Japan Jukebox

I came across an interesting vending machine while in Haneda Airport. This machine dispensed instant ramen from various regions of Japan. What caught my eye was the one on the upper left... Zombear Livingdead Hokkaido exclusive "Zomramen". Of course, I had to get it. (This better not stain my pillows donburi.) Inside the package includes... ...zombie brain-looking blue ramen noodles, a pack of "zombear ramen soup" and a little comic. Cooking instructions were simple and suggested adding additional ingredients. Mine ending up looking like this:   I added the chashu, menma, nori, and egg. I couldn't be bothered to marinate or paint the egg to resemble an eye, like as seen on the package. The taste wasn't very unique from other instant ramen, but that's not why we're here. We're here for the experience. 🧟‍♂️

Gachapon (or "gashapon") is one of my not-so-guilty pleasures here in Japan. They are coin-operated machines that randomly dispense from a selection of... anything, really. The endless variety is what keeps me addicted and checking them every time I find one. I came across one that caught my eye the other day. This series is called "Inutori", which means "Dogbird". The breeds in this series include (from right to left): The cover-boy, "Shibird". "Terrierbird". The masterfully named Bichon frise/pidgeon hybrid, "bigeon". "Huskeybird". "Retriebird". "Pendog". Each one comes with a nest and two small eggs. The machine will cost you 300 yen for each try. Well, I just had to have a "pendog", so I tried several times. This was my haul in the end: Not pictured are the two other shibirds and an extra Spuds MacKenzie, but in the end, down to my last couple 100 yen coins... I got the pendog. 4 out

 Although I have seen the pillows live in concert many times, I have never been to a concert of Sawao Yamanaka's solo band.  He started touring solo without the pillows again in 2020 after a seven year hiatus, though his planned "Elpis tour" was canceled due to covid-19. Through the end of 2020 into early 2021, he would successfully hold his "Nonocular violet tour", although under strict COVID restrictions. I couldn't make it. However... In March of 2022, Sawao Yamanaka would release his latest album "Muddy comedy", and would start touring in May. My chance would finally arrive. The tour would start on May 6th at "duo Music Exchange" in Shibuya, about a ten minute walk from the famous Hachiko statue outside Shibuya Station. I would get to the venue about one hour before the doors opened and meet up with my friend. I was a bit taken aback at first, because there were only a few other people in front of the venue. A small merchandise area w