It was a warm night. There was a slight drizzle and a soft Wind in the Willows. Then who should appear but Mr Toad, (minus Ratty and Badger). Jun-chan and the kid hate it when I pick them up. They’ll pee in your hand, you know. Not Jun-chan and the kid, the toads. And they’ll give you warts, then you’ll have to go to a grave yard at midnight with a dead cat, swing it around your head and throw it while saying, “Devil follow corpse, cat follow devil, warts follow cat.” 21 hours ago

Tokyo Tower at sunset in Hamamatsucho 1 week ago

Here are a few places very near my home covered in ivy, starting with the house across the street. (See comments) 1 week ago

Koban are neighborhood police “boxes”. Between 1 and 6 policemen can be stationed in one, but some of those will be out patrolling on their bicycles. They are much closer to the community and easier for policemen to get to us in emergencies. Notice wanted posters on the wall and patrol bikes in front. 1 week ago

A beautiful Monday. People picnicking on the center field of Inokashira Park’s track. After jogging my 3 miles, I did an hour of sunbathing. 3 weeks ago

Shimokitazawa has often been referred to as the Haight Ashbury of Tokyo. A hip enclave of funky used clothes shops, live music houses, cool little bars and restaurants, small interesting shops, musicians, artists, the weird and hip. But big stores are taking over the little shops. A highway is being built that will cut Shimo in half. The station, an intersection of Odakyu line and Inokashira line is being remodeled. In this shot of a model, they’ve put Odakyu way way undergound. It takes me a long time to get there from Inokashira now, and the exits to the outside from both lines are all in different places. I really hope Shimokitazawa can somehow hold on to its identity. It would be a terrible loss. Stay alive little Shimo. 3 weeks ago

The castle at night. 1 month ago

On the road, azaleas. (See comments for more) 1 month ago

The “Romance Car” at high speed returning from Kanagawa Prefecture to Shinjuku. Behind it, the Odakyu local heading in the opposite direction. 1 month ago

A cold hotcake sandwich with camembert cheese and honey margarine. No, I didn’t try it. 1 month ago

Tomo has three more lessons before she goes to OZ on work holiday. People sitting in groups for hanami under the cherry blossoms. (3 more shots) 1 month ago

Inokashira Park is one of Tokyo’s best, especially at cherry blossom time which hasn’t yet reached its high point, but it was a beautiful day. Here is a purple magnolia on the way (a 15 minute walk) to the park. (See more in comments) 2 months ago

They always come out with new snacks. Tongue flavored potato chips (crisps). Good with beer. 2 months ago

Sponsors put their names on pink lanterns. 2 months ago

Recycling is not so so big in Japan. There are recycle and second hand shops, but you have to pay them to pick up your no longer needed items, so most people just stick things outside on trash pick-up day. Sometimes you find some really nice things. While living in Shimokitazawa, I furnished my apartment with cool furniture and art work that was left out for trash. The better the area, the higher quality junk. I live in a very nice area. A house down the street put out a box of items with a sign that said “Free”, so I took home a big plate, a laquer bowl, and a vase (vase). Not bad, ne? 2 months ago

Ika soumen. Squid cut so thin it looks like soumen noodles. Good with beer. 2 months ago

We had been warned for a couple of weeks it was coming. It is a mixture of sand from the desert of China and Mongolia and China’s toxic smog. A few days earlier, it had hit western Kyushu and started working its way up the archipelago. It reached Tokyo around noon today. It was a beautiful sunny day, then suddenly the sky turned yellow. We had to go out into it. Everyone was wearing masks, but that didn’t stop it from getting into the eyes. 2 months ago

Green tea. You got this one at home? 2 months ago

I see blossoms everywhere. 2 months ago

We finally kicked winter. Here are F temps for the next 3 days (C 23, 21, 26). Had my first day of jogging around the park’s track after 5 months of too cold. 2 months ago

These are mikan, Japan’s favorite orange, almost tangerine like, but lighter color, less sweet and no seeds. 2 months ago

Chindonya are professional advertisers. They walk around town with a sign promoting an opening of a new shop and play lively old music. They are always gaudily dressed and overly made up. I asked if I could get a job as a chindonya since I play the drums. They gave me their card and told me to call. The money’s not great, about $120 a day, but I think it would be so cool to be the first foreign chindonya in Japan, not unlike Miura Anjin (Englishman, William Adams) who became hatamoto samurai to the Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa dynasty at the beginning of Edojidai, early 1600s. 2 months ago

I doubt there will be any more this winter. It started after midnight. In the morning, everything was white, but this is a relatively warm day, so by noon, this was all I could see from my kitchen window. 3 months ago

This time I brought Tomo-chan, one of my students. They are both single and nice people with many of the same interests. It seemed to work out. Only problem is she’s off to OZ in April for a one year work holiday.

We started at Mother’s where we were welcomed with open arms, just like a mom. After a few drinks, off for some sushi, then Jack Pot for oysters, then back to Mother’s. I don’t know how I got home.

Me and Mother. 3 months ago

SYL and I went for a walk in the park. (More in comments) 3 months ago

Usually, the first to bloom are the magnolias, next: apples and plums, then cherries. I’m guessing this is a plum tree. 3 months ago

Seems a bit early to me, but boxes of chocolates are already selling in the stores. Here, only the ladies buy chocolates and give them to men. 3 months ago

but it won’t last long. I see blue sky on the horizon. 3 months ago

I noticed this ice skating rink which wasn’t there before. 4 months ago

Roofs still covered in snow (Other shots in comments) 4 months ago