Etsy Store Grand Re-Opening

Now 100% more models! I want to especially thank K. Spencer Jones Photography for the pretty and vivid fashion shots and my models, Natalie Leora Jensen...

and Thelma Duff!

Models are not the only changes. I've also lowered the shipping costs because I have a more feasible method now.

And in honor of the grand re-opening, I've also taken 25% off most of the shirts! Click here to visit the shop and thanks for your support!

新幹線！Bullet trains!

Sorry about the lapse in posts. I've been busy moving between Connecticut and Florida a couple of times. Oh, and I went to Norway and Finland on vacation. But, I'm gearing up to return to Japan in April to procure even more fabulous shirts! I'll post an itinerary of my this trip when it's a bit more solid. Right now, it's just a jumble of obligations that I have to organize.


Alright, now onto the subject at hand, my absolute favorite thing about visiting Japan: the shinkansen, or bullet trains. They're sleek, convenient, futuristic, comfortable and above all, fast. I'll run down the different types of tickets, routes, restrictions and of course the trains themselves.

First, all shinkansen are operated by the Japan Rail Group which is comprised of 6 companies: JR-Kyūshū, JR-Shikoku, JR-West, JR-Central, JR-East and JR-Hokkaidō. They operate various bullet and commuter trains, as well as buses and ferries throughout the entire country.


If you find yourself in Japan for a week, I strongly advise getting a JR Rail Pass. It's basically unlimited use of all JR operated trains, buses and ferries for x amount of days. Please note: you can only obtain one of these rail passes if you are in the country on a tourist visa; not on business. Here are the types of rail passes:

• JR East Pass - available in 5, 10 or flexible 4 day types, this pass is good for all 5 shinkansen lines (Akita, Tōhoku, Yamagata, Jōetsu and Nagano), the Tōkyō Monorail, various JR local lines within the Tōkyō metropolitan area and the Narita Express. It basically encompasses the northern part of Honshū (the main island).
• Sanyō Area Pass - available in 4 or 8 day types, this pass is good for the Sanyō shinkansen, Kansai Airport Express, Miyajima Ferry Route and various JR local trains in Nagoya, Ōsaka, Kōbe, Kyōto, Hiroshima, etc.
• Kansai Area Pass - available in 1, 2, 3 or 4 day types, this pass is good for the Kansai Airport Express, and local JR operated trains in Ōsaka, Kōbe, Nara, Himeji and Universal-city.
  
• Japan Rail Pass - This is the most expensive pass, but worth it. Here's how they get ya: you might think you yourself "I'll just get the JR East Pass!" Well, that's good for Tōkyō, but there's really not a lot to see east of it. And if you want to head anywhere west on Honshū, you're footing the full price. And if you want to spend time in Nagoya, Ōsaka, etc, but plan on spending a lot of time in Tōkyō, then you're paying for all your trains there. So, you might as well just get this pass. It's the best value. Available in 7, 14 and 21 day types, this gets you around the entire country. The only restrictions are the Nozomi train on the Tōkaidō line and Mizuho train on the Kyūshū and Sanyō lines.

The ticketing can be a little confusing with non-reserve, green seats and reserved cars. If you're using a rail pass, that's only good for the non-reserved cars, which are usually at the front of the train. Most of the time there are three non-reserved cars: two non-smoking cars and one smoking car where you can choose your seat. If there aren't any available, you'll have to take the next train or a different kind. Reserved seats are more expensive, but you're guaranteed a seat and green seats are basically first class. The cars are labeled in English so it's not a problem finding the correct one.

This is a ticket for Kyōto bound Nozomi train departing from Tōkyō.


Now about the different types of trains. Generally, each has 3 types of trains operating on each line; the difference among them being their design and top speed. The faster the train, the more expensive the fare (unless you have a pass). Here's a promo video of the new 500 Series Nozomi. I've been on the 700 series Nozomi, but not this one yet. Enjoy the epic music that goes along. I'm a dork and can pretty much watch these videos all day. I mean, look at this thing - it's bad ass!



On my first trip to Japan, I made a funny observation on the names of the trains on the Tōkaidō line. The slowest one is the Kodama ("echo"). The next fastest is the Hikari ("light") and the fastest is the Nozomi ("hope"). So according to their logic, hope is faster than light.

