Prefectural die-cut postcards
The Japan Post Office sells these special die-cut postcards (called regional form cards) unique to each prefecture. Each die-cut postcard features a picture of a prefectural symbol which could be…
Happy New Year 2012!
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! Hope you all stay safe, healthy, and prosperous in 2012.
Merry Christmas 2011!
I took this photo inside a department store in Kyoto. It happened to include the three words I live by. Merry Christmas!
Moonstruck in Tokyo
Totally clear skies tonight around midnight in Tokyo. Left shot was taken around 12:05 am, and the right shot was taken at around 12:40 am. The moon was directly above…
2011 Asakusa Samba cancelled
The popular Asakusa Samba Carnival which would have been held on Aug. 27, 2011, has been cancelled. This was announced in June 2011 on the Asakusa Samba Carnival’s official Web…
Japanese-American museums in Japan
Japanese Americans/Canadians visiting or living in Japan should check out my list of Japanese-American museums in Japan. They show the Japanese immigration during the late 19th century and early 20th…
March 2011 post-quake Japan travel advice (Updated)
Updated: April 8, 2011 I know people are understandably canceling trips to Japan left and right. It’s unfortunate since the cherry blossom season is here. Obviously, any travel plans to…
Safe from earthquake
Northern Japan got hit with a major earthquake today on March 11, 2011. We felt it in Tokyo as well, and it was the worse earthquake I ever experienced. I…
The Toilet Goddess song
The song, Toire no Kamisama (The Toilet God or more accurately, The Toilet Goddess トイレの神様) sung by Uemura Kana (植村花奈) is back at No. 1 on the music charts in…
Buying a flat-panel TV in Japan
Last Nov. 2010 was a buying frenzy for TVs in Japan. Electrical appliance stores sure made a killing with so many customers every day until Nov. 30, 2010. I was…