been to england recently
and had come back with this bag
she was so pleased with it and considers it to be so chic!

..for me it is to carry potatoes!!!