Bacon

Whale bacon. It's usually colored in red. Very very fatty. My palm size.

Hatsuhinode

2009's first sunrise in Nagoya at 7:06 AM

Kagami Mochi

A Japanese tradiaional new year decoration. White things are two round rice cakes (mochi).

Nano Bug

iPod nano. I got it new and broken. Its battery never charged properly and it only played while it was connected to PC - how nice. I will release it soon and the destination will be Cupertino.

Fishing Restaurant

Went to a restaurant where you can fish fresh salt water fish with my family.

A view from our table

Rental rods and bait (shrimp)

Red Snappers

5 mins later.

Asu no Shinwa - Myth of Tomorrow

Taro Okamoto's largest mural painting (5.5m x 30m). It had been missing for a long time till it was found in Mexico 5 years ago. Now it is on a wall in Shibuya Station.

Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line

A view from the service area - Umi Hotaru (lit. sea firefly).

Illumination

Illumination in front of Kichijoji Station

A typical Japanese winter scene - winter illumination. The picture cannot render but it's way better.

Clay Beetles

Clay beetle casting kit.

My nephew's work.

It looks more like ...

PEPSI WHITE

It's not Pepsi at all.  Not yogurt either. It's a carbonated-bath-room-cleaner drink.

Health and Sports Day

Dougen-zaka Ave in Shibuya in the early morning on a national holiday. This holiday used to be October 10th (celebrating the opening day of 1964 Tokyo Olympics) but obviously it was changed while I was away in the US. I went to work and found the gate closed. Took a train to go back home but changed my mind on the first stop and headed for Yoyogi to watch 15th world senior female wrestling championship.

Meiji Jingu

Dropped by at the Yoyogi station but couldn't figure out where the national gymnasium is, plan changed. Entered Meiji Jingu (shrine).

Ran across a traditional wedding ceremony.

Surrounded by curious touritsts.

On the way back to Shibuya did I find the gym. It was right next to the shrine, just across a road. I was on time to watch some bouts. It turned out to be a nice day after all.

Local Festival in Shibuya

Cell Phone Charging Machine

I thought it was a pay phone. I guess it can charge a cell phone quickly - by shortening the battery life.

Telescope

I played a claw crane machine and got a telescope for 200 yen at a game center during lunchtime.

I kind of knew it because the box was so light but it's lots cooler than I imagined.

I had never touched the lens before.

Rigid design.

I repeat I didn't touch the lens but I guess a Chinese lady had touched it.

It came off.

Nicely hand-cut.

A Restaurant Bar in Shibuya

GEE Good Enough To Eat

I rather not try.

Yasukuni Shrine

My first visit to Yasukuni on August 15th. The Great Imperial Japan's ambition came to the end on this day 63 years ago. Yasukuni enshrines 2.46 million war dead.

Streets are full of riot police officers. Blue buses are police transportation buses.

Imperial Seal

Right-wing activists. The car says Great Japan Patriot Party on its side but they are most likely Koreans.

Guardian Dog

Bugs

Male cicadas and a stink bug.

Molting

I'm shedding my skin. Not getting any bigger though.

Okage Yokochou

Okage Yokochou

The old-style shopping street in front of the Grand Shrine of Ise.

Mosquito incense coil holder

Ise Udon (flour noodle)