139 Degrees East

Akai happa (leaves of red).

By Yo-chan. Arigato.

Mixed message.

(The inscription says: “I thought you were gonna quit smoking.”)

Denny’s. Dining like it’s 1982.

Ko-hi—-

Daikanyama.

Drink of the day (Jan. 28): HOPPY

Classic Tokyoite non-alcoholic beer, usually served chilled, on ice with shochu.

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).

7/10

More about Hoppy.

BREAKING: Tennis - Tokyo commuter identifies Kei Nishikori’s Australian Open quarter-final opponent as Andy Murray.

Big sport story here.

Fleet Foxes. In Tokyo. Just now.

Mango burger. Imaginative work from the menu gurus at Freshness Burger.

And sugoi oishii, although on this occasion I went for the chilli-beans dog and al dente chips, and was thirsty for the rest of the day.

If nothing else in Japan’s economy, the pet service industry is booming. Pooch parlours abound!

Enjoying a rare view down the carriage while it lasts. The Yamanote Sen at doesn’t normally look like this at 6.15pm on a weekday. I even get a seat on which to fall asleep like a proper local.

UPDATE: combined effect of under-seat heating and new puffer jacket resulted in delightful commuter kip, adding four stops to the journey.

Just back from All-Tokyo Wrestlemania 2012 at a frozen Meiji Jingu. Thousands there, huddled like penguins of Antarctica, but remarkably free of crowd odour. Wishes made, fortunes told, and wallet and electronic devices all still on board.

Shin-nen akemashite omedeto gozaimasu. Happy New Year. x

Japan Bowl. Tokyo Dome, Dec 19.