Plain Talk
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD JUNE 26. 2026Strange in Japan by Mardo
I went to my first Hostess bar in 20 years this month. It was a very low-key hostess bar, but owned by a chain of bars who have several in the Kanto Region. I had not intended to go to a Hostess bar, but one of my friends liked it, and since she was the one taking me out for a drink she got to choose. I have never been taken to a hostess bar by a girl before, it was definitely fun, and I have never done a request at Karaoke from a stranger before, but we have to try these things.
Japan has a lot of things that seem strange to outsiders, not just bars where the drinks cost three times the price because a pretty girl sits next to you while you drink it. THeme hotels are definitely a thing. I stayed at a Hotel near Haneda literally called the Strange hotel. THe check in was all on a screen, narrated by a robot dinosaur!
There is a hotel in Takasaki I have always wanted to stay at which is Alcatraz themed. The outside looks like a rocky Island, and inside the hallways are apparently decorated like a jail, and there are even some chains in the bedrooms. I am assured by GOogle reviews this is a regular, just themed hotel, and not a particularly kinky short stay.
Of course some strange things from Japan get popular and go world wide! Iron Chef! A competition cooking show that was copied by the Americans. Now cooking shows are everywhere! The great British Bake Off, Master Chef, My Kitchen Rules.
Karaoke! Who would have thought that the simple idea of making it easy to sing along to popular songs would be so loved everywhere?! And claimed to be hated by people until they are drunk enough to try it!
Japanese Anime seemed strange to all the adults when I was growing up (Gen X here), People who liked that stuff were considered weird. Nowadays everyone either listens to K-pop ( which I say is heavily influenced by J-pop) and reads Manga.. Or even western version of Manga designed to look Japanese. My neighbours, in their late 20s early 30s are going to Stay in Akihabara later this month to celebrate Pokemon’s 30th anniversary!
Keep being strange Japan, because some of the strange stuff goes global, and WE LOVE IT!
今月、20年ぶりにホステスバーに行った。とても地味な店だったが、関東地方に数店舗を展開しているチェーン店だった。もともとホステスバーに行くつもりはなかったが、友人の一人が気に入っていて、彼女が飲みに誘ってくれたので、店選びは彼女に任せた。女子にホステスバーに連れて行ってもらったのは初めてだったが、間違いなく楽しかった。見知らぬ人にカラオケのリクエストをされたこともなかったけれど、こういう体験もたまにはしてみるものだ。
日本には、外から見ると奇妙に思えるものがたくさんある。ただ、飲み物を飲む横に可愛い女の子が座っているだけで、飲み物の値段が3倍になるバーだけじゃない。テーマホテルも間違いなくその一つだ。羽田の近くにある、文字通り「ストレンジホテル」という名前のホテルに泊まった。チェックインはすべて画面上で行われ、ナレーションはロボットの恐竜が担当していた！
高崎には、ずっと泊まってみたいと思っていたアルカトラズをテーマにしたホテルがある。外観は岩だらけの島のように見え、内部の廊下は刑務所のように装飾されており、寝室には鎖まであるらしい。Googleのレビューによると、これは単なるテーマホテルであって、特に変態的な短期滞在施設ではないと確信している。
もちろん、日本発の奇妙なものが人気を博し、世界中に広まることもある！『アイアンシェフ』！アメリカでも真似された料理コンテスト番組だ。今では料理番組が至る所にある！『グレート・ブリティッシュ・ベイクオフ』、『マスターシェフ』、『マイ・キッチン・ルールズ』など。
カラオケ！人気曲に合わせて簡単に歌えるようにするという、このシンプルなアイデアが、世界中でこれほど愛されるとは誰が想像しただろう？！しかも、酔っ払って試してみるまでは「嫌い」と言い張る人たちがいるなんて！
私が育った頃（X世代です。）、日本のアニメは大人たちには奇妙に映っていた。そういうものを好きな人は、変わり者扱いされていた。今では誰もがK-POP（これはJ-POPの影響を強く受けていると私は思う）を聴いたり、マンガを読んだりしている。あるいは、日本風に見えるようにデザインされた西洋版のマンガさえも。私の近所に住む20代後半から30代前半の友人たちは、今月下旬に『ポケモン』の30周年記念を祝うために秋葉原に泊まりに行く予定だ！
日本よ、これからも奇妙であり続けてくれ。だって、その奇妙なもののいくつかは世界中に広まり、私たちはそれを愛しているんだから！
Plain Talk
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD TNB Throwback MAY 15. 2015Secret Garden by Hiroko
When I lived near Waseda University in Shinjuku-ku, I found a temple with a not-so-large, yet lovely garden adjacent to a graveyard. For some reason, its stately gate with its wooden double doors facing the main street was always locked, and a smaller gate to the side was used instead. You need to turn in to a back street and walk up some 20 or 30m along the wall to reach the smaller gate, so not many passersby drop in unless they come specifically to visit it. It took me two out of the three years that I lived in the area to finally noticed the temple and wander in.
