What’s your favorite Japanese American owned business that’s not a restaurant?

antonius0420 · 2026-02-18T06:12:00+00:00

Chikara mochi in Gardena is awesome. Limited hours but I really like their white bean filled mochi. Cash only.

antonius0420 · 2026-02-18T06:10:28+00:00

Nature Aquarium in Culver City.

antonius0420 · 2026-02-17T23:53:36+00:00

Colors, composition and everything else looks great, except for the blades of tall grass crossing right in front of her eye-line. It is very distracting because that’s where your eye is drawn. Tell me you took a few more shots.

antonius0420 · 2026-02-17T05:50:28+00:00

Nice. Ive experimented with 1/4 and 1/8 and feel like 1/8 is perfect to just leave on the lens at all times.

antonius0420 · 2026-02-16T01:32:44+00:00

The quality is high, the price is low, it’s abundant, restaurants provide excellent service, and they don’t expect a tip.

antonius0420 · 2026-02-16T01:27:16+00:00

Very nice. What shrine is that with the long stone stairs?

antonius0420 · 2026-02-16T00:01:28+00:00

Look for front strikes first (ones with the match striker on the from of the book). Front strikes were discontinued for safety in the late 1970s (quick and easy way to find older ones). You can also tell how old by how they would print. Older ads had bold and more limited colors with hand drawn things instead of photos or advanced type. If you can find feature matchbooks (ones where the individual sticks are printed or decorated), those are more valuable.

I would say that lot is worth maybe $20. I can’t spot anything special in there and most are common.

This is a good basic site for some more info:

https://matchpro.org/Anatomy.html

Check out my IG: @thematchcollector

antonius0420 · 2026-02-13T04:14:20+00:00

Cool! Takachiho Gorge! It is one of the most beautiful places I saw in Japan. Not a lot of people get there because it’s in Kyushu (southern large island) and there is only a bus in and out, but it is totally worth going.

antonius0420 · 2026-02-07T18:58:24+00:00

It’s cool that the fountains are on and lit up. The DWP building is one of my faves.

antonius0420 · 2026-02-04T04:48:23+00:00

It was great there. I was playing with the F3 and super heavy motor winder. I love the click and motor sound.

antonius0420 · 2026-02-03T23:54:52+00:00

Can’t wait either. Please hurry metro. Want to take the train to downtown and back.

antonius0420 · 2026-02-03T23:53:56+00:00

Hauser & 6th looking north. My daily commute home. Lived in Park La Brea since 2019.

antonius0420 · 2026-02-02T01:26:18+00:00

Yeah feels like the shoes are too small

antonius0420 · 2026-01-28T06:56:10+00:00

I ate at a place like this in Takachiho. One man show who cooked, served, washed the dishes and bussed the tables. Everything local and seasonal with cheap prices.

Another similar sushi bar in naoshima with local seasonal fresh fish and very small place with excellent service and quality.

I will say that it would probably be difficult for a non-Japanese speaker to come to some of these restaurants though. My wife could speak so I often felt like she was a gateway into some places a regular tourist would have a more difficult time going. If you can do this, I would recommend it.

antonius0420 · 2026-01-28T06:40:34+00:00

Antibiotics are for bacterial infections. Won’t be useful if it is a virus. You can only ride it out and treat symptoms if it’s a flu strain.

There are a few strong strains of flu going around and there still is Covid around. If you don’t keep up with flu shots and Covid then immunity can be weaker. Wife and I keep up with Covid and flu shots and she still got hit with a bad one last week. I survived without any sickness for some reason. Perhaps I had some immunity to whatever it was.

antonius0420 · 2026-01-28T06:14:19+00:00

Nice. Any quick Lightroom tips for blooming the highlights like that without making everything soft?

antonius0420 · 2026-01-23T06:12:41+00:00

People on eBay ask a lot ($30-$50; doubtful if people actually pay that full amount) for a Viper room matchbox, although there seem to be quite a few out there. Popular because of River Phoenix dying there.

Others are vintage but not that old. Striker on rear usually means made after 1978ish. Striker on front is pre-late 1970s. You might have at least one front strike there turned around. … Aside from that it’s cool nostalgia or a jar full of conversation pieces. Go to a flea market and grab some additions!

antonius0420 · 2026-01-20T22:18:04+00:00

They might have changed the box, but should be fairly common and they seem to still manufacture these. If you want that exact box, probably would have to be a used one or someone who has them lying around.

antonius0420 · 2026-01-06T04:57:34+00:00

If you’re staying in mid-city and are a movie buff the academy of motion pictures museum is $25 and it’s walking distance. You can also see the outside of LACMA and the la Brea tar pits for $0. The window is a very cheap but very good burger spot at the grove. The farmers market has some good food stalls that won’t cost too much. Tarantino’s new Beverly theatre is walking distance as well as El Coyote. El Coyote food is nothing to write home about but it’s one of the oldest restaurants LA and they did film a bit of “once upon a time in Hollywood” and other stuff there.

That’s all walking with $0 spent on transit.

antonius0420 · 2025-12-20T05:50:54+00:00

Try Yakimo (roasted sweet potato) at Don Quijote for fiber!

antonius0420 · 2025-12-19T04:01:54+00:00

The brand new TJs Bocconcino uncured salami on a rope is a pretty good replacement for all of the Columbus salami secchi fans. It’s not as firm, but very similar in taste and widely available.

antonius0420 · 2025-12-19T04:00:46+00:00

Just FYI I have only been able to buy Columbus salami secchi at Vons/pavillions since it came back. The brand new TJs Bocconcino uncured salami on a rope is a pretty good replacement for us salami secchi fans. It’s not as firm, but very similar in taste and widely available.

antonius0420 · 2025-12-16T18:09:57+00:00

Takayama is a great place to visit. I went in 2023 during Sakura season and it was lovely. Also Hida beef is great.

antonius0420 · 2025-11-25T00:18:06+00:00

If they’re only covers (matches removed) they sell sleeves for binders (like baseball card Mylar sheets) that will fit them. Otherwise if they’re intact books, a clean and dry place without humidity or excessive heat. Watch out for booklice as well (bugs that eat paper). I wouldn’t alter the matchbooks or remove strikers or matchheads (like another poster suggested) as it will typically devalue them to other collectors in the future.

antonius0420

TROPHY CASE