This is apparently a common condition and has been on the Japanese news quite a bit.
Many married couples in Japan spend very little time together as the husband (”Salaryman”) leaves for work everyday at 7 and doesn’t return until gone midnight. This is especially true in Tokyo and is the case with most people in my company here: they have 2 meals a day, 12 noon and 12 midnight!
(more…)

Since monday it’s been raining most of the time, and temperature is getteing lower.
That means the long, hot, and humid summer finished finally.
But it is too cold these days, isn’t it ? Only 20-22 degrees Celsius.
I need to buy some long-sleeve shirts :)

Who did washing today ??? I did !!!
After ten days of conteneous rain, it was finally a beautiful day here in Tokyo.
Mothers of each household was busy doing loads of washing today !!!
Not only Tokyo, but many places all over Japan had a beautiful day,
compared to those days of deadly rain that had caused so much destruction in the Southern part of Japan.

Unfortunately, the rainy season, tsuyu, is not over in Tokyo.
According to the weather forcast, tsuyu is not going to end till some time in August.
However, when tsuyu, is finally over, we are expecting beautiful summer days !!

What is with the weather? Was reading Lhuga’s post from July 15th and then looking out the window here… What’s going on? It’s pooring with rain and pretty cool outside.

I just cannot seem to adapt to the rainy season. I am hot, sticky and wet. I’ve been in Japan for a while now, so I keep hoping that my body will have adjusted to the seasons, but the rainy season always gets me. My skin is bad and my hair is some kind of weird curly frizz. My Japanese friends often complain about the rainy season, but I do envy their ability to cope with it. Many of the women in my office have got a new “rainy season cut” and the men just seem to be cruising along, calm as ever. Bring on summer, I say.

In a train, walking on the street, at a cafe, many people is holding mobile phone in their hands, never worry about being snatched them.
What are they doing ?
They are writing/reading emails, taking photos with built-in camera, surfing on the websites, — and sometimes making a call.

I was really surprised tonight, in a packed train, because I was surrounded by people who was all staring at their own mobile phone ! It was a bit scary and funny, then a thought that taking a photo of them popped out.
Ooops, I nearly grabbed at my mobile phone in my bag…yes, I know the mobile phone is very useful, shame I also can not live without it XD

I should have written this earlier…
We have IKEA in Funabashi next Monday, 24th April !

On IKEA website, you will find a link which leads you to IKEA 4.5 MUSEUM
Click yellow bar and see 14 rooms. They say its concept is “Japanese Traditional room type 4.5 tatami floor”
Which is your favourite ? My best is ” No.12 - Book Lover Room ” It looks really comfortable.

Click blue bar, it leads you to present page, written in Japanese though..
14 patterns furniture will be sent to LUCKY PEOPLE :)
And the most important thing; deadline is next Sunday evening, 18:00.

Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, March 20, 1995.

It was 11 years ago.
Some of my colleagues have been using the Tokyo subway. I remember that their families worried and phoned the office. Fortunately they were all safe. However, huge number of people was killed and injured.
I don’t use Tokyo subway much, but whenever I walk through the underground, or take a subway, I feel a sort of fear.

I wish that such a sad incident never occur again…

A dog walker….. it is sort of common in NYC, but not in Tokyo.
I am a dance instructor, but all my lessons start in April and most of my lessons are during the evenings,
so I decided to have a side job.

Yesterday(March 15th) was my first day taking this 90 pounds German Shaperd, Roxy.
I met her two days ago and it seemed she liked me, and I felt comfortable on that day.
However, withou her owners being around, it seemed she was little worried and curious of this stranger !!!

I am emplyed by an American couple who are in Japan working for an insurance company.
I take Roxy for a walk and play with her for couple of hours during the late afternoon three times a week.
The place I work is called, Akasaka, where there are a lot of business takes place.
The houses, people, cars in Akasaka are quite amazing… I mean those cars… will I ever be able to afford???

On the other hand, Roxy`s walk route has a shrine that is enclosed in rich green.
She likes there and I like there too.

Tomorrow is my second day…. I hope she will open up little more….

This is my first blog here on Metroblogging Tokyo…..
What`s new in my life…. I just moved into a new place with three boys.
How did I meet them… I actually met them through internet community.
It is very unsual to have sweetmates here in Japan, but as I have lived abroad
for many years, it is not a big concern to me.
I mean living with three males and I am the only girl in the house, it is quie scandarous
for many people….. of course, my family was little worried, but what can they do!!!
I already decided. As I have a very important person back in the States, all guys are
just friends, so …… from my part, it`s not a big concern… but what would they think….
let me see how it goes…. it would be interesting !!!!

Little about my new sweetmates….

My sweetmate one…. he is same age as me… 23, and a salariman. Though he is also a dancer, so we have a lot of things in common^^ He has introduced to me his circle of dancer friends, and has been most approachable so far.

My sweetmate two… he is still a student, learning about silver jwelly. He seems rather quiet, but is curious about me…. started to talk to me little by little.

My roommate three…. he is the oldest in the house, and works in Japanese movie industry. He has a deadline soon, so has been working till late at night, making tons of noises, so he keeps wake me up….

So far there has been no prob…. just that this house does not have very good sound proof system, so I often get waken up….