Although the last few days were filled with pouring rain – it doesn't keep me from doing my daily walks.Again, just as I used to do walkies in all kinds of weather in England – the same goes for Japan.Narrow roads swirling around rice paddies, cliff sides, little villages (some abandoned), numerous tunnels through hill sides – that often feel very Ghibli – numerous shrines and temples dotted along the landscape, and many small roads that lead to some houses, a small dock with some fishing boats – often cramped between cliffs – overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Shopping was never really a thing for me...until I got to Japan. One can find things here - that 2 minutes prior, ya didn't even know existed - and you suddenly feel you can't live without anymore. Malls, shopping centers, stores, supermarkets, so big and packed with useful stuff. And what's more; decent quality and very fair prices. I strongly feel that the Japanese people don't get - at all, shafted, like the people in Europistan do - by their government. Apart from Switzerland, it must be the only place where tax money seems to be spent more wisely too. My shopping sprees are mainly focussed on buying antiques for the house. And my Antiques man in Mobara gives me ridiculous low prices for amazing items. Quite a joy to be able to fill your house with various items, most over a hundred years old - for the price of a decent meal.

Late on Monday night (local time), a strong earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan (near Aomori Prefecture), with magnitude initially reported as 7.6, then revised to 7.5. Authorities are urging everyone — especially along coastal regions — to check evacuation plans, secure emergency kits, and prepare for possible aftershocks or sudden tsunami risk. I live in a coastal area (south Chiba), so here too some preparations and precautions were taken. And although I hope nothing serious will occur - I sincerely hope that, if something does kick off, it won't be during the night time. It seems ever so more eerie and scary, should a major quake and the follow up tsunami - happen at night. In any case, the people around here and therefore also my housemate, are very well prepared. Here in the garage is a stack of all kinds of dry and canned foods, rice, water, fuel, generator, torches, tent, etc. - ready to be loaded into my mate's Hiace van - should anything happen - and move onto higher ground.Having to be alert for natural disasters gives life an edge that is actually a good thing, I find.One seems to have more respect for life in general because of that "edge" that has a constant presence in people's lives here. It makes one - to not take everything for granted in life. Something that people in western Europe seem to do a tad too much. Or perhaps I'd better call it Europistan, since European culture is disappearing like snow in the sun. Planned a small shopping trip to Tokyo tomorrow. Hopefully things won't start shaking whilst on some 12th floor of some shopping center though. Have a good'n ya'll. 🙏

While shopping for groceries yesterday I nearly bumped into a big stack of boxes filled with strawberries. Since it's one of my favourite fruits - I got myself some. Reminds me of the years I spent in India - Usually around this time of year there too - lots a strawberries. I used to drive specially from Arambol to Mapusa to a milkshake-bar named "Cold Corner" for their strawberry milkshakes. I wonder if it's still there. Anyway - that bad weather I mentioned in my previous post - only lasted for a day. And although the temperature has dropped a few degrees over the last few days - it's still blue skies and sunny. Perfect for walkies. Wanted to visit Tokyo tomorrow for a wander around - but then my girlfriend reminded me that it's Sunday (tomorrow).So I'm gonna postpone that idea 'till later, midweek or so - just a tad less busy. Another reason I wanted to go; apparently, Johny Depp has an art show going at the moment in Tokyo, wanted to have a wee peek. And need to check some "Stranger Things" merchandise for my daughter (btw - Season 5, so far, has been a real f-ing banger, especially the last episode :).Furthermore, did some shopping at my mate's antiques shop in Mobara. Found some lovely century old statue of Ebisu/Yebisu - for the living room. And other nice bits and pieces to take to Europe, to flog it. Well, that's enough lines put in for today. Need to work on some tunes before going to bed.So, to anyone reading this dribble - cheers!Have a great time - wherever you may find yourself - and have a gud laugh occasionally - life's too short not to. 🙏

Finally, a rainy day. The last couple of weeks, the weather has been magnificent. Every day sunshine with temperatures around 20°C. So (little) daily adventures were prioritised above writing, filming, editing, producing (music), etc. As stated before, the vlog thing remains a bit of a struggle. Due to a few things, but mainly — I don't like walking around filming everything I see and commenting on it. It looked appealing to do — but on many occasions I find it more of a drag and I'm certainly no "natural".

