tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43862175809383191302024-11-01T20:54:47.723+09:00ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.comBlogger647125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-45221326995693937122013-08-13T19:09:00.000+09:002013-10-25T10:05:19.152+09:00

3 years ago, it was a Friday the 13th and my friends and I set out to climb Mt. Fuji. You can check out all my Fuji-san related posts at http://japan.ronjie.com/search/label/fuji-san. Or just sit back and watch the 40-minute video below. UPDATE: As pointed out by reader Grin Isobe, the rest of the videos do not seem to play after the initial "You are watching rTV" intro video. You can try

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-51705500596740360602013-06-16T21:27:00.001+09:002013-06-16T21:33:32.403+09:00

The better question to ask, actually, is: "Is there such a thing as Usuter Sauce?" "Usuter Sauce" spotted at a local "Daiso" / 88-peso store here in the Philippines. I deeply apologize for not having been able to update this blog at all for more than two months now! Since coming back to Manila, which I thought was home, I've struggled to find a place to settle in. My stuff at the apartment

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-10983618641185900212013-04-13T06:22:00.000+09:002013-04-13T06:22:00.082+09:00

...manhole covers!

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-49985975919237404172013-04-12T15:58:00.000+09:002013-04-12T16:00:27.939+09:00

Or what: http://www.newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/101993.php It was on this day when the park first opened back in 1983.

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-31573390063835710502013-04-12T14:53:00.000+09:002013-04-12T14:54:10.595+09:00

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-59918716377932262872013-04-11T08:54:00.000+09:002013-04-11T08:54:00.154+09:00

And friendship. And beer time. ;)

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-34427180859258957922013-04-10T16:09:00.000+09:002013-04-10T16:09:00.105+09:00

Took this photo back in January 30 while in Atsugi, and looking to the northeast -- i.e. towards Tokyo. The photo is not so clear though; but there's clear blue skies here in Atsugi and seemingly hazy / gray skies towards the horizon. Or is it just some atmospheric visual trickery / illusion?

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-78235611515644541282013-04-09T11:32:00.000+09:002013-04-09T11:32:00.682+09:00

Check out this article on SourceFed. You know, heat on the jewels, they say, reduces semen count. Like, my wife is discouraging me from actually using my laptop on my lap. But you know, Japanese like taking a hot bath in the tub, like, every night. See any connection there? Also, I see shy people. I see unfriendly people. I see distant people. I see "we can only be friends up to this level

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-74498674467932087272013-04-06T08:36:00.000+09:002013-04-06T08:36:00.074+09:00

It's large and it's yum. Comes with a bunch of stuff as well -- potato/ham salad, some seaweeds, and a cabbage bedding. And tonkatsu sauce and mustard, of course! Forgot how much this was, but it was totally worth it. I think it was around 600 yen.

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-79075015894155389462013-04-05T18:30:00.000+09:002013-04-05T18:30:03.167+09:00

I don't know when or if I'll ever see this view again. The well-lit small building on the left is the empty 学生ホール / gakusei hooru / student hall in the middle of spring break at Tokyo Polytechnic University in Atsugi, my home for the last 3 years. So many has happened in the last 3 years. I went to Japan, lived on my own, far away from family for about a year. Got married. Lived with my

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-27442019787018464652013-04-04T08:25:00.000+09:002013-04-04T08:25:00.678+09:00

Thanks to Okada san for the photo. I actually ordered this again on another day because I forgot to take a photo of it when I ate it with the tantanmen. Perfect combination. Forgot the prices though, but I'm sure this is all around 500 yen only.  Also, I forgot if they call the ramen as tantanmen or "Taiwan ramen." Incidentally, today is also a "perfect combination"

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-66853449802886401242013-04-03T08:22:00.000+09:002013-04-03T08:22:00.586+09:00

510 yen for 6 pieces of this 上海名物 / shanhai meibutsu / Shanghai specialty that's sold at this small store in Machida, Tokyo. And about a 15 minute wait? Almost there! They are worth the wait. Basically, there's (very) hot soup inside, so you have to pierce a hole first to sip the soup out. But you have to be really, really careful because it's really, really hot. &

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-52773281034693582582013-04-02T09:53:00.000+09:002013-09-09T10:14:20.965+09:00

UPDATE: The original video has disappeared. Thanks to reader Grin Isobe who has pointed this out. I have since replaced the link. If this goes down again, I recommend to search YouTube for "japan a story of love and hate BBC". Alternatively, you can find the official video on Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/ondemand/japanastoryofloveandhate.

