Shopping.........one great pleasure.

I arose earlier than usual yesterday; the desire to walk burned deep as soon as slumbers remains departed my eyes. It was quite cold when I left the apartment, just climbing to 13 degrees; the weather app on my phone told me as I strolled to the nearest metro station, Morishita. Now, I know I said I had a desire to walk, but that was to come later; for now I wanted to make use of Tokyo's impressive and inexpensive public underground transit system. 

I changed from the Shinjuku line at Sumiyoshi Station to the Hanzomon line to ride up to Kinshichō Station and the shopping area above. I may have said before, but the Kinshichō area is one of my most favourite places to shop this side of Tokyo. It isn't as touristy as Shinjuku, more reasonable than Ginza and less hectic than Akihabara. It has all the big brand stores, spread over four large shopping centres and half a dozen streets around the station area where more local stores are located. 

Parco is one of the shopping centres, which was the main destination for me yesterday morning, right above the metro station and home to a big branch of one of my favourite Japanese retailers, Muji. Or, to use its full name, Mujirushi Ryohin / 無印良品, which effectively means 'No brand, quality goods'. They stick true to their name; all the products are super good quality, not very expensive and free from any branding. I was looking for a jumper, similar to one I purchased a couple of weeks ago, although a different colour, as I have far too many dark blue jumpers, sweaters, sweatshirts and other such tops. 

I was disappointed; the colour I wanted was in stock in all sizes, except the one I wanted, therefore my cast was down as I gazed around at the other products. One thing you'll notice in a lot of Japanese shops, like Uniqlo, GU, Beams, and United Arrows, carry sizes XS to XL in store; bigger sizes, XXL and XXXL, are often only available online. Muji, on the other hand, often has XXL products on its shelves. In Japan, sizes are slightly smaller than UK/Europe sizes, and I do favour XXL in jumpers and the like as they give plenty of room to wear a shirt or T-shirt under it and still not be tight over my fat belly! 

Despite the absence of the desired garment in my size, I did manage to find and purchase a few other items that just jumped into my basket and demanded to be taken home. I also picked up a few snacks from the packet food section that Muji has. The lovely cashier complimented my somewhat limited Japanese, which was nice, although she continued to converse with me in English! She seemed genuinely pleased after I voiced my delight and pleasure at being a visitor in her country and its beauty. She wished me a good day as I packed my goods and almost skipped out of the store. 

Having spent ¥16,240, I happily walked home, along wide streets and busy roads as the sun warmed my face, resplendent with its smile. Shopping is, or at least it can be, one of life's great pleasures. I suppose that's why some call it 'retail therapy', as endorphins are sent careening through the body after money is exchanged for goods and a sense of happiness envelopes one.  That joy remained with me, all the way home and afterwards when I spread my booty upon the bed for further admiring looks. Now, I don't know why I do that, but whenever I've been clothing shopping, I always spread it out once I get home, no matter where it comes from. I do it when I'm travelling, I do it when I'm home, and I even do it when I'm at other people's homes. I can't help it; I just have to look at my new additions to the wardrobe of Jason. It is one of the many pleasures of shopping.  

That's all for today..... Copyright © 2026 Seafront Media

Busy doing nothing....Autumn arrives with its melancholic baggage.

There are days that flash by in a whirlwind of activities, chores, work, and malarkey of various descriptions. Then there are others that just plod along, where you seem busy with little to show for it as the day draws to a close. Busy doing nothing, you might say, and I'd have to agree. Today was one such day here on the banks of the Sumida River, Tokyo. I had loosely planned to head over to Kinshicho to do a bit of shopping; I needed some new headphones, some underwear and a waffle jumper. However, one game of mahjong led into another and another, and a cup of tea on the balcony seemed to occupy the entire morning. 

Not wanting to head into the busy commercial centre, yet still wishing to stretch the old pins, I headed off up the road, only as far as Oyoko River, which is about a mile away. I had a vague desire to have a peek at the cherry trees to see if autumn had arrived already, so I strolled down the riverside pathway to where Oyoko crosses with the Onagi River; it literally is the river equivalent of a crossroads. Down Onagi, there are a number of cherry trees, which are beautiful in spring when sakura season starts. Sure, it is no Mchidorigafuchi Moat or Meguro River, but it is jolly nice and completely devoid of foreign tourists. Autumn has barely started, although some of the other trees have seen some of their leaves turn golden or light brown, whilst others are scattered upon the ground, facing the whims of the wind. 

