Plain Talk
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD OCTOBER 10. 2025Calling All Food Lovers: Hokkaido Awaits by Keito Ando
You've been to Tokyo. You've experienced Kyoto. But have you savored the unique taste only Hokkaido and its delicacies are able to provide? Treat yourself to the catch of the day at Sapporo’s Nijo Market or indulge yourself with a LeTao cheesecake. Maybe even sit down for a quick bite at the legendary Lucky Pierrot. Hokkaido is a gold mine for the gourmet globetrotters of the world, just waiting to captivate epicures and their still dormant taste buds.
Hokkaido is the most northern of the 4 islands of Japan. It displays the 4 seasons in such a distinctive and majestic manner that it gathers tourists every year from all over the world. You’ll be mesmerized by the hills filed with beautiful flora in the spring, breezing through acres of farmland on your bicycle in the summer, gazing at the mountains dyed with autumn colors, and enveloped in a world of snow in the winter. All of this is complimented with a delightful dish of Hokkaido cuisine.
The Nijo Market is one of the many street markets that can be found throughout Hokkaido. They offer not only fresh fish and other ocean delicacies, but fresh vegetables, fruit, and liquor as well. Shops are equipped with an eat-in space, so people can choose to either ship something for the family or snack on the spot. Tourists of different nationalities all come together, mouths full with freshly caught seafood, to experience the vibrant liveliness of the market. Located in downtown Sapporo, the Nijo Market bustles with tourists and vendors and has since the Meiji period. For a historical dive into Hokkaido culture and a fabulous lunch, the market is a great stop to make.
Ready for dessert? LeTao has been making their legendarily acclaimed
cheesecakes since day 1 back in 1998. Named the Double Fromage, LeTao’s famous cheesecake is a double-layered cake with baked cream cheese and no bake mascarpone. The contrast between the two layers succeeds in forging a world of creamy goodness. The cheese is like snow, creating a winter wonderland inside your mouth that slowly melts away, leaving you with nothing but a craving for more. The confectionary only has shops in Hokkaido, mainly located on Sakaimachi Street. The main shop has an observatory on the 3rd floor that towers above the city of Otaru. The beloved tower of Otaru in French is La Tour Amitie Otaru, which is where the name LeTao came from. Visit the beloved tower and stimulate your sweet tooth with a real cheesecake.
Who would have thought that a trip to the outskirts of Asia would include burgers? Instead of Ronald McDonald and his golden arches, the people of Hokkaido have Lucky Pierrot. The fast food burger chain, Lucky Pierrot, dominates Hokkaido and with good reason. They offer a diverse menu ranging from your regular cheese burger to Chinese noodles and curry, but what really turns heads are the dishes that incorporate the theme of Hokkaido culture. The dancing squid burger, the Hijikata Toshizo scallop burger, and the Hakodate snow burger are three of the several that continue to successfully merge western culture and Hokkaido and tuck it in between two buns. The Hakodate snow burger is a juicy beef burger topped with a creamy white sauce. When you order the dish, out comes the mountainous burger with snowy sauce flowing out and covering the plate below as if it were an avalanche.
For the food lovers out there still looking for the perfect eating experience, travel to the northern land of Hokkaido and you won't be disappointed. It is time to wake up and smell the white sauce. Hokkaido awaits
あなたは東京を訪れたことがある。京都の魅力を体験したこともある。しかし北海道とそこの名物がもつ独特の味わいを堪能したことはあるだろうか？ 札幌の二条市場でその日の新鮮な魚介類を堪能したり、LeTaoのチーズケーキで贅沢な時間を過ごしたり。 伝説のラッキーピエロで軽食を楽しむのも良いだろう。北海道は世界中のグルメ旅行者にとっての宝の山であり、まだ眠っている美食家の味覚を魅了するのを待っている。
北海道は日本の4つの島のうち最も北に位置する島だ。四季を特徴的で壮大な形で表現するため、毎年世界中から観光客が集まる。春は美しい花で埋め尽くされた丘陵に魅了され、夏は自転車で広大な農地を駆け抜け、秋は山々が秋の色に染まる景色を望み、冬は雪に包まれた世界を楽しむことができます。 これら美しい風景と、絶品の料理を肴に楽しめる。
二条市場は、北海道各地に点在する多くのストリートマーケットのひとつだ。 新鮮な魚介類や海の幸だけでなく、新鮮な野菜、果物、お酒なども販売されている。 店舗には飲食スペースが備わっており、家族用に持ち帰るか、その場で軽食を楽しむか、どちらかを選ぶことができる。 異なる国籍の観光客が、新鮮な海鮮を口にしながら、市場の活気ある賑わいを体験するために集まる。札幌の繁華街に位置する二条市場は、明治時代から観光客と出店者で賑わっている。 北海道の文化の歴史を深く知り、素晴らしいランチを楽しむためには、この市場は訪れる価値のある場所と言える。
それではデザートはいかが？ LeTaoは1998年の創業以来、伝説的に評価されるチーズケーキを作り続けています。 「ダブルフロマージュ」と名付けられたLeTaoの有名なチーズケーキは、焼いたクリームチーズと焼かないマスカルポーネの二重層ケーキだ。 二つの層の対比が、クリーミーな美味しさの世界を創造している。 チーズは雪のように軽く、口の中でゆっくりと溶けていき、そして最後にもっと食べたいという欲求だけが残る。 この菓子店は北海道にのみ店舗を構え、主に坂町通りに位置している。 メイン店舗の3階には、小樽の街を見下ろす展望台がある。 小樽の愛される塔はフランス語で「ラ・トゥール・アミティ・オタル」と呼ばれ、これがLeTaoの名称の由来だ。 愛される塔を訪れ、本物のチーズケーキで甘党の心を刺激してはどうだろうか。
アジアの辺境への旅に、ハンバーガーが含まれるなんて誰が想像するだろう？ ロナルド・マクドナルドと彼の黄金のアーチではなく、北海道の人々にはラッキー・ピエロがある。 ファストフードハンバーガーチェーンのラッキー・ピエロは北海道で圧倒的な人気を誇り、その理由は明白だ。 彼らはチーズバーガーから中華麺やカレーまで多様なメニューを提供するが、心の底から目を引くのは北海道の文化をテーマにした料理だ。 ダンスするイカバーガー、ヒジカタ・トシゾウのホタテバーガー、函館雪バーガーは、西洋文化と北海道文化を融合させ、2枚のバンズの間にはさむことに成功した数多くのメニューのうちの3つだ。函館雪バーガーは、クリーミーな白いソースがのったジューシーなビーフバーガーだ。 この料理を注文すると、雪のようなソースが流れ出し、皿の下を覆うように広がる山のようなバーガーが現れる。
完璧な食事体験を求めている食通の皆さん、北の地、北海道への旅で失望することはない。白ソースの香りに目覚める時だ。北海道が待っている。
Plain Talk
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD TNB Throwback OCTOBER 11. 2024Halloween by Tetsuya Morisaki
At the time of writing this article, my favorite event in October, the Halloween is around the corner!