A temple’s premise is half private, half public, I suppose. I like walking through temples for their greenery and quietness, but when I enter a small temple without any specific purpose, I feel somewhat guilty, or secretive, as if an obo-san would rush out at any minute and accuse me of trespassing on her property. Once I was actually stopped and asked if I was paying a visit to someone’s tomb at a small temple in Taito-ku. They must have had some bad experiences with rascals who let themselves in and played practical jokes. Other times I pretended that I was looking for an acquaintance’s tombstone, strolling slowly among the oblongs of gravesites.
So I was feeling that way when I first stepped into this particular temple. Passing through the small gate, I saw the thick shade of trees to the left beyond a metal door. Locked? No, it creaked open.
I found myself standing in an enclosure of trees and bushes. To the right, I could see the graceful slope of tile-roofing through the leaves. To the left, a raised mound with an arbor housing a large bronze bell hanging from the ceiling. Beyond the belfry lies the graveyard. Despite the fact that the garden and the graveyard were located along the main street (I could now see the large wooden gate at the back of the garden, heavily bolted, with thick timber lining the inside) quietness prevailed as if it were a separate small universe. I stood still for a time in amazement. It was a secret garden.
Since the first time I discovered the garden, I returned time and time again while I lived in the neighbourhood. I visited there mostly on the way to or from my Saturday grocery-shopping, for the vigor of the garden never failed to give me a lift. The frequency of my visits has dropped since I moved, but I can still cycle to the temple reasonably easily.. I was there in late March when the weeping cherry tree was in full bloom in the garden. I sat on the dusty wooden veranda running around the main hall, listening to birds chirping and looking out over the garden. The willow-like cherry blossoms swayed in streams, sending petals on to my shoulders and lap.
The last time I was there, the weeping cherry tree was covered in fresh green.
Sitting on the veranda of the temple, I detected a smell that was almost familiar to me; faintly acrid, kind of similar to a type of herbs Ah, it was the smell of the old bathtub in my childhood! Made of cypress and oval-shaped, the smell of wood rose from the deep tub and I breathed in the scented steam as I soaked in the warm water years ago. When rubbed on with fingertips, the tub felt slick and at the same time a little fluffy on the surface under the water. The veranda was probably made of cypress too.
Triggered by the image of the ancient bathtub in the old Japanese house of my childhood, other images connected to the bathroom came back as well; afternoons in summer, me and my little brother, aged six and four, ran back home in their swimming suits in the sudden squall from the concrete neighbourhood reservoir; made into a makeshift kids’ swimming pool. Our flip-flops pitter-pattered hard under our feet, kicking dirt up, drawing spots on our thin, childish calves. We jumped in the bathtub together. We shot water at each other through linked fingers. We were safe now. Outside, raindrops hit the roof hard, drowning the world in slanted white sheets. Thunder rolled, and we imagined an enormous, ogre-like God of Thunder beating gigantic drums up in the grey sky. We were psyched up and happy.
A fat cricket with long and strong hind legs would lurk in the damp corner. It was scary because it leaped high in unexpected directions. I desperately ran for fear of accidentally stepping on it, its slimy juice all over the sole of my bare foot. We children were not assigned to cleaning the floor. Mother did all the cleaning, and I suppose it was quite an unpleasant task with all the slime and grime and tangled hair and possible crickets and snails hiding under the floor board.
It was quiet in the garden. The metal door creaked and someone came in.. He was in samue, the Japanese working clothes that Buddhist priests wear. He walked briskly toward the belfry. After a moment, there came a strong, vibrating sound of the bronze bell. Dinnnnnggg…. Donnnnnngggg…. I imagined the priest holding onto the strap attached to the lumber mallet and swinging his body, building the right momentum to drive the lumber to the bell. I felt the sound on my skin as well as well within ear drum. The bell sounded 18 times, and went silent. The priest came back and looked over at me. I nodded, he nodded back, and he then disappeared beyond the metal door, which he left open behind him.
The quietness returned again. A truck rumbled down the street outside, but the noise didn’t register. My mobile read 5:11p.m. The late afternoon light was slanting low, but it was still some time before dusk. I stood up, dusted my backside lightly, stretched my arms up; ready to go.
This is my secret garden. I can’t tell you exactly where it is.
