Author | Lightnews

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 20h

Mornings without baseball... feel so lonely.
(In Japan, MLB games air in the morning due to the time difference.)
Baseball season has ended. I don't know how I'll make it through until spring.
Just then, two great Major Leaguers came to me. They're the Usagi mascots from Chiikawa.

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 1d

And yesterday's Mount Fuji. Close, but the scenery is cluttered.

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 1d

Mount Fuji from car window. So far away.

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naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 1d

We offer a variety of envelopes featuring popular characters and traditional patterns.

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 1d

As the year draws to a close, you'll see small envelopes sold in stores. What do you think these are?
These are otoshidama envelopes.
In Japan, there's a custom where adults give children pocket money during the New Year. This is called otoshidama.
These are the envelopes used to hold the bills.

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naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 2d

What an incredible game!
Congratulations to Yoshinobu Yamamoto on winning MVP!

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naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 2d

The place I most want to go is a monjayaki restaurant.
I think few foreigners know about monjayaki.
It's actually one of Tokyo's few local specialties.
It may not look appealing, but it's fun to eat.
I'll introduce it sometime soon.

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 2d

There was an interesting restaurant.
Inside the restaurant is a fishing pond. You catch fish there and have them cooked for you to eat.
The seats on the boat seem to be popular.

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naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 2d

My local shopping mall has reopened after renovations. It boasts a huge food court and restaurant area. I'm excited because there are so many shops I want to try.
Oh! They even had a message brick from Funassyi, our local celebrity!

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naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 3d

At Marugame Seimen udon restaurant, kamaage udon is half price on the 1st of every month.
I had dinner with the half-price udon and free chicken tempura from a special voucher.
I was completely full for just 180 yen (US$1.16).

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 3d

The 2026 New Year's stamps are now on sale.
I bought 110-yen stamps for Postcrossing and 85-yen stamps for domestic use.
Asian countries have zodiac signs, and 2026 is the Year of the Horse. Horses are depicted on the stamps.

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naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 4d

I got a postmark with a jack-o'-lantern-style design.
This is a postmark from a small post office in Kanagawa Prefecture, available year-round. But October is surely the most popular time for it.

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 6d

Post-shaped postcards. I bought some with winter designs since they're now available.
In Asian countries, 2026 is the Year of the Horse.

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naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 8d

Thanks for the comment!
I can't wait to send these.

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 8d

Whoops! I forgot to buy New Year's cards for the Moomin fans. There were two kinds, so I bought both!

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naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 9d

Marugame Seimen is currently selling regional specialty udon noodles.
There are 47 varieties nationwide, each featuring local specialties and famous dishes.
I've tried the udon from my hometown of Chiba and neighboring Ibaraki.
Chiba: Udon with seaweed and clam tempura
Ibaraki: Lotus root curry udon

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 10d

The other day, there was a Star Wars pop-up store at Tokyo Skytree. After a moment's hesitation, I looked for postcards. But they weren't selling any. I felt a bit relieved. Because I'm a Star Trek fan. Even for Postcrossing, I'd hesitate to buy Star Wars postcards.

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naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 11d

Impatient Japanese people bought Christmas stickers at the 100-yen shop.
Seasonal items at 100-yen shops rarely get restocked, so you have to buy them early.

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 12d

Impatient Japanese have already bought their New Year postcards. For Postcrossing, of course.
Unlike other Asian countries, Japan celebrates the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar.
I buy Snoopy postcards every year, so I'd be delighted to meet someone who likes Snoopy.

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naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 13d

Isn't it cute!🥰

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 14d

The local stationery shop has Christmas cards on display.
I like this 'Little Santa's Trip to Japan' series. Little Santa Clauses are visiting memorable places in Japan.
However, these are not postcards, but folded greeting cards. They cannot be used for postcrossing.

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naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 14d

Japan's first female Prime Minister has just been appointed.
We look forward to her achievements.
She faces the important task of welcoming President Trump later this month.

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 14d

I ate gyoza at White Gyoza in Kameari, Tokyo.
The gyoza at this shop are distinctive in that they are round and pan-fried, unlike the usual variety.
Many gyoza restaurants offer both pan-fried and boiled gyoza.
Would it be clearer to write 'gyoza' as ' dumplings'?

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 16d

I dined at the same udon restaurant twice last week.
← Weekday set meal: ¥1,300.
Weekend set meal: ¥1,900. →
On weekdays, the tempura included aubergine and maitake mushrooms; on weekends, it featured two prawns and maitake mushrooms.
Which is better value? I prefer the weekday set meal.

naohana @naosworld.bsky.social · 16d

Here's the opening sequence for Dirty Pair. Even after 40 years, I remember it clearly.
I still think it's a brilliant opening that holds up today.

youtu.be/lZ4qMgIz6x0?...

ダーティペア OP [STEREO]

YouTube video by anime-menia

youtu.be