Good morning from sunny Japan.The writing and posting have been slacking a bit over the last few days. I’ve had a nasty cold, and although I haven’t been very ill, my mood for writing/posting/making vids just wasn’t there. But posting or not posting doesn’t really matter. Apart from one soul (you know who you are ;) ), I don’t think anyone reads this. I guess by “anyone,” I mean people I know from back home. Family, “friends,” mates—none of them engaging or offering encouragement, as is typical for the lot I hail from.

Didn't manage to write last night. Left from Ohara yesterday a tad later than expected and arrived – after plenty of kombini stops – rather late at night in the hotel (Utsunomiya).Utsunomiya lies about an hour's drive southeast from Nikkō.I'd searched online to see if there's a Bookoff store in the area, in order to do some vinyl hunting. (Bookoff is a great chain of second hand stores where you can find anything you'd want and don't want at very honest and fair prices.)The Bookoff store turned out to be a pile of (only) Japanese records. Not what I was after.But I was lucky to have stumbled upon an amazing small cozy record shop about a stone's throw from the hotel.Found it, dived in and spent a good 2 hours in there. Twenty hours would have been more sufficient though.After a small record shopping spree I went to a small ramen restaurant (with delicious (and big) gyoza).After some refreshing sleep (always in the mountains) it was time to get some 7/11 coffee and a beef potato croquette before setting off towards Nikkō.The drive up there was through some stunning nature and scenery. It reminded me a bit of when I was in Canada during Indian summer – or at least the color palette did – a never ending wave of browns, yellows, reds, etc.Paid a small visit to Lake Chūzenji (altitude 1,269 meters) which was a stunning sight but left rather soon again; too many irritating, noise producing, non mannered, arrogant gaijin. Seriously, why do people always behave like disrespectful cunts?!Anyway, made my way to the Akechidaira Ropeway bridge which provided some awesome sights and scenery.And 99% less gaijin tourists – which is always a big bonus.Had a proper walk around while getting high on the amazingly fresh air up there.By the time I finished my little walkabout there, the sun was starting to set. So back to the hotel in Utsunomiya.But had a proper stopover first to do some shopping at one of my favourite shops in Japan... Muji.Oh – and had my first ever donuts from "Mister Donut".I had four – they were good.

Another beautiful, relaxed and gorgeous day has passed here in Japan. Life- truly has a very different pace here than anywhere else I've ever been. And certainly the opposite world of grey and dark Belgistan with its sour depressing population. Today was a day of editing, sorting out photos and preparing for a small road trip, starting tomorrow morning.I decided to go visit Nikkō - situated approximately 140 km north of Tokyo and 35 km west of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture. It's famous for it's stunning nature and scenery and the mausoleum of shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Nikkō Tōshō-gū shrine.Tokugawa was a Japanese samurai, daimyo, and the founder and first shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868.It'll be about a 4 drive from here (Ohara) and I suspect it might be a bit more chilly up there. Long undies and suitable jacket and gear, check.Another joy of having road trips in Japan - since all along the road there are plenty of combini stores (7/11, etc.) scattered - selling not only delicious coffee  - but also pretty decent food at very decent prices  - one doesn't need to worry 'bout bringing food or lunch boxes. So, I'll be packing my last bits and pieces and hit the sack - need to be up early. Hope to write a note tomorrow 'bout how the trip up there went.Take care folks. 🙏

