This past weekend I "ran" my first half marathon in almost two years (though I was walking for at least 5k of it). The course was pretty brutal -- hillier than San Francisco, to put it in perspective. The stupidity on my part was that I tried to run it on almost no training (I went for one 8k run one week prior). My legs hate me right now.
Meanwhile, there has been a sudden spate of friends leaving town. Just in the last month, Alice, Eric, Kirsty, Paulette and Taylor, that I can think of. Or, maybe, there have always been people leaving town at a steady rate, but I only now have enough friends to notice? In any case, all these sayonara parties are depressing, and there are still others who are talking of leaving.
The oppressive humidity is back. My 10-minute walk to work is now sweaty enough that I have to change shirts by the time I get there.
Finally, much respect to the Samurai Blue. They went out honourably. I was at a bar in Shibuya last night, and the most memorable part of the night was after the penalties, when not a single supporter went home, but instead gave repeated standing ovations because they were just so proud that their team had come so far. The rampant street partying in the rain was pretty bomb, too.
Happy Canada Day everyone!
A Korean artist, Sim Youn Jin, at Design Festa in Odaiba. I bought two of her pieces.
Saritha and Irene crammed into a stairway in Golden Gai, Shinjuku.
The Taico crew, getting warmed up.
To me, this picture captures so much that is Japan. Boxy cars, Japanese houses and train tracks, set against mountains and lush greenery. Having a meal in the parking lot of a convenience store after an epic night of music.
The Glico guy, Namba, Osaka.
This Starbucks in Kobe is apparently a huge tourist attraction because it is located in an 異人館, which roughly translates as "barbarian house" (they're referring to Europeans).
Touring the Hakutsuru sake factory in Kobe. The guy's not real, by the way. He's made of clay.
Melting into my chair after a tough 21k.
Last night (this morning) in Shibuya, after Japan lost to Paraguay on penalties.
