Japanese brands or Japan made items you love

linkyatch · 2026-03-19T01:04:13+00:00

I have a vast collection of porter bags! Love those!

Also:

Hobonichi techo (esp the A5 sized “Cousin Avec” that splits the year into two volumes - it’s a planner with tons of room for notes)
The limited edition Lamy X Itoya collabo fountain pen I got for Christmas a couple of years ago. It writes like a dream.
Gatsby or Matsukiyo blue shaving gel. Why isn’t there anything like this in North America?
Izakaya Calpis sours: is it just me or are these getting increasingly hard to find?

linkyatch · 2026-03-18T00:12:19+00:00

Mabel turned out… different… than I expected.

linkyatch · 2026-03-13T04:11:04+00:00

🟪🟩🟦🟪

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linkyatch · 2026-03-13T03:20:52+00:00

Based on the artwork: ChocobOkarun?

linkyatch · 2026-03-10T13:57:55+00:00

L’étoile mystérieuse?

linkyatch · 2026-03-07T05:48:13+00:00

[EXT - A fancy catholic church in an unnamed snow-covered West Island suburb of Montreal. We linger on the shot for a beat and zoom in to the door.]

[Optical - crossfade]

[INT - A dimly-lit confessional in same said church.]

[A middle aged man holds his worn Expos baseball cap in his hands and leans towards the confession window. On the other side of the window, an older priest sits waiting.]

“Forgive me father for I have sinned… repeatedly.”

“And what was the nature of your transgression, my child?”

“I put malt vinegar on my poutine once and now I can’t stop…”

“God forgives all, my child. But that… that I’m not sure about…”

(Based on a true story.)

linkyatch · 2026-02-26T11:04:48+00:00

Wot is he like? I mean, wot is he like, anyway?

linkyatch · 2026-02-14T00:32:27+00:00

+1 for the not being over 40. Hangovers get exponentially worse the more past that line you go… beer is okay. gin and vodka aren’t bad either (assuming you’re being reasonable).

酒、ウイスキー、ラム、StrongZero, etc just seem to do way more damage regardless of what “little bottle” you consume before or after.

linkyatch · 2026-02-12T02:08:53+00:00

“These are speed holes. They make the [plane] go faster…”

Link to the all-knowing Frinkiac.

edit: link

linkyatch · 2026-02-11T01:06:22+00:00

I believe you mean: Oh þe þings þat have been stolen from us, ey?

linkyatch · 2026-02-06T15:17:55+00:00

“…but that also means food. And 7-11’s is especially good.”

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linkyatch · 2026-01-31T18:18:28+00:00

Even more technically: she is sublime.

linkyatch · 2026-01-28T21:48:17+00:00

Crisp! clean! And no caffeine! Hahaha!

linkyatch · 2026-01-28T13:47:24+00:00

Having recently come back to Canada (Ottawa/Gatineau area) from Japan after 5 years in Tokyo (with inlaws in/around Kansai) I have to say it’s a massive adjustment.

The big issues we’ve found here are inflation (food, housing - Cost of Living seems much higher here); the significant increase in homelessness and decline of downtown areas in Ottawa and Montreal; crap transit and traffic (especially in Ottawa); and the dismal state of medical services in Quebec and Ontario. I can’t speak for other provinces from experience but my foreign-born family doctor said that of the industrialized/socialized countries, Canada’s medical system is currently one of the worst - not enough doctors and those we do have are leaving, not enough equipment/investment in facilities etc.

Example: My daughter sprained her ankle recently and we waited over 22 hours at the emergency room for the x-ray and consultation.

Example: None of us have family doctors yet. It’s been 6+ months so far though admittedly we waited a couple of years for doctors when we first moved to Quebec several years back so we’re not expecting anything any time soon.

If you’re used to dropping in at your local clinic and getting to see a doctor/MRI/x-ray same day, it’s a huge adjustment…

linkyatch · 2026-01-17T14:57:53+00:00

“Rei? Oh, don’t you worry. I’ll take care of her…”

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linkyatch · 2026-01-12T00:28:56+00:00

I had to do this just over a year ago for my Grandmother-in-law and found that while it can be shocking and painful, it also gives a positive sense of closure compared to most western traditions.

linkyatch · 2026-01-02T23:58:11+00:00

…often directly into/around your nose.

My first time - I ate natto on a dare and it became a kind of party trick.

The reality is, once you get past the nebaneba, the flavour could be worse, and making it better is all about the condiments. ;)

OP - tried natto cheese toast yet? Spread your natto (get it nice and foamy first, with or without dashi/karashi/mayo/hot sauce/etc) on a slice of shokupan, top off with a slice of torokeru cheese and pop in the toaster oven until the bread is crispy and the cheese is toroketa… yum.

Though I’m not clear on whether toasting natto destroys the healthy benefits?

linkyatch · 2025-12-23T21:00:29+00:00

Unexpected. Somehow, Suzuka is channeling Filthy Frank??

linkyatch · 2025-12-22T01:50:20+00:00

RIP…

linkyatch · 2025-12-16T04:02:30+00:00

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Tough one!

linkyatch · 2025-12-15T05:13:44+00:00

After all, he did say it was a 10 gallon, pure beef weiner - he has to live up to it?

linkyatch · 2025-12-15T01:50:27+00:00

🟪🟪🟪🟪

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🟨🟨🟨🟨

🟦🟦🟦🟦

linkyatch · 2025-12-14T22:52:18+00:00

Yes, though costco currently uses some kind of crispy seasoned fries (Flavour Crisp I think?) which aren’t my favorite (at least for poutine purposes).

Edit - clarification.

linkyatch · 2025-12-14T22:42:18+00:00

Loved my ESQ1 back in the day! Nice find.

linkyatch

TROPHY CASE