A Guide to… Tsukiji Market (築地市場)

Fish tales.

• Nearest station: Tsukiji-shijō (Ōedo Line, click here for a route planner)
• Open: Before dawn to ~1 p.m.
• Closed: National holidays, Sundays, some Wednesdays. Click here for 2008 opening days [red dot = closed; blue triangle = temporary opening day].

Background:

I, Doll (part II)

Little doll I can’t forget. Bring happiness and everything.

Imagine life without the Spice Girls. You’re enjoying it, aren’t you?

Welcome to the world of the Japanese idol, for the large part still blissfully untouched by the ersatz feminism and sublime marketing strategy that was Girl Power.

Whatever you think of the 90’s girl group phenomenon, it produced alumni with strong enough personalities and the independence to graduate to a wide variety of roles, away from their teen sensation roots and rapacious managers. For example: rich, famous footballer’s wife; rich, has-been rocker’s wife; rich, former-cutting-edge-comedian-turned-children’s-entertainer’s paternity suit.

Wait. Let’s start again.

Pie Times

Hallelujahgobble! Hallelujahgobble! Hallelujahgobble!

Two years without a meat pie can do funny things to a man.

He begins to have dreams and visions. He fantasises. He forgets when he thinks he remembers. And then, as the juices flow in his mouth once more… then, the pie is legend.

A Day at the Sumo

It’s around that time of the year again. Birds are singing. Flowers are blooming. And the fat men are booming.

The 2008 Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo is gearing up for its opening day later this month (11th May – 25th May). Go if you have the chance.

Here’s a look back at the 2006 event:

More on my first time (at the sumo) after the jump.

Paper Wings

LOVE PAPER? 

Love Takeo & Winged Wheel.

It’s business time. Pull out your card. What’s it say?

Tokyo Serenade

TOKYO. I am leaving you.