The Black Isle

Curriculumachine, a psychedelic Japanese children’s TV show from the ’70s, courtesy of TV in Japan:

I heard Mrs. Johnny Depp sing this cover of “Walk On the Wild Side” in a Tokyo restaurant/bar that played mostly cover versions and thought it captured the Tokyo vibe perfectly:

Recent Japanese movies, as recommended by Mark Schilling. Both are buyable on eBay:

trailer for Sakuran, starring Anna Tsuchiya of “Kamikaze Girls”:

trailer for Memories of Matsuko, from the director of “Kamikaze Girls”:

Also, Schilling’s Top Ten list of 2007 Japanese films.
Just when the world needs him most, Shunji Iwai (All About Lily Chou-Chou, Swallowtail Butterfly), we were told, has decided to quit making movies.

Shop window of Wako department store in Ginza, landmark in countless Japanese movies, including Tokyo Story:

Happy balloon of the road repair department:

Candy cigarettes, from a retro candy store:

Pandas are used to sell everything here:

My greatest find, the USB-port operated Humping Dog gadget, from the top floor of the Yurakucho Marui department store (aka 0101):

Memento Mori fan I bought from a wizened old lady (ex-geisha?) in Gion, Kyoto (the old geisha quarter):

Geishas visiting the Yasaka temple:

With Jeff (and much shochu) at Heikichi, by the canal:

The kingfisher-y bird that sat with us through dinner:

The chef:

The delightful house plum wine:

The exterior of Sanjusengendo Temple, with the 1001 Kannon:

Mt. Fuji from the Shinkansen (bullet train):

Sign outside a steak restaurant in Gion, the old geisha quarter:

Nose print of the cow:

Warning to diners:

Kaiseki at Kikunoi, Kyoto

The February platter, Before:

After:

The grilled pomfret with yuzu, Before:

After:

The soup with the unannounced turtle, Before:

After:

In Kyoto, but no time to post pics. 
MELLOW SEANCE - label seen on shopping bag on train from Shimbashi to Odaiba
PATIO MAYOR - condo building (or hotel?) seen in Kyoto, along Higashi-dori (I think)

Bagel shoppe in the ultratrendy 0101 Marui department store basement. They’re hoping it’s the next wave:

Creepy and mysterious poster (for an escort service, I think) that peers down from some tall buildings:

The Mausoleum du Chocolat:

Tomorrow: Bullet train to Kyoto!

Tokyo marathon on live TV:

Miso ramen at the sapporo ramen hut at Odaiba Aqua City’s ramen hall:

Toyama Black ramen at Odaiba Aqua City’s ramen hall:

Odaiba exterior:

WaKo, Japanese luxury store, Ginza: