blogs
Sweat the Small Stuff
2012-2014
The Thing Is...
2009-2012
Category Archives: thethingis
Changes in the Hood
Just around the corner, the 70s vintage (I think) apartment building, Homat Pearl, is a few steps ahead in the redevelopment process. Sorry for the poor picture. The old building already razed and the site prepared, the groundbreaking is about … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Tagged COOL TOKYO, JAPANESE ADDRESS SYSTEM, MOTO AZABU, URBAN RENEWAL
Leave a comment
Oops!
We are fairly convinced that Japan has more ‘hair & make’ salons than any other city in the world. People in Japan obviously love to get a tonsorial fix — who wouldn’t when every shampoo comes with a head massage? … Continue reading
Pippi’s Omimai
Very regrettably, Pippi had a bad encounter with a pair of rather aggressive beagles about ten days ago in Arisugawa Park. While Pippi was greeting a friendly labradoodle that she knows, two beagles on a double leash lunged at her. … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
Coin Lockers
Coin lockers have a life of their own in Japan. A relative rarity in the U.S., they are common fixtures at train stations from Hokkaido to Kyushu. Aside from their day job of providing temporary storage for small parcels, spare … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Tagged COIN LOCKERS, DIRTY LAUNDRY, Tokyo train stations
Leave a comment
Yuba Sashimi
To the uninitiated, yuba may not sound any more appetizing than raw fish. Composed of folded, filmy tofu layers, it is one of our favorite foods. Like sashimi, it is eaten with a dash of wasabi-laced shoyu. Though extremely benign, … Continue reading
Bento Box Tools
Since we are on the subject of mother appreciation, now is a good time to talk about bento lunch boxes. A cherished responsibility and privilege, bento box making is taken very, very seriously by moms (and some dads) throughout Japan. … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Tagged BENTO BOXES, BESIA, BOXED LUNCHES, FOOD PREPARATION
Leave a comment
Petal Snow Storm
Don’t they look like snowflakes?
Tokyo Unplugged
In compliance with the country’s energy consumption hold back, businesses from Tokyo Tower down to the ubiquitous vending machines have turned off their unnecessary lights. Lots of store fronts in our neighborhood sport these little black and white signs in … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Tagged ELECTRICITY BLACK OUTS, GREAT EASTERN JAPAN EARTHQUAKE, TOKYO TOWER
Leave a comment
The New Normal
Damaged during the quake, Tokyo Tower’s wonky antenna tip. We have been back in Tokyo for a few days and I am pleased to report that things seem to be pretty normal, albeit the new normal. We have only felt … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Tagged BLACK OUTS, GREAT EASTERN JAPAN EARTHQUAKE, NARITA AIRPORT, RATIONING, TOKYO TOWER
Leave a comment
Niseko Snow
The snow in Niseko is amazing. Even compared to other parts of Hokkaido. You really have to see it to believe it. Due to Niseko’s relative proximity to Siberia, the area gets enormous snow falls every year. I heard that … Continue reading
New Year’s Decorations in My Neighborhood
I always enjoy returning from the US after New Year’s or Oshogatsu in time to see all of the special holiday decorations. Usually, by the end of the first week of January they start to disappear. When we came back … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Tagged AZABU JUBAN, HIROO, KADOMATSU, KAGAMIMOCHI, NEW YEARS CELEBRATIONS IN JAPAN, OSHOGATSU, SHIMEKAZARI, SHINTOISM, TOSHIGAMI
Leave a comment
The Saga of Pippi’s Pink Ball
This is a very sad story with a surprise, happy ending. Last weekend, David and I took Pippi on a walk to Tokyo Midtown. While David was inside, Pippi and I remained outside on the wood deck wrapping the rear … Continue reading
Minakami Rice
This time of year, Minakami is an armchair agriculturalist’s dream. Everywhere, everyone is harvesting something. Why this past weekend alone, we spotted kiwis on the vine, mushrooms of every shape and size, chestnuts in their spiky casings, purple eggplants ready … Continue reading
Aji & Ajisai
I am really grooving on the hydrangea this year. For the second year in a row, I dragged Abby to the Ajisai (hydrangea) Matsuri (festival) inside Toshimaen amusement park. I had to bribe the girl with soba and sora mame … Continue reading
The Best Artichokes Ever
On Sunday the most wonderful gift arrived via same day takkyubin delivery service. I knew that something very, very special was in store for me when the Styrofoam cooler chest made its appearance. And let me tell you, the contents … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
My Favorite Tokyo House
I know I shouldn’t play favorites. But I am often asked which Japanese house I like best. Every time Tower House wins. Hands down. My apologies for the poor photo. The original “tiny house” makes a star appearance in the … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
Ode to Almond
Oh, Almond, Almond! Where have you gone? Thanks to the infestation of Starbucks, Tulleys and other coffee bars, old fashioned kissaten (cafes) like Almond are dropping like flies. The first time I walked by Roppongi Crossing after Almond’s demise, I … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
The Old, Old Thing
Sometimes the new, new thing is actually an old, old thing. This morning, while walking Pippi, I noticed this gate near my house for the first time. I have passed this way on countless occasions but today the gate’s charm … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
A Tokyo Yarn
A cautionary tale about losing a car and finding a yarn store. It is not everyday that one has the good fortune to stumble upon a yarn store in Tokyo. But when I do, it is the cause for a … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
The Hand Over
We knew this day would come but now that it is here, we are all feeling, well, a bit blue. Perhaps no one more than the Little Blue Man himself. For the past year plus, the Little Blue Man has … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
Kitto Mail
The other day I went to the post office to mail a card for Abby. Transaction completed, I was about to leave when I noticed some small, red and white, flower-bedecked boxes on the counter. Despite the growing line behind … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
Car for One
In Japan, you can find anything and everything in miniature. Isn’t this car cute? Don’t you just love its tapered profile? What about the jaunty way its steering wheel sits front and center? And it only needs one windshield wiper! … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
Pippi: Queen of the Forest
We all love our weekend retreats to Minakami. But, perhaps, none of us more than Pippi. In Minakami, Pippi gets to be a Real Dog. She walks off leash, exercises her nostrils, chases stuff and snoops around freely. In short, … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
What’s in a Name?
If you live in Japan, a lot. Take my name, for example. I adore my name. I love the way it sounds. I love the way it looks. I love its rich history. And here it is one of the … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
Gingko Glory
About a month ago the air was full of a dreadful pong. The culprits? The innocuous-looking, but horrible-smelling, gingko nuts littering the ground. For most of the year gingko trees just meld in with the scenery. But come mid-fall, they … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
Meiji Chocolate gets a Makeover
Good news. Meiji Chocolate has changed its image. Gone is the gold lettering with 70s retro styling. To my eyes, the bar’s former presentation was enticing but, frankly, boring. Not to mention, the chocolate’s taste was vaguely reminiscent of the … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
The Teeny, Tiny Kaki
This time of year I make it my business to eat kaki, or persimmon, on a daily basis. I also like to keep them in a bowl (preferably one of the blue ceramic ones) on our dining table. I simply … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
Dog Days
Summer’s dog days of may be over but in Azabu every day is dog day! There are so many dogs in this neighborhood! Labs, Goldens, Shibas, Dachshunds (long as well as short hair varieties), poodles and every type of “tea … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
Endings are just Beginnings in Disguise
Yesterday Abby, Pippi and I were hiking on the Yamanashi Prefectural hiking trails. It was our last hike before relinquishing our country house and we were feeling a bit morose. But I digress. So we were on our ascent back … Continue reading
Posted in blogs, thethingis
Leave a comment
