Spider-Man NY Cheesecake Kit Kats enter the chat

Probably not the best marketing symbol in Japan these days, unless it’s going for the “🐻/ NYC visitors ≠ dangerous” view.

Dai Butsu on the Beach

Yuigahama beach house reflecting the state of the world, circa 2026

Karasu on watch at the Yuigahama Beach lifeguard HQ right until the 17:00 lowering of the swim ok flag.

The Shogun Colonel, outside the KFC in Kamakura, Japan.

On this Good Friday, went to see the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park & stopped by the monument to U S Grant’s last formal event on his visit to Japan. The quote ascribed to him is, “Let us have peace.” If only our current leaders sought both to preserve the Republic and to achieve this goal . . .

As a U.S. citizen residing in Japan, I’m paying taxes to two governments to pay for moments like this.

Probably not. Our pup is Daisy, or デイジー (Deiji)

It’s the back of rope.

Today’s NY Times int’l edition has a book review of a new book on Easter Island. The review indirectly mentions the use of Tadano cranes in 1994 to raise fallen statues. I worked on that contract for Tadano. Good to see old deals that turned out well! www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/b...

Add two more temporary visitors to Tokyo. But don’t expect them to do much duty-free shopping at department stores.

In the A4 folder version, it notes she’s from Nara. So perhaps the deer holdback their hooves when dealing with a resident.

But compared to her mentor she gets the small pen treatment. 4/fin

Her face on the tea cup is complimentary (say compared to Suga-san). 3/

But I was pleased to see the Takaichi goods — including an A4 folder — show how to treat deer in Nara (spoiler: not by kicking them). 2/

So with all this speculation about a snap parliamentary election in Japan, I thought I should go to the Kokkai Gift Shop (on the “you never know” theory). The Takaichi snacks were being reduced in price but the Koizumi curry kakipi were not. 1/

Even though I live in a Classy City House — which when said quickly can give the wrong impression of the building — it has to better than living in this mansion and having this as part of your address.

Just don’t do what these temple guests did, to check if their blades were sharp — it gets written up in notices on the doors

Daisy was unimpressed though. All the best for the New Year.

And, before it was gone, at Yuigahama Beach

She’s still hopeful, having been a good girl.

Daisy making a Christmas Eve plea from Tokyo

Very similar from a balcony in Yuigahama

But the honor of “Defender of the Faith” was bestowed on Henry VIII by a Pope (another Leo, no less) while the King was still in the Roman Church. So Charles III was not offsides, really.

The PM mug I have does a grave injustice to his eyebrows.

And all of his friends, too!

Always nice to see local service providers getting into the Halloween spirit.

Wolfgang’s in Tokyo, with consumption tax & service charge, in that range with current favorable f/x rate.