Sagemonoya (Netsuke Shop)

They released new catalog The 2009 New York SANS IVOIRE Netsuke and Sagemono selection. Sad to say I love ivory netsukes best, but this booklet seems very interesting and useful.

In fact, I had once visited Sagemonoya several years ago. It was like being a guest in private residence of a great netsuke (and other Japanese antique) connoisseur, and somewhat intimidating experience. I didn't know what kind of place it was, in the first place. I was expecting to visit a little 'shop' of netsuke... Though, if you are really interested in this kind of art and are in Tokyo, I strongly recommend to visit them.

Sagemonoya (English site)

The Bluff

This is an enlarged copy of a flyer for a speculative house in Tokyo. I don't know what made them to name this model 'THE BLUFF.' It is located by a cliff, I suppose. Or is it something related to the price ($878,000)?

Housing in Japan

Kabuki-za At Night

I entered Kabuki-za only once and long ago, when I was an university student. As far as I can remember, the upper gallery was somewhat cramped, and also very barriar-ful...(I mean, hard to climb up there.) This exotic building is scheduled for demolition in May 2010. I (and a great many people) will miss this outstanding landmark!
Kabuki-za to be reincarnated in form of commercial high-rise(Kyodo News)

100 Face Masks

This morning I was awakened by a phone call. My husband's boss ordered to go and get face masks but he couldn't find any in pharmacies around the office and rang me up for help. So I ran to a nearby general store and bought 100 particle masks.

What for all these masks? Of course, "To protect workers from swine flu." But the fact is the clients are getting nervous as flu spreads, and the company needs some token gesture to look as if they are doing something. Anyway, I felt quite uncomfortable taking part in this kind of mass hysteria.

Do face masks help prevent swine flu infection? (Los Angeles Times)

Have Some Fan

This is a Japanese folding fan. It was an article indispensable for a life of Japanese people, and it is essential even now, for example, at a Japanese tea ceremony.

A friend of mine (from US) bought several folding fans and gave them to her family members and friends. She told me that the gift was very much appreciated. It is not only an exotic souvenir, but also a very effective tool for cooling oneself during their hot flushes!

Hot Flushes - Embarrasing Issues

Domestic Massage Parlour

Today, I was chatting with my Hongkonese friend. I asked "What surprised you most when you first came to Japan?" She (who has been living in Japan over 10 years) said, "Well, in Japan all family members taking bath together..."

I tried to explain that the average Japanese house does not have such a big bathroom, so it would be physically very unlikely that 'all the family members' taking bath simultaneously. But she insisted that she had seen on TV, the parents and their daughter taking bath together all right. I asked, "How old was the DAUGHTER?" My friend answered, "Seemed around twelve or sixteen." It sounded outrageous! A parent and very little child or children possible, but...

She continued that the girl was trying to get something quite expensive, and was nagging her father when she was rubbing his back. I was totally aghast at this additional comment. All I could say was; do not trust all you see on TV.

Pumpkin Memorial

I took this picture on November 21st 2008, when I visited Kyoto. This pumpkin is not for Halloween but for Kabocha(pumpkin) Kuyoh(memorial service). In that event many people gather in this temple, rub the giant pumpkin, burn incense and wish good health, especially immunity from cerebral apoplexy... Of course I did not know about all those things at that time, I googled.