なんでここにいるんだよ！
This was an often-repeated statement by commuters that had their schedules disrupted by a monkey that made its way into Shibuya Station and parked itself on top of an electronic inbound/outbound train bulletin box, you know, the kind that hang from the ceiling. Well, this made it hard for police and animal control specialists to […]
On the surface, Tokyo is overwhelming at first. Avenues lined with neon-clad buildings give the major areas a futuristic look while back alleys and shotengai give the place either a run-down look or a local feel. During rush periods, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro Stations take most foreigners, even those of us from big cities, to a […]
“Keep in touch. I don’t want you to move there and disappear in the inaka.”
Those were the words my friend said to me as I was about to leave Tokyo. A little more than a year ago I made the decision to take a chance and move to Sendai. It was daunting to say the […]
Are you a slave to fashion? I’m not, but I do like to people-watch. And, Tokyo is a great city for doing just that. I can spend an hour or two at a café with outdoor seating just watching people go by in places like Shibuya, Shinjuku, or Ikebukuro. Of course, attractive girls will always […]
Roy Kaiser shared some interesting information about the bombs that were dropped on Tokyo in Part 1 of Reflections on Unexploded WWII Bombs in Japan and today he talks about three different disposals that he participated in as a member of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team based out of Ikego Army Ammunition Depot in […]
The recent 7:10 to Tokyo article, Unexploded WWII Bombs In Japan- How Many Are Out There?, provoked some interesting responses but it came as a bit of a surprise to hear from someone who was actually on the ground in Japan disposing of these remnants from WWII. Roy Kaiser took an interest this article and […]
Atsuuuuiiii! You hear it all summer long in Japan, and indeed, many people complain about the long, sweltering days and damp, sleepless nights. But for me, summer is a great time to be in Japan. Fireworks shows, local festivals, yukatas and Mt. Fuji climbing excursions… These are just some of the things that make summertime […]
In 1964, the Summer Olympics were held in Tokyo. What I did not realize until about 15 seconds ago (thanks Wikipedia) is that my own hometown of Detroit was somehow in the running for the bid. The Motor City finished a distant second. Thank goodness, too. Though hosting an international competition might have helped Detroit […]
Shortly after noon today (Sunday, June 8th), a man with a survival knife stabbed several people in Akihabara, Tokyo, leaving 7 dead and 10 injured (last the time this article was updated). It was reported that he drove a truck into a crowd of pedestrians before getting out and stabbing random victims. Paramedics set up a […]