新宿区の早稲田大学近くに住んでいた時に、墓地の横に大きくはないが素敵な庭のある寺を見つけた。道路に面した立派な木造の観音開きの門は、なぜだか常に閉まっていて、そのかわりに横っちょの小さめな門が使われていた。その小さな門は路地に入って20mか30m壁沿いに歩いたところにあるので、用事でもない限り、通行人がふらっと立ち寄ることは少ない。その辺りに3年住んでいた私も、2年経って初めてその寺を認識し、入ってみたのだった。
寺の地所というのは半ば私有地、半ば公用地、という感じがする。緑があって静かなので、寺を散策するのは好きだが、特別な用もなく小さい寺に立ち入ると、何とはなしに悪いような、隠し立てするような、坊主がそそくさとやってきて不法侵入をなじられるのではといった気分になってしまう。一度は台東区の小さな寺で実際に呼び止められて、墓参りかと聞かれたこともある。きっと以前にいたずら共が進入して悪さをされた経験があるのかもしれない。長方形の墓石が立ち並ぶ中をぶらついて、知人の墓を探している風を装ったこともある。
この寺に初めて入ったときもそんな気分だった。門をくぐると、左手の金属のドアの向こうに木々の陰影が濃い。施錠してあるのか？いや、キイと音を立てて、ドアは開いた。
木立ちや茂みの一角に、私は立っていた。右手の葉陰越しに、優美な曲線を描く瓦屋根が見える。左のほうには、大きな釣り鐘を擁した鐘塔が数段の高みにある。その向こうが墓地だ。庭と墓地の外は往来だが（庭の奥に例の大きな木造の門が見える。太い角材を横にわたして内側にしっかりかんぬきがかけてあった、）まるで別次元の小宇宙のように、そこは静けさに包まれていた。私は驚きでいっとき立ち尽くした。それは秘密の庭だった。
その最初のとき以来、近所に住んでいた間に何度もその庭を訪れた。大抵、土曜日の日用品の買い物の行きか帰りに立ち寄り、いつも爽やかな空気に触れさせてくれた。頻度こそ少なくなったが、引っ越してからもその寺には自転車で何とか行ける。3月下旬には、庭の枝垂桜が満開の時に行った。本堂をぐるりと廻る木造りの縁側に腰掛けて、鳥のさえずりに耳を傾け、庭を見渡した。柳の枝のように下がる枝垂桜が揺れて流れ、私の肩や膝に花びらを落とした。
最後に寺に行った時、枝垂桜はすっかり緑の若葉だった。
寺の縁側に座ると、何か懐かしいような香りがした。かすかにつんと鼻を刺激する、何かのハーブにも似た。ああ、これは、子供の頃の古い風呂桶の香りだ。ヒノキ造りの楕円の深い桶から木の香りが立ち上り、私はお湯に浸かって蒸気と一緒にその香りを吸い込んだ。お湯の中で風呂桶の表面を指先で触ると、滑らかであると同時に、柔らかい毛足のようなふわふわした触感もあった。この縁側もおそらく、同じヒノキなのだろう。
子供の頃の古い日本家屋の古い風呂桶の記憶に連なって、風呂につながる他の記憶も甦った。夏の午後、6歳の私と4歳の弟は、近所のコンクリートの子供用プールから、突然の嵐の中、水着のまま走って帰宅した。足元でビーチサンダルを激しくペタペタ鳴らして泥を跳ね上げ、子供らしい細いふくらはぎはまだら模様になった。私たちは一緒に風呂に入り、手を水鉄砲にして水を飛ばし合った。そこは安全な場所だった。表では大粒の雨が屋根から何から全てを激しく叩き、世界を白い滝で水浸しにしている。雷鳴が響き、巨大な鬼のような雷神が灰色の空の彼方で大太鼓を叩く姿を想像する。私たちの心は躍り、幸福だった。
長く強靭な後ろ足のカマドウマは湿った隅の方に出没した。どこに跳ねるかわからないので恐怖だった。必死に逃げたのは、誤って踏みつけ、裸足の足の裏に体液がべったりつくのが怖かったから。子供に床掃除は言いつけられていなかったから、母親が1人で全部やっていた。べたついた汚れと絡みつく髪の毛に加えて、床板の下にカマドウマやナメクジがいるかもしれず、ずいぶん嫌な仕事だったと思う。
庭は静かだ。金属のドアがキィと開き、誰か入ってきた。僧侶が着る作務衣を着ていた。彼はきびきびと鐘楼の方に歩いて行った。ほどなくして力強く反響する鐘の音が響いた。ゴォーン（オーンオーンオーン）…ゴォーン（オーンオーンオーン）…私は僧侶が突棒（撞木）に結んだ紐を握り締め、体を揺すり、絶妙な勢いをつけて撞木を鐘に打ち付ける姿を思い描いた。鐘の音を皮膚に、鼓膜に感じた。鐘は18回鳴り、静まった。僧侶が戻ってきて、私を見やった。私の目礼に僧侶はうなずき返し、金属のドアの向こうへ消えて行った。彼はドアを開け放していった。
再び静けさに包まれた。表の道路をトラックが通り過ぎるが、その騒音は静寂を破らない。
携帯は5:11の表示。遅い午後の光は低いが、夕暮れにはまだ早い。私は立ち上がって軽くお尻をはたき、腕を上に伸ばした。帰ろう。
これが私の秘密の庭。正確な場所は教えられない。
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 JUNE 24, 2026
Tahiti Festa
Ocean Peoples infuses Japan’s summer calendar with a relaxed coastal energy, combining music, lifestyle, and environmental consciousness into a beach-inspired celebration. Centered on the message “Save the Beach, Save the Ocean,” the event moves beyond simple entertainment, inviting visitors to reconnect with the sea and consider its cultural and ecological significance.
