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Read MoreHouse sale, shopping, cooking in Tokyo
17th May, 2013. Diary Format. We had finished all our food supplies and it was time to head out for a typical shopping spree. Tomek has to be back at his office (aka our living room) around 5 pm when Europe is waking up for work. The weather is getting totally summery these days and it is my first day without tights. Let’s go. This is the street next to our house. Kyodo is a very quiet residential...
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Read MoreHamazushi – more high-tech and cheap Sushi
May 13th, 2013. We have had a busy month welcoming and hosting friends and a lot of walking exercise in Tokyo but mainly a lot of fun. It is just us two again from this week on. After tidying up our small house for big money in Setagaya (no regrets) we were ready to fill our stomachs with some Japanese delight. It’s just three minutes to Sukiya, a cheap and tasty Japanese fast food chain but today...
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Read MoreKanda Matsuri Festival 2013 in Tokyo
Disclaimer: This post is in blog diary format. My new concept is to post all (presentable) pics we take during the day and add comments to that, so you guys can see how our (mainly sightseeing) days are like. The other days we are just sitting at home taking care of our laptops, really. I still have many topic-posts in stock and so you will see a mixture until its just day by day. Transitions aren’t...
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Read MoreDasza’s Diary Concept
I have been struggling to keep up with my ambitions to write up everything I really like to share with you. I look back and despair. Loads is missing to give a true picture of what we experience during our travels and how we live. It is all in my head, about a hundred post titles in my mind and all the matching pictures… resting in folders. With every day the chances of writing it all up are minimal....
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Read MoreThe Shibuya crossing and new perspectives
I have been through so many variables in my life that nothing is really astoundingly first time, overly surprising or as exciting as walking through the wonderments of childhood. I am relaxed, coping with everyday sights, smells and tastes. At the same time things don’t stir me up easily. All those life scenarios I experienced, I saw, read, heard about (damn you over-informative media age) make...
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Read MoreDim sum and more in Yokohama’s Chinatown
If you are visiting Chinatown in Yokohama, it is because of the food. Political arguments aside, Japanese love Chinese food. From what I have heard from travelers about everyday reality of Chinese food, this must be Chinese food accustomed to satisfy local gustos and hygiene norms. Japanized Chinese food so to say. Just like you will find with Italian, French, Indian or Thai cuisine around here –...
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Read MoreFinding events in Tokyo – Shuggie Otis live concert
Tokyo is the conglomerated hub of things. There are not to miss events that take place every day and I love to know what is going on in the city to fill some precious free time. When we arrived in Tokyo we were pretty clueless as to what events were taking place, we usually went along with friends or read news-posters around central Tokyo and the metro… until I found this cool site (in...
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Read MoreSecrets to Longevity: Ikebana and Dharuma at Sojiji temple
Japan is the global leader of life expectancy rankings. People look young, their lifestyles are active, their diets healthy. Meeting an artist at the Ikebana exhibition and talking to a monk at Sojiji castle gave me an insight to how Japanese people achieve longevity without stress, satisfaction without pills and long lasting beauty without botox. While you enjoy the pictures, taking in a healthy dose of...
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Read MoreIntercultural delusions – Paris syndrome, dating, work, bread
It is my second time in Japan and I am at a point where everything is great. Food, people, safety, everyday convenience. It is easy for me to idealize Japan. We live in a spacious house (Japanese standard applies), we meet friendly and helpful people, we eat out and enjoy ourselves in many of the fun locations of Tokyo. No cubicle work stress either. On tuesday night airbnb – one of our main portals...
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Read MoreBehind the scenes – North Korea vs Internet
When I turn on my laptop things generally work. I can access the websites I like, I can surf around the net without interruptions – all in all internet is a smooth ride for me, the end user behind the monitor. But behind the scenes things are ugly. Endless cyber attacks targeting websites – this blog gets spammed regularly, and so does my e-mail account. Not all sites are hit equally strong....
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Read MoreUobei Genki Sushi – futuristic & fun restaurant in Tokyo
Waitress clones serving fast food in dystopian restaurants. This is the way Cloud Atlas depicted our culinary future. In Tokyo the future has already arrived. In Shibuya. And it is in fact waitress-less. Location: 2-29-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Not real humans but high-tech is delivering food which can be ordered via multi lingual monitor screens – hanging in front...
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Read MoreFinal Hanami with Hachiko at Aoyama Cemetery
Hanami came early to Tokyo this year. It was April the 1st when we came to Aoyama Cemetery for a final Hanami. No April joke. It was already raining flowers and a gorgeous carpet was formed by pink petals. Hanami was coming to an end. Aoyama cemetery is pretty crowded during cherry blossom but even when Sakura is taking a seasonal break the place is famous for the (tiny) monument of...
