USA vs. Japan

Having lived in Japan for 14 years straight now, I am often asked what the difference is between Japan and the USA.
Here's one simple example:
Young female anime fan dressing up like a cat

In America:


And in Japan:

chikage walks some more!

Now she's really getting into it. Next she'll be borrowing the car keys...

chikage walks!

It walks freely! Now the beast will roam to all ends of the earth, causing mayhem, leaving a trail of carnage! All are DOOMED!

chikage one-handed

She loves carrying a bag and her balance is getting better!

new suit

Went to Shinjuku to do the initial fitting for my new suit. Methinks it shan't suck. I was a little worried about the young salesman (I am used to an old Italian guy in Barney's who's been tailoring suits since before the war) but he is totally on the ball and even removed the right sleeve so that he could specify some seriously particular adjustments since he just did not like the way the right shoulder was aligned and pulling at the lapel. Suit will be all ready in another couple weeks.
P took a photo whilst Tonchan had a snack, totally uninterested in the finest of Italian 120's wool.

delicious!


delicious!
Originally uploaded by renfield.

sign language

happy birthday!


happy birthday!
Originally uploaded by renfield.

Big G + Maneaterz = Hawaii 5-0 Birthday Celebration. Much debauchery was had.

red red wine

I had forgotten how good la Bisboccia is. After work we headed across the street for a pre-dinner pint and I remembered again how much I dislike beer.
Then we headed out for dinner. The private room was half occupied by a bunch of MS bankers and Simon soon discovered that they lifted a whole case of the wrongly priced (aka cheap) 2004 wine. We had to settle for bottles of the 2003, and then made up for it by lifting several more bottles including some dessert wine and a bottle of jet fuel grappa.
Red wine makes me sleepy, yup. Managed to stumble home midnight-ish though.

baba's new cut


baba's new cut
Originally uploaded by renfield.

P stayed home to rest so Tonchan and I took mama to UR in Harajuku to do something decent with her crazy hair. Mama get the quadruple wash, shoulder massage, multiple colorings, cut, and blowdry treatment whilst Ton and I wandered to backstreets of Urahara and checked out all the cool people.

@ ur in harajuku


@ ur in harajuku
Originally uploaded by renfield.