Warm Feet, Warm Heart

I was standing here forever, trying to figure out what I wanted. There were so many to choose from. Long socks, ankle socks, five-toe socks...oh my!

Ended up taking so long that I decided just to take a photo and come back another day.

Yummy Decoration

This Shime-kazari is something Japanese people put on their doors or gates during the new year period to ward the bad spirits away. It is also a way to welcome the gods inside the house at the start of the year.

Most people go and get a shime-kazari at a temple or shrine...but these days you can also order them online. This one decorated the door of a hair salon near Tokorozawa Station. I'm always curious what people do with the orange after they take it down. 

And if you're wondering about the rabbit poster in the window...2011 is the year of the rabbit!

Holiday Warmth

It's kind of warm today. Very weird weather we've been having.

But it was a great day to sit outside for awhile with something warm. These seats outside are a part of the Anderson bakery shop at Shin Tokorozawa Parco. They have delicious bread and pasteries here.

Plus you can enjoy the christmas lights outside, too!

Santa Baby

Santa outfit, anyone?

This outfit is available for only 2,498 yen and it includes a santa hat, santa tanktop, santa skirt, and (although you can't see it here) santa kneehigh socks. I would have loved to see someone buy this.

Twinkle Twinkle

There were twinkling stars everywhere at Parco, the shopping mall in Shin Tokorozawa.

I was on one of the bridges that connects the Parco Bldg to the Let's Bldg. You can see another set of bridges on the otherside. There were a lot of people on that bridge admiring the christmas lights, too! 

Click below for photos of wonderful bridges around the world!

Sunday Bridges hosted by Louis

Scarlet Star

I am feeling very merry lately! And really, who wouldn't, with so many pretty poinsettias around?

For a country that only celebrates Christmas commercially, we are really into it. All the flower shops are full of Christmas related flowers and plants, poinsettias being the most popular. It really livens the place up!

Big Brother

This pink elephant in front of this pharmacy is Satoko-chan. You can see her older brother, Sato-chan, looking out for her from inside the store.

They are both a mascot for Sato Pharmaceutical, a big pharmaceutical company in Japan. It said on their website that they chose an elephant as a mascot as they are famous for having long lives.

This Satoko-chan is always wearing something different. I noticed she recently changed into this lovely nightgown-ish outfit so I took this photo. Her brother is probably worried the sexy outfit will give the wrong idea to playboy elephants!



See other wonderful reflections from around the world at Weekend Reflections hosted by James.

Bridge Under the Roof

I forgot about the small bridge they have at Shin Tokorozawa Parco. It connects the Parco Bldg and the Let's Bldg on the second and third floors.

Below you can see one of my favorite flower shops!


Click below for more lovely photos of bridges around the world!

Sunday Bridges hosted by Louis

Night Falls

I'm ready to head home and relax. What about you?

Happy weekend to everyone!


Take a look at more beautiful skies all around the world here.

Salad Udon

This is the Salad Udon they serve at the Koku Park food concession. It's a very popular menu during the summer.

Tokorozawa is actually known for their Udon, which is a thick noodle made from wheat flour. The reason for this is that the land in Tokorozawa was unsuitable for planting rice and so instead many people grew wheat. Thus the popularity of the udon grew.


This Salad Udon has tomato, cucumber, lettuce, seaweed, Japanese radish, mizuna (potherb mustard), soft seaweed, kamaboko (steamed fish paste), and katsuo-bushi (dried bonito) as toppings. All these are great for overcoming summer fatigue.

Good thing because all the seats are place outside!

Bright Colors

The theme for this month is 'Bright Colors' so I got a photo of these colorful covers.

Every year, since 1976, Shincho Bunko, a Japanese publishing company, chooses 100 books at the start of summer as a special campaign. I guess it's one way to recommend books to the readers.

From the 100, 10 books were chosen for the Special Cover Edition. Apparently 'Special' means 'unbelievably colorful.'

