April 10, 2008

Pining for Japan and Ramen. Hakone, Japan. Summer '07

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March 24, 2008

Cute, Echopraxic, Japanese Dog!

Thanks to my brother (who just landed in Tokyo) for this!

"Conan started to pose in prayer like us whenever he wanted treats," said Joei Yoshikuni, a priest at Jigenin temple on the southern island of Okinawa.

"Clasping hands is a basic action of Buddhist prayer to show appreciation. He may be showing his thanks for treats and walks," he said.

"He gets angry when somebody else sits on his favourite spot. He must be thinking that it's his special place," Oshiro said.

"I'm glad that people feel more comfortable visiting the temple because of Conan," he said as he jokingly joined his hands and bowed to the dog.

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February 25, 2008

Michelin Gives Stars, but Tokyo Turns Up Nose by Martin Fackler, NY Times

Never mess with the Japanese and food!!

“Japanese food was created here, and only Japanese know it,” Mr. Kadowaki said in an interview. “How can a bunch of foreigners show up and tell us what is good or bad?”

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February 21, 2008

First Black Enka Singer!

This is for my Japanese and Japanese wanna-be readers who will get how incredible/funny/revolutionary this is! Love when the hosts ask him how he got into it and he credits his Japanese grandmother from Yokohama (1/4 Asian! What my kids will be too!) and he's asked if he thought of pursuing hip-hop and he answers in a super Japanese way, "never."

* Thanks to my bro for the link!

February 20, 2008

Mark Wilkie just sent me this video with the message: I assume this show was made especially for you...

I love it when my friends know me well!

February 19, 2008

Candidate Wins Support in the East. No, Farther East. by Norimitsu Onishi, NY Times

Ganbare, Obama!

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January 25, 2008

Soy sauce dispensing chopsticks!!

LOLOLOLOL.

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January 10, 2008

Gyaru Girls: #53,991 reason I love Japan

Have you ever considered that gyaru girls are normal and we are weird????!!!

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For more on Gyaru Girls including videos click here

December 17, 2007

Shout out to BFFs Mod & Kei!

From the ages of 5 - 9 I lived in Nagoya, Japan, attended Nagoya International School and had a BFF named Mod Noranitipadungkarn (believe it or not I am still able to spell this correctly). From ages 10 - 12 I lived in Tokyo for the first of several stints in this great city, went to Seisen International School (an all-girls Catholic School!) and my BFF was Kei Petersen - our nicknames for each other were Flo and Fro...obviously. Well, within this past week I have reconnected with both of them! Mod is living in Bangkok and Kei lives here in NYC! It is so exciting. I especially liked being reminded by Mod that I used to "like Madonna and love to sing". Ummm, good to know my inner child is still alive!

Beware of perverts

While studying for my Criminal Behavior final I have later today I looked up a word I've never heard before - frottage in the context of sexual offenders and I found a sad state/sign of affairs in Japan:

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December 12, 2007

Sakasa Resuto (Upside Down Restaurant)

Only in the land I love!

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* Thanks to Della for the tip!

November 26, 2007

Outside Edge: However you slice it, Tokyo has taste by Gwen Robinson, Financial Times

Tokyo is truly home to the yummiest food on the entire planet - and not just Japanese food but every other type of food as well - AND from cheap to fancy and everything in between, you can't go wrong!! There are several reasons why this is the case - read ahead!

A national passion speaks volumes about a country’s collective psyche. Consider the English love of soccer, India’s of cricket, Australia’s mania for just about any sport, and Italy’s and France’s worship of food, wine and fashion.

But on all things gastronomic, perhaps no country is as passionate – and exacting – as Japan, where tea-making is a semi-religious ritual, pastry chefs can gain rock star status, and people will queue for hours to buy courgette-flavoured macaroons or the first special mushrooms of the season.

Michelin Guides revealed half of that story to the world this week when they awarded more of their famed stars to Tokyo restaurants (an unprecedented 191) than they have bestowed on any other city (including, mon Dieu, Paris) with the launch of their first guide outside Europe and America: the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2008.

But there is more to Japan’s food obsession than a huge array of top-quality restaurants. Consider a few facts:

More than one third of Japanese commercial television is devoted to food-related themes, from wacky eating competitions to earnest cooking programmes. On a per-capita basis, inner Tokyo (population 8.5m) boasts the highest concentration of eateries among the world’s major cities – just under 200,000, according to the Tokyo government, compared with about 20,000 restaurants for Paris and 23,000 for New York City. Japan now draws more Michelin-starred chefs than any country apart from France. Continue reading...