The crossroads where Oyoko River passes Onagi River, or vice versa.

It wasn't warm; indeed, it felt positively chilly, and I was delighted to get home after a brief detour to Kiyosumi Park to say hello to rather more evidence of autumn. I'm not sure why, but there is something melancholic about this time of the year that gives birth to introspective thoughts surrounding the year's achievements. I let thoughts wash over me as I headed back along the Sumida River, nodding on the way past Matesu Basho as I went, quite pleased with how this year has been jam-packed with adventures and travels. I may have only visited two countries this year, but I've taken seven flights — three international, four domestic — enjoying five destinations and having lovely experiences.

I pondered the way this year has passed as I enjoyed a lovely cup (or two) of Earl Grey tea on the balcony as sightseeing and dinner boats passed along the river eight floors below me. Oh, such are the simple delights that cost nothing other than time. 

That's all for today..... Copyright © 2026 Seafront Media

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Rainy days and Mondays........that sounds familiar.

It is a rainy day here in Tokyo; it is also a Monday! 

It has been raining most of the day thus far, or rather, I think it has, but I can't be completely sure because I was asleep for most of the morning.  I only arose a little after 13:00 from my hard yet comfortable bed. Now, before you think something disparaging like Jason is a lazy arsed fool, or something equally as accurate, let me inform you I'd stayed up late to watch the US Grand Prix. The time difference between here and Austin is something like 14 hours behind us, so the build-up to the race on Sunday afternoon there started at 04:00 Monday morning here.  Therefore, I hope you'll understand my somewhat lackadaisical start to the day. 

After a long awakening shower at exactly 43 degrees Celsius, I dressed and tottered off to the local supermarket for some supplies for the next day or so. I do rather like my Olympic supermarket, not only as it's less than a two-minute walk from my apartment building, but also for the range of products they carry in a space that's about half the size of a football pitch. Now, I shan't bore you with a list of my purchases, save to say I got enough for three days of dinners including snacks, but no chocolate or ice cream.

'Jason, without chocolate, what is the world coming to?' you may exclaim silently, which of course would be understandable; such is my love of the brown heaven-sent delight. But I'm being strict with myself: unless I do 8000 steps in a day, I do not partake of chocolate. Furthermore, I have to achieve 9000 steps before my willpower allows me a bowl of ice cream.  I'm not being masochistic just for the sake of it; I do have a reason, which I feel is pretty valid. You see, I am, let's face it, overweight now, by rather a lot. I can't give you an accurate tally of the kilos, pounds, or stones my body currently has amassed, as I don't have scales here; however, in Australia, before my little plane and helicopter flights, I was weighed, and I came in at 103 kg. In old money, that's 16.21 stone, or a BMI of 36.9, which for a fella of 5ft5 (167cm) is more than just overweight; it puts me in the obese category. According to the NHS, a healthy weight with an average BMI for someone my age and sex should be somewhere between 51.6 kilograms and 69.7 kilograms!

So, yes, I'm being careful with what I put in my body, which is working, sort of. You see, if you think I'm a big fat bloater now, that's nothing to what I was around this time last year. I stopped jumping on scales after I broke my leg, as I wasn't able to do any exercise, and that was about twenty years back. Therefore, when I had to have a colonoscopy last year, I had no idea how much weight I was carrying, ok, that's not quite true; I knew I was a fat bloke, but exactly how much this extra blubber was, I had no clue. When the nurse sat me on a chair, that was actually the weighing scales, I guessed I was on the heavy side. I couldn't believe my ears when I asked her what my weight was; she seemed hesitant to tell me at first, but the pleading look in my eyes must have got to her. "138 kilos," she uttered softly. I'll save you from doing the maths; that is 21st 10lb. I let it wash over me at the time, yet after other doctor's appointments, it dawned on me that 'little old me' was anything but little! I wasn't just a porker; I wasn't just a bit overweight; I was gargantuanly fat, and more so, I was morbidly obese. They don't like to use that term anymore; it's something like obese level III, although to me it doesn't matter what term you use; it's way, way too bloody big and I don't want to get that way again, and rationing chocolate and fat intake is one way I can help prevent it. 