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Read MoreHanami cherry blossom hot spots in Tokyo
Tokyo is adorned with cherry trees. Stunning white and pink cherry blossoms are making for the most popular scenes of the world, drawing the crowds who come to celebrate Hanami (flower viewing) with picnics and festivals. It is my second time in Tokyo during spring to get high on the sight and smell of Sakura (cherry blossom). Here is a list of my favourite spots for Hanami: 1. Shinjuku Gyoen National...
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Read MoreNo otaku hardcore but family folk art @ Tokyo Anime Fair 2013
We got free tickets to the Tokyo International Anime Fair (TAF) 2013 and although truthfully I am more of an anime amateur, it was time to get acquainted with a big part of Japan. March 24th was the last day of the fair and it did not feel crowded at all. Not only not crowded with people but also not overly crowded with promotion stands. In 2011 the largest and most influential manga publishers withdrew...
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Read MoreVoice Acting in Tokyo with 坂井 俊祐, 山口 立花子, 渡部 優衣
Voice acting is more difficult than it sounds, Japanese voice actors and actresses are incredibly passionate about their jobs and… delightfully good looking. That is more or less what I learned during a dubbing lesson with professional voice actors in Tokyo. Tomek and I were incredibly lucky to meet Yui Watanabe, Shunsuke Sakai and Rikako Yamaguchi who took their time to teach us how to dub for anime...
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Read MoreHow to do Hanami step by step
Cherry blossoms is a big thing in Japan. When the cherry trees blossom, Japanese people do Hanami. That means that they are viewing (mi) flowers (hana). You would like to know HOW TO DO Hanami? Let’s learn from the locals! Follow me. Lots of hana to mi! 10 steps to become a Hanami master: 1. READ THE NEWS and follow TV which show maps on how far north in the country cherry tree...
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Read MoreTokyo’s Harajuku fashion styles – I am a Lolita, Geisha, Mori Girl…
Japanese live fashion. Japan’s fashion styles are as complex as its culinary pleasures and simply a delight to look at. I love fashion, I love girlie stuff and I am going to give you some insights about the various fashion styles you can expect to see, where to find dressed up Tokyoites and where to buy Harajuku style. I imagine you have watched the Harajuku background girls perform in Gwen...
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Read MoreWhat to do in Harajuku – 23 fashion, fun, food locations
You have probably heard of the most trendy place to hang out in Japan for the hip and fashion conscious. Tokyo’s Harajuku area has been the centre for unconventional outfits and styles. It is the mecca for fashion boutiques, souvenir shops and snacks, all of them mostly sweet and overly adorned. Harajuku is as kawaii as Japan gets. Let’s recap the Harajuku tour which we did last week and visit...
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Read MoreTokyo’s best second hand shop and city (s)hopping
What a title. Deserves an explanation but you do get it all. Pictures of Tokyo which show the modern character of a capital – build out of the rumble of last centuries tragedies. Tomek and I were walking around Tokyo and I took some pictures which show the craziness and vastness of Tokyo’s modern geometric shopping streets and prevalent architecture. And you get the coolest second hand shop...
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Read MoreTokyo’s forest of lovers and Japan’s erotic world
Tokyo has got many sides of love. First of all it is easy to fall in love with the city and start an affectionate love affair with its absolute convenience, with delicious restaurants, the hospitality of its people, the shopping craziness, the dimensions of perfectionism and CALPIS (just had to mention this awesome Japanese drink somewhere). You will see the love for details and admire perfect arrangements...
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Read MoreSakura cherry blossom at Tokyo’s Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
I do not have children, nor a garden, nor an elaborate wardrobe. All the things that keep women largely occupied are not in my life (yet) but I can feel time racing away and that I am not provided enough time for all the things I would like to do. (Maybe there are too many and I should learn to focus – a good time to take up yoga again…) So, I was saying that time is a luxury we can’t buy...
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Read MoreValentine’s Day and White Day in Japan
March the 14th is a special day in Japan. It is White Day, in Japanese ホワイトデ Howaito Dē. On this date the MALE gender is well advised to return the gift-giving which they have received from Japanese females onValentine’s Day. That’s right. On Valentine’s Day the GIRLS give gifts to the GUYS. They buy (or make) chocolate presents to give to work colleagues, male friends and...
