On the first day of school there is always a little bit of excitement in the air. In Japan it is even a bit more exciting as it comes when the weather is getting better and the cherry blossoms are blooming (beginning of April). To get your heart beating even a little more, Waseda University in Tokyo lines the walkways to campus with these W banners. I took this nameless, shortcut road into campus (from the Takadanobaba direction) hundreds of times last year. I ate at several of the little, mom-and-pop restaurants and bento shops along the way. Just the thought of this little path brings a smile to my face.

Posted on June 2nd, 2011 under Japan. Tags: signs, waseda university. Comments Off on W is for Waseda

Unfortunately, the misinformation about Japan’s radiation situation continues to seep into the consciousness of society and become a false reality. People, in the USA anyway and probably much of the world, picture Japan now as a radioactive wasteland thanks to the media not presenting an accurate picture. If you look at actual radiation readings taken by independent citizens (or even biased groups like Greenpeace) you will see that radiation levels in 99% of Japan are no different than they were prior to the Tohoku Quake, tsunami, and Fukushima Nuclear Reactor problems.

The media’s influence is even warping the minds of Japanese living in the USA. The top photo is from a Bento/Hot Dog stand in Ashland, Oregon owned and run by a Japanese person.

In addition to the top photo sign, which made me cringe, Koko’s Bento Dog helped raise some funds during Friday night’s “art walk.” I attended and it was a great event. I didn’t realize there were so many Japanese people in my hometown.

Despite the radiation sign, which I disapprove of, Koko’s Bento Dog Cafe makes a fine hot dog.

Posted on April 3rd, 2011 under Japan, Oregon. Tags: food, signs. Comments: 2

It’s finally opening day, and I’ve got just three words for you.

Let’s Go A’s!

Godzilla is going to lead my fantasy baseball team (and the Oakland A’s) to victory this year.

Posted on March 31st, 2011 under Japan. Tags: baseball, signs. Comments Off on Hideki Matsui

The cherry blossoms have officially opened in Tokyo. I long to be there, but it’s not going to happen this year. I walked along the Kanda River nearly every night during sakura season last year. The massive cherry trees bent over the river and the lanterns lit them ever so sweetly. Notice the signs posted every few feet on the fence along the river. On them were written haiku by neighbors about sakura, the Kanda River, or both. Some of the poems were beautiful. Others were funny. This one was sad.

It says “桜見ず、パソコンながめ、勤務中” and was written by someone who calls himself 05パパ. Dad5’s poem reads, “Without viewing the cherry blossoms, I stare at my computer, in the middle of work.” I hope Dad5 is able to get out and see the cherry blossoms this year.

Posted on March 29th, 2011 under Japan. Tags: cherry blossoms, kandagawa, lanterns, night photography, sakura, signs. Comments Off on Sakura haiku (桜俳句)

I played more bingo during our year in Japan than I had in the prior 10 years, maybe 20, in the USA. None of the bingo playing was intentional really. Bingo just seemed to be something that happened when we were at parties, touring places, or on any occasion when prizes were given out. Today’s photo is from a hanami (cherry blossom viewing party) last April. Bingo in Japan means prizes, lots and lots of them–not just for the winner, although the winner tends to get something really cool. Ryan came home with a big bag full of prizes one time from a bingo win while we were touring an energy facility in Tokyo.

One interesting aspect of Japanese bingo is the リーチ (riichi) which I had never heard of before. It’s the situation when you are one away from achieving a bingo. When you have リーチ you usually have to raise a hand, stand up, or call it out–sort of like saying uno when you are playing uno.

Posted on March 19th, 2011 under Japan. Tags: signs. Comments Off on Bingo (ビンゴ)