Hokusai

I saw a fantastic Hokusai exhibition at Tokyo National Museum today. I went there early to avoid growds and in Tokyo scale I succeeded - I didn't have to wait for hours to see a glimpse of the Great Wave of Ganakawa. The exhibition was very good.

Materialistic Moments of Oblivion

Hey, I have become an iPod owner. M gave one to me today as a present for no special reason. Isn't that nice!

Other than that: japanese class - I had forgotten all I've learned so far, shopping - found joys of Muji. That shop reminds me of a shop chain in Sweden... the one that sells gray, beige and white boxes and dishes. I just can't remember what was that shop's name. Should I be worried about loosing my memory?

How to Party

Every night, right at the moment when Vimme is supposed to go to sleep, a car with a loudspeaker parks next to our house. They play a tune and then a women's voice tells us something we ought to know but can't comprehend. I have no idea what it is and why it shows up every night at 8.

Today Vimme showed that he knows how to party: Finland-club had a halloween party. Vimme parked himself next to a candy bowl and ate candies like a maniac. After a while he was high on sugar and behaved wildly. Then he ate some more candies. That made him puke on the floor. Then he passed out.

A Good Bike

My finnish blog doesn't work right now for some unknown reason. But I guess you couldn't care less - who can read finnish anyway. Finglish is so much easier to comprehend. And now I am talking about english that a finnish person is producing, not the other finglish. Ok, let's quit this and go to the point.

I accidentally rode my granny bicycle about 16 kilometers today. I estimate distances wrong and ended up riding forever. Vimme sat behind me on his seat and he fell asleep at some point. I have to say that if the road is smooth and wind isn't blowing hard, my granny bicycle is an excellent vehicle.

Mama's recharged

I've had a luxury weekend: M was with the kid and I was allowed to roam around free.

Yesterday I saw a photo exhibition with a friend at Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography and today I hiked at Miurakaigan coast with the same friend plus another one. It was very nice! Now again I have energy to be a parent for a 2 & ½ years old.

Hairy Toyota

This car would be at home in Tokyo, what comes to its' overwhelmingly pink habitus, though the local everlasting humidity would ruin the fake fur in no time.

Puke Smell

Some fruits are falling from trees now and they smell like puke. The road through the campus, that we walk through quite often, is covered with them the odor isn't pleasant at all. Or, who knows, maybe it is time for annual student parties and the puke smell comes from actual pukes.

Lessons and Shaking

I didn't go to my japanese course today. My teacher said last week that she wouldn't be there this week - that's why I am sure they didn't miss me that much. Instead of the language lesson I went to a shodo lesson. It was fun to hold a brush after a long break.

Last night we had an earthquake again. While the house was shaking I kept on wondering if I should do something. Before I did anything, the shaking started to fade away. I have a feeling I will never get used to earthquakes.

Hayflower and Quiltshoe

Vimme saw his first film at a theater today. A friend of mine asked if we could take our boys to see a Finnish children's film 'Hayflower and Quiltshoe' now that it's shown here in Tokyo. I said yes, though I was afraid that Vimme is too little for cinema. To my surprise he saw the whole film and didn't act out at all. I might concider seeing another movie with him - as soon as they show another Finnish children's film in Tokyo. That may not ever happen though.

The film was cute. I have always liked the way director Kaisa Rastimo builds her scenes. Lots of colourful details and unusual characters. The film had only Japanese subtitles, so no use to see it in Tokyo unless you know your Finnish. Or Japanese.

How to Spend a Rainy Monday?

It is really hard work to hold an umbrella and push a stroller at the same time. And to peel off the rain gear when you enter a place and put it back on when you go out - again and again and again. Still I went to city twice today. First to buy flight tickets to Finland (yes - me and Vimme are going to delight our relatives with our presence) and then later to buy some stuff from Bic Camera (with M). The kid wasn't 100% co-operative during these trips - 35% co-operation would be the right figure. Anyway, now I am exhausted.

One is Enough

The woman in the picture must have secret super powers or there is something seriously wrong with her (ok, she is a church person). She just delivered her 16th baby and she says she wants to have more babies. Someone please help her.

Sprouts and Pees

This is what we ate the other day. My brother calls me Sister Sprout. He isn't exactly a vegetarian himself and I think he looses weight every time he visits us.

Yesterday we went to extend our visas. Offices make me really really nervous. I must have read too much Kafka. Anyway, now we are supposed to receive our new visas in a month or less. Hopefully less. I have travel plans.

Other than that: Vimme had his first day totally without diapers today and I proudly announce that he didn't pee on himself more than once.

We'll Move Next Month

Hey ho! We heard today that we've got a new flat! We'll move in the end of November. The flat is in Odaiba - the man made island in Tokyo Bay. It is twice the size of this one where we live now and the rent isn't that much higher. We'll have a room for guests and place to live for the rest of our time in Tokyo. And what's the best: there is no bloody wall-to-wall carpet to create unnecessary tension during our daily meals.
Boy, am I glad.

We Saw It

We went to see the Finland Cafe yesterday and they had all kinds of wonderful finnish products there to sell. Like Finnish beer. I didn't have my Lapin Kulta yet, but I am planning to go there again before it closes in the beginning of November.

It's a rainy day. Vimme and me are sneezing. So our wonderful plan that M would take Vimme somewhere and I would stay at home alone won't happen today.

Finland Cafe

Finland is in Tokyo! I guess I have to go and have a look what Finland Cafe is.

It Starts Early

Vimme reminds me of Tony Manero: he dances and women sigh.

Hamsters

Our neighbours' hamsters stayed with us for few days. The other one worked hard on his escape plan, but didn't manage to eat his way out through the bars. Vimme was thrilled about the little creatures - so much that I had to move the cage from floor on a cupboard. His attention towards hamster was a bit too overwhelming to my taste. Now the cage and its' inhabitants have returned to their owners. I am sure that hamsters are reliefed.

Hel Looks

Tokyo in Helsinki.

We got a pile of Finnish magazines and in one this site was mentioned. There are pictures of 80 Helsinki-jins whose out fits are somehow stylish and individual (people who took the pictures are judges about that). Japanese influence seems to be strong among teens in Helsinki.

A Day by the Sea

We spent a day on Sarushima island. It was fun to go there again. It's off-season for beach life now, but the weather was still warm and pleasant. Vimme and his friend dipped into the water and didn't seem to freeze at all. I refused to go there - but it is a well known fact that I don't swim unless the water is pee-warm.

Triennale at Yokohama

We saw Yokohama 2005 International Triennale of Contemporary Art today. I really enjoyed seeing it all, though the kid was a handfull and even managed to step on an artwork, which itself looked like wall-to-wall carpet. Fortunately there were some child friendly artworks too, so it wasn't all 'no this and no that' with the kid. B u t - I would have enjoyd the visit more without him. Sorry Vimme.


Luc Deleu's container sculpture.

At two huge warehouses, where the exhibition is taking place, were many huge installations (among other things) and some of them were really fantastic and well done. I warmly recommend going to see the exhibition to anyone who is in Japan now.