… you feel deliciously naughty each time you sip a beer outdoors.
Month: February 2009
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Even Sararimen Get the Blues
At 7:00 p.m, the sarariman across from me on the train: looks about 25 is wearing a wedding band has his skinny black tie and shoelaces untied is doubled over; his head dangling dangerously towards his knees and his arms bent at 120 degree angles is unconscious has dropped his Nintendo DS on the floor […]
Freshly Tweezed
This week, I lost my tweezers and after 3 days of stubbornly refusing to buy a new pair, I had no choice but to relent. I grabbed a pair at Kokumin drugstore while waiting for my train and since I was in a rush, didn’t bother to examine my purchase. The only thing I noticed […]
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You Might Be a Foreigner in Japan If …
… you don’t understand why you weigh 95 pounds and have to wear a “Large” in underwear.
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The Age of Aquarius
Aquarius Vitamin Water has a new model for their train ads. Eva: Wow. He’s hot. Sean: Him? He’s a tosspot.
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Things I Will Miss About Japan
The vast selection of clip on earrings. Many women here don’t have pierced ears, like me. Back home, I’m an oddity. Here, I’m wearing pretty wire-and-aquamarine danglers just like everyone else.
Open Wider
Drinking beer at home with Sean, arguing over who is whose 先輩 (senpai) (superior), and I notice that there is a notification on my beer can claiming that my beer brand is now offering a New! Big! Drinking Hole! Oh, really? Is that so? Well, son of a gun. It sure is.
At the Funeral of a Baby Girl, in Japan
In the old days, the Japanese wore white clothing to funerals. Nowadays, black is the color of choice so I am perched on a small couch with a handful of other guests, wearing charcoal gray pants that don’t quite match my black work shirt. I feel a little uncomfortable about them, but I have to […]
- Japan
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How the Grinch Stole Setsubun, Part 1
They’ve been out my window for 3 days and nights now; screaming morning to night, dark or shine. I have had enough. Today it’s even raining and they’re still out there. いらっしいませ。いかがですか。Come on in, sir! How about it, sir? Squid on a stick! Yakitori! Takoyaki! Hello Kitty candy apples! Squid omelets! Stir fried noodles! How […]