Where can you find land to build public housing? Next to the cemetery.
I think these blocks were built in the 70's well before the it became the affluent area it is now.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
The pedals have fallen in Nishinomiya
The hanami season is over and the sakura (cherry blossoms) have begun to fall into the rivers turning them pink. I enjoy this time even more than the hight hanami season because it's more symbolic of the sakura's fleeting life. Their beauty in death is more beautiful than it was when they were in their prime. I posted a set of photos taken last week along the Shukugawa river in Nishinomiya to my flickr. Please enjoy them.
It's election time!
How elections work in Japan... loudspeaker cars, and poster walls.
Here we have a speech given from the roof of a campaign bus in front of Akashi station. Below we see a wall in a residential area with designated spaces for the various candidates.
Here we have a speech given from the roof of a campaign bus in front of Akashi station. Below we see a wall in a residential area with designated spaces for the various candidates.
No Parking! YAY!
Here the coach for the Hanshin Tigers, along with the wife of the "new foreign pitcher" remind everyone that there is no parking at Koshien Stadium. I'll be sure to remember that now that she's informed me.
Click on the image for a larger version.
Click on the image for a larger version.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Don't move the freeway, put a hole the building
This might be my favorite building in Osaka. I wonder how it was built. Was the freeway ramp active while they built the building? I've never seen anyone go in or out of this building and it looks under used... I'm not surprised.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
恵美寿湯の散歩
Even more photos. These from a few weeks ago when I went to Akashi to get my being the process of getting my Japanese drivers license. Well, I was denied because I didn’t have the correct paper work, opps. Still working on that. Anyhow, I used the opportunity to hit up another onsen down in that part of Hyogo as going there on a whim is prohibitively expensive. The place I found was Ebisu onsen in a neighborhood of factories, old housing projects, and new single family houses. There were many things about the Japanese landscape that stood out to me on this walk. I’ll point out a few. The onsen was one of the most amazing I’ve been to. The outdoor bath was mineral rich and completely amazing. The owner even gave me a free bathtowel when I told her about my hobby of going to onsen and collecting the towels. I’ll be going back there eventually.
恵美寿湯 湧昇の湯
兵庫県明石市貴崎４−６−１２
www.geocities.jp/syoujinobuo/ebisuyu.html
www.ne.jp/asahi/world/hopper/onsen/hyogo/ebisu/ebisu.htm
The houses next to the factory place laundry poles and potted plants next to the wall making use of the space and breaking up the monotony of a solid wall.
Many houses have a few potted plants out front, this family has one of the largest, if not the largest, collection of plants I've seen in front of one house.
The garbage behind some sort of machinist workshop.
恵美寿湯 湧昇の湯
兵庫県明石市貴崎４−６−１２
www.geocities.jp/syoujinobuo/ebisuyu.html
www.ne.jp/asahi/world/hopper/onsen/hyogo/ebisu/ebisu.htm
The houses next to the factory place laundry poles and potted plants next to the wall making use of the space and breaking up the monotony of a solid wall.
Many houses have a few potted plants out front, this family has one of the largest, if not the largest, collection of plants I've seen in front of one house.
The garbage behind some sort of machinist workshop.
Monday, April 02, 2007
What is, never could be, and will be.
The existing landscape is blocked by a construction barrier depicting an idealized landscape that never could never exist there, and the plans to turn it into a new constructed landscape devoid of those trees.
Gualariva's Hanami Party
Hanami season is here! And like last year I plan on enjoying it as much as possible so why not start it off with a bang? I joined the Gualariva regulars and a few new people for an adult hanami, we had catered French food, a selection of fine wine, and a portable classic record player... Plus a little rain. I’ve posted a set of photos on my Flickr which you can check out here. Besides the food, which was to die for, it was great when all the old grandmothers came buy to check out the record player.
The record player
After the eating and drinking was done
After the eating and drinking was done
Thursday, March 22, 2007
A day of great food!
A old teacher from my school is in town so we went to a buffet then sang some karaoke. So I thought I'd show you all what a Japanese organic/natural food buffet menu looks like.
http://www.roan.cc/news.htm
It was super super good...
Dinner was great but so was lunch. I ate this
DSC00250" height="180" width="240">
Pork katsu served at a restaurant attached to a sake brewer's museum. Super good sake too.
It was super super good...
Dinner was great but so was lunch. I ate this
DSC00250" height="180" width="240">Pork katsu served at a restaurant attached to a sake brewer's museum. Super good sake too.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Collect These...
...and win beer!