Set against an open seaside backdrop, the festival offers a calm and spacious atmosphere where music and nature blend seamlessly. Live performances range from hip-hop and R&B to indie sounds, creating a soundtrack that mirrors the easy, unhurried rhythm of summer by the water. Rather than focusing on intensity or scale, Ocean Peoples embraces a more fluid experience, where visitors can wander between stages, relax by the beach, or spend time in poolside areas at their own pace.
The beach market adds another layer to the event, bringing together fashion, lifestyle goods, and food in a lively outdoor setting. It’s a space for casual discovery, where visitors can explore unique items while enjoying the social, creative energy that defines the festival.
More than a music event, Ocean Peoples captures a sense of escape―an invitation to slow down, enjoy the moment, and experience summer in a way that feels both carefree and thoughtfully connected to nature.
July 4th (Sat) & 5th (Sun) @ SUNSET BEACH PARK INAGE (Inage Sta. on Sobu Line)
Tokyo Streets X
For those drawn to Tokyo’s quieter, more authentic moments, the Instagram account “Tokyo Streets 24” offers a striking window into the city’s everyday rhythm. Instead of spotlighting well-known landmarks, it turns attention to overlooked scenes―narrow alleyways, late-night crossings, and subtle interactions that reveal a more intimate side of urban life.
Built on the foundation of street photography, the account connects to a broader creative community that brings together photographers with a shared interest in capturing Tokyo as it truly feels. The feed reflects a mix of perspectives, blending local insight with international viewpoints, and creating a layered visual narrative of the city.
What sets it apart is its cinematic quality. Simple moments―a reflection on rain-soaked pavement, figures moving through artificial light, or a pause in the rush―are framed in a way that feels almost like storytelling. Each image suggests a larger, unseen narrative, inviting viewers to imagine what lies beyond the frame.
More than just a collection of photographs, the account captures the emotional texture of Tokyo. It highlights movement, solitude, and fleeting encounters, offering a sense of connection that resonates with both residents and visitors discovering the city anew.
- Jun 28, 2026 @ WPU¨ Gallery (Shinjuku Sta.)
https://www.instagram.com/tokyo_streets_24/
Have You Been To...
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD JUNE 24, 2026
Mizu Island [Mizu Island, Shizuoka]
A small, picturesque island known for its clear waters and relaxed coastal charm, Mizu Island offers a refreshing alternative to busy beach destinations. Popular for swimming and snorkelling, it combines natural beauty with a laid-back atmosphere. Its compact size allows for easy exploration, while the surrounding sea creates a peaceful sense of distance from everyday life.
Kamayahama Beach [Kamayahama, Akita]
Kamayahama Beach is distinguished by its scenic combination of wide sandy shores and a striking wind turbine overlooking the coastline. This contrast between natural landscape and modern structure creates a memorable visual, especially at sunset. With its open space and gentle waves, it offers a peaceful, uncrowded setting ideal for quiet walks and coastal views.
Egawa Beach [Egawa, Kanagawa]
Egawa Beach is known for its unique coastal scenery, where rows of utility poles stand partially submerged during high tide, creating a striking, almost surreal landscape. Especially popular at sunset, the reflections across the water give it a cinematic quality. It’s a quiet, photogenic spot that offers a different perspective on Japan’s coastal beauty.
Urabandai [Urabandai, Fukushima]
A serene highland escape shaped by volcanic landscapes, Urabandai offers a network of lakes, forests, and scenic trails. Known for its shifting seasonal beauty, it’s especially striking in autumn and winter. Visitors can explore quiet nature paths, cycle between lakes, or simply take in the calm atmosphere, making it ideal for those seeking a peaceful retreat away from urban intensity.
Tokyo Voice Column
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD TNB Throwback: SEPTEMBER 30. 2016
Tonkotsu Time by Jay Lookyman
A friend of mine from the US sent me a mail last week: Do you know Tonkotsu Ramen?