Here's the inside of the Nozomi 700 Series - it's pretty much like the interior of an airplane. There are even attendants who sell drinks and snacks on board. But they are pricey. There are kiosks on the platforms, so just stock up before you board. Food and drink are allowed on these trains.



Here's a video I took aboard the Nozomi Super Express (700 series) departing Shin-Yokohama bound for Nagoya.

To the right are links to JR so you can view timetables, maps and fares. Right now, I see the Japan Rail Pass for $340 which is very reasonable considering round trip to Nagoya from Tōkyō was about $120 when I was there last. You can easily get your money's worth in 2 days.

パチンコ! Pachinko!

What is pachinko? It's like an upright pinball machine for gambling and amusement. The word "pachinko" is onomatopoeia for the sound of the balls hitting the pins on the playing board: "パチパチ" (pachi-pachi). It's also Japan's largest industry and an obsession for almost one third of its population. With over 16,000 parlors nationwide, you can't swing a dead tanuki without hitting one. There's also a duality to its legality but I'll talk more about that later. Here's a parlor in Shinjuku:


Here's how it works: You purchase balls (generally for 4 yen apiece) from the parlor using cash, a pre-paid card or a member card directly into your machine of choice. You then shoot your ball bearings from the tray into the machine hoping to win more balls.


So if you ever find yourself in Japan and you're thinking about giving pachinko a whirl, first ask yourself these questions: Do you like...

Games of chance? Pachinko can be described as slot machines on crack. Why pull a lever or hit a button and watch some symbols spin while hoping they'll match? That's entirely too passive. Try manipulating hundreds of tiny ball bearings with a knob while lights flash and music blares all around you to get those 3 matching symbols. This way, you feel that you have more influence over the outcome, unless you count good luck charms and superstitious rituals.


Cigarette smoke? Despite the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2004 and many new public smoking laws in Japan, smoking and pachinko parlors still go together like milk and Oreos.

Confined spaces? These machines are quite small and narrow, and the parlor is looking to make the most bang for their buck. Also, space is at a premium in Japan. Therefore the machines are crammed in making narrow aisles. If you are claustrophobic, most of Japan is not for you.


Crowds? Being on a packed train is one thing, but sitting on an uncomfortable vinyl covered stool shoulder to shoulder with strangers in a loud, smoke filled pachinko parlor is another. At least you have a game to distract you.

Breaking the law? Okay, you won more little balls, now what? Well, you take your trays to an attendant who will run them through a counting machine that spits out a voucher. Sweet! Now what kind of prizes can you get? You have your choice things of t-shirts, pens, cigarette lighters, perfume, cosmetics, candy or coupons to a nearby grocery store. Lame, right? If you'd rather have money then there's a common loophole just around the corner. Grab that voucher, leave the parlor and head over to the nearby exchange center. They will pay out your winnings in CASH. Yeah, it's illegal for the parlor itself to pay out winnings, but a third party not on site can. Here is such an exchange center in Shibuya. It doesn't look shady at all, does it?


Constant loud noise? As you can imagine, hundreds of machines with all their balls clanking on pegs, music and announcements will definitely leave your ears ringing. That's nothing that a pair of earplugs and lots of alcohol can't cure, though.

Are there any pluses? Well, yeah - the obvious amusement from the game itself and the thrill of possibly hitting a jackpot. Also, like casinos here in the US, they serve alcohol and children are not allowed. And often, the machines themselves are anime themed! I've seen machines designed based off of Lupin the Third, Neon Genesis Evangelion and Trigun. If you've never experienced it, you should give it a try at least once. After all, 30 million Japanese can't be wrong.

＼(＾▽＾*)いらっしゃ～いっ(*＾▽＾)／

I have finished listing all the clothing accessories left over from MetroCon!

All the clothes listed are authentic and come from Tokyo's alternative fashion district: Harajuku! I personally go from shop to shop, boutique to boutique and mall to mall to find the cutest shirts and accessories. I buy only shirts with Engrish on them because it's very popular over there and rather hilarious here.