Most drink companies have these sticker/postcard based campaigns for winning free beer, electronics, travel, toys... I always thought that no matter how many I sent in I'd never win anything, But last Friday night I found a notice from the delivery guy, I had a package. So on Saturday I called the driver and had him deliver it to my job. I won two bottles of special Kirin beer. It seems a bit more foamy and sour than typical Kirin, more Belgium-beer-like. I like it. Not to mention it was FREE!
Most drink companies have these sticker/postcard based campaigns for winning free beer, electronics, travel, toys... I always thought that no matter how many I sent in I'd never win anything, But last Friday night I found a notice from the delivery guy, I had a package. So on Saturday I called the driver and had him deliver it to my job. I won two bottles of special Kirin beer. It seems a bit more foamy and sour than typical Kirin, more Belgium-beer-like. I like it. Not to mention it was FREE!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Golfin' and Bathin'
Last Sunday the weather was great and I made my way out to Arimafuji Onsen about 20-30 min or so by bus from my house. Arimafuji Onsen is quite unique as it’s a combination supersento and golf practice range--one of the two story wacky Japanese kind. While I haven’t played golf for years, I decided to check it out. As a teenager my father got me into golf, which I enjoyed, but I hated the rampant racism, misogyny, and typical upper middle class mindset exposed by the players--including my father. So, I soon left the sport go when I graduated college. That said, I had a great time whacking balls with a rented 3 iron. Funny thing however, to get my balls I had to by a card from a ticket machine in the lobby, but to rent my club I had to pay the lady at the counter. After getting my gear I walked to my spot, second story at the far end. I don’t know wether the lady placed me there because I’m a gaijin or because I’m left handed... Either way, I liked spot. The first few balls totally sucked, but near the end of the bucket I got my groove back on. I even sliced two over the fence! HAHA! Oh yea, the onsen attached, while small, had a great outdoor bath that on that cool sunlit late winter afternoon really felt great!
Arimafuji Onsen Hanayama no yu
有馬富士温泉 花山乃湯
www.hanayamanoyu.com
兵庫県三田市尼寺835-1
I hit two over that left fence.
The ball vending machine
Arimafuji Onsen Hanayama no yu
有馬富士温泉 花山乃湯
www.hanayamanoyu.com
兵庫県三田市尼寺835-1
I hit two over that left fence.
The ball vending machine
Monday, March 05, 2007
Emergency Exit Shadows
非常口 means emergency exit in Japanese, so if you ever need to escape, that's the place.
Taken on the 神姫バス (Shinki Bus) in 三田 (Sanda).
Taken on the 神姫バス (Shinki Bus) in 三田 (Sanda).
Monday, February 26, 2007
Onsen! Onsen! Onsen!
Sorry, I haven’t been posting very often recently because I’ve been working on a new website/blog about Japanese hotsprings and bathhouses (onsen and sento). During my 1 and a half years here in Japan I’ve been to 55 or so different onsen, mostly here in the Kansai area. Recently I’ve been taking my camera to get a collection of outside photos and collecting addresses for my listing and reviews. Plus I’m writing up sections on the do’s and don’ts, how-to’s, and other advice. Hopefully I’ll have it online sometime soon. Here’s some photos a few of the onsen I’ve recently been to and a link to my Onsen set on flickr.
ゆうゆうらんど紀の国
Yuyurando Kinokuni
萬歳湯
Manzaiyu
双葉温泉
Futaba Onsen
ゆうゆうらんど紀の国
Yuyurando Kinokuni
萬歳湯
Manzaiyu
双葉温泉
Futaba Onsen
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Trash ゴミ
My second theme to take photos on will be trash.
Here's some interesting trash I found on a bike ride the other day. Appears to be a VCR and some sort of laser gun.
Here's some interesting trash I found on a bike ride the other day. Appears to be a VCR and some sort of laser gun.
Slide and Stair
Digital photography has made my photos too erratic. It's time to start working on a theme. Following what I use to do in the desert I've decided to focus on Japan's rusted infrastructure. Here are two recent photos from the Koyoen area of Nishinomiya.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
FOUND! More Marine Catchers!
I found some more marine catchers this time at an omiyage shop in Nagasaki-ken. All had iseebi, a type of Japanese lobster, in them just like the one in Osaka. 
A 100cm tall ¥4700 parfait
I saw this $47 100cm tall parfait for sale at a cafe in Nagasaki's main shopping street. Its called ワールドターワ (World Tower)
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Boss Commericals
Japan Probe posted a clip of the most recent Tommy Lee Jones Boss Coffee ad here in Japan. The whole series has been great as it inserts him into various tedious jobs such as a karaoke bar waiter. This most recent one is even better as Tommy plays a space alien working in a host bar. (A bar where girls pay to talk to cute guys while they eat and drink.) Check out the video here.
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