I thought it was a joke, but then realized that he doesn't know the secret of my supreme inner happiness - Tonkotsu ramen. The greatest invention since the wheel and definitely the reason man discovered fire.
Can there be a greater fast food on the planet? Is there anything else that turns zombified burnt out wrecks into super-salarymen who can work 20 hours a day. It is the true driving force of the economy. Nature's Red Bull. Without it, Japan would probably collapse overnight.
After explaining the marvels, I asked how he knew about it. He then explained he was a on new diet to lose weight known as the Paleo or "Caveman" diet and that is how he found out about tonkotsu!
What so Cavemen liked tonkotsu too?
Essentially yes, just without the noodles.
So he goes onto explain this Flintstones Diet. The idea is that we only eat what cavemen did. So we eat meat, fat, fruit and vegetables, but avoid what they did not - so nothing farmed or processed such as wheat or rice, hence the noodles. This more organic and natural approach to nutrition apparently offers huge benefits such as increased energy and a decreased risk of diabetes and obesity due to cut in sugar, the current public enemy no.1.
Apparently the bone broth that is tonkotsu soup is full of nutrients and good fats.
Glad to see the rest of the world has caught up with this noble food. See, Japanese food really is healthy! Itadakimasu!
先週、アメリカの友人からメールが来た。「とんこつらーめん、知ってるかい？」
最初、冗談かと思ったが、待てよ、僕の内なる至福が、とんこつらーめんにある事を友人は知らない。自動車以来の大発明であり、まさに、人が火を発見したのと同様、自然ななりゆきだ。
地球上でこのような偉大なファーストフードが他にあるだろうか。魂が抜けて、くたくたに疲れた人を一日２０時間バリバリ働けるスーパーサラリーマンへと変えてくれる物があるだろうか。経済を押し上げる源となる。自然のレッドブル（エナジードリンク）だ。とんこつらーめんがなかったら、日本はおそらく崩壊していたにちがいない。
とんこつらーめんの素晴らしさを説明した後、友人にとんこつらーめんをどうして知ったのか聞いた。彼は『原始時代ーケイブマン（石器時代人間）ダイエット』なる新らしいダイエット法で体重を落とそうとがんばっているそうだ。そのダイエット法により、とんこつに出会ったという。
ケイブマンもとんこつが好きだったのかい？
基本、イエスだけど、麺ぬきだよ。
友人はケイブマン・ダイエットについて延々と話しだした。ケイブマンが食べていた物だけを食べるダイエット法だそうだ。肉、脂肪、フルーツ、野菜は食べていいが、ケイブマンが食べなかった物は口にしない。つまり田畑で栽培されたり、加工されたもの、つまり麦とか米とかは食べない。いわんや麺なんてもっての他だ。添加物のない自然食品から栄養をとることで、精力をつけ、社会の敵ナンバー１の砂糖を摂取しないことで糖尿病や肥満のリスクを減らす大きな利点があるとのことだ。
軟骨や骨の髄からでる煮汁、とんこつスープは栄養素が豊富で高品質の脂肪だそうだ。
他の国々でもこの栄養価の高い食べ物に気づき始めたのを知ってよかった。ほら、日本食は本当にヘルシーなんだから！ いただきます！
MUSEUM -What's Going on?-
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD JUNE 15. 2026
Rain Blooms
Rain Blooms is a digital art exhibition that explores the relationship between nature, emotion, and technology through immersive visual experiences. Combining interactive installations with atmospheric sound and light, the exhibition invites visitors into a dreamlike environment where rainfall becomes a source of creativity and transformation.
The exhibition uses digital projection, motion-sensitive elements, and layered visual effects to create spaces that constantly shift and evolve. Flowers appear to bloom in response to movement, while changing patterns of rain alter the atmosphere throughout the gallery. This interaction encourages visitors to become part of the artwork rather than simply observing it from a distance.
One of the exhibition’s strengths is its emotional tone. Rather than presenting technology in a cold or mechanical way, Rain Blooms emphasizes softness, reflection, and sensory beauty. Gentle sounds and flowing visuals create a calming environment that contrasts with the fast pace of urban life.
*
The exhibition also reflects the growing popularity of immersive digital art in Japan. By combining artistic storytelling with advanced technology, the creators blur the boundaries between physical and virtual spaces. Visitors are encouraged to slow down, observe carefully, and experience how small movements can influence the surrounding environment.
For international visitors, Rain Blooms offers an accessible introduction to contemporary Japanese digital art culture. The exhibition does not rely heavily on language, making it easy to appreciate through sight, sound, and interaction alone.
Whether you are interested in modern art, photography, technology, or simply unique sensory experiences, Rain Blooms presents a visually captivating journey where nature and digital creativity merge in elegant harmony.