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Read MoreArt Nouveau & Sushi in Tokyo with Alfphonse Mucha & Takumi
On day two of the weekend fun with our Japanese friend Takumi, we decided to take it slow. After day one of jolly sightseeing in Tokyo we had worn down our shoe soles. We started off with a good breakfast. The kind that mixes European habits with Japanese food which we had gotten used to prepare in our humble home in Tokyo. Takumi liked it or was being very nice. Did you notice how we have knives and forks...
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Read MoreTwo days in Tokyo with Takumi
The best way to enjoy Tokyo is with a good friend and a Japanese native. Takumi happens to embody both. This meant that we had a lot of fun exploring Tokyo, strolling through the city, at the same time going through many invaluable learning experiences and inter-cultural discussions. We got a serious injection of Japanese culture, habits and behaviours on top of a major language boost. (Thank you, Takumi,...
Most Recent Articles
House sale, shopping, cooking in Tokyo
17th May, 2013. Diary Format. We had finished all our food supplies and it was time to head out for a typical shopping spree. Tomek has to be back at his office (aka our living room) around 5 pm when Europe is...
Read More
Hamazushi – more high-tech and cheap Sushi
May 13th, 2013. We have had a busy month welcoming and hosting friends and a lot of walking exercise in Tokyo but mainly a lot of fun. It is just us two again from this week on. After tidying up our small house...
Read More
Kanda Matsuri Festival 2013 in Tokyo
Disclaimer: This post is in blog diary format. My new concept is to post all...
Read More
Dasza’s Diary Concept
I have been struggling to keep up with my ambitions to write up everything I...
Read More
The Shibuya crossing and new perspectives
I have been through so many variables in my life that nothing is really...
Read More
Dim sum and more in Yokohama’s Chinatown
If you are visiting Chinatown in Yokohama, it is because of the food. Political...
Read More
Finding events in Tokyo – Shuggie Otis live concert
Tokyo is the conglomerated hub of things. There are not to miss events that...
Read More
Secrets to Longevity: Ikebana and Dharuma at Sojiji temple
Japan is the global leader of life expectancy rankings. People look young,...
Read More
Intercultural delusions – Paris syndrome, dating, work, bread
It is my second time in Japan and I am at a point where everything is great....
Read More
Behind the scenes – North Korea vs Internet
When I turn on my laptop things generally work. I can access the websites I...
Read More
Uobei Genki Sushi – futuristic & fun restaurant in Tokyo
Waitress clones serving fast food in dystopian restaurants. This is the way...
Read More
Final Hanami with Hachiko at Aoyama Cemetery
Hanami came early to Tokyo this year. It was April the 1st when we came to...
Read More
Hanami cherry blossom hot spots in Tokyo
Tokyo is adorned with cherry trees. Stunning white and pink cherry blossoms are...
Read More
No otaku hardcore but family folk art @ Tokyo Anime Fair 2013
We got free tickets to the Tokyo International Anime Fair (TAF) 2013 and...
Read More
Voice Acting in Tokyo with 坂井 俊祐, 山口 立花子, 渡部 優衣
Voice acting is more difficult than it sounds, Japanese voice actors and...
Read More
How to do Hanami step by step
Cherry blossoms is a big thing in Japan. When the cherry trees blossom,...
Read More
Tokyo’s Harajuku fashion styles – I am a Lolita, Geisha, Mori Girl…
Japanese live fashion. Japan’s fashion styles are as complex as its...
Read More
What to do in Harajuku – 23 fashion, fun, food locations
You have probably heard of the most trendy place to hang out in Japan for the...
Read More
Tokyo’s best second hand shop and city (s)hopping
What a title. Deserves an explanation but you do get it all. Pictures of Tokyo...
Read More
Tokyo’s forest of lovers and Japan’s erotic world
Tokyo has got many sides of love. First of all it is easy to fall in love with...
Read More
Sakura cherry blossom at Tokyo’s Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
I do not have children, nor a garden, nor an elaborate wardrobe. All the things...
Read More
Valentine’s Day and White Day in Japan
March the 14th is a special day in Japan. It is White Day, in Japanese ...
Read More
Art Nouveau & Sushi in Tokyo with Alfphonse Mucha & Takumi
On day two of the weekend fun with our Japanese friend Takumi, we decided to...
Read More
Two days in Tokyo with Takumi
The best way to enjoy Tokyo is with a good friend and a Japanese native. Takumi...
Read More
Best coffee & cigarettes bar in Tokyo
I am not a coffee nor cigarettes person. At all. I don’t smoke....
Read More
Renting in Tokyo and Japanese residential architecture
Tokyo is the fascinating capital of Japan with over 35 million inhabitants...
Read More