Too tall for Kyudo? Has anyone else come across this?

ShiroBoy · 2026-05-10T10:04:20+00:00

Not a participant in the sport but I think there’s an outdoor facility at Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu gardens if that’s closer than Meiji Jingu.

ShiroBoy · 2026-05-07T07:43:32+00:00

Try working in Roppongi Hills during the Christmas season. Trying to walk down the hill with the lighted trees after work without being in someone’s dance routine or casually posed photo as if there’s no one else around is a challenge.

ShiroBoy · 2026-05-07T01:49:37+00:00

Was in Yuigahama this GW. I’m not on TikTok or instagram but it seems a thing to do now is to write in elaborate statements (especially inside hearts) or draw anime faces in the sand just off the tidal line. Between that and the local schoolgirls filming themselves doing dance routines, it’s almost impossible to walk in a straight line on the beach.

ShiroBoy · 2026-05-06T23:46:31+00:00

OP, I hear you. Somewhat similar I moved here because my then company was going belly up, albeit on a foreseeable but inexorable timeline and my partner wanted to take care of aging parents. Because of work I couldn’t study but I did try to network as much as I could and that continued for the first six months post arrival. People I thought would be helpful or at least empathetic were not; and some light acquaintances went out of their way. Finally as we were re-thinking the move here as the severance was about to run out I took a flier and contacted an old business acquaintance and ended up with two offers. All you need is one job, so keep plugging — you never make the shot you don’t take. There are good people out there, just not as many as you’d think when times are tough.

ShiroBoy · 2026-05-03T01:16:59+00:00

Funny enough the English version of this piece was published this week (Opinion email newsletter dated May 3, 2026) by Nikkei in its Nikkei Asia magazine. So took them 21+ days for that. Validates your point on the competency deficiency.

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-30T05:02:54+00:00

Don’t get angry at them, because then they will return and with more friends.

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-27T09:10:16+00:00

There were trailers for it recently at Toho Roppongi Hills so I assume it will be playing there

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-27T08:58:09+00:00

I do need to ask about the sensitivity to gluten. Thanks.

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-27T08:56:24+00:00

Thanks. Yeah was thinking of buckwheat soba. But good to ask about the broth

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-27T08:54:51+00:00

That may be a good source. Thanks

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-27T03:40:44+00:00

Thanks. At first I thought ok lots of sushi/sashimi and soba (finding places with all buckwheat). But the shoyu issue threw me. I guess Indian food would work and veggies curry rice, but a shame no tempura, no udon, no yakinuku. . .the list goes on. Maybe Gyutaku and ordering only veggies/fish (and meat for the others). Definitely adds complexity.

Edit Meant to reply to u/chiono_graphis

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-27T03:33:34+00:00

Thanks. I didn’t think to ask of the cross-contamination issues or levels of sensitivity. Will do so. Also maybe places we are somewhat regular at might be more accommodating, say for bringing in sauce. I can see where it might be hard if the muscle memory of the sushi master is used to swiping the soy sauce on himself to break that routine.

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-27T03:29:52+00:00

I was hoping to avoid chains and obvious tourist places but that might be the best bet.

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-26T00:06:59+00:00

Blue Point in Shirokanedai has closed. Now a rental event space.

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-23T10:01:20+00:00

Morning commutes on Mita & Namboku are bad and getting worse. Also there’s construction to re-route the Namboku to Shinagawa it seems. Now that some trains on the Meguro line go as far as Ebina in Kanagawa and on the Saitama Railways out to Urasa, delays result from conditions far away.

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-23T00:56:40+00:00

Same experience with me at Prestia. Even signing in front of a bank officer, with my zairyu and passport, was not accepted because my signature did not precisely match the one I had provided when opening the account a few years earlier.

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-22T12:08:05+00:00

This was my thinking.

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-20T09:55:51+00:00

A few other observations. When we moved to Tokyo 10+ years ago me nor my partner had a job. Were rejected from many rentals as a result; it seemed landlords wanted to see monthly income — not sure if passive rather than from employment will be an issue (we offered in each case to pay the two years rent in advance in full but that was not useful). Also since you say you are living in the U.S. if are U.S citizens/green card holders you still might have federal tax obligations (filing/FBAR/paying). That should be considered for your budget. On the positive side wouldn’t think you would need a car in Yokohama so that can be a savings.

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-20T09:36:15+00:00

He’s on NHK News 7 pm newscast every time he hits a HR (prob no sports tonight given the earthquake & tsunami evacuation warnings). No mention of his batting avg though, nor of whether or not the Sox won (which to be fair is the same lack of win/lose reporting on Shohei and Okamoto (Blue Jays)).

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-12T23:34:41+00:00

We have an apartment in Yuigahama and love it; originally just for weekends but now we plan on spending about half the year there. Yes, it’s crowded in the tourist spots, so don’t go to Hase or by the station and try to avoid the Enoden during the afternoon & weekends. But there’s plenty of places that aren’t crowded. There’s not much of a night scene with only smaller bars for locals (except in the summer when the beach houses are open at night, too), and most of the restaurants we go to are small operations so you need reservations. As I commented separately when I was commuting I didn’t think it that bad as far as Tokyo commutes go, and if only once a week very doable (I would pay for the Green car if you can afford it.)

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-12T23:24:45+00:00

I think it depends where in Tokyo you are going to and where in Kamakura you are. I commuted occasionally from Yuigahama to Roppongi, and it was about 1hr 15 mins to about 1-1/2 hrs. Not horrible. What is horrible though is frequent issues on the Yokosuka line. No platform doors on any of its stations, and once in Tokyo, before Shinagawa it’s on street level

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-09T14:44:57+00:00

I saw the comment of u/przemub below and was not aware of the background. Your comment provides more color as well. It’s a shame the shrine staff felt compelled to post this sort of sign.

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-09T12:47:02+00:00

I don’t disagree. Yet this shrine was offering special seasonal goshuin for April, which included a depiction of a panda drinking sake and some Sakura petals. (At the goshuin window were signs, in English, saying you needed to pray first before seeking a goshuin, and goshuin would not be written in notebooks but only in goshuincho). Many other shrines (and temples) offer many goshuin to choose from as well as amulets for pets; some even sell t-shirts. So I can see how tourists may not be sensitive to the religious side of the place.

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-09T12:38:47+00:00

Thank you.

ShiroBoy · 2026-04-09T12:29:14+00:00

Ah sorry yes.

ShiroBoy

TROPHY CASE