Therefore, the long and short of it is that as I've done little over 840 steps thus far today, no chocolate is passing my lips!

Going back to my reason for a late start to the day, it was an interesting race, not major excitement, thrills and spills with crashes galore, but fast and enjoyable. Plus, it was so good to see Charlie pretty boy LeClerc up on the podium behind wonderkid Kimi Antonelli and in front of Max Verstappen. Kimi looks like he's going to be World Champion after the next race in Mexico, which would make him the youngest ever driver to claim the title.  

Salad for dinner, yum. 

Calculate your own BMI here.

Further reading on definitions and diagnostic criteria here.

That's all for today..... Copyright © 2026 Seafront Media

Ever seen a statue move? Matsuo Basho

Have you ever seen a statue move?

Just along the river from my little apartment is the Basho Heritage Garden, a raised tiny oasis of beauty dedicated to the memory of Matsuo Basho, one of Japan's greatest poets, especially of the Edo period. 

Here, in this little corner where the Sumida River and Onagigawa River converge and not far from where Matsuo Basho is said to have lived for a number of years. Local legend has it that during the day he faces towards Mt. Fuji and then in the early evening he moves to face down the Sumida River. 

The statue is a life-size Basho sitting on a cushion and seems to cultivate a sense of stillness and calmness that soothes the soul and quietens the mind. There are examples of his work in the garden and along the side of the river on the terrace, which tourists from overseas and closer to home often stop to take photos of to enjoy at their leisure. There is also a little pond in this heritage garden; some say there are small fish swimming in the clear water, but \i'm not so sure. I can, however, say that on the six or seven times I've been there, I've not seen any. 

There is also, quite often, a gentle breeze up here that kisses the cheek like the softest feather, which itself encourages a peacefulness and reflection. Of course, the view is vastly different from the three-hundred-plus years since Matsuo's days; you can get an idea of what it might have been like days long gone. The modern bridges of Shin-Ohashi and Mannen Bridge are in the same places as many previous river crossings that his feet may have used.

 

That's all for today..... Copyright © 2026 Seafront Media

Arty riverside.....Art Para Fukagawa Art Festival 2026

I was walking along the side of the river the other day when I noticed there was a picture in a frame attached to the railings.  I thought, how odd, yet how lovely. It brightened my afternoon walk no end. But just a few paces along, there was another picture and then another and another and yes, another. They were all different, all unique, some colourful and one or two monochrome or black and white. I thought some were terrific, whilst others were not perhaps my cup of tea; still, they had artistic merit, and no doubt brought joy to others. I didn't have a clue why it was there, nor how long it had hung along the railings before my eyes noticed it, nor did I know how long it was going to be there. Although if it was back home, I'd only give it 24 hours before each one would either be stolen, vandalised, set on fire, or urinated on. 

After a few more wonderful artworks, I saw a poster, which, upon translation, informed me it was the "Urban art" part of Art Para Fukagawa Talkative Art Festival 2026. It read, "The 7th annual art festival is organized by local residents who deeply love Fukagawa and art. With the theme of "Living Together," it is a unique community art festival unlike any other in the world. In the downtown area of Fukagawa, which evokes the atmosphere and charm of Edo, you can encounter works by artists with disabilities. This year, across two areas of Fukagawa and Toyosu, approximately 2,000 pieces of art, original drawings and art votive tablets, are on display. The colours, shapes, and imaginations created by artists with disabilities will give you new inspiration and surprise. The power of art will capture people's hearts and make them stop and think and give rise to unexpected conversations and chats."

It wasn't just along the river terrace; it was all over the place, in key locations right across the area, plus a competition and exhibition, making it a truly accessible and open event running for 18 days. 

My heart was well and truly captured; seeing such creations made my heart sing and my soul enriched, and whilst I didn't engage in any chats, I stopped, thought, and felt much inspiration. To the artists and the organizers, I salute you; definitely a tip of the old chapeau. You have created something so magical and far-reaching that will live on in the memory for decades to come. 

 

TOP-2026(豊洲版) | ARTPARA FUKAGAWA

That's all for today..... Copyright © 2026 Seafront Media