I like this relatively new event here very much. Let me explain why..
Well, the number 1 reason is that for enjoying Halloween does not cost you an arm and leg at all. You simply head for"Don Quixote" variety goods shop and choose something simple like Super Mario. You just fork out less than 20 bucks. And as long as you carefully wash it and reuse it next year, and the next. It will cost you no more red cents Just be careful with your belly, watching your weight, control alcohol intake from the month before, because Mario with potbelly is acceptable in my eyes, at the same time Mario should be able to be nimble and agile, right?
Another advantage of Halloween is that there is no need to having a company to take part in. In this far east nation, Valentine's and Christmas are celebrated in a peculiar way, in which only couples are supposedly qualified to enjoy. But Halloween is different! If you disguise yourself into an anime character, samurai, Pokemon, Dearth Vader, you name it, regardless of your current status of single or engaged or married, you can make people laugh, everyone are with open arms.
Oh, I know that Halloween itself has its origin in the celebration of Celtic culture, and but Japanese youngsters take it just as a party disguise event...Pardon our compatriots youngsters... we like to interpret religious celebration into our own way to our convince. I should add. According to some statistics, it contributes greatly to the Japanese economy, estimated, it generates the consumption of as much as 13 million US dollars
One intriguing thing to remember as to this year's Halloween. This year at the center of famous Shibuya, seems the prohibition of sales of alcohol will be put in place too, since some allegedly youngsters who got carried away knocked down a light weight truck under the influence in 2018. I am all for this "dry policy" in order not to tarnish a safe reputation of Japan. If you want to go plastered on Shibuya during this event, please stay in some building surrounding the intersection and cheer us sober party people, okay?!
So, from the end of September meanwhile ironing a tired Mario costume, I am excited to join the Halloween feast.
Unfinished business
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD MAY 17. 2019Farewell to a Japan Jazz Icon by David Gregory
The messages from all over Japan read aloud during the service helped us realize how widely Koyama-san touched lives and how many like us were feeling something newly missing from our worlds. But, although wonderful and sometimes saddening us, they did not trigger crying. That happened next.
Those first few notes of the "'Round About Midnight" Miles Davis version, the cut Koyama-san always used to open Jazz Tonight, performed by a live piano and trumpet duo up front near the coffin, did it: Instant recognition, recollections, sighs around the room, eyes closed, arms crossed, heads dropped back or down, and tears, at least for me. How many times had we heard, after Miles breathed his somber opening, Koyama-san's low, raspy voice welcoming us into the studio with, "Minna-san, gokigen ikaga desho-ka everybody, how are you feeling?"?and never thought that someday we would hear him ask about us no more?
Koyama-san's widow, whom, like him, had never known me, stood alone at the coffin head and bowed in silence to everyone in turn after they placed flowers around his body as the duo continued with another slow number, the trumpet sounding so strong and crisp and unusual in a memorial service hall. After we placed our flowers, she responded to my hand on her shoulder, a touch just meant to console her, by immediately turning and reaching for me?a total stranger?burying her head in my chest, and breaking down. She needed that hug that everybody sometimes needs. She let go after her respite when she was ready to face the coffin and everyone else again, and returned to her position. Going to Kashiwa in a snowstorm was worth it just for those few moments when I could do something for her.
So our Kashiwa day was both sad and good. But, why did I even want to go a funeral for a man whom I only knew by voice, and who, although linked to jazz, was not even a musician?
Koyama-san and his Jazz Tonight program I listened to since at least the early 2000s. For more than sixteen years, while my life in Japan has been filled with huge uncertainties, he has been here Saturday nights on the radio, reliable, keeping me connected to the world's music and opening my ears to music from Japan I would not know without him. Listening to him always made me feel good, no matter what had happened in my life during the week or what was coming up in the weeks ahead. Koyama-san and Jazz Tonight were my respite. How well can I replace that comfort?
Koyama-san, thank you for helping this foreigner feel good in Japan. Please rest well in jazz heaven.
NHK Radio, thank you for giving Koyama-san a way to connect with us. Please encourage other DJs to continue doing what he did so well.
To Koyama-san's surviving family members: Please care well for yourselves now, and thank you for supporting and sharing Kiyoshi with us.
The Smallest Box by David Gregory
She came over to my table and asked if I remembered her.
“That’s my boyfriend over there.”
Their table hugged a pillar blocking the sunny Tokyo Bay view enjoyed by the other customers that afternoon in Chiba’s AquaRink ice skating facility café.
“Maybe we will marry next year.”
On my way out, I stopped to congratulate the potential groom to be. What I later heard happened with Hiromi and Hiroshi that night at another place also close to the bay sounded so too good to be true that I visited that place to confirm it really happened. It did.