Below are some examples of what I have for sale! The faster you buy, the sooner I can go back to Tokyo and buy more!

Etsy jaderabbitboutique

Etsy shop now open!

The Etsy shop is open! Authentic, cute and engrishy apparel from Harajuku! どうぞよろしくお願いします。

Alright, so eBay was a bust. However, MetroCon was not! Thank you to everyone who stopped by my booth! It was nice meeting you all! It's wonderful to meet so many people with an interest in Japanese culture and travel.

To supplement anime conventions, I now have an Etsy account! Please check it out. I'll be listing more stuff tomorrow and the rest of the week. It's 12:38 am here now, so I'm done for the night...

Zzz…(*´〜｀*)｡O○

花見！Flower viewing!

花 = "hana" or flower and 見 = "mi" or eye. While "hana" refers to flowers in general, this time of the year it more specifically means cherry blossoms (sakura) and/or plum blossoms (ume).

To celebrate the arrival of spring, the Japanese have little outdoor parties or picnics under these trees either during the day or in some special occasions, at night. These night parties are called 夜桜 ("yozakura") and include decorative and festive lanterns hung from the trees.

Hanami is of interest to just about every Japanese citizen, so much so that their weather service provides a 桜前線 ("sakurazensen" or "blossom report") to make best of your party planning. Below is such a report from the previous year.


My first sakura siting was in Nagoya in the castle's gardens. It was very overcast that day and towards the end of my tour, I saw some pink flowers in the distance. I was so excited that I interrupted my guide mid sentence to ask if they were cherry blossoms. She nodded and I ran ahead to see having completely lost interest in a statue she was explaining. I apologized for my rudeness but she found my elation amusing.


With as much anime, manga, TV and movies I've seen... the cherry blossom is omnipresent and I just couldn't help myself. Getting to see firsthand the delicate petals fall and speckle the ground like confetti was almost surreal.

Apparently, I wasn't the only person thrilled about this time of year. It was mid-March so some of the trees in Tokyo were just starting to bloom. While I was in Kamakura, there was one tree abloom near the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine and no less than a dozen photographers jostled for position to get pictures of the one branch they could get near.

I mentioned ume or plum blossoms above and I was fortunate to see one of those as well at Nagoya castle. They look just like sakura only white.

This entry is definitely photo heavy, but these beautiful flowers speak for themselves. I took more pictures of cherry trees than anything else on this trip and seeing the natives crowd around a blossoming tree on more than one occasion meant my fixation was the norm.

The boutique is open!

Finally! I've managed to catalog and photograph all my merchandise from Japan and have begun listing in on eBay for your buying pleasure! CHECK IT OUT!

There's not much now, but I will continue to list more clothing and stationery as the week goes on. Thanks for your patience and I hope you enjoy what you find!

Day 8: Sumida Park

Sumida park is, as you can imagine, located on the bank of the Sumida river just a few minute's walk from the sensouji in Asakusa. Originally a private garden for the shogun, it was opened as a public park in 1931. It's also one of the prime spots for 花見 (hanami or "flower viewing") in late March and early April as the park contains nearly 1,000 sakura planted along the bank forming a tunnel of blossoms.

I caught the park in early March, so only a few of the trees were in bloom, but they still drew their share of enthusiastic photographers, viewers, joggers and bicyclists.

Other sights along the Sumida park include the Asahi headquarters across the river. You might be familiar with their "super dry" beer, but like most beverage companies in Japan, they actually produce a wide variety of soft drinks, as well.

Officially known as the "Asahi Beer Hall". The building on the left was styled to represent a glass of beer with its foamy head at the top. And the Asahi flame is supposed to represent the 'burning heart of Asahi beer' but the locals refer to it as "the golden turd".

Day 7: Asakusa & Akihabara

Ah, Asakusa's sensō-ji - Tōkyō's oldest Buddhist temple, complete with an impressive five-story pagoda. Being the last stop on the Metro's Ginza line, it's hard to miss. This was the first site I visited when I came to Japan, so it holds a special place in my heart.

On my previous visit to the sensō-ji, the actual temple was completely covered up and under renovation. So, 6 months later, I was excited to return to see it in all its glory... too bad it was still under construction!

