December 2015

明けましておめでとう。



Another year in Japan. This will be my 10th year blogging here at Japan Bash. If you've been following along, thank you. The effort has waned, with 2015 having only 21 posts. To put it in perceptive, 2008 has 5 times the amount of effort.



Another charity motorcycle run and another month of good food. If I get some heated motorcycle gear, you'll probably see more riding. If not, more eats.





While doing research on Japanese shaved ice, I accidentally ordered this one; affogato over Japanese red beans. Crazy combo.





Osaka is, as it always is, a strange and magical place. Years ago, before I moved to Tokyo, I was about 50/50 between taking the next step in Tokyo or Osaka. Frankly, opportunity abounds in Tokyo, so I know I made the right choice, but I always wonder.





One and done at Universal Studios Japan. Like every other amusement park, it is a lot of waiting around. But instead of implementing a fast-pass type of system, here you can just buy your way to the front. Seven express tickets cost an extra $100.

Might be worth it. The day I went was a cold, rainy weekday in the off season, and the Harry Potter ride had a 4 hour wait.



$100 for some tickets ain't nothing to a baller.



Not sure why, but I ended up with a bunch of Christmas present pate from restaurants. Hugo Desnoyer is a strange place. The clientele are your typical stuffy executive-looking dudes, but the speakers blast some kind of space disco soundtrack. The other pate is from Anis, which is one of my favorite places in the city. And another is from a friend who went to Paris. So, yeah, pate party at my place.



Camp-style spiced cider.



Camp-style spit-roasted sausages.



Fuji from the north and the south. I spent the 31st riding, was asleep by 10pm, and spent the 1st riding as well. The next day, Facebook had a bunch of posts from friends bragging that they had done the same (the going to bed early part at least).

Time to think about 2016. Two years ago I gave up a vice, and last year I gave up another. We subtract in order to add. Maybe I'll just get a haircut this year.



I hope everyone makes every year count.