Hiroshi had reserved for the course menu that night at OCEAN TABLE, next to Chiba Port, on the second floor, where tables sat by the huge windows facing Chiba Port Tower and Tokyo Bay. No view-blocking pillars there. And they had a wait, even with their reservation, because it was Christmas Eve, which in Japan matters much more than the following day; the Eve is the year’s couples’ night out, and single women without dates that night can feel their whole year was wasted.
Hiroshi had changed into a suit after skating, and had urged Hiromi, against her protests about overdressing, into a plaid one-piece, raising expectations. They had never come to a place this nice, one requiring reservations. Saizeriya was more their speed: fast faux-Italian, cheap, and everywhere.
The unexpected wait made Hiroshi antsy. He relaxed and all was perfect after they were seated.
They talked. They ate the Christmas Dinner courses. They ignored the soft Christmas background music. They admired the gleaming, golden Christmas Tree rising from the first-floor buffet area through the open center space across from their table. They could see outside the sparkling flashes and half the tree in Port Tower’s Christmas Illumination, and beyond, the lights from the ships on and facilities around Tokyo Bay, appearing almost twinkling. Perfect—but not for Hiromi.
She went to the toilet. Still he had not asked. The day was done. The reservation system only allowed them two hours there. They had been together all day. He had remembered her birthday-just by coincidence, also that day-with a necklace at AquaRink. Nice, but was that all? He had pestered her since early December about what Christmas present she wanted until she had finally exploded with, “Nothing! Don’t you know I just want a proposal?!” And had added she wanted it to be a surprise. Here he had the perfect chance, and he was wasting it.
She could try enjoying what was left of the evening. Dessert was next. At least here was better than Saizeriya….She was still stuck when she returned to the table, and had no chance to do or say anything, anyway. It was his toilet turn.
Their desserts came. Hiromi sat and waited and pondered the future. Outside, the tower stood alone against the dark sky and Tokyo Bay’s inky darkness.
Their desserts waited. Maybe his tooth was bothering him again. Maybe he was just tolerating it to make the night go well. Maybe for her. Maybe she should go to check on him. Wait-maybe she just heard his voice across the room.
No, only Santa Claus, posing for photographs with diners at the far table. He then started circling the room, giving a small present from his big sack at each table. She could check after he was done.
Hiroshi still had not returned to his seat when Santa reached their table. He handed Hiromi a big, red stocking, by far the room’s largest gift, accompanied by a squeaky, “Atari! You’re a lucky one!” Yeah. She set it aside and Santa moved on. What was he still doing in the toilet?
Santa finished his round, returned to Hiromi, and pointed at her unopened stocking with squeaky, “Un! Un!” grunts. The other diners had opened their presents. She forced a smile and said she was waiting for her boyfriend to return. “Un! Un!”
When Hiromi still resisted, Santa took the stocking in his white-gloved hands and opened it himself. Out first came a big, pink box, heart shaped. He opened that and pulled out another heart-shaped box, and then, from inside that, another heart-shaped box. Another smaller, heart-shaped box followed. He removed from that an even smaller heart-shaped box, and thrust it to Hiromi with one more squeaky, “Un!”
Still gone. Well, he’d miss it. Hiromi obeyed Santa this time and opened it, the smallest box in the room …and her mind and face went blank.
After that frozen moment passed, Hiromi looked at Santa. The second shock hit, and more followed. Santa Claus had ripped off his gloves, furry hat, sunglasses, and huge, flowing beard. He took the box from her?she was still speechless?dropped onto one knee, held the open box out and up to her in both stretching hands, and said in a voice loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, “Hiromi-san, boku-to kekkon shite kudasai! Hiromi, please marry me!”
Outside, to anybody looking, Port Tower’s Christmas Illumination still flashed, and the lights on and around Tokyo Bay still appeared almost twinkling. Inside OCEAN TABLE, on the second floor, everything was happening so fast that Hiromi just did not know which was more difficult to believe: Hiroshi and the ring he first tried slipping onto the finger on her right hand, the one he had taken in his before she held out her left hand, or the following PAN! and PAN! PAN! PAN! PAN! PAN! and PAN! PAN! and PAN! explosions ripping and ribbons shooting around the room as diners at the floor’s other tables popped the party crackers they had found with the notes in their presents from Santa Claus.
Copyright © 2018 David L. Gregory All rights reserved.
I Did It! by David Gregory
She had been here before. But, those were tour-guided or hand-held visits. After living most of her life in white-bread suburban USA, driving everywhere, shopping in giant malls and supermarkets, and needing only one currency and one language, my mother ventured out on her own, within and beyond Chiba, during one trip to Japan. From her notes, here are Dorothy's...
ADVENTURES IN JAPAN
Grocery Shopping in Neighborhood―Walk five blocks...buy only one bag...walk five blocks back. Survived it!
Shopping in City Center―Walk six blocks to bus stop. Ride bus fifteen minutes. Arrive at stores. Walk around. Look. Decide: cookies.
Buying: “Ikura desu-ka how much?” Hmm. “Kakimasu kudasai write please.”
Paying options: give large bill, let clerk figure change, or open change purse, let clerk take out correct amount. Decide to just give some cash.
Clerk shakes her head (“NO! MORE!”), then counts out correct amount needed from register and shows me. I mimic her action from my change purse. Smiles! Deep bows with many, “Arigato gozaimasu thank you very much!”-es.
(My error: thought there was decimal point in Yen price....)
Open cookies, expecting pirouettes with chocolate centers. Instead, peanut butter waffle rolls, no chocolate. No wonder, now I see peanut sketch on package. “Shoganai can’t be changed,” I did it to myself. It could have been worse!
~~~
Travelling to Visit Friend’s Family on Other Side of Chiba―Walk ten blocks to train. Purchase ticket. Electronic lady on ticket machine screen says, “Arigato gozaimasu” and bows. Ride train twenty minutes, watching for correct stop, get off, walk seven blocks to house. I did it myself!
Visiting Hisae Overnight―My Japanese study partner in USA returned to Japan, now lives on other side of Tokyo Bay.