Oh, well. Even if you find yourself in Japan tomorrow, the sensō-ji is still well worth a visit. The "thunder gate" with its ceremonious giant lanterns are quite a site along with the all the little shops that line Nakamise-dori. During the oppressively hot summers, Nakamise-dori is mercifully covered providing much-needed shade. However, in the early spring, it's open-air and adorned with cherry blossom decorations.

Like most temples and shrines, you'll find a おみくじ ("omikuji"), which literally means "sacred lottery". For a donation of a mere 100 yen you can participate in the fun with all the high school kids whom you'll see giggling and laughing at the results of their fortunes. Here's how it works:

Pop your 100 yen into the coin slot and grab that metallic cylinder. Tilt and shake it until a numbered stick falls out of the the hole and match up that number to the corresponding drawer and therein lies your fortune.

The numbers will more than likely be in Japanese, so it helps you find your fortune quicker if you can read them, but if you're not familiar with the kanji, you'll just have to spend an extra minute or two matching up the symbols.

Your fortune will be headed with a prediction of your overall luck in general as follows:

• Great blessing (dai-kichi, 大吉)
• Middle blessing (chū-kichi, 中吉)
• Small blessing (shō-kichi, 小吉)
• Blessing (kichi, 吉)
• Half-blessing (han-kichi, 半吉)
• Near-blessing (sue-kichi, 末吉)
• Near-small-blessing (sue-shō-kichi, 末小吉)
• Curse (kyō, 凶)
• Small curse (shō-kyō, 小凶)
• Half-curse (han-kyō, 半凶)
• Near-curse (sue-kyō, 末凶)
• Great curse (dai-kyō, 大凶)

Then you'll get a more specific prognostication. Usually something along the lines of:

• 願事 (negaigoto) – one's wish or desire
• 待人 (machibito) – a person being waited for
• 失せ物 (usemono) – lost article(s)
• 旅立ち (tabitachi) – travel
• 商い (akinai) – business dealings
• 學問 (gakumon) – studies or learning
• 相場 (souba) – market speculation
• 爭事 (arasoigoto) – disputes
• 戀愛 (renai) – romantic relationships
• 転居 (tenkyo) – moving or changing residence
• 出產 (shussan) – childbirth or pregnancy
• 病気 (byōki) – illness
• 縁談 (endan) – marriage proposal or engagement

If your fortune is good, keep it with you. Otherwise, fold it up lengthwise and tie it to the wrack with metal wires nearby so you can leave your misfortune there.

Here's what got!


There's an English translation on the back, but mine says: "The Best Fortune #99 The sun is shining so brightly that you will get the blessing of the heaven. The moon is shining clearly again after a cloud passes. You may have rare treasure. Gaining fame, you meet all your wishes. Your wish will be realized. The sick person will get well. The lost article will be found. The person you are waiting for will come. It is a good to make a trip. Marriage and employment are both good."

Needless to say, I tucked this into my purse!

After taking a rest in the afternoon at my hotel and watching a grand sumo tournament, it was getting dark and therefore time to head out to Akihabara - the electric town! It's fun during the day, but comes alive at night.

If you're not into anime, or don't plan patronizing one of the many maid cafes there, it's still worth a visit and here's why: ドンキ ("donki") also known as Don Quijote, the greatest store ever. While there are many locations throughout Japan, Akihabara's is the most epic. The first floor is a pachinko parlor and the next 5 or so floors is packed to the rafters with, well... EVERYTHING. There is no order to this store. Nail polish is next to light bulbs which are next to clocks which are next to hair dyes which are next to vacuums which are next too... well, you get the idea. Unless you're a frequent shopper, you'll just have to brave each aisle not knowing what you'll find next!


I'd like to go on record saying that this is the best store I've ever been in. If you're claustrophobic, stay away, but if it's 3:30 in the morning and you need a Michael Jackson costume, Don Quijote is your best friend.

Day 6: Harajuku & Ochanomizu

Harajuku: Part 2. Again, my arms were laden with shopping bags, but I managed to snap a few pictures. For being a Monday, Takeshita-dori was packed!