Period: - 5/31/2026, 2026
Venue: NEORT++
Closed: Mon, Tue, Holiday Hours: Wed - Sun, 14:00 - 19:00
Admission: Free
For more information, please visit
https://two.neort.io/en/exhibitions/rain_blooms
MOT Collection: Art for Starters
MOT Collection: Art for Starters is an approachable and engaging exhibition designed to introduce visitors to the world of contemporary art. Presented by the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, the exhibition focuses on helping audiences explore artistic ideas in an accessible and enjoyable way, regardless of their prior experience with modern art.
The collection features a diverse range of works, including paintings, sculptures, photography, video installations, and conceptual pieces by Japanese and international artists. Rather than overwhelming visitors with complex theory, the exhibition encourages curiosity and personal interpretation, making contemporary art feel inviting rather than intimidating.
One of the exhibition’s key themes is the idea that there is no single “correct” way to experience art. Visitors are encouraged to reflect on their own reactions and discover how different works connect to memory, society, technology, and everyday life. This welcoming approach makes the exhibition particularly appealing for newcomers and younger audiences.
*
The variety of artistic styles also highlights the evolution of postwar and contemporary art in Japan. Traditional influences often appear alongside experimental techniques and multimedia installations, showing how artists continue to challenge boundaries while responding to modern culture. The museum’s spacious galleries allow visitors to experience each work at a comfortable pace, creating an environment suited for thoughtful exploration. Informative displays and carefully curated themes help guide audiences through the exhibition without requiring specialist knowledge.
Period: − Sunday, August 16, 2026
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Closed: Mondays (except July 20), May 7 and July 21
Hours: 10:00 -18:00 (admission 30 minutes before? closing)
Admission: Adults − 500 yen / University & College Students − 400 yen / High School Students, Over 65 − 250 yen / Junior High School Students & Younger − free
For more information, please visit
Strange but True
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD JUNE 24. 2026
No More Wolves…
A recent story from Japan reported an unexpected shortage of robotic wolves, devices used to scare bears away from towns and farms. The robots, which resemble wolves with glowing eyes, flashing lights, and loud sounds, have become increasingly popular as bear encounters rise across rural areas. Japan has seen more bears entering human settlements, partly because of habitat changes, food shortages in forests, and a declining rural population.
The robotic wolves were originally developed as a non-lethal way to protect people, crops, and livestock. Local governments and communities found them effective, leading to a surge in demand. As orders increased, manufacturers struggled to keep up, creating a shortage.
Escaping Bees!
A semitruck carrying millions of honeybees overturned on a roadway, releasing a massive swarm into the surrounding area and creating an unusual emergency response. The truck was transporting thousands of beehives when the accident caused many of the hives to break open. As the bees escaped, authorities closed nearby roads and warned residents to avoid the area to reduce the risk of stings.
Local beekeepers were called in to help recover the bees and salvage as many hives as possible. Their goal was to allow the bees to regroup around their queen bees, making it easier to re-establish the colonies. Emergency crews worked carefully because aggressive or disoriented bees can pose a danger to people nearby. Although the incident caused traffic disruption and required specialized assistance, officials focused on protecting both public safety and the valuable pollinators essential to agriculture and ecosystems.
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 JUNE 24, 2026Tahiti Festa
Ocean Peoples infuses Japan’s summer calendar with a relaxed coastal energy, combining music, lifestyle, and environmental consciousness into a beach-inspired celebration. Centered on the message “Save the Beach, Save the Ocean,” the event moves beyond simple entertainment, inviting visitors to reconnect with the sea and consider its cultural and ecological significance.
Set against an open seaside backdrop, the festival offers a calm and spacious atmosphere where music and nature blend seamlessly. Live performances range from hip-hop and R&B to indie sounds, creating a soundtrack that mirrors the easy, unhurried rhythm of summer by the water. Rather than focusing on intensity or scale, Ocean Peoples embraces a more fluid experience, where visitors can wander between stages, relax by the beach, or spend time in poolside areas at their own pace.
The beach market adds another layer to the event, bringing together fashion, lifestyle goods, and food in a lively outdoor setting. It’s a space for casual discovery, where visitors can explore unique items while enjoying the social, creative energy that defines the festival.
More than a music event, Ocean Peoples captures a sense of escape―an invitation to slow down, enjoy the moment, and experience summer in a way that feels both carefree and thoughtfully connected to nature.
July 4th (Sat) & 5th (Sun) @ SUNSET BEACH PARK INAGE (Inage Sta. on Sobu Line)
Tokyo Streets X
For those drawn to Tokyo’s quieter, more authentic moments, the Instagram account “Tokyo Streets 24” offers a striking window into the city’s everyday rhythm. Instead of spotlighting well-known landmarks, it turns attention to overlooked scenes―narrow alleyways, late-night crossings, and subtle interactions that reveal a more intimate side of urban life.