Take large purse and large tote bag with jacket, nightie, toothbrush, cosmetics. Walk six blocks to bus stop. Ride bus to train station. Ride train eighty minutes to Yokohama. Find correct exit from station. EASY. Did not even look at note in pocket explaining route and Japanese signs. And, look! Hisae and three-year old Kei are waiting! “Hello!” they say! Many hugs!
I did it!
Then, still more travel: train together fifteen minutes, short taxi uphill to lovely apartment, sunny and bright.
Returning to Chiba, just reverse process. Next time, we can meet at a station halfway in between. I can do it.
I can do it!
Copyright (C) 2015 David Gregory. All rights reserved. Chiba, Japan
Book Review
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD MAY 11 2018Cherry Blossoms in the Time of Earthquakes and Tsunami
by Rey Ventura Reviewed by Randy Swank video maker and scriptwriter Rey Ventura won the 2015 National Book Award for his third collection of essays, Cherry Blossoms in the Time of Earthquakes and Tsunami, but for some strange twist of fate you will find very little information on this book. You can’t even buy it on Amazon. This is a shame because Cherry Blossoms... is a beautiful, insightful and thought-provoking book. |
Cherry Blossoms in the Time of Earthquakes and Tsunami |
In "Miniskirts and Stilettos" we meet Ginto, a young lady who comes to Japan dreaming of making it big as a singer and entertainer but has to deal instead with a much darker reality; while "Mr. Suzuki Tries Again" and "Into the Snow Country" are tragicomic tales of arranged marriages where the dreams and expectations of bride-starved farmers from Japan's Deep North clash with those of young Filipino women who want to escape their poverty and go into marriage "as a girl goes into a convent." Ventura tells these stories with a great eye for detail and manages to find a ray of light even in the darkest corners, or poetry in the midst of a nuclear disaster. The book's first essay is called "The Slow Boat to Manila" and indeed, slowness is the first word that comes to mind when considering Ventura's approach to writing. Everything Ventura does is slow. He is no magazine reporter after all, and will spend days or even months getting to know a person he wants to write about. That's the kind of personal commitment and deep connection with his subject that one feels when reading his essays. |
Tokyo Fab
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD OCTOBER 24, 2025
Hello Halloween Pumpkin Parade
Each autumn, Tokyo’s stylish Omotesand? Avenue turns into a colorful celebration of costumes, candy, and community with the Hello Halloween Pumpkin Parade. This cheerful event, one of the city’s most beloved family Halloween traditions, invites children aged 12 and under (along with their parents or guardians) to dress up in festive pumpkin-themed costumes and join a lively parade along the tree-lined boulevard. The street is closed to traffic for the day, allowing thousands of little ghosts, witches, and pumpkins to walk safely through one of Tokyo’s most fashionable neighborhoods. Spectators gather along the sidewalks to enjoy the sight of the adorable parade, filling Omotesand? with laughter and excitement. Adding to the fun, local boutiques and cafe´s take part in a “Candy Rally,” where participating stores hand out sweets to children in costume. Many shops also feature limited-edition Halloween menus, themed decorations, and seasonal treats, making it a delightful experience for all ages. Whether you’re a visiting family, a local resident, or simply a traveler looking for a festive way to enjoy autumn in Tokyo, the Hello Halloween Pumpkin Parade offers a charming, friendly, and uniquely Japanese take on the Halloween spirit―safe, creative, and filled with smiles.
Date：October 26th (Sun) @ Harajuku and Omotesando Area
https://halloween.omotesando.or.jp/
BIGFUN Halloween
This autumn, BIG FUN Heiwajima in Tokyo transforms into a festive Halloween playground with the BIG FUN Halloween event on October 26, 2025. Families and visitors can enjoy a full day of interactive fun, featuring special appearances by Sesame Street’s Elmo and Cookie Monster. Guests can take photos with the beloved characters during three scheduled greeting sessions throughout the day.The event also welcomes Pipo-kun, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police mascot, and Hanepyon, Ota Ward’s official character, who will teach traffic safety and host engaging storytelling shows. Children and adults alike can join in the Monster Pinata Challenge, explore creative workshops crafting ghost lanterns and pumpkin decorations, and enjoy the Halloween makeup booth for festive costume enhancements. Music lovers can dance to DJ Halloween, bringing seasonal beats to the vibrant atmosphere.A stamp rally running from October 11－26 encourages participants to explore the venue, while a lottery offers a chance to win spa and activity vouchers. Local vendors and food trucks provide a variety of Halloween-themed menus, adding to the sensory delights. With colorful decorations and activities suitable for all ages, BIG FUN Halloween promises a memorable, family-friendly celebration of the season.
Date： October 26th (Sun) @ BIGFUN Heiwajima
https://www.big-fun.jp/information/detail/---id-333.html
Have You Been To...
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD OCTOBER 24, 2025
Halloween Stargazing [Rikubetsu, Hokkaido]
Rikubetsu, Japan’s coldest town, offers astonishingly clear skies perfect for stargazing. During this event, staff and visitors dress in costumes, creating a whimsical, unified atmosphere. Ideal for solo adults, couples celebrating anniversaries, or families, it’s a magical way to connect with the stars while enjoying a playful, memorable experience under the winter sky.
CosAll! [Hanamaki, Iwate]
‘Cosall!’ at Miyazawa Kenji Fairy Tale Village in Hanamaki, Iwate, is a Halloween cosplay event set in a storybook-like village. Visitors can dress up in anime, game, or fairy-tale-themed outfits, enjoy special illuminations, and capture magical photos. Perfect for literature lovers and photography enthusiasts, it offers a whimsical, immersive experience both day and night.
HALLOWEEN HOTEL [Yatsugatake, Yamanashi]
‘THE HALLOWEEN HOTEL 2025’ at Resonare Yatsugatake in Yamanashi transforms the hotel into a playful monster-themed wonderland from October 1－31. Guests are greeted by charming monsters at check-in and room service, enjoy themed workshops, and explore festive photo spots. Designed for all ages, it offers a fun, immersive Halloween experience that feels like stepping into another world.
