more bamboo...inside tokyo mid-town...

a bamboo fence in my local temple...

the other day on osaki gate city terrace...

some japanese vegetables...

daikon...a kind of radish

kabu...a small white turnip

sticky potato

i can't remember the japanese name

burdock, lotus root, carrots

sweet potato, pumpkin

kaiten sushi...

100 yen a plate (73p)

just off the conveyor belt

fish eggs...not my choice!!!

add your own wasabi

(no thanks!!!)

the yamanote line...from the park

more art on a plate...

main course

j's hiroo

risotto cake topped with tempura

my walk home from the supermarket along the meguro river...

home-made swiss roll (called roll cake here)...

i don't wanna think of the calories!!!

thanks A...delish!!!

art on a plate...

organic vegetable terrine

J's restaurant...hiroo

review here

a bicycle made for 3...

the japanese name is 'mamachari'

presumably a mix of 'mama' and 'chariot'???

and a very common site in tokyo

often fitted with a small electric engine

like this one

to see some in action look at this link
be sure to watch ALL the youtube
to see the action

expecting sunshine judging by the hats...

do's and dont's in the park near tokyu store...

1. don't pick the flowers (actually there are none!!!)

2. don't leave litter (actually there is none!!!)

3. don't injure anyone with your ball (never seen a ball in the park!!!)

4. no dogs (ahhhhhhhh)

5. don't buy and sell ice lollies

on the back of a t-shirt...

...my favourite tokyo train line...

it's bit like the circle line in london

except it is on-time and clean

and air-conditioned

i live at the bottom

between gotanda and osaki

wikipedia here

youtube

i watched a good japanese film the other night...

...tokyo sora (tokyo sky)

it's about 6 young women

 and their survival and experiences in tokyo

more here

youtube here

it inspired me!!!

tokyo mid-town at night...

this idea of mixed use spaces...offices, hotel, gardens, gallery, shopping, eating, drinking and supermarket...makes so much commercial sense...as a visitor there is so much choice...and if i just go to walk around the garden i am very likely to also have something to eat or drink and maybe pick up a pen at muji!!!

note to self: must take photos in the day-time too!!!

out and about round here today...

today is girls' day...

...a day when families pray for young girls' growth and happiness...commemorated by displaying special dolls and eating chirashizushi and pretty candy

each family has its own set of dolls...often bought by grandparents...these 2 are the imperial dolls...the emperor and empress

and we eat chirashizushi...sushi rice with scattered titbits on top...this is a vegetarian version for me but usually fish and seafood would be scattered too

one of the things i like about japan is that despite americanisation traditional aspects of the culture are respected and maintained...and enjoyed

so it is possible to be eating this food looking at these dolls...but wearing levis and gap!!!

i am not a fan of hermes but...

 

...their building in ginza made of glass bricks is very impressive...and the light inside is beautiful...but...the products are not are not my cup of tea!!!

edit: designed by renzo piano

    nice night photo here

i like chocolate!!!

...in a nice cafe in ginza

(thanks N for taking me there)