Osaka’s latest mega-structure is now open for business. Osaka City Station features the renovated JR Osaka Train Station, accompanied by the recently constructed North Gate Building. The complex features a couple hundred shops (or so I’ve heard), a department store, a fitness club and tons of restaurants.

I tried to catch the opening and have a look around, but the mass crowding was insane – even for Osaka standards!

There were snaking lineups just to use the escalators. And getting inside of the actual North Gate Building meant standing in long queues.  I decided not to wait; lineups just kind of stress me out these days. Besides, I’ll have a much better opportunity to shop around when everyone’s back at work.

And construction continues…

Lots of it!

For many folks, this past weekend was the best opportunity to view the blossoming cherry trees, an event known here as hanami. Hanami is an ancient tradition where friends and family sit under trees, all day long, consuming beer and snacks and otherwise having a good, relaxing time.

But I think the festivities were probably toned down a bit this year; there’s still a nuclear crisis to worry about, and, well, it’s just sad to think of all the families not enjoying hanami because their homes and communities have been destroyed. Still, many people turned out where I live.

With my daily trips through Hyogo (the area between Osaka and Kobe), I’m always catching some interesting or otherwise crazy shit with my camera. Nowadays I’m shuffling between a Canon S95 and a Lumix GH1. Now if I could just remember to always replace their battery packs before I leave the house…

The other day I visited a giant shopping mall called Lalaport. I was a bit surprised at how stuffed it was full of shoppers. It was even hard to walk thru some areas.

I guess they aren’t too concerned with Japan’s serious financial crisis and the likely oncoming recession. Or maybe they’re just trying to stimulate the economy.

Anyhow, with spring temperatures finally in the air, the stores are selling a lot of cool looking light jackets and blue jeans. Often, I can wear this kind of stuff well towards the end of the year, so I’m always interested in what comes out during spring.

Eyebrow grooming among men is quite common in Japan. Thus, I wasn’t totally taken by surprise to find this Gatsby Face Eyebrow Kit at a local convenience store in the men’s grooming section.

True, you could easily assemble this three-item kit for cheaper than what I paid for – around $12 at marked up convenience store prices – but it’s nice to get all these items at once, and of the right kind for the job.

If you are a little unsure of how to start grooming your eyebrows, the backside of the case breaks it down into a couple easy steps:

Use the comb to brush upwards and trim your eyebrow hairs; anything sticking up past the upper boundaries of your eyebrow hairline is fair game. Next, use the tweezers to pluck individual hairs from beneath your hairline. This is where sculpting skills are needed and lapses in judgement can result in some pretty hilarious embarrassing situations!

Unlike regular scissors, these mini ones feature a pair of curved blades. This will keep you from stabbing yourself repeatedly, as trimming while watching yourself in the mirror can be kind of tricky!

The comb is equally tiny and has a crescent shape. This makes trimming easier and more accurate.

The only part of the kit that I feel is somewhat lacking are these tweezers. For very short eyebrow hairs, like ones that have just started to grow back, these tweezers aren’t quite sharp enough to get the job done consistently. I’d recommend buying a better pair of tweezers (ones with a different blade angle) or opting for a mini eyebrow razor.

The Japanese love this classic sneaker design from Patrick; they never seem to go out of style. Although Patrick is a European company, their products sold here are actually made in Japan. Unfortunately this means that even a basic pair of Patrick shoes starts at around $125. Having once owned a pair, I can attest to their comfort and quality, but they do seem a tad over priced. The glossy pair in the foreground with the candy apple gradient caught my eye. They cost around $180.

Comparatively, Dragon Beard is a Japanese brand, but assembled elsewhere, and command a much lower price. Their everyday DB series sneakers start at around $50 and are a popular choice among young to mid-aged men. I’m not the biggest fan of Dragon Beard footwear, but the company produces so many variations of their designs that I probably could find a pair that I wouldn’t mind taking home. Maybe when summer hits.

High tops of all brands and styles are popular year-round in Osaka, but especially during the winter months when well-insulated footwear is a must. I can’t remember what brand these shoes were, but I noticed their ‘high tops’ could be zipped off when needed.

SPX produces 80’s inspired high top sneakers in an abundance of styles and colors, including this polydactyl caricature I spotted in Namba, Osaka. With laces, Velco and no less than 5 tongues, what more could you possibly want from a sneaker?

SPX footwear looks more like kid’s toys — with their eye-grabbing colors and over-the-top textures — than serious fashion gear. But priced north of $200, and always produced in limited amounts, these wares find regular customers among enthusiasts and collectors who are into vintage Nike Jordan-style shoes.