I got there a little before noon and right at the entrance of Takeshita-dori there's a 24-hour McDonalds. I've been seeing posters all over Tokyo for something called the "California Burger" at "マック" (Makku), what they call McDonalds for short. I've tried KFC and T.G.i.Fridays in Japan, but not McDonalds.

What we call "value meals", they call "sets" or "セット" (setto). I got to admit that I was pretty disappointed by the burger. It had a beef patty, lettuce, tomato, white cheese, a tangy BBQ sauce on a wholewheat bun. For all that, it was pretty bland. Apparently, there's also a Texas burger and according to a poster inside the restaurant, it's "coming back soon!!". The fries were on par with what we have here, though.

Though the food wasn't that great, the people watching made up for it. I've never seen so many giggling and chatty teenage Japanese girls in one spot. And here and there in this crowded dining space were middle aged business men in their pinstriped suits totally not blending in.

For all of Harajuku's uniqueness, there's also some familiar stores to be found like Claire's. I couldn't believe it. There it was, jammed in with all the other shops. That and the GAP I could do without, but I suppose to the locals these are charming snippets of American fashion.


I checked out LaForet and it turned out to be pretty pricey and upscale for being in Harajuku. I didn't spend a lot of time inside as the price tags were not very welcoming.

Having bought all I could carry, I went back to rest my sore feet at the hotel for a few. It was getting late, so I decided to head over to the origami kaikan in Ochanomizu before it closed.



The Ochanomizu JR Station is right on the Kanda river. The origami kaikan is a short walk from the station by cutting through the Tokyo Medical and Dental University's campus.



I simply adore this place. The staff here are so friendly and if you have ever done origami, they are so pleased to hear that. Every month, they feature a project and have it on display in the 1st floor gallery and the projects from the previous month are on the 2nd floor gallery. This month was samurai helmets.

I told the lady that I enjoy origami as a hobby and told her I like to make kusudama. She smiled from ear to ear and told me to check out the 2nd floor. So I headed up to find that kusudama were the previous month's feature!


The exhibits, staff and merchandise here never disappoint me. The 3rd floor has a very impressive shop. They must have miles of paper. There's 2 rooms full of handmade washi, kits they they've made up for different projects, glue, display boards, etc.


As I was browsing, a dozen or so older ladies came down from the 5th floor classroom after just taking some lessons. They were so lively and fun to watch - kind of like the loquacious girls in Makku earlier.

The 4th floor is a workshop where you are free to check out and watch the artisans make paper.

This gentlemen was taking the black hanging pieces of washi made earlier and brushing a design on them and then hanging them to dry on the other side of the workshop. So, even if origami really isn't your thing, you can go check out this interesting process for free!

Next post: my last full day in Japan!

Day 3: Harajuku

What can I say about Harajuku? It exceeded expectations - so much more in fact that I plan on returning tomorrow since I didn't get to hit all the shops I wanted to. (But in all fairness, I did spend that entire morning in the Tokyu Hands massive Shibuya store. And I had to leave early in the afternoon to meet up with some friends in Shinagawa.)

Since my hands were full of merchandise, I couldn't snap many pictures, but I will post what I have. I'll be taking another shot at it tomorrow, though.

As you can see, Takeshita-dori is packed even on a weekday. I can't even what it's like on the weekends.

I lost all sense of time just hopping from shop to shop. It's seemingly endless and the variety is unparalleled! There were a couple lolita sightings but none of the craziness that normally goes on Sundays. I did see a GAP there, which is hilarious. When I think of the GAP, I think "cookie cutter clothing", so it was the last store I expected to see where normally this goes on.

The plan for tomorrow's attack is LaForet (which is like Harajuku's version of 109) and the rest of Takeshita-dori.

Day 2: Shibuya

True to his form, there's the ever-faithful Hachikō waiting for my return to Shibuya. For those of you not familiar with this statue's story: after his owner's death, Hachikō returned to wait at the Shibuya train station every afternoon for 10 years and has since become a beloved symbol of loyalty and is a popular spot to meet up with friends.

