Visual Stimulation, Japan

As I am preparing to leave this life in Japan next month, I have realized I'm starting to wear more nastalgic-lensed glasses when walking around than I may in everyday life. Having the Americans stay with me this weekend was also a big eye-opener to just how different life at home can be.

I had my camera with me while I was running an errand for work today so thought I would share some of those moments, observations, and beloved (or strange/funny) occurances that I now consider normal - and was able to capture.

Enjoy:

Supermarket. There is more tea than any other drink in the cold bev.

(including pop juice, etc) section of the grocery store.

The price of fruit. $7.80 for a small bunch of grapes.

$3 for an apple... but they come wrapped and were grown this way


Many products are the same... but different.

(wish I had found the babyfood a few weeks ago!)

Presents and free gifts. For buying things like beer.

Unique and funky clothing is cheap. Basics are not.

Safety and trust. This alcohol vender left a full truck just sitting
outside for at least 20 minutes. He was nowhere around.

Internationalization. Not quite there, but they try.

"German" Barber Shop in Takasago.

Art appreciation.

I mean, calligraphy is a REQUIRED SUBJECT in public schools.

You are not a hippy just because your main

mode of transportation has 2 wheels.

America could stand to walk/bike more.

People cleaning up the neighborhood... just because.

Japanese malls / Shopping arcades.

Powerlines

Sometimes all the housewives seems like 1950s culture.

But the moms do seem to spend a lot of time with their kids.

No dryers (even during winter) and keeping your

washing machine outside. I thought this was really

weird when I moved here.

Then I realized it's a new/different "normal".

At home, I think graveyards are creepy. Here I think they are kind of beautiful.

Local temples and shrines. I guess it's like a neighborhood church,

but it has more character to me.

OBACHAN WAS HERE.


There she is! Old ladies gardening & taking care of

plants wherever there is space...

...even if it's not theirs.


Barbed wire. In really random places.

I will never not hang my onions again and think it's awesome that

everyone does it. They last for so, so much longer.

Tanuki: part raccoon, part dog.