Although I don’t see myself owning a pair of SPX footwear anytime soon, I love the old school ghetto blaster shoebox they come in.

Initially, for my daily commute, I was satisfied with storing the iPad in my usual shoulder bag or Arc’teryx backpack. But such bags could easily hold half a dozen iPads, or more — I needed to downsize my bag as I did with my mobile computer.

So the other day I visited a popular bag shop and picked up a Porter Freestyle shoulder bag.

The bag is made from high density canvas that has been processed with a polyurethane film. This creates a weather-proof exterior that is similar in feel to leather, yet is lightweight and requires very little maintenance.

Critically, for my use, the bag is just large enough to store an iPad in a SwitchEasy Nude case, a Micro Four Thirds camera, and regular items such as a wallet and iPhone. Because I tend to overpack, I made sure to get something that would hold only the essentials, thus forcing me to travel light.

The bag features three zippered compartments, each containing several sub-compartments, that are easily accessible when the bag is being worn. I’ve learnt from owning other bags that capacity without accessibility is highly annoying; I always seem to be reaching for my gadgets, money, or other stuff almost compulsively!

In conclusion, I am quite satisfied with this Porter Freestyle shoulder bag. Although the color was not my first choice, the brown finish contrasts nicely with the metal zippers. Overall, the bag looks conservatively styled with its boxy look conveying a feeling of utility.

On the practical side, the main compartment not only stores my iPad, but also allows quick access to my camera — important for candid street shots. The other pockets are similarly well designed and help to organize my growing collection of smaller gadgets and personal items.

Porter has long been one of the most popular bag brands among Japanese men. Although their products are not so easy to acquire outside of Japan, you can search through their product catalog here and perhaps find an international reseller online.

Here’s a shot of the Porter Freestyle shoulder bag taken with my phone. The bag’s dimensions just fit the iPad, but there is ample girth to hold the Panasonic GH1 camera with extra lenses as well.

Having free time on my hands, I thought I’d visit the mall to escape the summer heat.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Garden’s lack of customers and well air conditioned interior. Conversely, the last time I had visited it was near the holidays and the place was packed with people and uncomfortably hot.

Unlike most public places in Japan, I could find a seat with ease — the mall was almost dead. It must be tough for business. I wonder if a western style mall is right for Japanese consumers.

This guy was enjoying his new iPhone — he must of got in early during the preorder! I’ve been told from Softbank and the Apple Store that they’re sold out for weeks. I’m on the wait list now, but half of me wants to wait for an iPhone 4.5 without the antenna issue (I’m left handed) and the vulnerable rear glass panel (please go back to aluminum or plastic!).

The mall is nicely styled. It has natural lighting with spacious walkways that create a relaxed, slower paced atmosphere.

However, it got me wondering if such a shopping environment is well suited for Japanese consumers. From my observations, it seems that Osaka people are attracted to crowded and seemingly chaotic retail spaces. It’s kind of like when you’re searching for a restaurant and you automatically skip the ones that look empty.

Speaking of restaurants, the fourth level of the mall is dedicated to food; however, If you explore the place fully, you’ll also find eateries placed here and there.

The Sasebo Burger joint is on the bottom floor amongst regular retail shops. It’s almost like a fast food sneak attack!

Summer sales are in full effect!

Do you dress Funny? This is a western style cowboy store. But still very much Japanese.

Eventually I had to buy something. Just a shirt that was on sale from Rage Blue.

Hide the kids!

This guy will give you nightmares. And not just from the pink Crocs. I’ve seen him several times near Umeda station and his plastic babies always gives me the creeps. He doesn’t draw as many strange looks from passer-byers as you might imagine though…

These are lightweight cotton pants by Black Number. They are meant to be worn rolled up past the ankle and feature a clasp and button to secure the cuffs.

These pants are a slim fit with a high crotch, yet the thin material gives them a relaxed appearance. They are awesomely comfortable!

A better known brand are these Edwin summer pants. They are also made from a lightweight cotton and feature a drawstring waist.

These pants are loose in the seat and have a pretty wide leg. It’s not the most popular cut nowadays, but sometimes you need baggy clothing for the worst days of summer.

It was about 10:30 in the morning when I snapped this photo with my iPhone. These host boys were walking a client to the station.

One can only imagine the state they were in after an all-night marathon of drinking, chain-smoking and hustling.

You can’t really see from this cropped and poorly focused image, but the hosts were still looking pretty fresh with their Italian suits and wicked hairdos.

Working as a host can be a rough way to earn a living. You can learn more about Osaka male hosts from watching this video.