Here is the list of books for this year:
'Kokoro' by Soseki Natsume (white)
'Natsu No Niwa' by Kazumi Yumoto (green)
'Kinkakuji' by Yukio Mishima (gold)
'Edogawa Rampo Kessaku Sen' by Ranpo Edogawa (black)
'Rashomon - Hana' by Ryunosuke Akutagawa (orange)
'Roujin To Umi (The Old Man and the Sea)' by Ernest Hemingway (yellow)
'Ningen Shikkaku' by Osamu Dazai (pink)
'Kitchen' by Banana Yoshimoto (red)
'Yukiguni' by Yasunari Kawabata (white)
'Hashi Monogatari' by Shuhei Fujisawa (blue)


I've actually only read the two books in the photo above, 'The Old Man and the Sea' and 'Ningen Shikkaku.' Of these two, I'd have to say I like Hemingway much better than Dazai, who I think is a 'triple D' writer...deep, dark, and depressing.

Have you read any of them?

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

I Heart Snow Cones

I was in snow cone heaven the other day at the pool.

We call them 'Kaki-gori' here, which literally translates to 'shaved ice.' This stand by the lazy river pool had snow cones in five different flavors. I got the Lemon flavor but there were also Strawberry, Melon, Mizore (colorless syrup), and Blue Hawaii.

Anybody want to join me?

Just One More

Sometimes, one wish just isn't enough. haha.

This is a different Tanabata decoration at the Seibu Department Store in front of the Tokorozawa Station. Usually the Tanzaku, the paper we write our wish on, is a rectangular shape...but Seibu used the face of their character, Okaimono Kuma, which translates to "Shopping Bear." Not much originality there, but quite original for them to use it as a Tanzaku!

The faces of the bear were popular with the kids!

Reflections

This is the acquarium outside of the restaurant, Tora-fugu Tei, which specializes in Tiger Pufferfish dishes. You can see the buildings on the other side of the street reflecting off the glass!

Although the pufferfish is known to be poisonous, it can be edible when prepared properly, and is a very popular cuisine here in Japan. I don't eat fish so I just watch them swim around from the street.

Have you ever seen a pufferfish before? They actually have a very cute face!


Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Sturdy Hands Needed

A blurry photo of the Hanko, something that cannot be blurred.

When we use these on official documents the stamp has to be clear. If it's blurred, then sometimes you have to make the whole document over again.

Serious business, this hanko!

Vertigo

It's just stairs that lead to a rental video store but I like looking down from this spot!

Hollywood Video is our local rental video, CD, and comic store...or was. It just so happens that they closed down today. I guess, with so many ways to rent or download movies online now, people don't need to actually go to the store anymore.

Pretty Princess

Isn't this the sweetest dog you've ever seen?

I forgot her name but she was the one who welcomed me into Chocolate Cosmos with an exuberant bark. She's definately the princess of the shop!

Pastel Pottery

This cup is a creation I found at Chocolate Cosmos by the craft potter Chiaki Shoji.

I love the soft pastel colors in her cups and plates.

Lotus Luck

Have you ever eaten a Lotus Root? It's called 'Renkon (蓮根)' in Japanese and is a popular vegetable here.

In Japan the Lotus Root is considered to be good luck. If you've ever cut a Lotus Root, you'll know that there are a lot of holes. And because you can look through the Lotus Root, it is believed that it gives you insight into the future.

I found these Lotus Root chopstick holders in various places around the shop Chocolate Cosmos. The owner told me that they were popular as an extra something when people buy presents there. Aren't they cute?

Anyone who wants to stop by the shop, it's open from 11am to 7pm mostly everyday!

Chocolate Cosmos

On my walk the other day, I stumbled upon this painting on the wall of a local shop! And while I was taking a photo of it, the owner of the shop noticed and was nice enough to invite me inside.

This shop/gallery is called 'Wa no Utsuwa (和の器) - Chocolate Cosmos' and has the most amazing work of art on display!


I learned from the owner (the sweet lady on the left!) that the lovely painting outside was done by a local artist named ARAYAN. I don't know much about him but I really like his work!

Here are a couple of postcards in a frame on display inside the shop.