Sonic Japan: Melt Banana, Sick Zip

Sonic Japan: Tokyo Pinsalocks

Sonic Japan: 麓 健一

麓　健一/myspace
炎上する、それ,,CM,,

郵便,,1

Soinc Japan: Toshiko Akiyoshi

Toshiko Akiyoshi

The more muscular Japan By Richard J. Samuels | August 7, 2007 | The Boston Globe

WHILE MANY nations are breathing a collective sigh of relief after North Korea's official commitment to move forward on disabling its nuclear facilities, one country is still holding its breath: Japan.

After decades of North Korean military provocations, Kim Jong Il now has a big problem on his hands, as the Japan of old is transforming into an increasingly more muscular nation, one less hesitant to use force.

The new MooShu: Japanese Translation Firefox Plugin

Ok, now that I am back, this blog will look less like a travelogue and more like a resource for items of interest in the known MooshUniverse. Particularly, items of a US-Japan nature. Such as this:
Check out this plugin for Firefox for translating Japanese web-text:
http://www.polarcloud.com/rikaichan

This is the most popular guy in Japan. I'm not kidding.

Yoshio Kojima.

Ebisu Milk: Lineup for the night, as best I could tell.

It was a good night, with lots of bands and different DJs on 3 different floors. Problem with staying to see them all is you end up sleeping in a manga cafe at the end of the night (I'll update this post later when I figure out who I got pictures of):


Falsies on Heat
Motocompo
Atta Belterss

Tokyo Pinsalocks
Noodles: Really good, much better than I remember from a few years ago.
Kate Sikora: Interestingly, from New Jersey, but living in Japan. We both went to Rutgers.
Chocolat & Akito
M.A.G.O

Night on the Town

Mushroom Party

The two greatest cultural inventions of our time, together at last

Wish I was here

TOKYO GAME SHOW

Game makers in marketing joust at Chiba expo

Tokyo Game Show, one of the world's largest gaming events, opened Thursday with the participation of a record number of Japanese and overseas firms — an indication that the industry is ready to take advantage of a brisk market boosted by the popularity of Nintendo Co.'s Wii console and dual touch-screen DS portable machine.

Full story >>

Koenji

I was in Koenji for the first time. Very cool area:

Asakusa

More Seibu Lions

A Night of Sumo

Seibu Lions: They have a different song for each player.

Asimo has some serious competition

Story of the Day: Roller Derby

The 1,200-meter-long Orochi roller coaster at the Expoland amusement park is seen from the air Sunday. KYODO PHOTO

Full story >>

Domo, Domo

There are certain things that should be obvious:

For example, don't go in there:















And if you do go in there, don't hang out with these guys:

Story of the day: Who to replace Abe?

PHOTO NEWS

Possible candidates for the LDP presidential race kicking off Friday include four party veterans: (from left) former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga, LDP Secretary General Taro Aso and former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki. AP PHOTOS

Full story >>

Hammy, Hammy?

Hammy has been outside of my door exactly as in the prior post for the last three days. I fear for his health, but he is not being devoured by ants as the praying mantis was bu the entrance to the building. Maybe he is spying on me.

Mothra of the Day: Hammy

This little guy was just hamming it up for the camera:

Quick update from Yokohama Convention

It goes a little something like this:

Story of the Day: Abe

ABE EXITS

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe enters the news conference today at his official residence where, minutes later, he officially announces his resignation after less than a year in office. KYODO PHOTO

Full story >>

PS:

I saw someone from work in the outside world again tonight. I feel like a real citizen.

先生, Sensei

It was a long weekend, and I needed a beer, so I headed out to the Shin-Tokoroville area. After passing a few 'red light' looking places, I got to Doma Doma, which is a chain of sorts, but in Japan, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The waiter was my best friend, but I always have to remember that it says something in one of my guide books about the fact that although it might seem so, no one really wants to be my friend in Japan. So, I consider him my business partner instead. When I came home at about 11:30, I conversed with one of the students living in my dorm who was also just getting home. After a brief conversation about the fact that I was here to work on research, the student called me sensei. That was cool.

Here are some awesome snaps from my walk...
Now that's what I call love:
I know that I posted about Coco's already, but I didn't notice the big meat screen before:

Yokohama Part 1

Went to Yokohama on Saturday and met KPH, Yoko-san, and Yuka-san. I'll be returning for the conference tomorrow through Wednesday. Here are a few snaps from last night.

Lunch

Ordering lunch at work has been challenging. Yesterday, my colleague just decided to bring lunch for me so they wouldn't have to watch me fumble.

Mothra of the Day: Flappy

Flappy was waiting for me when I got home last night. He was pretty sedate until the flash went off and he spazzed like he was in a break dancing contest.

Story of the day: Typhoon Aftermath

BORDERLINE DISASTER

On the border of Tokyo and Kanagawa prefectures, the swollen Tama River shows the effects of the heavy rains dumped by Typhoon No. 9 Friday morning. KYODO PHOTO

Full story >>

Tokoro-Guidance

I met these guys at a restaurant in Tokorozawa proper. They were my guides for the evening, and wouldn't let me pay for food, drink or taxi.

This is the main strip of Tokorozawa at night. The picture sucks because I didn't want to look like a tourist. Um, probably no avoiding that.