Category: Japan

  • One week with Papa and Daughter (パパとムスメの七日間)

    On Saturday I was working at the computer with the TV on, and came across a re-broadcast of the first two episodes of パパとムスメの七日間, a Japanese weekend drama that was on a while back. I usually don’t watch Japanese TV since it consists of essentially talentless タレント芸の人 (celebrities) on quiz shows, or possibly cooking shows, […]

  • On the outside looking in

    A quick post. Today has been a peaceful Saturday, where I woke up early, did some housework, cleaned up around the place, and caught up on casual website reading. I also enjoyed my traditional hour or two at the local coffee shop reading my Japanese book – I will eventually finish this thing, but it […]

  • (Unexpected) Jiyugaoka Portable Shrine Festival

    Portable Shrine for the ladies Jiyugaoka Crowd Priests at the station Entire Jiyugaoka Festival set One of the things that I have really come to look forward to is a weekend routine that I’ve fallen into over the past few months. I’ve posted previously about reading Japanese novels, and have continued to try to struggle […]

  • A Visit to the Japanese National Archives

    Last week, I took a trip to the National Archives of Japan, arranged by Visiting U.C. Berkely Professor Fred Gey.  I didn’t realize this, but the National Archives are a short five minute walk from where I work in Jinbouchou, right next to the Japanese National Museum of Modern Art.  The mission statement of the […]

  • The Unexpected Dance of the Dead

    Roppongi Hills Obon Dance Stage Taiko Drummers Yukata Dancers Kids dance also On Saturday I went to Roppongi Hills to see the movie “Ratatouie”. In Japanese, this movie is called “Remi’s delicious restraurant” which I actually think is a much better title. I had no idea what the movie was about when I saw the […]

  • Fireworks Festivals

    I bought a Japanese Jinbei Watching Fireworks Foodstands on the way Crowds by the river Fireworks Fireworks On Thursday some friends from work and I went to the Jinguu Fireworks Festival. This is a large fireworks festival that takes place in the middle of Tokyo, near Yoyogi Park and Jinguu Temple. They put up about […]

  • Summer Sonic 2007 Music Festival: Day 2

    On the second day I woke up a big later since I didn’t have to go through the wrist-band exchange shuffle.  An uneventful trip back to the Chiba area. “Blue Man Group” The first “group” I wanted to see was the Blue Man Group.  They were up on the Mountain Stage, the largest of the […]

  • Summer Sonic 2007 Tokyo Music Festival: Day 1

    Welcome to Summer Sonic! Walking to Summer Sonic Marine Stadium Beach Stage Marine Stage Crowd Nishioka Sumiko (日本語版 ) Summer Sonic is a two-day summer music festival held in Chiba’s Makuhari Messe and nearby Marine Stadium.  It is a huge event, with probably around 80 bands playing over two days, and unofficial concerts on the […]

  • A quick trip to the Setagaya Art Museum

    Art Museum This Way Aesthetic Eyes of Aoyama Jiro A friend of mine, Mie, who I met at the wonderful Saraba bar in Jiyugaoka, works at the Setagaya Art Museum. The other day she told Lisa that they were having a fun exhibit at the museum. A guy who writes children’s books would do a […]

  • Unlikely food combinations: What are you thinking, Japan!?

    This is a post that started from a Mixi post I made about unusual donuts (in Japanese) and then purely by coincidence the next day I stumbled upon some other unusual foodstuffs. First, on with the donuts. Don’t make donuts out of that Ham and Cheese Donuts Maccha and Azuki Donuts On the way home […]