Home Sweet Home

Probably should have posted this some time ago, but better late than never. This will give you an idea of what Kugahara (the neighborhood we live in) is like, and show you our apartment now that it is furnished enough to display. Amazing that it takes 9 whole pictures to show the entire apartment. I guess I could have made it 10 and shown you the toilet, but I am a bit disappointed that it is a standard western style toilet (for now) and not a high-tech Japanese toilet complete with heated seat and various other amenities.

Kugahara Station - my personal shuttle service

The main retail street in Kugahara. Pretty typical at every station.

Kugahara Station Platforms

Main retail street

Looking down the street from the front of our building towards the station 2 blocks away

Our Building (the one with red columns)

Our unit on the second floor. Balcony is basically only big enough for the 2 air handlers for our 2 HVAC units.

Living room/guest bedroom/study/den & bonus room

Dining Room + Living Room/guest bedroom/study/den & bonus room

Bedroom (the art on the wall is by an emerging western artist most well known for his sculptures in facial hair - see image from previous blog)

Bedroom & closets (the single "black hanger" is the most valuable part of our art collection and really ties everything together)

Kitchen/wine cellar/servant quarters

Kitchen + bathroom/home theater

Laundry room & shower/jacuzzi/sauna

Entry foyer (to take off your shoes)

Shoe closet/storage shed/workshop

Saturday night we rode our bikes to the Tama River to enjoy the sunset

Musashi Kosugi across the river - an area that is experiencing alot of recent growth (specifically high rise residential developments) due to its close proximity to Shinagawa, a major business district in central Tokyo

Hanami

It is a special time in Japan when the Sakura (Cherry) bloom

Ueno Park, one of the most popular Sakura viewing areas in Tokyo

Advertising looks cool in Japanese (the name of a nearby shop...I am told)

Just us and a couple other people decided to head out and see the blossoms

People claim spaces under the Cherries and picnic, sing, and celebrate the arrival of the blossoms. People camp for 2 days to get a good spot.

Some greasers in another area of the park. Dancing to classic US Rock (40's -50's i.e Elvis, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, etc.) and having a good time. Fun to watch, and the music was good too.

Obviously the leader of the pack

A group of Maiko (Geisha apprentice) at the festival.

Will, I dare you to make fun of Hello Kitty to his face

It is about as close to tailgating as you can get...without Budweiser, BBQ grills, SUV's and football.

People sing and dance (more and more as the day goes on)

Another street in Ueno

A group playing traditional Japanese folk music. The instruments are shamisen, a 3 stringed instument played by hitting the strings with a "bachi" - technically a plectrum (pick) but much larger and used to strike the strings rather than strum them.

Traditional roasted fish (Ayu)

Sakura blossom

Pintail swimming under a cherry tree (please tell me I got the duck right...or else I may never be allowed back into my dad's house)

Maybe now you are beginning to realize what a big deal this is to the Japanese

The cherries along the Meguro River

A canopy of cherries

He doesn't quite understand how flipping someone off works

Sakura Festival at Senzoku-Ike (Senzoku Pond) about 4 stops from our house

People have been in these spots all day, and in some cases all weekend

Yet another street lined in cherries. This one I walk down everyday to get to work. It was one of the first streets in our area to fully bloom, so it became very popular for about a week.

A video of "Dojo Sukui," a traditional folk dance. It represents a farmer trying to catch an eel in the rice field. The man himself is dressed up to represent an eel (notice the black things under his nose)

Things in English? Vol. 2

Needless to say I now own a motorcycle, but no helmet.

Clippers and a shop-vac in one...the Japanese were the perfect market.

This must be French and I am the idiot

NASCAR is international mayne!

Just had to have one hair salon

At least until the next day
This is actually a label for a beef snack

At the Great Wall. Much better deals than the "Screw You Shop" next door

Writing is permissible

So this is where Wes-Tang gets it

Had to go all the way to China to get a $1 Dale Jr. I think those characters translate to "contains lead and may cause blindness"