November 9, 2007

Kitty has a bike, Remote Blogging Series!

Thanks to Amy Wood for capturing this crazy-looking cat in Nakameguro, Tokyo!

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November 2, 2007

Leni Yoshida's closeup cuteness!

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Leni Yoshida loves izakayas, Japan summer '07

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October 19, 2007

Japanese Geisha English Lessons

This is so fantastic - thanks Zee!

Does Your Soul Have a Cold? by Mike Mills

I am so excited to see this film (psychology and Japan - what more could I ask for?!) which will air on IFC on Monday October 22 (thanks for the tip KO!) It is a documentary on Japan and the recent upsurge of anti-depressant use and tells its story through the eyes of five Japanese people taking anti-depressants (not surprisingly but certainly sadly only two out of five are concurrently doing therapy). Check out the following trailer and if it seems interesting, come by on Monday and we'll snuggle on our new humongous couch (thanks Duncan!)

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October 5, 2007

Lashes needed curling, Japan summer '07

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* On the Yurikamome.

Kyoto Koi, Japan summer '07

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* Kyoto.

Cute Kyoto Couple, Japan summer '07

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* Ginkaku-ji in Kyoto.

Blue-tailed lizard, Japan summer '07

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* Kyoto.

Kakigouri/Shaved Ice II, Japan summer '07

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* Kyoto.

Kakigouri/Shaved Ice I, Japan summer '07

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P.S. I have yet to encounter a shaved ice vendor who isn't visibly a little peeved at my request for extra strawberry syrup.

* Kyoto.

Sharing (osenbei/a rice cracker) is caring! Japan summer '07

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* On the Yurikamome.

October 4, 2007

My best friends, Japan summer '07

There was nothing these girls couldn't intellectualize! We had a blast!!

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* Shibuya, Japan.

Beauty tools, Japan summer '07

I have a big day of beautification ahead of me!! Tomorrow I will have an unbelievably firm face, neck and chin, tight calves and perky boobs...YES!

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* One of my favorite stores in the world, LOFT in Shibuya.

October 3, 2007

Women Only/Only in Japan Train Car, Japan summer '07

In reaction to the almost epidemic problem of males groping women during subway rides, women only train cars have emerged. The cars are women only during rush hour times because most of these crimes occurred during the densely packed rush hour commute. In such a conformist society it would be unheard of for a man to enter those cars so I believe they have been effective at keeping the perverts at bay. The most disturbing part of this problem was that apparently most women kept quiet while they were being sexually harassed/molested/abused because they didn't want to cause a scene and I'm guessing they didn't want to be subjected to the probably pan-cultural phenomenon of women having to prove their innocence in situations in which they themselves are the victims! With the advent of this new system can you imagine a woman's relief??!

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Dad checks it out...

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Brother is titillated. LOLOL.

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* On train ride home from Hakone hot springs vacay!

Hidden Tokyo by Julia Chaplin, NY Times

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The bars mentioned in the beginning of this article I serendipitously stumbled upon from the NY Times archives, are exactly the types of bars I love and seek out - nowhere near fancy nor pretentious, laid-back and intimate, and sprinkled with ghosts (real or imagined) of Japanese past.

Excerpt: Discreet, out-of-the-way bars have been a staple of Japanese culture for decades. Before World War II, Tokyo was filled with these pocket-sized dives — called nomiya (counter bars) — with space for just six or seven stools. Behind the counter was a proprietor, whose role was both confidant and caregiver to the regulars. When the city was rebuilt, however, most were bulldozed in favor of larger, glossier, more Westernized offerings.

Now a younger, postwar creative class is reviving nomiya culture — with a decidedly modern spin.

“I don't go out that often, but when I do, I like to go to these little secret places,” said the contemporary artist Takashi Murakami, tinkering with a trademark anime sculpture. “There is something very familiar and personal about them that I find comforting. They may have a modern design, but the feeling is more like traditional Japan.”

October 2, 2007

Cute pink look, Japan summer '07

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* Kyoto

Sleepytime in Kyoto, Japan summer '07

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Mom and her mags! Japan summer '07

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* En route to ride the yurikamome, buying our 2000th bottle of water or iced tea from a convenience store.

Guys! -> Accessorize!!! Japan summer '07

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* Man about to exit the Ginkaku-ji in Kyoto & Man en route to ride the yurikamome.

T-Shirt Talk, Japan summer '07

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* In Kyoto.