Today, I struggled a bit with an upcoming cold. But, as one would remain indoors covered under blankets - back in Europe - here, in Japan, especially with these splendid weather conditions, it's hard not to go for walkies.So, after having downed a bucket of my ginger brew and a hot shower, I decided to have a walk to Onjuku. A surfer's beach about 8km from here. There's a walking path that more or less follows the railroad but swirls around fields, farms, numerous shrines and the occasional Akiya (abandoned house). With everything still rather lush and green, a bright sun and temperatures exceeding 20°c degrees - it feels like full blown summer.Had a lovely lunch in Onjuku at "Koho". A small, cosy coffee house that do their own versions of Burritos. I had one with red bean paste, miso and veggies - seriously delicious. And they brew a decent cup of coffee too.(IG: @koho.burrito)After that I lingered on the beach soaking up some vitamin D and watching the surfers before taking the train back home in Ohara.But still not so content with the (not so fluid) evolution of the vlog thing. I find the yapping during the filming rather unpleasant and I don't seem to have a natural knack for it. Half of the time when people are yapping - there's a lot of stupid things coming out of their mouths - and I'm most certainly no exception. So, I actually made a few attempts producing some videos. But decided against putting them online cause my narrating is just shite. I might put music over it and post it like that. Not sure yet.As for now - more ginger tea and early to bed.Sayonara 🙏

Another beautiful day has passed here in Ohara. It was slightly more chilly than yesterday — but that was probably due to some colder northern wind. The sun was still out and warm.Today was a day of cleaning the house and my room and for "coffee & contemplation" (to quote Jim Hopper).And I wrote down some ideas for a video about trying to make some tunes whilst living out of a backpack/suitcase — with very little gear — as I did some more editing of my (upcoming) videos for my YouTube channel.Again, it made me realise — and respect them a lot more — what a heap of work it is to create content, edit it, put it out there and all that comes along with it.As I just start off on this venture — and not at all having the hang of it yet — it might look like a giant task but might become a bit lighter as I progress.But just like my musical brews — it's fun to do it.Although having had a proper productive day and was occupied most of the time — my thoughts often wandered off... to missing my daughter... and on this particular day missing my mate and music brother Carl (who left us 2 years ago) a tad more than usual.That's why I gotta create my stupid little music pieces — to turn those not-so-nice feelings into something a bit more positive.Anyway folks, stay safe and have a good day.🙏 — TIN.

In my previous post, I wrote that my mate's father had died. The family notified me that they would have appreciated my presence. Honoured as I was to receive such an invitation, I was pretty nervous too. Especially since these kind of formal situations require one's full attention and respect.

My plane arrived at Narita on the 25th of October at 10:30AM. Taxi-ing took a good 15 minutes - by 10:50AM I was already in the cue for passport control and after picking up my luggage, I walked out of the airport - and it wasn't even 11:15AM yet. Such effiency. I didn't linger about in or around Tokyo, but went straight to my mate's home in Ohara, Chiba. Unfortunately, my mate (Akio)  wasn't there, he apparently has been spending a lot of time in Tokyo lately because his father hasn't been too well. After unpacking and settling in a wee bit - I set out to my favourite restaurant (Fujiyoshi) and had my usual favourite - Sashimi, for the first time in a while.Another treat - in Europe, it was really getting miserable foul wet grey autumn weather - while here on most days it's still well over 20°C and sunny, mostly. I haven't been able to shift quite into the (higher) gear that I wanted to - regarding my vlogging/blogging. During the first week of my stay here, I received some not too good news from back "home". And my mate and landlord's father has deceased some days ago.  So that didn't provide a very creative atmosphere either - as one can imagine.I did manage to squeeze in a few nice walks and daytrips around the area. Did some filming but couldn't be asked to put any narrating on it. And to be honest, it still feels rather awkward to me to be yapping into a microphone whilst filming. I'll dedicate the coming week to turn it into a few vids. Anyway, hope you're having a swell day/evening/night, where ever you are. 🙏Take care folks,TIN