Jonelle Patrick's Blog, page 51

Tokyo Street Art Redux

Gotta say, in the land where people don’t even ask the gods for a favor without turning their prayer plaque into a piece of manga, the street art in Tokyo never disappoints.

Jonelle Patrick is the author of the Only In Tokyo mystery series, published by Penguin/Intermix.

When I Said I Wanted Cheese Pizza, I Didn’t Mean THAT Kind Of Cheese!

I thought I’d seen the pinnacle of Unclear On The Concept when wedges of Camembert started showing up on Japanese pizza, but that was before I spotted this one topped with, yes, blue cheese. Mmm, mmm, little veins of smelly melted moldy bits, paired with tomatoes and that perennial Italian favorite, broccoli.

Jonelle Patrick is the author of the Only In Tokyo mystery series, published by Penguin/Intermix.

The Dog Blessing Shrine

 

Wow. Much blessing.

Japan isn’t short on shrines that cure warts, protect your electronics from the forces of eviltude, and jumpstart your career as a manga artist, but this is the first one I’ve heard of that has a ceremony for blessing your dog!

Shrines and temples do a booming business banishing bad luck from people mired in their periodic three-year-long yakudoshi (“bad luck years”), but the priests at Ichigaya Hachiman will turn away the slings and arrows of outrageous bad fortune from your faithful shiba too.

One burning question remains, however: are shiba yakudoshi measured in dog years or human years?

Such gong.

Square snow is square. Must bite.

Whoosha-whoosha. Ooo squirrel.

Wow. Much prayers.

Jonelle Patrick is the author of the Only In Tokyo mystery series, published by Penguin/Intermix. Photos and info about dog blessing ceremony from the May 2014 issue of Shi-ba magazine.

 

Beer Sandwich

Brewskie on a bun! At first glance, this latest candidate for Strange Sandwiches Of Japan promises to deliver the punch of a nice cold one, but on closer examination, there’s an unfortunate amount of beef curry diluting the beer. Dang.

Jonelle Patrick is the author of the Only In Tokyo mystery series, published by Penguin/Intermix.

Ear Floss

In the Solution Looking For A Problem sweepstakes, this has gotta be a contender.

Jonelle Patrick is the author of the Only In Tokyo mystery series, published by Penguin/Intermix. If you’re in desperate need of something to roto-rooter your piercings, you can stock on up ear floss at (where else?) Tokyu Hands.

Pass The Fish Guts And The Teapot Of Beer, Please

It’s summertime, and that means the cool, refreshing beer you just ordered might arrive in a teapot, accompanied by crisp cucumbers, a dollop of mayo to dip them in and…fish guts. Salty fish guts.

And yeah – I think I’m getting better at this living in Japan thing, because I knew not to ask what they were until after I ate them.

Jonelle Patrick is the author of the Only In Tokyo mystery series, published by Penguin/Intermix.

This Is Supposed To Make Me Cuter?

Somehow, Kabuki Villain Face never really whispered “adorable” in my ear, but it could be pretty entertaining to scare the bejeezus out of unsuspecting visitors while also attaining new levels of softer, smoother skin. And if the miracle-potion-soaked cutout inside doesn’t manage to make me drop-dead gorgeous, I suppose I can always snatch up my trusty katana to finish the job.

Jonelle Patrick is the author of the Only In Tokyo mystery series, published by Penguin/Intermix.

The Wart Shrine

Warts. Just hearing their name makes you want to get rid of them faster than pronto. And what easier way, than to visit the Wart-Be-Gone Jizo at Nishiarai Daishi temple? Just toss a coin in the box and take a pinch of the sacred pile-o-salt to rub on the offending carbuncle, and this benevolent bodhisattva will cure what ails you.

Jonelle Patrick is the author of the Only In Tokyo mystery series, published by Penguin/Intermix. Big thanks to Rorousha for introducing me to this fantastic temple and pointing out this odd little sub-shrine!

I Hope You Wanted Marlboros

This vending machine offers you a choice between Marlboros and…Marlboros. It could be a glimpse of some horrible apocalyptic future in which the only beer left on Earth is Miller Light and the only mayo is Miracle Whip, or it could be the latest example of a popular Japanese advertising trend: make the product stand out on the shelf by…buying up all the shelves.

This is the first time I’ve seen a one-product vending machine, but whole subway cars and even whole trains are regularly taken over by ads from a single brand.

Jonelle Patrick is the author of the Only In Tokyo mystery series, published by Penguin/Intermix.

My Next Car

…is definitely going to be a Shoe Car. I hope they come in pink.

Jonelle Patrick is the author of the Only In Tokyo mystery series, published by Penguin/Intermix.