Mochi Soba & Mochi Udon

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* Soba in Kyoto, udon in Tokyo

September 26, 2007

Last night in Tokyo/Karaoke is the most fun thing ever!!!! Japan summer '07

The family that plays together, stays together couldn't be more true and karaoke is the best kind of play!

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September 21, 2007

Beastiality Restaurants in Japan - For Real???

Is this a hoax? I mean, if there were one place in the world this would happen, it would be Japan of course (Go, weird Japan!) but still...the first article claims that the same pig that was squealing a second ago (ew and poor pig) was roasted and served on a plate a few minutes later...the question is...how long does it take to roast a pig??? I think longer than a few minutes!! What do you think?

BuzzFeed
Bestiality Restaurants

September 18, 2007

How to spice up a family photo? Throw in peace signs! Japan summer '07

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Last night in Japan must begin at an Izakaya! Japan summer '07

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* At an izakaya called Hokkaido in Shibuya.

September 14, 2007

It is more fun than you can even imagine to fill in your brother's mustache with pen, Japan summer '07

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* In super great Hakone!

Family plus one! Japan summer '07

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* Hakone rulz.

September 12, 2007

Coffee Funny, Remote Blogging Series!

Coffee!!! Funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Coffee!!! Funny??????????????

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* More remote blogging from Brother & Mother in Japan please!!

September 10, 2007

Annie Harner's Awesome Japanese Salad

While in Japan last month my mom made the most delicious salad and then taught me how to make it. This was very exciting for me because I don't usually like salads but I realized that I actually do like salads as long as they are Japanese flavored salads! I made it for dinner the other night (I have a little ways to go to get it totally right) with a side of zaru soba and it was delicious and nutritious!!

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Ume Somen/Pink Plum Noodles are yummy & cute!, Japan summer '07

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September 6, 2007

Hello Kitty in Onsen Cell Phone Strap, Japan summer '07

My phone's never looked cuter and more relaxed...

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World's Smallest Fan

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* Part of a gift from Lily for my birthday 3 years ago!

World's Smallest Mirror

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* Mini-mirror present from my Mom - can be found at Yojiya!

September 4, 2007

I think people were wondering why two foreigners were harassing a Chinese lady, Japan summer '07

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* At the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography in Yebisu Garden Place.

No Keitai is No Life/No Cellphone is No Life, Japan summer '07

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* Harajuku/Meiji-Jingumae area

Mommy Loves Tokyo, Japan summer '07

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* Harajuku

My brother's preferred panties, Japan summer '07

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* Harajuku

Semi, Japan summer '07

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Brother & Sister, Japan summer '07

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* On walk from Shibuya to Aoyama

Jyangara Ramen, Japan summer '07

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* Jyangara Ramen in Harajuku/Meiji-Jingumae

There's always a line to something! Japan summer '07

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* Across from Jyangara Ramen, Harajuku/Meiji Jingumae

Nice skirt! Kinda...Japan summer '07

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* Shibuya's Dogenzaka area

Drying my hair in Sakuraya, Japan summer '07

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* Shibuya Sakuraya

Tokyo apt. bldg's trash room is cleaner and more orderly than my NYC apt., Japan summer '07

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August 31, 2007

Kyoto Kid, Japan summer '07

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BUTT BITING BUGS!! OSHIRI KAJIRI MUSHI!!

* MARK WILKIE, YOU ARE MY BFF FOR SENDING ME THIS.

McDonald's Wi-Fi Japan style, Japan summer '07

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* Kyoto train station

Mind Games Pension, Japan summer '07

...uuummm, I'd like to leave my mind games at home, thank you!

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* Kyoto

Multitasking Man, Japan summer '07

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* Kyoto

High literacy & strict recycling policies = lots of read magazines! Japan summer '07

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* Kyoto

August 30, 2007

Fruitcakes! Japan summer '07

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A Yukata never looked so cute, Japan summer '07

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* Syuri Yoshida, last night in Nagoya

Comfortable seating distance for two men, Japan summer '07

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* On Shinkansen from Nagoya to Kyoto

You can be whoever you want to be, Japan summer '07

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* Seian University of Art and Design ad

August 29, 2007

Japanese man waits for train, Japan summer '07

This picture should be proof enough that people of different cultures are so so so different. Can you even imagine an American being this early for his train, so properly and rigidly poised and patient?!!

