Tonight we saw The Mandalorian and Grogu, and honestly, what a fun movie! I’d recommend it even if you’re not really a Star Wars person. Mariko isn’t a huge fan, but she has a soft spot for Jabba the Hutt. So when more Hutts showed up on the big screen, she was thrilled. It was pretty funny to see her light up like that.

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I read Remarkably Bright Creatures last year, so when I heard a movie adaptation was coming, I was already interested. What I didn’t expect was to find it available so soon. I put it on with a little extra excitement.

It was really good! I only vaguely remembered the details of the story, but Sally Field as Tova was a standout. She brought that character to life exactly the way I imagined her from the book. Just incredible. There were a couple of cheesy moments here and there, like when Cameron sang at the bar, but overall it was a warm, fun watch that absolutely pulled on the heartstrings. I highly recommend it, especially if you liked the book.

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I finished the 20-episode live-action Hirayasumi tonight. I loved every minute of it — the story, pacing, and characters all come together to make a really lovely slice-of-life show. Season one only covers up to book four of the manga (or so I’ve read), so I’m really hoping more seasons are on the way. 9/10

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I went to the theater tonight with a friend to see The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and it was a blast. Lots of action, genuinely funny moments, and some fun cameos from other Nintendo characters. Loved it!

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I’ve been watching Hirayasumi lately, and I love it. The show is genuinely funny in that low-key, slice-of-life way. And now I’ve started reading the manga in Japanese for practice — very slowly — but honestly that’s making it even more enjoyable.

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This Yebisu beer was a gift from a friend, and I have to say, it really shines when it’s ice cold. It’s the perfect way to close out a long day of work. Cheers!

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Finally finished Who Rules the World – all 40 episodes. Took me a while to get through it, but totally worth it. There were some slow patches in the middle, mostly political intrigue stuff, but the action scenes kept things moving. Around episode 30 it really hit its stride and didn’t let up.

The costumes were great (though not quite Story of Pearl Girl level, just my opinion), and the battle armor near the end was especially cool. The ending surprised me – the whole story went somewhere I didn’t expect, particularly with Zhao Lusi’s character. Really well done.

Not ready to jump into another long one just yet. A little breather first.

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I went shoe shopping this morning and walked out with two pairs.

I originally went to look at some Adidas I spotted in Osaka last month, but they didn’t feel great once I tried them on. I kept browsing and found some blue Nike Pacifics on sale that looked and felt good, so those went in the cart.

Then I wandered into the women’s section and found the same shoe in different colors, including a white version and a brighter blue. I knew right away I wanted the white ones. The blue took a little more thought, but I went with the darker shade since it’s a bit less flashy. (see bottom photo)

I used the store credit card and got $30 off, so two pairs of shoes for $93 after tax. Not bad at all!

Both pairs are heading to Japan next trip. One will stay there permanently. My Japan wardrobe is already pretty set since I left pants, shirts, underwear, and my Converse high-tops there last time. The goal is to eventually travel between our two homes with nothing more than what I’m wearing and a spare set of sleeping clothes for layovers. I think it’s a good plan.

Quick FYI: I always lace one shoe differently than the other. Just a habit I’ve had since I was a kid.

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On today’s osanpo, I walked to Hon-Tatsuno Station just to get used to the route. And yes, I ran into my favorite duo again: Akatombo-kun and Akane-chan!

For those who don’t know, the composer of the famous song Akatombo (Red Dragonfly) was from this area, so the city adopted the red dragonfly as its mascot. First came Akatombo-kun, then a few years later they added his girlfriend Akane-chan. I love them both!

Mariko and Bay think I’m weird for being so obsessed with the city mascots, but honestly? I think it’s fun!

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Okay, so much for waiting until the whole season is released to binge watch Gimbap and Onigiri. I’m enjoying it way too much to hold out that long Guess I’ll just have to look forward to new episodes every Monday like everyone else!

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