Another random wallpaper of the day offering… This is my daughter sporting a Nishi-Waseda (西わせだ) Happi Coat for one of the many festivals we enjoyed in Tokyo.

That’s a 7-Eleven in the background. Although founded in the USA, 7-Eleven is now a Japanese company. There are far more 7-Elevens in Japan than anywhere else in the world. You can find almost 2,000 of them in Tokyo alone! In the USA I enter a 7-Eleven about once a year. While living in Japan I entered one, or a similar store (like Lawson, FamilyMart, etc.), daily. They are far more interesting, and have a much larger selection in Japan. It’s also the place to do your banking, buy concert tickets, etc.

Posted on April 17th, 2011 under Japan. Tags: ellie, nishi-waseda, Tokyo. Comments: 1

Here lies Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康), the first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan. He began the Edo Period, which lasted for over 260 years, and moved the capital of Japan to Tokyo (Edo) where it has remained ever since.

My first trip to Toshogu in Nikko didn’t include a visit to his grave as it isn’t in the “regular” part of the shrine. My Toshogu pass on my second visit did include admission to his tomb. The stairs leading to Ieyasu’s grave includes this fantastic view.

Posted on April 15th, 2011 under Japan. Tags: cemetery, nikko, toshogu. Comments Off on First Shogun’s Grave

My random wallpaper for the day is this image, a photo I’ve never before seen. I’m guessing Ellie took this before consuming the ice cream inside (with a knife and rice cooker scoop?!?!). Two questions…

1) What is Hokey Pokey flavor?
2) Why would ice cream be imported from New Zealand to Japan?

Posted on April 14th, 2011 under Japan. Tags: food. Comments Off on Ice Cream from New Zealand in Japan

After a two week delay, Japan has finally opened their season. I took this photo of a lovely beer girl at the home of the 2010 winner of the Nippon Series (equivalent of the World Series in the USA), the Chiba Lotte Marines.

Posted on April 12th, 2011 under Japan. Tags: baseball, beer. Comments: 1

The worst rice in Japan is better than the best rice I’ve ever eaten in the USA (or anywhere else). But nowhere have I enjoyed rice so much as the rice we were served in Shirakawago. That rice was grown in this field or one very nearby according to our host. It was like melt-in-your-mouth candy. I asked them why their rice was superior and she indicated that the elevation and heavy snows were likely causes. I hope to taste that rice again.

Posted on April 11th, 2011 under Japan. Tags: rice paddy, shirakawago, thatch roof. Comments: 1