KitKats and Toys

Banana KitKat. Not bad.

Sweet Potato KitKat. Also, pretty good. Bought this nice box in Tokyo when I visited Miho.

Someone important from Japanese history. Toy that came with a drink.

Pucho toys!!! I have no clue what this thing is. It looks like it's wearing a mask.

Beer? Washing it's hair?

This looks like my dad.

Mentaiko twins from Kyushu. Asami is from Fukuoka, and went home a few weeks ago. She bought me a souvenir.

Spiderman, spiderman, climbs the Asakusa lantern cause he's the man....

I've realized I only post on the weekends. Understandably so, because
1. Nothing exciting ever happens during the week.
2. I have no time during the week.

Saturday night I went out to the Hub with Miho, Asami, and Farron. I decided to stop drinking beer, because that's a lot of extra calories, and so far it's working out quite nicely. A few glasses of wine is all I need.

Today I'm going to go buy a few presents, and then go to Higashi Kakogawa and visit with Miho and her family. She's moving to Tokyo on the 31st, so I want to help her pack* and eat dinner with her parents. I'm going to find a roll cake, fruit tart, and a stuffed Bonerman for them.

* By help her pack, I mean sit in one corner of her room and give a running commentary on how much stuff she's trying to move to Tokyo.

Should be great fun. We both miss Jen, so we're going to Skype with her at some point during the visit.

Next weekend I'm going to Tokyo to visit Miho and see 311 in concert! WHOO HOO! I with they made different merchandise for the Asian tours, but I doubt it. However, I'm still going to buy a sweet shirt, and a poster for J Randy.

Toys are much better when they are won.

Jen and I went shopping in Sannomiya yesterday. Our mission was to find a nice birthday present for Aaron and Oli, but we got sidetracked in a arcade. They are a million different little games, grabby games and video games. I tried a game where you scoop some toys up, then dump them on a moving platform, and hope some get shoved off into the hole. I won on my first try! I got really excited, and Jen took a picture haha. I won the red, bean-looking thing. They're edamame (soybeans), and apparently have many characters among them. On the second try, I won FOUR! I gave two to Jen (a purple one, and a yellow one) and kept the orange and yellow ones. I have a new addiction...

I dragged Jen to a mexican restaurant in Sannomiya. It was super disapointing. Pretty place though. We left still hungry. However, we stopped by a convenience store and Jen bought an American dog. Check out the super convenient and practical mustard & ketchup combo.

Since Aaron and Oli's birthdays are close, we had a joint birthday party in Osaka. We went to the Ramada rooftop beer garden. It was really nice! On my way to the restroom, I stopped and played foozball with three young girls. I kicked their asses. They kept speaking to me in Japanese, and I would reply in English. I feel like we bonded. Later, as they walked past our table, they all gave me high fives.

It just dawned on me how that might be strange for there to be young children at a beer garden.

After the rooftop beer garden, we took a taxi to The Blarney Stone. It was fun. I wore the bartender's glasses. I look like Elton John.

Jen hiked Mt. Fuji with Aaron last weekend. She bought me a little charm for my cell phone. It's a little Fuji san!!! How cute.


There's a Japanese flag on the back.


New KitKat flavor. Apples and carrots?

Toys and Candy

KitKat has many different flavors in Japan. Here are some new ones: Above, I have no idea. The photos looks like it should taste like a mojito. I'm still not sure what it was.

This KitKat was strawberry flavored, but they were tiny little onsies, individually wrapped.

Yes, everyone's favorite, Apple Vinegar!!! Tasted more like a sour apple to me.

If you can tell me what flavor these Doritos are supposed to be, you will win a prize.

New favorite snack, from Lawson's. One bag, with popcorn, Cheetos, and Doritos. I'm in heaven.

These are similar to caramels, but taste like green tea. I just bought them because they have a samurai's butt cheeks.

I later found out you're not supposed to unwrap them, the wrapper dissolves in your mouth.

I buy Pepsi when they have toys. They always have Snoopy toys. This is Snoopy on a Chinese dumpling.

And Snoopy on some vegetable. I had no idea what. (That seems to be a common theme with me)

Last but not least, Apple Pockey.

Japan's Funniest Students

EDIT: Found some cell phone photos.

Yes, there is a Wendy's in Japan. Awesome.


"I have a fight with my boyfriend. I'd better tell him that I'm sorry." This was on a floor guide in a department store. WTF?



I wish Bob Saget could host this show.

In a group class, discussing American music:

Student 1: I like American Music.
Me: Can you give me an example?
Student 1: Avril Lavigne. And pop music, like N'Sync.
Me: *to myself: "Avril's Canadian."* Do you like the Backstreet Boys?
Student 1: BAK-U-STREET BOYS??!?!?! Who is that?
Student 2 (who's a 30 year old male): You know, *starts singing "Quit Playing Games with my Heart".
Me: *almost peeing on myself laughing so hard*


In a kid's class, discussing "cute, cool, expensive".

Me: Ok! Please make a sentence!
Kids: That scooter was cuuuuuute!
Punk Ass Kid 1: Oh oh!!!!
Me: Yes, PAKid 1!
PAKid 1: Teacher is NOT cute!
Kids: HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHOWIEROWIAGRY9AW87ROIJ
Me: Great sentence, PAKid1! *to myself: "I will headbutt you after class."

As an aside, I had to praise PAKid1, because at his level, it was really impressive that he could use the vocabulary correctly, about another noun (me) and put the negative in the correct place! Didn't make me not want to punch him though...


Another group class, after a listening section:

Me: Ok! Any questions?
Student: Yes. What does 'suck' mean?
(She heard "This weather sucks!" I had to explain what 'sucky weather' was. Awesome.)




And now, three random toys from drinks I have bought. Seriously, this sometimes decides which drink I buy.

Who am I kidding, it always decides what I buy. And why I drink green tea more now. (It has the best toys).

This is a Cupie doll half-stuck in a bottle of green tea? I dunno. Japan is weird sometimes.

This is an ANA flight attendant from the 1960's. There are several you can collect. Haven't seen them again though. I wish I did, I could have my own army of flight attendants standing guard at my computer.

And my personal favorite: The Jim Beam Sumo wrestler/ Yakuza member. This guy has piercings, and a huge ass bottle of Jim Beam. Freaking Awesome.

All of these toys, plus many more pins and small trinkets, are lined up all around my keyboard. I can't close my screen or move my computer, but MAN IT LOOKS COOL!