Monthly Archives: March 2006
Huw’s Flashcards of the World
Today was the last day of work for some of us in the office, and to commemorate this occasion I am posting Huw’s “Countries of the World” flashcards. The flashcards are appropriate for elementary school level students, however, the spoofs are obviously not meant for anything other than entertainment value. If you are easily offended … Continue reading
Know your Japanese Mythological Beasts (part 1)
Question 1 What has the head of a monkey, the body of a tanuki, the legs of a tiger, and the tail of a snake? Hint #1: Eating it is thought to cure the hiccups (I wonder what it tastes like and how it is prepared. I imagine it would make a decent miso-based nabe…). … Continue reading
Crane Technique
In Umeda, demolition and construction are an ongoning process, like birth and death. Cranes stretch towards the skyline like a pod of brotosaurus on the plains of our primordial Earth. Come to think of it, the planes flying towards Osaka airport kind of look like archeopteri…
Genki Drinks
Taro bought me an assortment of energy drinks/vitamin elixers. I’m thinking of drinking them all in one go… I used to think that mixing energy drinks and spirits would be a good idea, but this is not true. Though it often makes for nights charged full of fun and great stories, the events of a … Continue reading
Leaving Japan/Going to California
Work finishes on Friday! Most people seem a bit more cheerful in the office now that the end is near, and this weekend should be a good time to celebrate this milestone with a party under the cherry blossoms. I may decide to go out even if it rains (a hanami party in the rain … Continue reading
Hit and run
These stickers are made by Japanese Tobacco (JT), who also runs a salt and tobacco museum up in Tokyo. A few ads from a bygone era: (from here)