Andy Hooper. Japan from afar. Follow @139DegreesEastTumblr (3.0; @139degreeseast)http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/efae805cee7691fd8703e72fa565e660/tumblr_mfydyuRynI1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Daido Moriyama.</p> <p>(Pamphlet on ironing board)</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/39384414094http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/39384414094Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:29:36 +0900daido moriyamaTate modernphotography<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7vak17S6a1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Never mind the Queen. Special guest at Japan vs Sweden…Salaryman! #london2012</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/28191738624http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/28191738624Sat, 28 Jul 2012 20:00:01 +0900london2012<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6n1u233DS1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Lottery night. No, hang on, it’s Higgs boson the NHK way!</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/26489755752http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/26489755752Wed, 04 Jul 2012 22:39:40 +0900NHKCernLHChiggs boson<a href="http://life.time.com/culture/teenage-wasteland-japanese-youth-in-revolt-1964/">Teenage Wasteland: Japanese Youth in Revolt, 1964</a>: <p>Fabulous photos from another age.</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/23406075067http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/23406075067Sun, 20 May 2012 19:19:00 +0900<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2pqwuCTLn1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Japanese Government Railways poster. On the wall at Flat Planet, Great Marlborough Street.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flatplanet.co.uk/">http://www.flatplanet.co.uk/</a></p> <p>Ko-hi- wa oishikatta desu.</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/21371096122http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/21371096122Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:22:34 +0900JapanrailwaysJrflat planetlondon<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1wzzyW9iS1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>50-year storm.</p> <p><a href="http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120404a2.html">Japan Times</a> | <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-04-03/japan-s-strongest-storm-since-1959-forecast-to-slam-into-tokyo">Bloomberg</a> (complete with pictures of pedestrians struggling with broken 500-yen brollies).</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/20415551123http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/20415551123Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:45:00 +0900japanweatherstorm<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1gbu0xhq81qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Radio 4’s Food Programme (again). “In Praise of Stock” includes an interview with Kensuke Yamada of Tsuru restaurants in London in which he explains stock-making Japan-style.</p> <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b01dtgbj">Listen on iPlayer</a> | <a href="http://www.tsuru-sushi.co.uk/Index.aspx">Tsuru</a> </p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/19902078751http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/19902078751Mon, 26 Mar 2012 02:41:59 +0900japanfoodstocktsuru sushi<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m14mwa4Q9T1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Sat on loo. Opened mag at this page. It’s fate.</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/19567687265http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/19567687265Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:09:46 +0900lavatorieswashletspersonal hygiene<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0vgkbaO771qgcu2no1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>A nice surprise today, marking what would have been Akira Yoshizawa’s 101st birthday. He died in 2005. (And no, I didn’t know about him either.)</p> <p>There is something precise and serene about origami that is particularly Japanese.</p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/02/arts/design/02yoshizawa.html">New York Times obituary</a> | <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/adding-origami-doodle-to-fold.html">Google blog</a></p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/19286291725http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/19286291725Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:14:00 +0900akira yoshizawaorigamijapangoogle<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0satvyKBP1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>BBC Radio 4’s Food Programme today: Japan, Fukushima and food.</p> <p>“… as Richard Johnson discovers, confusion and lack of information in the early weeks of the crisis has led to suspicion and mistrust among large sections of the Japanese population. For this reason, the disaster is likely to not just change Japan’s relationship with its politicians, but also its food culture.”</p> <p>Available (globally, I think) until March 19.</p> <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01d0rcv">Food Programme page</a> | <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b01d0rcv">Direct iPlayer link</a></p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/19187146751http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/19187146751Tue, 13 Mar 2012 03:17:55 +0900japanfoodfukushimaradiationbbc<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0lawuC8ET1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Classic Yoneya toy on my nephew’s birthday card. Yes, he’s 10. Omedetou, Sam-kun!</p> <p>(Card blurb: “Mechanical toy motorcycle manufactured by Yoneya Toys Co Ltd. Lithographed tinplate, with a clockwork mechanism. Japan, 1975-79.”)</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/19185917797http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/19185917797Tue, 13 Mar 2012 02:46:52 +0900yoneyaJapantoysgreetings cards<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzzoonBhoY1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Akai happa (leaves of red).</p> <p>By Yo-chan. Arigato.</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/18304199348http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/18304199348Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:26:47 +0900TokyoJapanfoliageleaves<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzh4dhMB0K1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Mixed message.</p> <p>(The inscription says: “I thought you were gonna quit smoking.”)</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/17702571888http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/17702571888Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:51:17 +0900TokyoJapansmoking<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lzdxwso6zX1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Denny’s. Dining like it’s 1982.</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/17605844275http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/17605844275Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:38:52 +0900denny'snakanotokyojapan<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lza7pejbcs1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Ko-hi—-</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/17484904525http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/17484904525Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:20:02 +0900TokyoJapancoffee<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lza7mdcEMA1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Daikanyama.</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/17484859620http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/17484859620Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:18:13 +0900tokyoJapandaikanyama<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz0wrtx1kZ1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>When NHK News boards go horribly, horribly wrong.</p> <p>This “smile curve” was designed to help illustrate the problems facing Japan’s loss-making electronics firms. Result: pure comedy.</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/17207352359http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/17207352359Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:45:29 +0900NHKJapantv<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lywvrurcSN1qgcu2no2_500.jpg"/><br/> The Geneve Dash<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lywvrurcSN1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/> Winter in Europe<br/><br/> <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lywvrurcSN1qgcu2no8_r1_500.jpg"/><br/> On the Fokker, an ash tray<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lywvrurcSN1qgcu2no3_500.jpg"/><br/> Napkin<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lywvrurcSN1qgcu2no5_500.jpg"/><br/> Zoolander. Not as good as I'd been told.<br/><br/> <img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lywvrurcSN1qgcu2no4_500.jpg"/><br/> Austrian Airlines best breakfast.<br/><br/> <p>Back from the Alps. Geneva to Tokyo Narita via Vienna.</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/17083316221http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/17083316221Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:39:00 +0900travelaustrian airlinestokyogenevavienna<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyi6gsp5G31qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Drink of the day (Jan. 28): HOPPY</p> <p>Classic Tokyoite non-alcoholic beer, usually served chilled, on ice with shochu.</p> <p>Refreshing, and a sharp aftertaste of bitter that really comes into its own when taken with spicy food - in this case tantan tsuke-men (noodles dipped in Sichuan sauce).</p> <p>7/10</p> <p>More <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoppy_%28beverage%29">about Hoppy</a>.</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/16628911373http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/16628911373Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:05:38 +0900hoppydrinksbeerfoodtokyojapan<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly8xuzby1l1qgcu2no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>BREAKING: Tennis - Tokyo commuter identifies Kei Nishikori’s Australian Open quarter-final opponent as Andy Murray.</p> <p>Big sport story here.</p>http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/16343621437http://139degreeseast.tumblr.com/post/16343621437Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:16:11 +0900tenniskei nishikoriTokyojapanaustralian open