Kiri-Halo [Kirishim, Kagoshima]
“Kiri-Halo” in Kirishima City, Kagoshima, is a charming Halloween event featuring costume parades, night markets, and workshops in the Kokubu shopping district. As night falls, the arcade lights up with retro-Halloween de´cor, while locals and shopkeepers join in the fun. Enjoy sweets, festive cheer, and end the evening with a relaxing dip in Kirishima’s famous hot springs.
Tokyo Voice Column
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD TNB Throwback: OCTOBER 11. 2019
Is Truth Over There? by Takehiro Hashimoto
We are all prisoners of our conceptual thinking. We THINK THINK AND THINK. We think about the world around us. We try to find out words that justify our thinking. Unfortunately, we fail to attain the enlightenment. Instead of being aware of being right here and right now, we try to reach the goal, our solid objective, and get lost in the woods. I had been like that, and somewhat still, I am. But so long as you cling to the notion that I am here and Truth is over there, confusion remains for the rest of your life.
Nowadays, we have become too intellectualized, with the advent of obsessive-compulsive social media syndrome, to sense everything arises and falls away, in just a blink of eyes. Intellect makes us see the world as it was, meaning that it cannot allow us to see the world on this moment, as it is arising and falling away at the same speed.
We can intellectualize how the world worked with words, yet we cannot say exactly how the world is working. When we see the river, for example, we say to ourselves, “This is the same old river. I saw it yesterday, and I will see it tomorrow as well.” Actually, each flow of water is a unique flow of water; it is new-born, right here, at this present moment, this time only, at this very place and in this very shape.
How many times do we have to suffer, before we realize the world doesn’t repeat itself? How many times have we tried to take pictures of this world and felt isolated? You know it. I know it. We know it. But really? If so, why do we cling to the past? Past is no more. What’s done is done. If we knew it for sure, we wouldn’t feel sadness for things that have gone from us?
私たちはみんな自分の思考の牢獄のなかにいる。私たちはみんな世界について絶え間なく考えている。そして、自分の思考に符合する言葉を探し回っている。残念ながら、目論みははずれると決まっている。いまここにいることに気づくかわりに、ゴール、言い換えれば確固たる目的を目指し、森をさまよっている。私はずっとそんな感じで生きてきた。ある意味で今もそうだ。しかし、私はこちらにいて、真理はあちらにあるという想念にしばられているかぎり、混乱は生涯つづくだろう。
近年、ソーシャルメディアへの執着によって、私たちは知性化した。そして、目の前で生じ滅している世界に気づく感性を犠牲にした。知性はいつも、生じ終わった過去の世界を見せてくれる。つまりそれは、世界が同じ速度で生じて滅しているさまを、私たちは見ることができないということだ。
私たちは言語によって、この世界がどのように生成したかを概念化することができる。しかし、世界が今、どのように動いているかについては話せない。たとえば、川の流れを見る。「これは古くからある川だ。昨日も見たし、明日もまた見るであろう」このように思うはずだ。しかし、水の流れそれぞれは、本当は唯一無二なるものだ。それはいま生まれ、まさにこのときここにあり、この場かぎりで、このかたちとしてあるのだ。
私たちはいったい何回苦しまなければならないのか、この世界が二度と繰り返さないということを知るまでに。今までいったい何回、この流動する世界を撮影しようとして、孤独を感じてきたのだろうか。そんなことはみんな知っている。本当に？もし知っているなら、どうして私たちは過去に執着するのか。過去はもうない。終わってしまったのだ。もしそのことを知っているというなら、なぜ、もうないものに対して悲しみを抱えつづけるというのだろう？
MUSEUM -What's Going on?-
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD OCTOBER 10. 2025
Prism of the Real: Making Art in Japan 1989-2010
Prism of the Real presents the work of over 50 artists from Japan and around the world, examining how Japanese art evolved between 1989―the end of the Sh?wa era―and 2010, while also highlighting the ways Japanese culture influenced global artistic practice. This twenty-year period, spanning the early Heisei era, witnessed the end of the Cold War and the rise of contemporary globalization, which enabled the freer exchange of people, ideas, and information. Artists responded to these social and cultural shifts, creating works that refracted the currents of their time and raised complex questions about identity, history, and society.
*
Co-curated by The National Art Center, Tokyo and M+, Hong Kong, the exhibition reflects on this transitional era from both national and international perspectives, positioning Japan as a hub of artistic innovation.
The exhibition opens with a prologue exploring the early stirrings of international engagement in the 1980s, before moving into a critical period beginning in 1989, characterized by a surge in creative activity amid dynamic social and political transformations. The works are organized into three thematic sections: The Past Is a Phantom, which addresses war and its lingering social, cultural, and personal effects; Self and Others, exploring identity, gender, and hierarchical structures through art; and A Promise of Community, highlighting projects that foster new forms of connection within existing communities or through newly created social networks.
By juxtaposing multiple histories and contexts, Prism of the Real offers a multifaceted view of Japanese contemporary art as a lens to understand broader global currents.
Period: － December 8 (Mon), 2025
Venue: The National Art Center, Tokyo
Closed: Tuesdays
Hours: 10:00-18:00 / -20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays (admission 30 minutes before closing)
Admission: Adults 2,000 yen / College Students 1,000 yen / High school students 500yen.
For more information, please visit
https://www.nact.jp/english/exhibition_special/2025/JCAW/
TOP 30th Anniversary Thoughts of a Distant Window:
Contemporary Japanese Photography vol. 22
Since 2002, the Contemporary Japanese Photography series at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum has been a platform to nurture creativity, explore the potential of photography and moving images, and introduce new artistic practices while highlighting emerging talent. The 22nd edition of this series presents the works of five promising artists who focus on the small, often overlooked stories that arise from our connections with people, places, customs, and the passage of time.
In today’s world, where embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive society are increasingly important, imagination plays a key role in how we relate to others with different values and experiences. The artists in this exhibition invite viewers to engage with these narratives, reflecting on the subtleties of everyday life.
