A trip to the convenience store in Japan yields exciting finds. Like Homo
Sausage. I was thinking about what kind of funny comment I would
write about this, but I don’t think it is necessary to say anything
else.
Fuji from Izu
A shot of Fuji from the Izu peninsula.
1 We need to reach you
This restaurant needs to reach you in fresh food to your comforable
life and smling. And they will stop at nothing until they do.
1 Japan’s shrinking population
It’s not news that Japan’s shrinking population is a big problem, but it was a surprise to me how quickly it’s being felt. A Washington Post article A baby bust empties out Japan’s schools gives some startling facts:
Japan’s disappearing schools are emblematic of the problem. More than 2,000 elementary, junior high and high schools nationwide have been forced to close over the past decade. The number of elementary and junior high students fell from 13.42 million in 1994 to 10.86 million last year. An estimated 63,000 teachers have lost their jobs. Even as the percentage of people over 65 steadily climbs, an estimated 300 more schools a year are scheduled to shut their doors over the next several years…
Which would explain exactly why there were so few kids at Fuji Safari Park today…
1 Where the animals run free…
… and the people are in cages. That was the slogan of Jungle Habitat, a shortlived safari theme park created by Warner Brothers in the early 70s. Today we visited Fuji Safari Park and did see lions, tigers, and bears. And cheetahs, giraffes, and elephants.
We rode the Lion Bus.
Get your motor running
The indash LCD of the Honda Odyssey lets us know many things as we are travelling the Tomei expressway. Here it is telling us what town and prefecture we are in, how many kilometers to the next rest area, when we can expect to arrive there, and that we can expect ¥850 in tolls when we get off the highway.
2 Touch pad sushi
I’m sure by now you’ve seen the conveyor belt sushi shops which are known as kaiten zushi. I had never actually been in one before, but there’s now a new twist, one which shouldn’t be entirely unexpected if you know anything about Japan…
For those folks sitting at tables out of reach of the conveyor belt area, touch screens allow you to view the menu and place your order without the hassle of actually having to speak to your waiter or waitress.
Yakiniku
Yakiniku is one of my favorite meals in Japan. Thin slices of beef grilled over a flame, dipped in sauce, washed down with a cold one… Heavenly.
Clouds roll in
Clouds roll in on this par 5.
Taking to Everyone’s heart
This batch of photos wouldn’t be complete without a little Engrish. Today we feature the trash can which advises us to Keep Clean Environment with taking to Everyone’s heart.
A Fuji-san on every hole
They say that on a nice day, you can see Fuji-san from every hole at this golf club. This photo shows Jiji putting a little body english into his downhill approach shot, while Fuji-san looks on…
Mt. Fuji from Fujinomiya G.C.
Here’s Mt. Fuji as seen from the front lobby area of Fujinomiya Golf Club. Had a nice afternoon there on Saturday. Don’t ask what my score was and I won’t have to tell you.
Caddy-san
This was our caddy on Saturday. Caddys are referred to as caddy-san. Don’t be fooled by her looks, she can tell you which way the putt will break from any place on any green, and give her a driver and she’ll knock one down the fairway 230 yards. She’ll find any ball you hit, and run full speed down the fairway to do so. Cheers to you, caddy-san: Kanpai. You’re fantastic.
Yakisoba
Yakisoba is a grilled noodle. Delicious. This photo is taken when we were eating out at a yakisoba and okonomiyaki restaurant, making the yakisoba ourselves whilst sitting around the table drinking some of those beverages shown in the background.
More Mt. Fuji
It’s irresistible. I have to take a picture of 富士山 every day.