Category Archives: Life in Japan

Виталик/Vitalik

Исполнилось пять лет как трагически погиб Виталий Савилов. Он был убит в подъезде рядом со своей московской квартирой 9 марта 2005 года. Это был блестящий японист, журналист, писатель, успешный бизнесмен. Его родственники и бизнес-партнеры переиздали книгу, которую он написал в … Continue reading

Posted in Family & Friends, Life in Japan | 1 Comment

Fear and Loathing in Tokyo Subway / Хэллоуин в токийской подземке

Every year group of foreigners kidnaps a Yamanote-line train. While the train circles around Tokyo, wild party going on… В последнее воскресенье октября ровно в 9 часов вечера от платформы Shinjuku кольцевой линии токийской подземки отправляется странный состав. На первый … Continue reading

Posted in Life in Japan | 4 Comments

japon.ru … mon ami

Меня полюбил сетевой журнал, посвященный Японии. Очень интеллигентный и сделан с любовью к предмету. Я и раньше заходил к ним с удовольствием, а теперь вообще читаю каждый день перед сном вместо не знаю чего … Что там приличные люди на … Continue reading

Posted in Life in Japan, Photography | 5 Comments

62 images of Tokyo

It’s time to publish selected photos from my last trip to Tokyo. I was away for more then a year. While staying in Moscow I realized how many things I missed in Japan. I photographed some of them. In this … Continue reading

Posted in Life in Japan | 3 Comments

YAWP – to make you yawn

YAWP or Yet Another Window Photo just to keep you bored. View from my appartment on 11th floor of an appartment bulding located between Russian embassy and Tokyo American club. Temporary appartment 🙂 For some photos I had to climb … Continue reading

Posted in Life in Japan | 3 Comments

Cordon Bleu

Если Вы не немец и не гей, придется прожить в Токио лет пять, чтобы найти и полюбить этот крошечный немецкий ресторанчик, запрятанный на одной из боковых улочек района Роппонги. Сюда не попадают запыхавшиеся туристы с путеводителями и английские учителя из … Continue reading

Posted in Life in Japan | 8 Comments

Roppongi rickshaws

Those who lived in Big Mikan know: come to Roppongi after half-year and you won’t recognize the place. Your favorite midnight ramen joint turned into massage parlor, the hamburger pit was torn down and replaced by a trendy steel-and-glass boutique, … Continue reading

Posted in Life in Japan | 1 Comment

Bicycle Doctor Hara

There are different ways to live in Japan as a foreigner. You can go out, eat and drink to Roppongi, cut your hair at Australian hairdresser and ride your BMW to exclusive gym at the top of a skyscraper to … Continue reading

Posted in Life in Japan, Local connections | 5 Comments

Easter Eggs

Easter was celebrated by Tokyo Orthodox community this Sunday. Lots of eggs were boiled, painted, blessed and eaten. Boiled and painted eggs along with baked Easter bread called kuliches (куличи) are used to break long fast. The colorful tradition dates … Continue reading

Posted in Life in Japan | 2 Comments

Election Uproar

It’s difficult to surprise those who spent in Japan couple of years. When you wake up to the sound of a loudspeaker chanting the same mantra thousand times while slowly approaching your house, you instantly know: election time has arrived. … Continue reading

Posted in Life in Japan | 1 Comment

Under Deflation Umbrella

I was passing through small station in Tokyo suburbs when I spoted this stall selling umbrellas. As you can see, single umbrella goes for 300 yen or roughly 2.5 US dollars, while for two umbrellas you pay as little as … Continue reading

Posted in Life in Japan | Leave a comment

Invited to wedding? Don’t panic!

I just went to a friend’s wedding. Since he is American and the bride is Japanese it wasn’t completely standard Japanese wedding ceremony. However it had most of elements of it. Here is the list of things you need to … Continue reading

Posted in Life in Japan | 4 Comments

Tax thieves

There is an expression in Japanese  税金泥棒 (Zeikin Dorobou) which literally means Tax Thief. Or there is more polite expression 税金無駄使い (Zeikin Mudatzukai) which means One Who Wastes Taxes. Each time I go hiking to Okutama I remember this expression … Continue reading

Posted in Life in Japan | Leave a comment

Getting smaller?

One of all-time favs: 1. The sport of choice for unemployed or incarcerated people is: Basketball. 2. The sport of choice for maintenance level employees is: Bowling. 3. The sport of choice for front line workers is: Football. 4. The … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, Life in Japan | Leave a comment

Merrill’s 1996 Bonenkai in Rock-n-Roll Diner

I stumbled into this album while cleaning my old harddisk. It’s only of marginal interest for those who didn’t work for Merrill’s Tokyo at that time. Bonenkai means Forget-the-year party in Japanese as oppose to Shinnenkai which is New Year … Continue reading

Posted in Life in Japan | 3 Comments