*
The concept is akin to glimpsing a life through a street-side window. While walking, you might be unexpectedly drawn to a window, sensing something of the life within and imagining a story beyond your immediate view. Similarly, the photographs and moving images in this exhibition act as portals, offering perspectives into unfamiliar landscapes and narratives.
By engaging with the works of these five artists, visitors are encouraged to contemplate distant lives and experiences, cultivating empathy, curiosity, and imagination. The exhibition transforms ordinary moments into windows to broader worlds, allowing viewers to explore new ways of seeing, understanding, and connecting with the world around them.
Period: － Jan. 7 (Wed), 2026
Venue: TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC ART MUSEUM
Closed: Mondays (except Monday National Holidays)
Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 / － 20:00 on Thursdays and Fridays (admission 30 minutes before closing)
Admission: Adults ￥700 / College Students ￥560 / High School Students ￥350
Strange but True
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD OCTOBER 24. 2025
"Ghost Snacks"
In a bizarre twist on Japan’s already quirky vending machine culture, a “Haunted Vending Machine” has been attracting curious visitors by selling so-called “Ghost Snacks.” Located in a small shopping arcade, the machine is decorated with eerie motifs―cobwebs, glowing eyes, and ghostly silhouettes―and reportedly dispenses snacks with playful, spooky names like “Phantom Chips” and “Specter Gummies.” The attraction is less about horror and more about whimsy, appealing to both locals and tourists looking for a fun, Instagram-worthy experience. Each snack comes with a quirky story or a small collectible card featuring a cartoon ghost, enhancing the supernatural theme. Part of the fun is the unpredictability: some items are packaged to “disappear” and reappear in glow-in-the-dark wrappers, adding to the sense of playful mystery. Whether you’re a fan of novelty foods, Japanese pop culture, or just love strange stories, this haunted vending machine offers a delightfully eerie experience that blends culinary curiosity with a touch of the supernatural.
Pizza Delivery to Space
In a truly out-of-this-world delivery, a popular pizza chain reportedly sent a freshly baked pizza to the International Space Station (ISS), making it one of the first pizzas ever delivered to space. The project required innovative zero-gravity packaging to prevent toppings from floating away and to keep the pizza safe during transport. Astronauts aboard the ISS were able to enjoy the novelty of a comfort food favorite while orbiting Earth, a treat far different from their usual pre-packaged meals. The delivery was part of a promotional collaboration highlighting advances in space logistics and packaging technology. Engineers worked meticulously to ensure the pizza would arrive intact, balancing temperature, stability, and hygiene in microgravity. This whimsical milestone highlights the growing intersection of culinary creativity and space exploration.
Links
Guesthouse Tokyo
10 minutes to Ikebukuro.
Interhouse
safe and accessible solution for your accommodation needs in Tokyo.
Sakura House
1830 monthly furnished rooms at 204 locations in Tokyo.
TOKYO ROOM FINDER
Contact our international team that will assist you in finding housing
and overcoming any communication barriers in Japan!
J&F Plaza
Furnished & unfurnished guesthouses and apartments in Tokyo.
May Flower House
Tokyo furnished apartments. Ginza, Roppongi, Yotsuya and more.
TenTen Guesthouse
33,000yen/30 days for working holiday students.
GOOD ROOM TOKYO
Share room, Private room, under 50,000yen
MOVE JAPAN
Private furnished rooms in Tokyo with free internet. Call us first or call us last!
Tokyomove.com
Hassle free moving starts from 6000yen.
Tokyo Helping Hands
Very flexible working hours to effectly help you with moving, deliveries, disposal, storage and more!
AirNet Travel
We'll cut you the best air ticket deals anywhere.
Fun Travel
Discount air travel & package tours 2min from Roppongi Stn.
No.1 Travel
We go the extra mile for you. International air tickets and hotels.
JR Tokai Tours
Top-value travel to Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya from Tokyo by Shinkansen.
Matsuda Legal Office
All kinds of Visa, Immigration & Naturalization, International Marriage etc.
Futaba Visa Office
Licensed immigration lawyer & certified public tax consultant.
American Pharmacy
English speaking pharmacy since 1950.
Tokyo Skin Clinic
EU-licensed multi lingual doctors.
Tax-free AKKY
Japanese Appliance, Watch, Souvenirs
Tokyo Speed Dating
1st Sat. & 3rd Sun. at Bari n Roppongi ETC.
Tokyo Spontaneous
Picnic, Parties, Language exchange
TMA
Japanese women & Western men.
Tokyo Fab
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD OCTOBER 24, 2025Hello Halloween Pumpkin Parade
Each autumn, Tokyo’s stylish Omotesand? Avenue turns into a colorful celebration of costumes, candy, and community with the Hello Halloween Pumpkin Parade. This cheerful event, one of the city’s most beloved family Halloween traditions, invites children aged 12 and under (along with their parents or guardians) to dress up in festive pumpkin-themed costumes and join a lively parade along the tree-lined boulevard. The street is closed to traffic for the day, allowing thousands of little ghosts, witches, and pumpkins to walk safely through one of Tokyo’s most fashionable neighborhoods. Spectators gather along the sidewalks to enjoy the sight of the adorable parade, filling Omotesand? with laughter and excitement. Adding to the fun, local boutiques and cafe´s take part in a “Candy Rally,” where participating stores hand out sweets to children in costume. Many shops also feature limited-edition Halloween menus, themed decorations, and seasonal treats, making it a delightful experience for all ages. Whether you’re a visiting family, a local resident, or simply a traveler looking for a festive way to enjoy autumn in Tokyo, the Hello Halloween Pumpkin Parade offers a charming, friendly, and uniquely Japanese take on the Halloween spirit―safe, creative, and filled with smiles.
