Every once in a while you discover a place where the photos that made you run to the nearest station and jump on godzilla-knows-how-many-trains to get there did not lie. Not even a little bit. Those pictures of hills swathed in an unbroken carpet of blue flowers at Hitachi Seaside Park? REAL. Where I come from, these little pieces of […]
May
12
New Red Hats
posted by Jonelle Patrick
Yesterday as I was cutting through the grounds of Zojo-ji temple, I noticed that all the Jizo-sans had bright new hats. In all the time I’ve been going there, they’ve never gotten new hats all at once. I don’t know why they suddenly all got new hats at once. But even the ancient ones whose weathered caps […]
May
11
A Leopard For Your Butt
posted by Jonelle Patrick
I’ve seen fruit for your patootie and warriors for your derriere, but this is the first time I’ve encountered top-of-the-food-chain predators for your butt. Am trying hard not to imagine the Japanese bathroom where this would fit right in… • Jonelle Patrick writes mysteries set in Tokyo
May
09
Beautifully Beastly
posted by Jonelle Patrick
Rose. Flavored. Yogurt. Let’s all agree that this one ought to have remained a fantasy. • Jonelle Patrick writes mysteries set in Tokyo. Painted Doll is now out in paperback.
May
06
Where To See The Most Amazing Azaleas In Tokyo
posted by Jonelle Patrick
From mid-April to mid-May, it seems like there are bright pink bushes whipping by the train window everywhere you go in Tokyo, but there are a few special places that just beg you to take the kind of snaps that make everyone scream “I want to go to there!” Here are my favorite places to take azalea […]
May
05
I Never Thought I’d Be Excited About A Fire Escape
posted by Jonelle Patrick
But isn’t this the best fire escape EVER? I mean, it’s a SLIDE. (And a fast one too. I know. I was a childhood slide junkie.) If I lived here, I’d want to have fire drills every day. • Jonelle Patrick writes mysteries set in Tokyo.
May
01
The Slippery Slope, Illustrated
posted by Jonelle Patrick
See, this is where tolerance will get you. Let them get away with putting ginger pickles and fish shavings on pizza, say nothing when your spaghetti comes topped with sea urchin eggs, and next thing you know, you’ll be waking up to every child’s worst nightmare: SPINACH PANCAKES. • Jonelle Patrick writes mysteries set in Tokyo. …or watch […]
