Summer heat and fatigue, natsubate, has struck The Nihon Sun!  That, a few earthquakes, and visitors with crazy schedules has made me a sweat drenched and sunburned resident with lots of inspiration but an inability to peck out a cohesive string of words down on my keyboard… My trusty folding fan is never far from […]

Along the street marking the border between Yanaka and Nishi-Nippori lies a quaint shopping street (shotengai) that is home to a number of food vendors, restaurants and shops.  It’s not a typical destination for most Tokyo tourists but bustles with activity nonetheless and the area is worth a visit for not only the shopping street […]

The maneki-neko comes in many forms with the most common being a red and white ceramic cat with a lucky medallion around its neck.  These two neko, spotted along Yanaka Ginza, are decidedly more realistic and very kawaii (cute) when compared to their traditional counterparts. Maneki-neko with raised paws are displayed to ensure a prosperous […]