Date：October 26th (Sun) @ Harajuku and Omotesando Area
https://halloween.omotesando.or.jp/
BIGFUN Halloween
This autumn, BIG FUN Heiwajima in Tokyo transforms into a festive Halloween playground with the BIG FUN Halloween event on October 26, 2025. Families and visitors can enjoy a full day of interactive fun, featuring special appearances by Sesame Street’s Elmo and Cookie Monster. Guests can take photos with the beloved characters during three scheduled greeting sessions throughout the day.The event also welcomes Pipo-kun, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police mascot, and Hanepyon, Ota Ward’s official character, who will teach traffic safety and host engaging storytelling shows. Children and adults alike can join in the Monster Pinata Challenge, explore creative workshops crafting ghost lanterns and pumpkin decorations, and enjoy the Halloween makeup booth for festive costume enhancements. Music lovers can dance to DJ Halloween, bringing seasonal beats to the vibrant atmosphere.A stamp rally running from October 11－26 encourages participants to explore the venue, while a lottery offers a chance to win spa and activity vouchers. Local vendors and food trucks provide a variety of Halloween-themed menus, adding to the sensory delights. With colorful decorations and activities suitable for all ages, BIG FUN Halloween promises a memorable, family-friendly celebration of the season.
Date： October 26th (Sun) @ BIGFUN Heiwajima
https://www.big-fun.jp/information/detail/---id-333.html
Have You Been To...
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD OCTOBER 24, 2025Halloween Stargazing [Rikubetsu, Hokkaido]
Rikubetsu, Japan’s coldest town, offers astonishingly clear skies perfect for stargazing. During this event, staff and visitors dress in costumes, creating a whimsical, unified atmosphere. Ideal for solo adults, couples celebrating anniversaries, or families, it’s a magical way to connect with the stars while enjoying a playful, memorable experience under the winter sky.
CosAll! [Hanamaki, Iwate]
‘Cosall!’ at Miyazawa Kenji Fairy Tale Village in Hanamaki, Iwate, is a Halloween cosplay event set in a storybook-like village. Visitors can dress up in anime, game, or fairy-tale-themed outfits, enjoy special illuminations, and capture magical photos. Perfect for literature lovers and photography enthusiasts, it offers a whimsical, immersive experience both day and night.
HALLOWEEN HOTEL [Yatsugatake, Yamanashi]
‘THE HALLOWEEN HOTEL 2025’ at Resonare Yatsugatake in Yamanashi transforms the hotel into a playful monster-themed wonderland from October 1－31. Guests are greeted by charming monsters at check-in and room service, enjoy themed workshops, and explore festive photo spots. Designed for all ages, it offers a fun, immersive Halloween experience that feels like stepping into another world.
Kiri-Halo [Kirishim, Kagoshima]
“Kiri-Halo” in Kirishima City, Kagoshima, is a charming Halloween event featuring costume parades, night markets, and workshops in the Kokubu shopping district. As night falls, the arcade lights up with retro-Halloween de´cor, while locals and shopkeepers join in the fun. Enjoy sweets, festive cheer, and end the evening with a relaxing dip in Kirishima’s famous hot springs.
Tokyo Voice Column
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD TNB Throwback: OCTOBER 11. 2019Is Truth Over There? by Takehiro Hashimoto
We are all prisoners of our conceptual thinking. We THINK THINK AND THINK. We think about the world around us. We try to find out words that justify our thinking. Unfortunately, we fail to attain the enlightenment. Instead of being aware of being right here and right now, we try to reach the goal, our solid objective, and get lost in the woods. I had been like that, and somewhat still, I am. But so long as you cling to the notion that I am here and Truth is over there, confusion remains for the rest of your life.
Nowadays, we have become too intellectualized, with the advent of obsessive-compulsive social media syndrome, to sense everything arises and falls away, in just a blink of eyes. Intellect makes us see the world as it was, meaning that it cannot allow us to see the world on this moment, as it is arising and falling away at the same speed.
We can intellectualize how the world worked with words, yet we cannot say exactly how the world is working. When we see the river, for example, we say to ourselves, “This is the same old river. I saw it yesterday, and I will see it tomorrow as well.” Actually, each flow of water is a unique flow of water; it is new-born, right here, at this present moment, this time only, at this very place and in this very shape.
How many times do we have to suffer, before we realize the world doesn’t repeat itself? How many times have we tried to take pictures of this world and felt isolated? You know it. I know it. We know it. But really? If so, why do we cling to the past? Past is no more. What’s done is done. If we knew it for sure, we wouldn’t feel sadness for things that have gone from us?
私たちはみんな自分の思考の牢獄のなかにいる。私たちはみんな世界について絶え間なく考えている。そして、自分の思考に符合する言葉を探し回っている。残念ながら、目論みははずれると決まっている。いまここにいることに気づくかわりに、ゴール、言い換えれば確固たる目的を目指し、森をさまよっている。私はずっとそんな感じで生きてきた。ある意味で今もそうだ。しかし、私はこちらにいて、真理はあちらにあるという想念にしばられているかぎり、混乱は生涯つづくだろう。
近年、ソーシャルメディアへの執着によって、私たちは知性化した。そして、目の前で生じ滅している世界に気づく感性を犠牲にした。知性はいつも、生じ終わった過去の世界を見せてくれる。つまりそれは、世界が同じ速度で生じて滅しているさまを、私たちは見ることができないということだ。
私たちは言語によって、この世界がどのように生成したかを概念化することができる。しかし、世界が今、どのように動いているかについては話せない。たとえば、川の流れを見る。「これは古くからある川だ。昨日も見たし、明日もまた見るであろう」このように思うはずだ。しかし、水の流れそれぞれは、本当は唯一無二なるものだ。それはいま生まれ、まさにこのときここにあり、この場かぎりで、このかたちとしてあるのだ。
私たちはいったい何回苦しまなければならないのか、この世界が二度と繰り返さないということを知るまでに。今までいったい何回、この流動する世界を撮影しようとして、孤独を感じてきたのだろうか。そんなことはみんな知っている。本当に？もし知っているなら、どうして私たちは過去に執着するのか。過去はもうない。終わってしまったのだ。もしそのことを知っているというなら、なぜ、もうないものに対して悲しみを抱えつづけるというのだろう？
MUSEUM -What's Going on?-
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD OCTOBER 10. 2025Prism of the Real: Making Art in Japan 1989-2010 Prism of the Real presents the work of over 50 artists from Japan and around the world, examining how Japanese art evolved between 1989―the end of the Sh?wa era―and 2010, while also highlighting the ways Japanese culture influenced global artistic practice. This twenty-year period, spanning the early Heisei era, witnessed the end of the Cold War and the rise of contemporary globalization, which enabled the freer exchange of people, ideas, and information. Artists responded to these social and cultural shifts, creating works that refracted the currents of their time and raised complex questions about identity, history, and society. |
* |
Co-curated by The National Art Center, Tokyo and M+, Hong Kong, the exhibition reflects on this transitional era from both national and international perspectives, positioning Japan as a hub of artistic innovation. |
Period: － December 8 (Mon), 2025
Venue: The National Art Center, Tokyo
Closed: Tuesdays
Hours: 10:00-18:00 / -20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays (admission 30 minutes before closing)
Admission: Adults 2,000 yen / College Students 1,000 yen / High school students 500yen.