Personally, this is my favorite district of Tōkyō. It's got something for everybody. Chocked full of department stores, shops, arcades and cafes, it's easy to spend the entire day here wandering around all of Shibuya's little side streets. If you're looking for touristy items, look else where. This is where Tōkyō's 20-somethings come to shop for the latest in everything from clothing to music to home goods.

I forgot how intense it is to commute in this city and all the little unspoken rules when you're out and about. For instance, some train stations are absolutely labyrinth-like and not being that familiar with the layouts of each station, I've got to do a little research before I go. There's no stopping and reading signs. If you're not sure where you're going, just keep walking - briskly and follow the signs. When riding escalators, keep to the left so that those who are in a hurry can sprint to the top without being obstructed. As a tourist, I don't care if I miss a train and have to wait 5 minutes, but to the locals, this is unacceptable so lead, follow or get out of the way!

Below is a video of Shibuya's scramble crossing at rush hour. I just happened to catch a crossing where two girls got stranded in the middle of the intersection and were nearly ran over. This is the first time I've ever seen anyone jaywalk in this country and now I know why no else does it - EVER.

So, let that be a lesson to you!

I've already touched upon Shibuya in a previous post so it's pretty obvious how much I love this district. I made sure it was the first place I went. Last time, I had a baseball game to go to, so I couldn't stick around. This time I stuck around until twilight to see Shibuya come to life. Below is picture of center gai street at night.

Tomorrow? HARAJUKU!

Day 1: Dream Land

And I mean "dream land" in two ways: Tokyo and actual sleep. Having slept only 5 hours in the past 2 days, my first destination here in Tokyo is this very bed in my cozy little hotel room.

My strategy for combating the formidable foe that is jet-lag is sleep deprivation. The idea is that by the time I check into my hotel room around 8:00 PM and unpack, wash up, check my email, etc., it's bedtime and I am more than ready to sleep through the night.

So far, this method has been pretty effective though it has its drawbacks. For instance, on the Skyliner train from Narita airport to Funabashi, I, for a nanosecond, thought there was a giant man walking in pace with the train. It turned out the be the reflection of the Keio employee walking through the car I was in.

Let's do the math: window(man + night + moving train)/exhaustion = believing in giants before thinking it's a reflection

*yawn*The Sandman beckons and I cannot resist his temptation any longer. Shibuya tomorrow!

御茶ノ水! Ochanomizu!

Here's a little hand towel I happened to find at Kanda Shrine in Ochanomizu as my friend and I were walking to Akihabara on our last day in Japan. I thought it was rather serendipitous and will be basing the coming boutique's logo off of it.We had no idea this little gem of a shrine was literally 2 blocks from our hotel. My friend and I had the morning and afternoon to kill before our flight and we decided to take a little stroll in the neighborhood we had called home for a few days. Ochanomizu is quiet and pretty little area on the Kanda river with the main street, Hongo Dori, lined with gingko biloba trees with their delicate split leaves.


We had grown very accustomed to cutting through the campus of the Tōkyō Medical and Dental University and crossing the Kanda river to get to the train station on our way to and from some other part of of the city. This is also where my beloved Origami Kaikan is located! I'll definitely be returning there to get some more projects and much more of their beautiful washi paper.


Ochanomizu also has a little vibrant core complete with the trainstation on one corner, a pachinko parlor across the street and a karaoke bar on the corner facing that one.

In the grand scheme of visiting Tōkyō, there's not much to do or see in Ochanomizu, but it's a very convenient and pleasant place to stay during your visit.

旅程! Itinerary!

With 14 days before I leave for Japan, I decided to put together an itinerary because I know how easy it is to get distracted in Tokyo. I've got work and then activities I consider to be "blog fodder" like pachinko, usagi to cafe, etc. It's not set in stone because that's not how I like to travel so I don't have it planned to the hour or minute. I know something completely unexpected and awesome could be lying in wait around any corner. But, I also realize that if I linger somewhere or get too distracted, I'll miss out on the other activities.

I've set aside days for shopping (work) and days for sightseeing. There are places I want to revisit (Asakusa, the Origami Kaikan) and places I missed out on last time (Imperial East Gardens, Kamakura). The itinerary can be found here, and it includes my flights and (humble) hotel info. Suggestions? Comments?