Mascot Madness

I simply cannot imagine that a site as important as Asuka Historical National Government Park would NOT have a pair of floral mascots. After a spring time growth spurt that any adolsecent would be proud of, Taishi-kun (top) and Asuka-hime (middle) needed a good pruning.

Big Bufo

Up in Yoshino-yama in Nara prefecture, you can buy anything your heart desires in the souvenir stalls, including this big fella.

Puff the Magic and Somewhat Decrepit Dragon

Out in Takamatsu-zuka Park in Nara Prefecture we stumbled across some topiaried mythical animals, all of whom needed a bit of TLC. Rather than real topiaries, they were actually wire mesh on which vines had been grown. 

Shoe Shenanigans Part 2

I needed a brown pair, too. These Hi Quality Casual Shoes (for 2990 Yen? I doubt it) size 25.0 looked like just the thing for doing La Strut, or getting stuck in the Last Rut, or something...

Crazy about Shoes

I bought a pair of shoes down at the shoe store on 171. They were comfortable and a good fit. I didn't take much notice of the brand until I got them home.

Baseball Japanese Style

One of the two Hanshin Tigers baseball team's mascots doing her thing prior to the game vs Softbank Hawks.

The beer sellers had a tank of beer on their back, and were visible from the space shuttle in their bright orange and yellow outfits with non-matching red sox. The piercing cries of "Biru ga ikaga desu ka" (Would you like a beer?) could be heard in the next prefecture.

During the top of the seventh innings, the fans inflated party balloons. In the break between innings, on the count of three, they were all released. The kiddies loved it.

The Culture Convenience Club

The euphemistic Tsutaya Culture Convenience Club, aka book, video and DVD store. This branch is under the railway line at Moriguchi city. 

Anyone for Pool?

Need your swimming pool cleaned? Don't leave it up to pot luck. The students from Mino Higashi High School know how to take their cue, so give them a call. 

From the Never in Japan File

For the first time ever in Japan, we were on a train carriage all by ourselves. The following two carriages were also empty. The carriage ahead of us had 4 or 5 people in it, and the driver. On the last leg to Kisaichi station, Osaka prefecture.