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-53129567133094923432013-04-01T14:37:00.000+09:002013-04-01T14:37:00.930+09:00

In case you didn't know yet, I ain't white. And being Asian, though not East Asian, I think if I studied the language (including their intonation/accent) and culture well enough, I could blend right in and no local would ever know except close friends. Alas, having an engineering and research "job," it is difficult to find enough time to become that person. It would be really great for life in

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-61484926201668812232013-03-31T22:26:00.000+09:002013-03-31T22:26:00.722+09:00

From the YouTube description: "Follow one international student's breathtaking journey through the heart of Tokyo and experience the sights and sounds of Keio University." He actually visited many more places outside Tokyo. These are the things you should look forward to when you visit Japan. If you aren't interested in anything Japanese, or if you're just generally not open to new things,

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-13940356836701183382013-03-30T08:09:00.000+09:002013-03-30T08:09:00.775+09:00

I think this was around 105 yen at the supermarket? You can also find these at your local 100-yen store (e.g. Daiso).  いわし / iwashi = sardine. 味 = miso. And that other kanji... :D Pretty good. I've always hesitated trying this because I thought it might be too sweet. It is sweet, but it's not too sweet. Just to show you that this is not an easy-open can with the tab, like on

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-12541691760725456762013-03-30T06:13:00.000+09:002013-03-30T06:13:00.866+09:00

Thanks ありがとう Thanks ありがとう Thanks ありがとう Thanks ありがとう Thanks ありがとう  I wonder though if it's still possible to beat 6,000 this month. Anyhow, I'll keep the posts comin' so stay tuned. Thanks again!

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-35459448136451524842013-03-29T08:03:00.000+09:002013-03-29T08:03:00.554+09:00

We had a farewell lunch for one of our colleagues here and this is what we had. I love sushi and pizza! Oh, the suspense! More photos when you click the "Read more" link! Cheese and mushrooms. Seafood. Heaven.

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-12121414379175637482013-03-28T08:56:00.000+09:002013-03-28T08:56:01.309+09:00

"New!!" From 3F. 牛 / gyuu = beef. And... you know sukiyaki, right? This is that except it's not yaki because it's not heated in a metal pan. I forgot how to read the 2nd kanji (4th character above)! Yummy!

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-17974129790893241192013-03-27T08:47:00.000+09:002013-03-27T08:47:00.084+09:00

This is larger than the usual canned tuna, good for 1 meal for me. It's actually シーチキン / shii chikin / sea chicken / chicken of the sea; i.e. skipjack tuna. This is probably around 300 yen from the supermarket. I love canned tuna. :D Kooru suroo sarada / コールスローサラダ / cole slaw salad. 'nuff said.

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-11440136283415118152013-03-26T08:43:00.000+09:002013-03-26T08:43:00.085+09:00

"New!!" From 3F. Buta / ぶた / 豚 = pig. ロース / roosu = "roast," but it actually means more like a certain slice of pork usually used for tonkatsu. 焼 / やき / yaki = grilled or (teppan-)fried. 肉 / にく / niku = meat. And of course, bentou / べんとう / 弁当 = "lunch box."

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-26388781713925455442013-03-25T09:09:00.000+09:002013-03-25T09:09:00.682+09:00

Pretty good. I forgot how much -- maybe under 300 yen from the supermarket. By the way, I don't know what akebono means. Maybe.. "dawn"?

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-86815241763798420682013-03-24T19:50:00.001+09:002013-03-24T19:50:45.456+09:00

Check out my "Graduation time!" blog post from last year to find out what's the difference between the "traditional" kimono, hakama, and the Korean traditional attire.

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-74427705521808687032013-03-24T09:04:00.000+09:002013-03-24T09:04:00.303+09:00

A.k.a. hamburger plus shrimp plate. I think this was 440 yen from the school cafeteria. Comes with demi glace sauce, the shrimps are fried breaded ones, plus there's a ball of potato salad, and some salad greens. Not the best in the world, but good enough to satisfy my craving for variety. I also don't like potato salads, macaroni salads, and egg salads. To me, those aren't salads. Oh well.

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4386217580938319130.post-16298366271034377712013-03-23T08:52:00.000+09:002013-03-25T13:25:00.275+09:00

...the Philippines! Love 'em. They're healthy, too. Painappuru / パイナップル Banana / バナナ They're not exactly large. This one's 128 yen I think though I usually get the 98 yen ones.

ronjiedotcomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00572901818932562788noreply@blogger.com0