One ¥en in Tokyo

何でもかわいいね~ Whatever, It is Cute

2009-11-15T22:56:00.004+09:00

In Tokyo everything is cute.

Even pork buns. (Is it OK to make a pork bun in the shape of pig really...?)
They are half the size of normal buns, so they must be piglets.
Please note his curly little tail.

♥

Biking Tokyo

2009-11-11T20:37:00.008+09:00

I can finally stop walking around Tokyo's wide and long streets because I finally have my own beautiful red bicycle! It has it's own built in lock, stand, bell, auto-light and basket, and best of all it only cost ¥6500 including the fee to register with the police. Even with the bad exchange rate this means it was only around £50. Happiness.

In reality it is not a new bicycle but in fact a second hand one.

While it relatively easy to get a bicycle in Kyoto and Osaka for much cheaper, the cheapest brand new bike in Tokyo will average around ¥10000-¥12000 so unless you know a someone who can sell on their bicycle it is hard to get a cheap one. It may also seem easy to nab one from the seemingly thousands which are abandoned on the streets but if you do this there is a strong chance you could be arrested. In fact all bikes in Tokyo have to be registered to an owner and everyone has it's own little identification number. If you are unable to prove your ownership of the bicycle (with a little piece of paper which you get given when you register your bike) it will be considered you have stolen it.

The best place to get a cheap bicycle in Tokyo is from Suginami Green Cycle.

「リサイクル自転車作業所」
永福自転車集積所内
永福２－１－１１　

℡03-3327-228

NB: In order to get a bike you need an alien card.

View Larger Map

It is a little garage run by several little (cute) retired old men who rescue abandoned bicycles, restore them and sell them all on, ¥6500 for the most basic, no gears old-lady bike (mine!) to ¥15000 for super light weight, multi-gear sports bikes. (The boyfriend got a fold up Hummer
bike for ¥8000)

Basic Price Outline

How it Works

Turn up at the centre on anyone of the following dates. (Because they are little old men they need a whole month to warm up for 3 days work a month.)

November 2009	16 (Mon.)	17 (Tues.)	18 (Wed.)
December 2009	14 (Mon.)	15 (Tues.)	16 (Wed.)
January 2010	18 (Mon.)	19 (Tues.)	20 (Wed.)
February 2010	15 (Mon.)	16 (Tues.)	17 (Wed.)
March 2010	15 (Mon.)	16 (Tues.)	17 (Wed.)

Pick a bicycle from the collection that said little old men have accumulated and clarify the features/price etc. (Disregard how rusty the bicyle is as the little old men will restore the bike to near perfection.)
This price will inclue the bicycle itself, the restoration of bike as well as the registration bicycle with the police.
The little old men will take your details and then call you when restoration of the bike is complete (around 2 weeks)
Turn up to pick up the bicycle and test it. Pay the previously agreed price. The old men will then register your bike on the spot (very convinient as you will not need to go to the police box to do it.)
Cycle home on your brand new bicycle!

Happy Halloween ハッピー・ハロウィン

2009-10-31T23:01:00.003+09:00

Happy Halloween from Tokyo~
These are our two pumpkins.
Unfortunately...I can't afford a full size pumpkin in Tokyo and the small ones are too hard to carve...
But I have Jack (left) and Jackie (right) instead!
Jack is ceramic and has to be lit up by a candle. He also gets so hot he can burn my fingers.
Jackie is plastic and has his own little light bulb. I do not understand why, but it blinks so in fact, taking this photo was extremely difficult...

私は、大人だ : I am a Grown Up

2009-10-16T23:18:00.011+09:00

I have left primary school and secondary school and I am nearly finished my university. But when you learn a language, I guess you become a baby again.

Maybe I am not at the university level I thought I was at (depressing).

Maybe Japanese learning is particularly childish (high possibility).

This is the blackboard after a lesson at Waseda (baffling).

今日は、何を学んだか？

The Penguin in the Toilet

2009-10-07T00:49:00.010+09:00

There is a penguin in my toilet.

Everybody knows Japanese toilets are the epitome of modern technology and most toilets come complete with various sound-making, water spraying, seat-warming buttons.

Actually the one in my apartment isn't that sophisticated, however it does have a little sink and tap on top of the tank that turns on everytime the toilet is flushed. And of course there is a tiny, plastic, artic (possibly antartic) friend on it. Ahem. Please see below.

Let me tell you that this cute little bird serves no funtional purpose. He cannot filter the water or make it warmer or control the strength of the spray. But he is extremely cute and entertaining because when the toilet is flushed this plastic penguin will wave his wings up and down to you!

Yes. He is a real brightener to my day. I even flush the toilet randomly to see his cheerful flapping.

This is his close up. As you can see, he really is a handsome bird.

And the best part? He was ¥105 from the hundred yen store.

Yes. I actually bought him myself. (I was in fact looking for a sponge).

スタート Beginning

2009-10-04T21:27:00.001+09:00

Right! I am finally going to start this blog like I said I would (to various people, in various degrees of seriousness, at various times...) The point is. I pulled through and did it!

So to my family, friends, future friends and any stalkers you don't have to worry about me. I am safe!

こんにちわ。私は、東京に引越ししたばかりの早稲田の留学生だ。
このブログは私の日本にいる一年間の色々な経験や意見をよく思い出すために書く。
よろしく。