In honor of the Willie Winkie bakery’s answering my “needs” with good combustible sandwiches, I have adopted their name as my new euphemism for the male genitalia. There’s definitely been a change in the retail environment here in Saijo since … Continue reading →

This Coke machine takes payment via infrared transmission, cellular phone screen reader, or cellphone IC (prepaid?) card. This is in a city with no wi-fi access points. Internet access has turned out to be another technical challenge out here in … Continue reading →

Japanese gardens are known for their fine stone sculptures, such as this stunning rendition of Ultraman taking a dump. Despite my best efforts to take advantage of staying in downtown Osaka that first night, I wasn’t ultimately able to make … Continue reading →

Mt. Fuji as seen from the plane. I think. I’m pretty sure it was Mt. Fuji that I saw poking through the clouds shortly after our plane came within sight of land after our trans-Pacific crossing. Unfortunately I had nobody … Continue reading →