Built on the foundation of street photography, the account connects to a broader creative community that brings together photographers with a shared interest in capturing Tokyo as it truly feels. The feed reflects a mix of perspectives, blending local insight with international viewpoints, and creating a layered visual narrative of the city.
What sets it apart is its cinematic quality. Simple moments―a reflection on rain-soaked pavement, figures moving through artificial light, or a pause in the rush―are framed in a way that feels almost like storytelling. Each image suggests a larger, unseen narrative, inviting viewers to imagine what lies beyond the frame.
More than just a collection of photographs, the account captures the emotional texture of Tokyo. It highlights movement, solitude, and fleeting encounters, offering a sense of connection that resonates with both residents and visitors discovering the city anew.
- Jun 28, 2026 @ WPU¨ Gallery (Shinjuku Sta.)
https://www.instagram.com/tokyo_streets_24/
Have You Been To...
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD JUNE 24, 2026Mizu Island [Mizu Island, Shizuoka]
A small, picturesque island known for its clear waters and relaxed coastal charm, Mizu Island offers a refreshing alternative to busy beach destinations. Popular for swimming and snorkelling, it combines natural beauty with a laid-back atmosphere. Its compact size allows for easy exploration, while the surrounding sea creates a peaceful sense of distance from everyday life.
Kamayahama Beach [Kamayahama, Akita]
Kamayahama Beach is distinguished by its scenic combination of wide sandy shores and a striking wind turbine overlooking the coastline. This contrast between natural landscape and modern structure creates a memorable visual, especially at sunset. With its open space and gentle waves, it offers a peaceful, uncrowded setting ideal for quiet walks and coastal views.
Egawa Beach [Egawa, Kanagawa]
Egawa Beach is known for its unique coastal scenery, where rows of utility poles stand partially submerged during high tide, creating a striking, almost surreal landscape. Especially popular at sunset, the reflections across the water give it a cinematic quality. It’s a quiet, photogenic spot that offers a different perspective on Japan’s coastal beauty.
Urabandai [Urabandai, Fukushima]
A serene highland escape shaped by volcanic landscapes, Urabandai offers a network of lakes, forests, and scenic trails. Known for its shifting seasonal beauty, it’s especially striking in autumn and winter. Visitors can explore quiet nature paths, cycle between lakes, or simply take in the calm atmosphere, making it ideal for those seeking a peaceful retreat away from urban intensity.
Tokyo Voice Column
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD TNB Throwback: SEPTEMBER 30. 2016Tonkotsu Time by Jay Lookyman
A friend of mine from the US sent me a mail last week: Do you know Tonkotsu Ramen?
I thought it was a joke, but then realized that he doesn't know the secret of my supreme inner happiness - Tonkotsu ramen. The greatest invention since the wheel and definitely the reason man discovered fire.
Can there be a greater fast food on the planet? Is there anything else that turns zombified burnt out wrecks into super-salarymen who can work 20 hours a day. It is the true driving force of the economy. Nature's Red Bull. Without it, Japan would probably collapse overnight.
After explaining the marvels, I asked how he knew about it. He then explained he was a on new diet to lose weight known as the Paleo or "Caveman" diet and that is how he found out about tonkotsu!
What so Cavemen liked tonkotsu too?
Essentially yes, just without the noodles.
So he goes onto explain this Flintstones Diet. The idea is that we only eat what cavemen did. So we eat meat, fat, fruit and vegetables, but avoid what they did not - so nothing farmed or processed such as wheat or rice, hence the noodles. This more organic and natural approach to nutrition apparently offers huge benefits such as increased energy and a decreased risk of diabetes and obesity due to cut in sugar, the current public enemy no.1.
Apparently the bone broth that is tonkotsu soup is full of nutrients and good fats.
Glad to see the rest of the world has caught up with this noble food. See, Japanese food really is healthy! Itadakimasu!
