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Trash collection
Finding the trash collection point in our new neighborhood was an adventure. Shimizu-san, a neighbor, paid a call on me yesterday afternoon to welcome me to the neighborhood. Or maybe she was a spy for her friend, Matsuino-san, who used to live here. But I put her to the test when I asked if she…
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Registration
In Tokyo, everyone is registered with the city office. Now that we’ve moved, we have to visit the Bunkyo-ku office and let them know our new address. It’s fun to watch the clerks pull out the very thick, detailed city maps and note the change for our house. Our “green cards” will also be amended…
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Workday Sounds
Our new neighborhood is a symphony of workday sounds. Along the street there are two construction sites, one at the front of the house and one across from my office window. I think the workmen may be trying for a gold medal in Syncopated Hammering. Opposite the front door is a small printing company. The…
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Today is census day.
Today is census day. For Japan’s first census (1920), bells and sirens sounded at midnight on the appointed day. Where ever you where then, that’s what you were to put on your census form. Apparently a lot of nighclubs and brothels closed early that day! Today, we only have to mark our home address as…
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Nutrition guidelines
Nutrition guidelines vary from country to country. Japan recommends that you eat 30 different foods a day. It doesn’t matter what–they figure if you get 30 different things into you, you’re probably eating well. What a challenge! Yesterday I managed 20 different things. I would have fared worse if I had not selected the mix…
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Crisp fall day
Yesterday’s crisp fall day inspired us to have lunch in the Imperial Palace north garden. It is an oasis of nature in the middle of the business district. As we sat on a bench eating our lunch, we could see Tod’s office building, but the wind through the trees scrubbed the air clean of city…
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Dragonfly
A glint of light caught my eye. A red-bodied dragonfly angled its wings to soak in the warmth of the morning. The gossamer wings reflected the light of the sun. I moved closer to look at him. As I approached, he raised his long, crimson body and turned his head toward me to assess the…
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Seasonality
I love the seasonality of Japan because it’s based on seasons. Sounds silly, but… In America there are periods and cycles for clothing, decorations and food. But often they are based on a holiday: Christmas decorations; turkey dinner and all its trimmings for Thanksgiving; Easter bonnets. Some things have no season at all. You can…
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Census
Japan is having a census this year and we are being counted. Last evening, a census enumerator showed up on our doorstep with a form for us. It’s a one-page, computer-readable sheet with a small booklet of instructions in Japanese. There is also a separate multi-language translation. The translated directions ensure us that the information…
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Geinojin
“Geinojin ha koko ni kitta, ne…” “An entertainment star came in here” the young convenience store clerk giggled nervously to a customer. “Sou desu ka? Kowaisou?” “Really? Was it scary?” the customer asked. The word “kowaisou” means frightening or scary. Beware not to confuse this with “kawaisou” which means pathetic, or kawaii which is cute.…
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