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Train station good times, Japan summer '07

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He actually studies! Japan summer '07

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Boys and Trains, Japan summer '07

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Perfect obachan, Japan summer '07

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* Her wrists are bandaged due to arthritis :-(

Perfect cantaloupe, Japan summer '07

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August 28, 2007

Edward's Suit Dance Part II, Japan summer '07

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Style collision, Japan summer '07

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Nice blazer & tie! Japan summer '07

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* My brother Hiromi in Mitsukoshi department store in Sakae, Nagoya.

One's better dressed than the other, Japan summer '07

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Old and new and lots of it, Japan summer '07

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Cigarette break, Japan summer '07

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One person has better fashion sense, Japan summer '07

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* Sakae region of Nagoya.

August 27, 2007

Edward's Suit Dance Part I, Japan summer '07

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Tokugawa Art Museum & Tonkotsu Ramen, Japan summer '07

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August 24, 2007

Hinoki! Japanese Cypress! Japanese bathtubs!

Oh Hinoki...you make me weak in the knees...

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During our trip to Hakone last week we stayed in a ryokan with several onsen and rotenburo (outdoor hotsprings which are my preference). While my mom and I bathed ourselves before stepping into the rotenburo we used the hinoki oil infused shampoo and conditioner the inn provided and the smell was divine. I fell in love instantly. Then my mom told me all about hinoki, its antibacterial qualities and its use in construction including for bathtubs (the one we were about to step into was made of hinoki). Of course I had to ask, "but how can wood withstand so much water?" and the amazing answer is that it's resistant to rot - some claim for over 1000 years! Incredibly durable, healing and fragrant.

A promise to no one in particular: If and when Jonah and I move into a place we own I will have a hinoki tub made and installed - preferably outside!!

* So psyched that BuzzFeed covered this - to learn more check out these links!

Cuteness 101, Japan summer '07

1) Wear a summer hat
2) Hold your sister's hand
3) Have a lightness in your step
4) Nonchalantly carry a 7-11 bag
5) Be an adorable, little Japanese girl

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August 23, 2007

Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story by Chris Sheridan & Patty Kim

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Jonah and I went to the screening of this film last night thanks to New York - Tokyo. It is a very good film and a tremendously tragic story. If you don't know about the Japanese families who lives were shattered by North Korea's abduction of their children, you must see this film. This film pays just enough attention to the big picture and all the families affected without straying from the main story which is the kidnapping of Megumi Yokota, a 13 year old girl from Niigata, Japan and her parents' continued search for her. The DVD is due out in September and hopefully the film will make it to the big screen here and receive the rave reviews its enjoyed internationally. In the meantime here's a trailer.

A few highlights [warning - spoilers below]:

- Former Prime Minister Koizumi does the right thing by withholding food and medical aid to North Korea for the acknowledgment and subsequent return of (some of) the victims they kidnapped. However he then appears less honorable when he faces the weeping father of Megumi and explains that while the abduction issue is an important one so is that of nuclear weapons. 'Abduction issue' is such dispassionate wording! I can't even begin to imagine how incredibly difficult being a politician must be.

- The sponsor of the film screening, ANA (All Nippon Airways), was also the airline that flew home five of the 13 abductees. After the film and before the Q&A session with the film directors, an ANA representative told us that his boss was on the flight with the returning abductees. His boss offered one of the abductees a cigarettes which happened to be the very popular Japanese brand Mild Seven. The abductee politely declined saying that he could only smoke cigarettes of his country - meaning North Korea. Keep in mind that this is a Japanese guy who was abducted from Japan in his twenties. More and more I believe the disturbing notion that most people can be brainwashed without too much trouble.

- According to witnesses, Megumi arrived in North Korea after a 40 hour boat ride, without fingernails. She never ceased crying for her mother nor scratching at the iron door of the tiny compartment she was locked in.

For up to date information click here.

She's got photography style! Japan summer '07

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* Syuri Yoshida at Teppanyaki dinner in Nagoya.

Teppanyaki dinner, Japan summer '07

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* Thanks again to Nikon for their fantastically generous gift-loan of the D 80 - comes in especially hands at times like during teppanyaki dinner!

Shinkansen is 100 million times quieter than NYC subway, Japan summer '07

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* Shinkansen ride from Tokyo to Nagoya to visit our Japanese family, The Yoshidas.

August 22, 2007

Subway Sack Out, Japan summer '07

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* On the Inokashira Line to Inokashira Park at Kichijoji station.

No Phone/Yes Porn Subway, Japan summer '07

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* On the Inokashira Line to Inokashira Park at Kichijoji station.

Inokashira Park Outing, Japan summer '07

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