this and that

discovered that if you take atsuage (fried tofu) and dip it in soba tsuyu with daikon oroshi it tastes just like agedofu without actually having to fry the tofu myself
 

the things you see...this is a man! and it wasn't Halloween!

so teeny 

I thought my foundation was shrinkflation-ing, but the packaging is just getting more compact

this guy on the train...neva like tie his shoelaces, or maybe he couldn't reach them...not sure what the reason was...hope he neva fall

we replaced our brita water filter pot because I couldn't find the filters at the store 

the one on the left is the new one

was kinda sad to see that the onigiri bongo brand is marketing for home use 

it was a beautiful day for tickets...I guess these guys have quotas all over the world...

so teeny

so lamborghini

love the onitsuka tiger building in shinjuku

so teeny, so black, so pink

5 second dinner...bought this at Shunpachi and had Satoshi carry it

Well, it slipped out of his had as he came into the apartment...boom! on the floor...

I rinsed it...wasn't gonna let it go to waste

Thank you to host brother's wife for sending us these sweet potato treats!

The temps have come way way down...they said that next week, during the day it will still be warm but mornings and evenings will be brr

Hope you all have a safe weekend.

back to izugiku

Yesterday, Satoshi had a doctor's appointment, so after he had his blood test, we went to Izugiku for lunch

Bummer was that we were seating next to a smoker...*cough*

The daily lunch was sold out, so he chose the 2 choice lunch...1000 yen (tax included)

He chose hamburger & fried shrimp

He said he enjoyed this

I ordered the dry curry and also remembered to say "no soup"...850 yen (tax included)

this was delicious but something must've been salty because I was drinking water like krazy afterwards

Anyway, Satoshi's PSA numbers went way way down, so it means that the hormone treatment is working

He got another injection and will need to continue to take oral medication and will go back next month to see how his PSA is 

Then we will plan when he will start the radiation part

Thanks for always sending us good mojo

pocky day

11.11 is pocky day...shrinkflation?!

the price went up plus the amount went down...

been awhile since I've bought pocky

Hope your week is going well.

thanks for today

Met up with friend Greg's sisters for lunch.

Before that though, I went to Kanda...

I think this is a lion on the side of the Mitoshiro Building

 

Kanda Square

Rilakkuma manhole cover

Lunch with Greg's sisters H & J at Tokyo Juicy Grill inside of Yodobashi Camera Akihabara

This was the char siu egg...too bad most of the char siu was fatty rather than meaty

It was nice catching up with H & J

And they gave us so much omiyage! Thank you! we will share with our friends

Lucky to see this sunset

A few minutes later

Thanks for today!

Tokyo Juicy Grill

Yodobashi Akihabara 8F

Chiyoda, Tokyo

Hours: 11:00-23:00

*closed whenever Yodobashi Akihabara is

matsunoki

Near the Kawasaki City Office, is Matsunoki, a tiny restaurant serving Szechuan food since 2000

We got there just before they opened and were the 4th party in line

On the weekend the lunch menu is not available and only items from their dinner menu are available.

Satoshi ordered the mabo tofu...this was apparently the "not authentic" version but still made us cough and made Satoshi perspire...1250 yen (tax included)

This also came with a free "mouthful" of rice

we also ordered 2 chive and shrimp steamed gyoza...300 yen (tax included) a piece

These were delicious, lots of shrimp and chives in there

loved the interesting decor

I ordered the "mild" soupless tan tan men...1100 yen (tax included)

This was mouth.on.fire. but we still enjoyed this

I'm glad we had the mabo tofu before this because the mabo tofu was 10 times hotter!

Had the dishes been served the otherway around with the tan tan men first, I don't know that we could've tolerated the mabo tofu's spiciness

I'm not sure why I had this shop bookmarked, but think it might have had to do with a Matsuko show.

I dunno that we'll return, but we were glad we got to try this place

Next door is Inage Shrine...lots of families were there getting blessed for 7-5-3 (shichi go san) the rites of passage for children

some street art nearby 

more street art

we also checked out the Kawasaki City Office, they had a display of the former office of the Mayor...this intricate fireplace grill used to be in the office

they also had an objet by Taro Okamoto and a display of some of his photography

Another beautiful day, we were glad we got some errands done and got to check out some new (to us) places

Matsunoki

6-11 Miyamotocho

Kawasaki, Kanagawa

Closed: Mondays & Tuesdays

Hours: 11:30-14:00 (lunch), 17:00-21:00

ogikubo

it was our first time getting off at JR Ogikubo, they have 2 shopping arcades one at the South exit and one at the West exit

even though we had breakfast, we were hungry and this teeny bakery, Honey's freshly baked "smells" drew us in...

banana coconut cake for Kat and freshly out of the oven salmon tartine for Satoshi  

after our quick snack, we made our way to the areas we wanted to see

follow the arrows on the ground

Tekigaiso is the home of former prime minister Fumimaro Konoe

beautiful kept home, loved the windows...the table had inlaid abalone shells on it!

the hallways had many windows too

the Ogikubo Conference was held here in 1940 between Konoe Fumimaro, Tojo Hideki, Yoshida Zengo and Matsuoka Yosuke, it was here that they discussed whether Japan should have closer ties with (Nazi) Germany and (Fascist) Italy 

there is a park below that I think was also part of the huge property...can you see Satoshi?!

nearby is the Kadokawa residence, the founder of Kadokawa Publishing, Kadokawa Genyoshi

the front door

This property was a bit disappointing because the areas open for viewing were sparse

about a 3 minute walk away is the Otaguro Park, which is the former residence of Otaguro Motoo, a music critic

The property is beautiful and they have a light up of the fall foliage

His residence with the grand piano and listening area was beautiful with all the windows too

Lunch was actually our "plan B"...Indian curry Spice

fancy interior

keema curry add poached egg...1550 yen plus 150 yen (tax included)

this was spicy 

I thought I wouldn't be able to finish but I did

Satoshi had their shrimp curry...1750 yen (tax included)

this was spicy too, he was perspiring...

we are glad we tried this place

After lunch we walked from Ogikubo to Koenji

It was a beautiful day to be out and about

Tekigaiso

2-43-36 Ogikubo

Suginami, Tokyo

Closed: Wednesdays and year end (12/29-1/1)

Hours: 9:00-17:00

*admission: 300 yen adults

Kadokawa Residence

3-14-22 Ogikubo

Suginami, Tokyo

Closed: Wednesdays and year end (12/29-1/1)

Hours: 9:00-17:00

Otaguro Park

3-33-12 Ogikubo

Suginami, Tokyo

Closed: Wednesday and year end (12/29-1/1)

Hours: 9:00-17:00

Honey

5-29-8 Ogikubo

Suginami, Tokyo

Open daily: 9:00-19:30

*cash only

Spice

5-16-20 Ogikubo

Suginami, Tokyo

Closed: Mondays

Hours: 11:30-14:30 (lunch), 17:30-20:30

**lunch only on Sundays

*cash only