Recycle Store In Japan

When the best friend told me that she just got back from a recycle store in Japan - I was telling her - about time Japan had one too - but when she showed me pictures of it - i had dropped my diet pills hahah! as you can see - why i did from the picture above.  Now if the recycle stores looked like this here - we don’t have to go to the mall no more.  Heck ! our malls with brand name clothings don’t even looked half as good.

Pass the Baton is a high end recycle store as far as I can see.  Dealing with previously used goods but all high end stuff as you can see - and the owners I hear are top designers/stylists themselves.  Located in  Omotesando Hills - you can check it out yourself - if you are heading to Japan anytime soon.  Definitely a new type of recycle store - awesomeness - the Japanese are.

Eating Pizza in Japan

Like all foreigners in another country we craved for the food we are used to - well, of course - the Japanese eats western food like pizzas and Macdonald and subway as well.  But a pizza night can actually break one’s bank in Japan for they are more expensive than my  acne treatment gel at about US$30 for a pizza.   Pizza Hut was one of the most popular pizza joint in Japan because we are so familiar with it - plus you don’t want to order pizza from your regular western grill because you will sure be getting some japanese mayo and hotdogs in them as well.  So yes! if you crave for pizzas in japan - make sure it is a discount night else - you certainly need to go to the bank to get some cash out.

Hanami In Japan

As I was helping my g/f get her credit score online, she sent me this all the way from Japan - I’m so jealous because it is that time of the year again in Japan.   Hanami means flower viewing and it’s the cherry blossom festival right now in Japan.  Appreciating the cherry tress and other flowers are one of the things people fly to Japan for and in Kyoto or any parts of Japan - you will find that everyone is out there having picnics and coming together with a few generations to enjoy the outdoors.   One of the most famous cherry tree i’ve seen was called someiyoshino and they are not everywhere in Japan - only certain places.  So if you are right now in Japan - don’t forget to view these lovely cherry blossom trees and flowers.   I hear that Hanami is where love is in the air - people tend to fall in love more during this time.  I can fall in love while watching these cherry blossom - what about you ?

Public Bath

Public baths are a common thing in Japan - the real reason for a public bath is because the Japanese loves the spa - and the natural spring water plus many years ago - they don’t have the luxury of a bath tub in their homes - therefore - they go to a public bath.  But it is said that the Japanese goes to the public bath because they want to socialize with their neighbors.  Public baths are as common as Cole Haan in the America.

But i really can’t imagine why would someone go for a bath in public - it’s quite embarrassing and yes, I’ve been to one - pretty funny - to see other naked women in all sorts of shape and sizes.  The Japanese women were not shy at all - where else the Westerners are quite intimidated by all this new experience.  Japanese public bath also known as “sento” uses natural hot spring water for their hot bath. The male and the female public bath are separated for obvious reasons - and there are public bath rules that you have to observe - so make sure you know what you need to do or leave a comment and i’ll let you know.

Japanese Weddings

I had the pleasure of attending my very first traditional Japanese wedding in Japan many years ago.  It was a ceremony at the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima - a small island that was densely populated.  Unlike other weddings that i’ve attended in Asia - the Japanese wedding was quite creepy - because of the uniform that the musician and the bride wore.  The bride was all in white and had her face painted white to - luckily - the only the first part of the traditional wedding lasted for like an hour.  We then proceeded to the reception - not on the island fortunately but at Hiroshima - the bride opened her  wedding gifts at the end of the night in an English pub.   The bride was very happy - and indeed she should be - because she married a gajin?

Kichijoji, Tokyo

If only I lived in Kichijoji area - i was telling my spouse - i wouldn’t need to look for treadmills because of Inokashira Park - Kichijoji is a really beautiful place.  With such a large park and its surrounding lake - i love when the cherry blossom comes to full bloom during spring time and even during autumn - you can see many artistes setting up and doing their painting quietly.  Of course Kichijoi is not only about the park but they have many small eateries there as well - for the ladies they have little boutiques to large departmental stores that attracts the young and old.  They also have a museum and a theatre there and a wonderland during mid October.

Teaching In Japan

Just about everyone I’ve gone to school with had either been to Japan or Korea for a teaching job - some even married someone over there and is currently living there.  There are still many who are exploring the idea of teaching in Japan and wonder what kind of  employment screening they need to go thru’ before they can officially teach in Japan.

I think it is a wonderful experience to have to be given a chance to work in Japan as someone from the West  - the Asians love the Westerners and the Westerners can learn a thing or two of their fascination of the East.  Most people before going to Japan thinks that Japan is all about the cliche looking Japanese girls and skinny looking asian man who keeps bowing at you.  But truth be told - one has to look beyond all that if you want to teach and live in Japan for a period of time.    Soak in the culture and enjoy but remember - while doing all of it  - respect the place and its people.

Japanese Magazines

You can find wrinkle serum in all the departmental stores in Japan but finding an English magazine - now that’s a hard one.  And if you are in Japan looking to find some girlie magazines - note that they are not sold openly either.  Well, not that i found it in the ordinary magazine stands in Tokyo but big bookstores like kinokinuya have some but not a lot either.  It’s kinda hard some 20 yrs ago - when i first arrived in Japan and just couldn’t find anything in English to read except the hotel’s copy of USA today - but I wasn’t interested in USA today !  i was interested in reading about where to get around in Japan and the best places to eat and to shop.  But my best friend who lives in Japan now  - tells me things are a lot different now.  I hope to visit Japan once again but this time armed with more info to carry with me to get the best outta Japan.

Sightseeing Buses Hello Kitty Style

In the land of the rising star is also the land of Hello Kitty and Sanrio Land - so when the girlfriend showed me tour buses with Hello Kitty theme - it didn’t surprised me at all. Car insurance cheap is also one reason why people can afford a car and turn them into Hello Kitty theme too - I’ve seen one myself - and it wasn’t even a Japanese car  - it was a Volkswagen. There are several buses in Japan with Hello Kitty themes now and some even have a Hello Kitty next to the driver seat - cute or corny - it’s up to the ones who likes and dislike them eh.

Homes In Japan

Most commonly seen item in any Japanese home is a rice cooker - and you can imagine the Japanese having one of the most high tech kind of rice cooker or any kind of kitchen gadget you can find.  Not only are the makes of things in Japan consumer friendly - they are all designed to suit the individual taste of the different age group of Japanese ladies and men.   The other common item seen in a Japanese home are   wall sconces, the Japanese are the most meticulous people I’ve seen, they can certainly make their home look really pretty without spending too much money.  But having said that - they would rather buy 1 good quality furniture than 10 which are inferior in quality.