the japanese take on pizza...

...using non-italian veggies
one half...lotus root (renkon)
the other...shitake mushrooms

the japanese are known for developing ideas from other cultures
this one is such a winner!!!

see next posting for accompanying veggies

stylish veggies!!!

have you ever seen anything presented like this? the `box` that they are all on is some kind of `hot box`keeping them warm!!!
this restaurant prides itself on using organic veggies from its farm in nagano...turnips, brussel sprouts, courgettes, mange-tout, green beans, mushrooms, potatoes, fiddlehead ferns, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, taro, carrots and several unidentifiable ones i had never seen before!!!
served with sesame dip, brazilian salt (?) and avocado dip...amazing!!!

enboca...yoyogi-uehara
www.enboca.jp

cherry blossoms at twilight...with red lanterns

meguro riverside

the cherry blossoms are in full bloom...

(shibuya...sakuragaokacho)
a great excuse to meet up with friends and have a drink!!!

kiosk...yamanote line platform...tokyo station

primitive...but resourceful and cheap!!!

this is a common sight in tokyo...real estate ads tied to trees or lamp-posts...of course there are estate agents` offices here like back home...but this is also used as an advertising medium...funny, isn`t it

incidentally...this ad is for a 3-bedroomed flat in a good location...quite big...and only 45.8 million yen...that is about 460,000 US dollars or 312,000 UK pounds

another kitkat...espresso flavour!!!

not worth getting again!!!

the korean wave extends into food

i talked before about the phenomenon of the korean wave in japan...all starting about 7 years ago with a tv mini-series called winter sonata...the main spin-off from this drama is an avid following of the main actor...yon-sama...his fans will go to any lengths to follow him, meet him, wait for him, visit the sets and now we have a restaurant opened by him in the shirogane area in tokyo...of course being a fan of the drama i had to go and sample it myself!!!

gosireh`s entrance

and the food

when yon-sama comes to tokyo he usually goes to his restaurant...so we can see the room he uses and the chair he sits on...and...we can use the same loo...cos it is unisex!!! i heard a story that some fans go to the loo 4 or 5 times!!! i just went once!!!

this cake shop in akasaka...

...sells the best cheesecake!!!

neat and tidy...

(cat street...harajuku)

simple luxury...

(cat street...harajuku)

kiosk...yamanote line platform...kanda station

toilet paper...

...with a difference!!
(tama art school end-of-year show)

roppongi hills

the cherry blossoms are nearly out in the garden in roppongi hills

and the buildings are amazing!!!

another celebration in japan

when a baby is 100 days old they have their first real meal...served on a special tray...with special celebration dishes

the special food (clockwise from 7 o`clock) is soup, pickled plum, simmered vegetables and celebration red rice

and this is the party girl sao-chan

being fed by her older brother and older sister
and held by her mum

if you thought that station was clean the other day...look at this train!!!

asakusa line train
nishi-magome station
(this photo is NOT touched up!!!)

tokyo urban landscapes...roppongi/azabu

taken from a flat on the 6th floor in roppongi 5-chome
looking over the shuto expressway loop line

these expressways over the city are amazing
especially at night!!!

tokyo metro...an example to us all!!!

azabu-juban is in the centre of tokyo

...a very busy station
...but you could eat your dinner off the platform
...like most other stations

i often wonder why tokyo can get it right???

i don`t know anything about baseball...

but apparently there was an important game today

...japan v south korea
...and japan won

this was at 11.30 am today
outside my local tv shop

shouldn`t they all have been working?!?

march and april in japan

april is a special time here...cherry blossoms arrive and bring a new beginning...the fiscal year, new business projects, new budgets, new graduates join companies, the school year starts, time to change apartments

therefore march is also special...it is time for preparation for the above...spending the rest of the budgets, concluding projects, graduation ceremonies, good-bye parties, buying new clothes/uniforms for new lives

souta (6) is ready for his elementary school...it is a state school so no uniform is required...but the rucksack is essential...traditionally grandparents give it to their grandchildren...it is an important part of school life here!!!

rio (3) is ready for her kindergarten school...they have to wear a uniform...it is a bit big at the moment but she will grow into it quickly...she is so excited to wear it!!!