let's hope the idea takes off...

(gotanda)

my new...

i went to tesco again!!!

i know i am in japan...but i love korean tea!!!

making the best use of space...

my new...

this is my street in liverpool now!!!

(ta to cc for photo)

an open-air launderette...yes no doors and unstaffed!!!

impossible to have this in the uk...the machines would be ripped out or vandalised in a minute...i do not cease to be amazed at how safe this country is...one theory is that the japanese see themselves as one big family and therefore do not steal off each other...if you leave your bag on the train it is very very likely it will be handed in intact!!

it is very nice to be living in this kind of society

(aside: the japanese word for launderette is "coin laundry"...cute isn't it!!!)

bliss...my washlet...

toilets in japan are beyond belief...i heard madonna bought one to take back with her after experiencing them!!!

you might notice it is plugged into a socket...why???

first the seat is heated with a choice of 3 temperatures!!!

yes...the seat is heated!!!

second...the washlet has the ability to spray water (we can choose the temperature of course) on our parts while we are sitting on the seat...one spray is called bidet and is in the direction for women...the other is in the direction of everyone's bottoms...

mine is a bit unsophisticated but some also puff out warm air to dry and some even puff out deodoriser!!!

...some even have an automatically opening lid...when you walk into the room the lid opens!!!

another little natty feature is the hand-washing facility!!!

the new water to fill the cistern

 comes out of a little spout

 and we can wash our hands!!!

towel is to hand of course!!!

if this has whetted your appetite check out more details here

and...don't worry that we will all be electrocuted...we are on 110 volts electricity here...so it is very safe

yesterday...taiko drumming to blow your mind!!!

some nice new year decorations...

gotanda

at the hotel entrance

in the lobby

grand prince takanawa hotel

it's the year of the tiger...

...and they've dressed up the statue

 on hamamatsucho station platform!!!

 

such bad taste

in a country of refined elegance!!!

i hope your dreams for 2010 come true!!!

よいおとしを

happy new year

i got told off for taking these photos...but i did it anyway!!!

(roppongi hills...estnation)

some nice repetition i found in hibiya today...

parasite single (japan) versus kick them out (uk)...

the guardian reports today that  tough love is considered best by the government for young unemployed people...read article here...basically don't molly-coddle them!!!

in japan we have 'parasite singles'.. a term coined in japan for adult offspring still living with parents...some see it as negative...others as positive...read more here

make up your own mind...but personally i can't see what is wrong with living with your parents if everyone is happy about it...it makes economic sense at least to say nothing of other benefits

it is just whether we can individually stand the situation!!!

what do you think???

a balanced meal...

dinner at kazue's

clear soup with wakame seaweed and fu (wheat gluten)

rice cooked with mushrooms and ginko nuts

simmered daikon (radish) with miso and yuzu garnish

deep fried seasonal vegetables

(pumpkin, lotus root and green pepper)

avocado and tomato salad for xmas colours

i read this in the japan times yesterday...

in contrast to the recent chaos on eurostar,  japan's bullet trains are rarely disrupted by a cold snap...why...they have several measures to tackle snowfall...hot water is sprinkled onto the tracks, plows are put onto the front cars, cables are coated with a substance that prevents snow from sticking!!!

the shinkansen between tokyo and osaka operates 323 trains a day...its average delay is 1 minute...yes 1 minute!!!


but even the shinkansen technology cannot cope when the earth moves or nasty typhoons arrive!!!


but snow is not a big problem!!! 

look what the postman brought on xmas day!!!

perfect timing

thanks ms cc!!!

xmas morning breakfast!!!

baked tofu cheesecake

we made this yesterday at my cooking circle

it has to be eaten today!!!

xmas eve in japan is a time for a special cake...

sponge cake

covered with fresh cream

decorated with strawberries

eaten on xmas eve

often preceded by fried chicken

usually bought at KFC!!!

made by kazue...not me!!!