Don't Mention It

This space in Tenmonkan used to be occupied by a big fancy beauty salon. Then that moved out, and the space stood empty for close to 1 year. Recently, it was remodeled and divided up into smaller spaces. The women's clothing shop at the lower right used to be next door. The flowers to the left are for the "congratulations on the new opening" ceremony. But, can you see the anomaly?





That's not a kick I'd want to talk about...

Trick or Cut

Sign in front of a barber shop in Tenmonkan.
Some people really don't understand the concept of Halloween...
Right, Freddy?

Technical Menu

Everything in Japan is about "menus," except for their menus in restaurants, where they rely on dish prices written on the walls, or plastic food in display cases out front of the shop.

I bring my car here every month, because maintenance is free.

60L Ad

I ran an ad for 60L design maybe close to one year ago. They do online illustrations, web design and other stuff. I like the concept here.

La Quinua Dia de Muertos

La Quinua is a South American-style restaurant near Tenmonkan. Their Halloween parties are to die for.

Trombone Chalk - Halloween

Trombone in Tenmonkan seems to be changing up their signs more often now. They just had art for Fall, and now we have Halloween.



Jack, Jack, Jack...

Tres Gatos

There's this one space in an office building near Tenmonkan that has had different occupants almost every year. The last one was a Spanish restaurant, too. This time, it's Tres Gatos (The Three Cats), advertising food (the olive), drink (coffee), art (maybe it's not an olive, maybe it's a painter's palette), and dance (flamenco).

Shiro Chalk Halloween

Shiro Hair Salon has some of the best chalk art now.
Hi, Jack!

Lupin Massage

More anime-themed chalk art from the shiatsu massage clinic near me. The choices for character art seem to be purely random.

Yokai Post

Found this make-shift post box down at the other end of the main train station tracks, in the middle of an empty lot. Can't tell if it's for someone that hasn't started building the house yet, or if it's for a homeless guy and that the post office has agreed to deliver the mail to this location for them.



Looks like something out of Gegege Kitaro...

Coco Biscuit

Donkey has this line of tiny little cocktail bottles for about 200 yen each. Can't be more than an ounce, if not half that. I think this one is coconut and vanilla biscuit flavor. Not bad. I was expecting something closer to suntan lotion, and it managed to not taste at all chemically. But, way too expensive for what little you get.

Wakiyaku Studio Ad Poster

I ran a photo of a poster for Wakiyaku a little while back. This one seems to be listing singing and narration services. It's not a bad image, but that face isn't drawn all that well...

Construction Company Banner

Found this banner on the side of a building currently undergoing cleaning. The text says "Protect buildings." The main character is Sakamoto Ryouma, one of the samurai that rebelled against the shogun's advisers around 1860. Not sure if the other two are supposed to be anyone in particular. But, they don't seem to be very safety conscious.

Real Gold Bottle - Major

Found this empty bottle tossed in a parking lot. Featuring one of the characters from the Major baseball manga.

Rat Brothers

Artwork outside a motorcycle supplies shop.

Lotteria Venison Burger

Lotteria has partnered with Gibier venison to sell venison burgers. Look at this poster carefully.



Now, how closely does the real burger compare? In the U.S., fair advertising practices would probably have something say about this...



1300 yen ($12.75 USD) for the set. The burger, a "large" coffee, and medium fries. The burger had almost no flavor, and the "meat sauce" reminded me of a demi-glace. It included a couple small pickles, a slice of tomato, a little lettuce, mayonnaise, and a few small pieces of onion. The patty had a bit more texture and "chew" than a regular beef patty, but was otherwise really boring. Definitely not worth the money. I grew up on venison as a kid, and I know what wild venison tastes like. This burger was not even close.



To be fair, I got my fries and coffee first, and they brought out the burger about 10 minutes later. During that time, I was snacking on the fries. So, the photo is a bit misleading on how many fries came with the meal. But even then, the fries weren't that great. I can get more food and better fries at McDonald's for 500-640 yen.

Small Adventure - Oreos

For a long time, Oreo cookies sold for 200 yen for a 2-sleeve pack. I'm not a really big fan of Oreos, and I'm perfectly willing to go to the 100 yen store and buy the cheap Cream-Os knock-offs there for 110 yen (including tax) ($1 USD). But, lately I've been seeing Oreos at stores like Don Quixote for prices closer to 130 yen, and I was wondering why. Yesterday, I was bored and had to do some shopping at Donkey and bought a pack of Oreos. As I was snacking on them on the way to work, also sipping on a can of black can coffee, I suddenly realized that the cookie parts were incredibly brittle and breaking up before they could soak in the coffee. Paying more attention, I found that the cookie halves are half the width of what I remember them being. In other words, Nabisco has been skimping on their products without mentioning it on their packaging. And these aren't even the Oreo Thins, which Donkey also sells. I'm going back to the Cream-Os, which are better cookies anyway, in my opinion...

Laundry Shark

"Futon-Jaws" - Washer-driers for heavy futon mattresses. Watch the teeth.

Cie'na Coffee Shop Chalk Art, Oct.

Chipmunk and coffee cup.



Praying mantis and pumpkin.