先週、アメリカの友人からメールが来た。「とんこつらーめん、知ってるかい？」
最初、冗談かと思ったが、待てよ、僕の内なる至福が、とんこつらーめんにある事を友人は知らない。自動車以来の大発明であり、まさに、人が火を発見したのと同様、自然ななりゆきだ。
地球上でこのような偉大なファーストフードが他にあるだろうか。魂が抜けて、くたくたに疲れた人を一日２０時間バリバリ働けるスーパーサラリーマンへと変えてくれる物があるだろうか。経済を押し上げる源となる。自然のレッドブル（エナジードリンク）だ。とんこつらーめんがなかったら、日本はおそらく崩壊していたにちがいない。
とんこつらーめんの素晴らしさを説明した後、友人にとんこつらーめんをどうして知ったのか聞いた。彼は『原始時代ーケイブマン（石器時代人間）ダイエット』なる新らしいダイエット法で体重を落とそうとがんばっているそうだ。そのダイエット法により、とんこつに出会ったという。
ケイブマンもとんこつが好きだったのかい？
基本、イエスだけど、麺ぬきだよ。
友人はケイブマン・ダイエットについて延々と話しだした。ケイブマンが食べていた物だけを食べるダイエット法だそうだ。肉、脂肪、フルーツ、野菜は食べていいが、ケイブマンが食べなかった物は口にしない。つまり田畑で栽培されたり、加工されたもの、つまり麦とか米とかは食べない。いわんや麺なんてもっての他だ。添加物のない自然食品から栄養をとることで、精力をつけ、社会の敵ナンバー１の砂糖を摂取しないことで糖尿病や肥満のリスクを減らす大きな利点があるとのことだ。
軟骨や骨の髄からでる煮汁、とんこつスープは栄養素が豊富で高品質の脂肪だそうだ。
他の国々でもこの栄養価の高い食べ物に気づき始めたのを知ってよかった。ほら、日本食は本当にヘルシーなんだから！ いただきます！
MUSEUM -What's Going on?-
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD JUNE 15. 2026Rain Blooms Rain Blooms is a digital art exhibition that explores the relationship between nature, emotion, and technology through immersive visual experiences. Combining interactive installations with atmospheric sound and light, the exhibition invites visitors into a dreamlike environment where rainfall becomes a source of creativity and transformation. One of the exhibition’s strengths is its emotional tone. Rather than presenting technology in a cold or mechanical way, Rain Blooms emphasizes softness, reflection, and sensory beauty. Gentle sounds and flowing visuals create a calming environment that contrasts with the fast pace of urban life. |
* |
The exhibition also reflects the growing popularity of immersive digital art in Japan. By combining artistic storytelling with advanced technology, the creators blur the boundaries between physical and virtual spaces. Visitors are encouraged to slow down, observe carefully, and experience how small movements can influence the surrounding environment. |
Period: - 5/31/2026, 2026
Venue: NEORT++
Closed: Mon, Tue, Holiday Hours: Wed - Sun, 14:00 - 19:00
Admission: Free
For more information, please visit
https://two.neort.io/en/exhibitions/rain_blooms
MOT Collection: Art for Starters MOT Collection: Art for Starters is an approachable and engaging exhibition designed to introduce visitors to the world of contemporary art. Presented by the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, the exhibition focuses on helping audiences explore artistic ideas in an accessible and enjoyable way, regardless of their prior experience with modern art. |
* |
The variety of artistic styles also highlights the evolution of postwar and contemporary art in Japan. Traditional influences often appear alongside experimental techniques and multimedia installations, showing how artists continue to challenge boundaries while responding to modern culture. The museum’s spacious galleries allow visitors to experience each work at a comfortable pace, creating an environment suited for thoughtful exploration. Informative displays and carefully curated themes help guide audiences through the exhibition without requiring specialist knowledge. |
Period: − Sunday, August 16, 2026
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Closed: Mondays (except July 20), May 7 and July 21
Hours: 10:00 -18:00 (admission 30 minutes before? closing)
Admission: Adults − 500 yen / University & College Students − 400 yen / High School Students, Over 65 − 250 yen / Junior High School Students & Younger − free
For more information, please visit
Strange but True
TOKYO NOTICE BOARD JUNE 24. 2026No More Wolves…
A recent story from Japan reported an unexpected shortage of robotic wolves, devices used to scare bears away from towns and farms. The robots, which resemble wolves with glowing eyes, flashing lights, and loud sounds, have become increasingly popular as bear encounters rise across rural areas. Japan has seen more bears entering human settlements, partly because of habitat changes, food shortages in forests, and a declining rural population.
The robotic wolves were originally developed as a non-lethal way to protect people, crops, and livestock. Local governments and communities found them effective, leading to a surge in demand. As orders increased, manufacturers struggled to keep up, creating a shortage.
Escaping Bees!
A semitruck carrying millions of honeybees overturned on a roadway, releasing a massive swarm into the surrounding area and creating an unusual emergency response. The truck was transporting thousands of beehives when the accident caused many of the hives to break open. As the bees escaped, authorities closed nearby roads and warned residents to avoid the area to reduce the risk of stings.
Local beekeepers were called in to help recover the bees and salvage as many hives as possible. Their goal was to allow the bees to regroup around their queen bees, making it easier to re-establish the colonies. Emergency crews worked carefully because aggressive or disoriented bees can pose a danger to people nearby. Although the incident caused traffic disruption and required specialized assistance, officials focused on protecting both public safety and the valuable pollinators essential to agriculture and ecosystems.
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