For more information, please visit
https://www.nact.jp/english/exhibition_special/2025/JCAW/
TOP 30th Anniversary Thoughts of a Distant Window: Since 2002, the Contemporary Japanese Photography series at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum has been a platform to nurture creativity, explore the potential of photography and moving images, and introduce new artistic practices while highlighting emerging talent. The 22nd edition of this series presents the works of five promising artists who focus on the small, often overlooked stories that arise from our connections with people, places, customs, and the passage of time. |
* |
The concept is akin to glimpsing a life through a street-side window. While walking, you might be unexpectedly drawn to a window, sensing something of the life within and imagining a story beyond your immediate view. Similarly, the photographs and moving images in this exhibition act as portals, offering perspectives into unfamiliar landscapes and narratives. |
Period: － Jan. 7 (Wed), 2026
Venue: TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC ART MUSEUM
Closed: Mondays (except Monday National Holidays)
Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 / － 20:00 on Thursdays and Fridays (admission 30 minutes before closing)
Admission: Adults ￥700 / College Students ￥560 / High School Students ￥350
Strange but True
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD OCTOBER 24. 2025"Ghost Snacks"
In a bizarre twist on Japan’s already quirky vending machine culture, a “Haunted Vending Machine” has been attracting curious visitors by selling so-called “Ghost Snacks.” Located in a small shopping arcade, the machine is decorated with eerie motifs―cobwebs, glowing eyes, and ghostly silhouettes―and reportedly dispenses snacks with playful, spooky names like “Phantom Chips” and “Specter Gummies.” The attraction is less about horror and more about whimsy, appealing to both locals and tourists looking for a fun, Instagram-worthy experience. Each snack comes with a quirky story or a small collectible card featuring a cartoon ghost, enhancing the supernatural theme. Part of the fun is the unpredictability: some items are packaged to “disappear” and reappear in glow-in-the-dark wrappers, adding to the sense of playful mystery. Whether you’re a fan of novelty foods, Japanese pop culture, or just love strange stories, this haunted vending machine offers a delightfully eerie experience that blends culinary curiosity with a touch of the supernatural.
Pizza Delivery to Space
In a truly out-of-this-world delivery, a popular pizza chain reportedly sent a freshly baked pizza to the International Space Station (ISS), making it one of the first pizzas ever delivered to space. The project required innovative zero-gravity packaging to prevent toppings from floating away and to keep the pizza safe during transport. Astronauts aboard the ISS were able to enjoy the novelty of a comfort food favorite while orbiting Earth, a treat far different from their usual pre-packaged meals. The delivery was part of a promotional collaboration highlighting advances in space logistics and packaging technology. Engineers worked meticulously to ensure the pizza would arrive intact, balancing temperature, stability, and hygiene in microgravity. This whimsical milestone highlights the growing intersection of culinary creativity and space exploration.
Links
Guesthouse Tokyo10 minutes to Ikebukuro. Interhousesafe and accessible solution for your accommodation needs in Tokyo. Sakura House1830 monthly furnished rooms at 204 locations in Tokyo. TOKYO ROOM FINDERContact our international team that will assist you in finding housing and overcoming any communication barriers in Japan! |
J&F PlazaFurnished & unfurnished guesthouses and apartments in Tokyo. May Flower HouseTokyo furnished apartments. Ginza, Roppongi, Yotsuya and more. TenTen Guesthouse33,000yen/30 days for working holiday students. GOOD ROOM TOKYOShare room, Private room, under 50,000yen |
MOVE JAPANPrivate furnished rooms in Tokyo with free internet. Call us first or call us last! Tokyomove.comHassle free moving starts from 6000yen. |
Tokyo Helping HandsVery flexible working hours to effectly help you with moving, deliveries, disposal, storage and more! |
AirNet TravelWe'll cut you the best air ticket deals anywhere. Fun TravelDiscount air travel & package tours 2min from Roppongi Stn. |
No.1 TravelWe go the extra mile for you. International air tickets and hotels. JR Tokai ToursTop-value travel to Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya from Tokyo by Shinkansen. |
Matsuda Legal OfficeAll kinds of Visa, Immigration & Naturalization, International Marriage etc. |
Futaba Visa OfficeLicensed immigration lawyer & certified public tax consultant. |
|
American PharmacyEnglish speaking pharmacy since 1950. |
Tokyo Skin ClinicEU-licensed multi lingual doctors. |
|
Tax-free AKKYJapanese Appliance, Watch, Souvenirs |
Tokyo Speed Dating1st Sat. & 3rd Sun. at Bari n Roppongi ETC. Tokyo SpontaneousPicnic, Parties, Language exchange |
|
TMAJapanese women & Western men. |
|
50 Shades of Yikess
