-
Black Box Taxes
Taxes are always a burden…even when they are easy.
-
Leap Day: Sendai – Matsushima – Tokyo
Our leap day in one hour intervals (more or less…)
-
S to M
The city subways are rebranding. Actually, they are privatising. From April 1st, Teito Rapid Transit Authority will become Tokyo Metro. The new logo is a ribbony M in cyan blue. They call it the Heart M. It’s cute but not as distinctive as the pointy red S we all know and love. It’s fun to…
-
Flower Market
Some springtime colors for sale.
-
Foul-weather Friends
Some expats bemoan the loss of friends when their compatriots move back home. I don’t mind at all when friends come and go from my life; it seems quite natural. I think I’m well suited to being a long-term expatriate. Despite that, it’s comforting to have a few friends who I know will stick around.…
-
Spring gale
Spring’s arrived.
-
Holiday
Today is Kenkoku Kinnenbi, known in English as National Foundation Day. It’s the historical (possibly legendary) date that the first Emperor of Japan, Jinmu, ascended to the throne a really, really long time ago–660 BC. Before WWII, today was called Kigensetsu. But it was removed from the calendar, along with all the Buddhist holidays, and…
-
Breath Palette
A strange range of toothpaste flavors.
-
Late payment
A mislaid bill turned out to be less a problem than expected.
-
Morning commute
`A scene on the train
Archives