Sunday 31 January 2010

cute shopping in shimokitazawa...










can you imagine unattended goods like this in the uk???
it is just not possible
regrettably

Saturday 30 January 2010

i love cats...

...and i am pleased to know there is an organisation in tokyo that is rescuing and rehoming cats


these 2 kittens are up for rehoming
i wish i could take them!!!

Thursday 28 January 2010

expensive fruit as a gift concept...

...the japanese have a very strong gift-giving culture...between friends, within families and in business...and sometimes they give very special and expensive fruit...to an important client, to someone they are indebted to or to a sick friend as a get-well-soon wish...


these are banpeiya...the largest citrus fruit in the world...sometimes weighing as much as 2.5 kilos!!!

cost
2,500 yen each
=
28 us dollars or 17 gb pounds



musk (cantaloupe) melons

cost
4,800 yen each
=
53 us dollars or 33 gb pounds


the growers say they taste better than ordinary fruit
i should hope so!!!



Wednesday 27 January 2010

keep your pinkies warm when cycling!!!







brilliant idea!!!

a little piece of france in oimachi!!!









a la campagne cafe

the cafe au lait is even served in a french-style bowl
lovely!!!


Monday 25 January 2010

lunch with yon-sama...


...i've mentioned him before...the biggest korean star here in japan...loved by housewives...and others!!! this korean restaurant is named after a location in his famous drama



an assortment of korean morsels as a starter
nice presentation



hot stone bowl bibimbap
rice and vegetables
plus hot pepper paste

lunch is 780 yen...so reasonable

japanese cake shop...complete with rock garden!!!


(inside atre building...oimachi)

Saturday 23 January 2010

boys and girls are different!!!

yesterday we made name badges in english...


rio decorated hers with a star, a heart and pretty ribbon



souta decorated his with 2 footballs and a goalpost!!!

kanji...pictograms

the written japanese language contains kanji...imported from the chinese language...they are a kind of picture often representing a concept

kanji are an art form in themselves...and all japanese start learning them at a very early age...using a brush and ink

i am learning too...it is so difficult controlling the brush in an entirely different way from how we do

i was asked to choose a kanji for my 2010...i chose open as i intend to open many new things this year

this is my feeble attempt..i am sure japanese will laugh at this because there are many mistakes!!!

can you find the image of open in this kanji?


the big thing is a gate
the small one inside is the entrance to a shrine

interesting, isn't it

(the small red square is my personal stamp)

 

Thursday 21 January 2010

the religious-themed christon cafe in shibuya...











gorgonzola and apple pizza
not sure what the religious connection is!!!

stairway to heaven and nightmare cocktails

saginomiya...a quaint little place i go to each week


waiting at the level crossing



level crossing again



old shops by the canal



canal



daily life



the back of a block of council flats
it was a good day for drying yesterday!!!

Monday 18 January 2010

japanese like a substantial lunch...


chinese



japanese



english pub menu



lunchtime sushi menu

Sunday 17 January 2010

this is a kabosu...



a japanese citrus fruit produced in oita in kyushu...similar to a lemon or lime but much sweeter with its own particular taste...i have never seen one in the uk..this one is organic and from my friend's mum's garden in oita...thanks reiko!!!



kabosu next to a lemon

Thursday 14 January 2010

dessert in jonathan's shin-okubo...


green tea
mr whippy
warabi-mochi
black sugar syrup

Tuesday 12 January 2010

i heard that...

...the guys who do this kind of job are into climbing...so basically they're enjoying their hobby everyday at work!!!