Handshake Event - Everyday, Katyusha

Tokyo Big Sight | Flickr photostream | New tab | Click photo to view large at Flickr

So when a new single comes out from AKB48, there's a theater version of it which you can preorder within specific dates. When you place that order, you get to choose a member to shake your hands with for 10 seconds for every CD you buy. You also get a pciture with each CD, which people will trade at the event. We'll get back to how things works later on. The events will not always be at the same location, but for the last events, they've been shifting between Tokyo Big Sight and Makuhari Messe. This one was at Tokyo Big Sight, spread out on two days - July 3rd and July 10th. The next one, for Flying Get, will be at Makuhari Messe.

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8

Don Kihote | Flickr photostream | New tab | Click photo to view large at Flickr

Finally decided what do with new camera gear, and decided to stick with my current body and for now just get a new lens. So today I got the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. Shooting wide is fun! Not satisfied with photos yet, but I'll guess I have to take it for a proper photo walk soon.

A day in Tokyo - AKB is everywhere

Wonda Coffee | Flickr photostream | New tab | Click photo to view large at Flickr

This day I went out to do some shopping. My main targets were new shoes and an iPad. AKB48 is everywhere.

Arriving in Japan

Narita Airport | Flickr photostream | New tab | Click photo to view large at Flickr

I've arrived safely in Tokyo. Much of it went smooth, but a few things bugging me that I won't rant about here. It usually feels like that the first day, because I am always tired and easily annoyed. The next day I have forgot most of what annoyed me.

ADA Nature Aquarium Gallery

Roots | Flickr photostream | New tab | Click photo to view large at Flickr

The ADA Nature Aquarium Gallery is a museum with beautifully arranged aquariums for domestic use. ADA stands for Aqua Design Amano, a company created by photographer, designer and aquarist Amano Takashi. He is one of the most influential people in the freshwater aquascaping community.

One year of AKB48 shopping

AKB48 - 神曲たち | Flickr photostream | New tab | Click photo to view large at Flickr

Getting into AKB48 - the world's biggest idol group, and currently Japan's most popular - literally means that you will spend more money than you can afford. I don't buy everything, actually far from it. And I'm always trying to cut down and think what I actually need and don't before buying. I still try to buy at least one version of most of the CDs, since I don't like downloading music. To give you an idea of what it means to be a fan of AKB48, I put together the photos of stuff I got in my first year, from April 9, 2010, to April 9, 2011. I didn't take photos of all the stuff I got through the year, but most of it.

Food in Japan 3

さしみ | Flickr photostream | New tab | Click photo to view large at Flickr

Going to put the remaining resturant food pics from last year here. Next time will be covering the convenience store food and bentos. Then I'm all set for this year's food! Above is sashimi with beer snacks at a local pub.

Food in Japan 2

冷し中華 | Flickr photostream | New tab | Click photo to view large at Flickr

Next up in the Food in Japan series is all the noodles (麺 - men) from last year. There are many types of noodles, with different primary ingedients and thickness, all with different names. For example, soumen and hiyamugi looks and taste exactly the same. The only difference is that soumen is up to 1.3mm, and hiyamugi is 1.3-1.7mm thick. Chinese cold noodles at Shiodome above.

Food in Japan 1

スタミナ丼 | Flickr photostream | New tab | Click photo to view large at Flickr

Food in Japan will be a returning series with all types of different food available in Japan - from Japanese, Chinese and Korean to American, French, Italian and Swedish. I want to bring back some of the pics from last year, starting with all the don (丼) I had. Don is basically a bowl with rice, and something on top of it. Above is stamina-don, filled with stuff to regain and increase your stamina. This is at Takadanobaba, which has many cheap resturants for all the students going to Waseda University and other colleges.

Yokohama by night

Three landmarks | Flickr photostream | New tab | Click photo to view large at Flickr

Yokohama is lovely to visit by night with all the colored illuminations. Here we see the three most famous landmarks that represents Yokohama. To the left is Landmark Tower, Japan's tallest building until Tokyo Sky Tree is completed. In the middle is the ferris wheel at Yokohama Cosmo World. To the right is the Yokohama Grand International Hotel.

Kanpeki Gu~no Ne

Sign pointing at Minato-no-Mieru Oka Park | Flickr photostream | New tab | Click photo to view large at Flickr

The music video for the sub-unit Watarirouka Hashiritai's Kanpeki Gu~no Ne was mostly shot in Minato-no-Mieru Oka Park, in Yokohama. It means "the park on the hill where you can see the harbor".