#stefaniewhat

[stefaniewhat]

I am not very well-versed in the art of “going to get a massage”- for me, most of the time, that’s involved sitting in a chair while someone takes care of my back/shoulders/neck.

But today I went to one of those chain places and got a full-body deal where you actually use the massage table, but was able to wear my street-clothes in- no need to change to pjs or anything.

And this particular chain likes to drape towels over every inch of you, especially when you’re lying face-up. I basically only had my (masked) nose uncovered!

Has anyone else experienced this? It was still a nice massage, but I was lying there going, “This is like how they cover your face when you’re at the dentist, or washing your hair at a salon.”

[shoku-and-awe]

@kelp-kelp I was lowkey hoping someone would weigh in about Seico Mart! I don't think I've been, but I love zangi :)

@stefaniewhat yes, exotic!!!! Ministop has always been out of the way for me and therefore a bit of a special treat. I will say, their Crunky Chicken is pretty magical (arare in the breading).

And you’re 100% right about the small town gossip! Even in Tokyo, to some extent. I recently came to have a local conbini mama again and it’s been…... an adjustment! Now that I'm used to it, it's kinda nice that she’s always asking my husband “Where’s your wife, how’s her back doing?” or reporting back to me if he comes in alone to buy drinks (lol). I feel kind of looked after? But I do now wish I was getting actual gossip haha.

Do you have a personal ranking of the different convenience stores in Japan? The ones off the top of my head I can think of are 7-11, Lawson, Family Mart, Daily Yamazaki, and Ministop.

This is a great ask, very much my field of interest! But I don't rank them hierarchically so much as.... territorially(? situationally?) because they have different strengths but here it is!

------------------------------ 7-11: The conbini I'm most attached to! Generally has the best bento selection, and also the best-smelling coffee. (All the grind-and-brew coffee machines are basically the same quality, but the 7-11 ones really smell great.)

FamiMa: The best fried chicken! And generally a good chuhi selection. Also has far and away the most iconic jingle, and now I get this absolute bop by Miyachi stuck in my head every time I visit.

Lawson: Best for its special stores! Discount store Lawson 100 was a godsend for groceries and household supplies my first year in Tokyo. And I will stop basically anytime I see a Natural Lawson (aka Natty Law aka Naughty Lad) because they have organic/imported/upscale/health/vegetarian stuff you won't find elsewhere.

Ministop: Great for softserve ice cream and also hotcase and deli items! The deli items feel more homemade than at the Big Three. Also they have halohalo and sticky rice dumplings that I always mean to try.

Daily Yamazaki: Kind of a wild card! These days they have interesting variety and grocery items (the other day I got these kimchis and a liter of unbelievably sweet organic soymilk that was in a plastic bag for some reason), fresh breads/pastries and Japanese sweets, and snacks that aren't major brands. But! Until recently, they were kind of..... hmm. Of the two near me, one was staffed by a very old woman on an oxygen machine who completely ignored you (both things *very* unusual for Tokyo) and one by the absolute tiniest old woman I'd ever seen and a very smiley man who was either her elderly son or somewhat younger husband, both utter sweethearts. The stores were dingy and poorly lit, and the selection was somewhere between basics and bare bones—but also some nights they would sell fresh cream puffs from a French bakery?? Chaotic, kind of a grab bag, some Building 19 vibes (IYKYK). Then in maybe 2018ish, there was a major overhaul and now they are as shiny, well-lit, and antiseptically clean any other chain. If a little less friendly.

New Days: I added this one! Easy to overlook because they're teeny, with a very basic selection, but that's because they're only found inside of JR train stations. I don't think that they're anyone's conbini of choice, but they're there when you need them! (Sometimes.) ------------------------------

Also honorable mentions to Poplar, which I never see anymore (East Tokyo only?), and to Three-F, which seems to have been bought by Lawson, and 🫡 RIP to Sunkus (run by Circle K), which I always liked. When I lived near the red light district, we always used to stop at Tokyo's last surviving Sunkus on our way to see the pharmacy with the goat.

[pixelatedlenses]

stefaniewhat replied to your post: Somewhat Strange Things That Happened This Weekend...

Yikes! Glad you and the snakes were all okay after that encounter.

I cannot describe the amount of fear I had as I realized what was happening, nor the sounds that left my mouth. It sounded like I was screaming in G Major: whoever heard it probably was like, “Yikes.”

[livekyoto]

stefaniewhat replied to your photo

*whispers* Train otaku~

HA

[readysetgaikokujin]

stefaniewhat

That's absolutely ridiculous. I'm glad you're okay. Didn't get any alarms on my phone in Kyoto, but heard of a few people who did.

The alarm was unnerving for sure. I think the sirens were what froze me completely. Dunno if I’ll be able to play any Silent Hill for a while after that ^^;

chainsandcherries

Supervisors are ridiculous. I hope you're doing okay otherwise. :s

Yeah I was so close to going “fuck the nenkyuu” and just leaving. But luckily it passed over us super quickly and I didn’t have to do anything.

almostabi

fucking a supervisors can be ridiculous sometimes. glad you and hubs are okay!

Yeah Hubs slept through the damn thing since he’s not living with me anymore. All the way in Ajigasawa, he was sleeping off a long night shift and he didn’t even get the alarm on his phone. Lucky or not lucky depending on how you look at it, but he calmed me down as soon as he woke up and saw my messages. My sup has a good heart, but the priority there was skewed for sure.

[getstuffednstuff]

Tagged by @stefaniewhat who knows I’m a slut for memes. This all seems fairly accurate. If I’m honest pic #3 is the only one really necessary; the rest is just filler.

[hug-your-face]

“Sanpuru” Melts in Record Japan Heat

San-puddle-ru.

(Kotaku)

@shoku-and-awe @todayintokyo @stefaniewhat be careful out there.

[livekyoto]

@stefaniewhat LOOK

Japanese-American taiko drumming brings a lot of the rhythms of jazz into the traditional Japanese art, so Benny Goodman + taiko is actually not that big of a stretch.

Still, this is pretty dang cool!

[stefaniewhat]

Popping in to share our most recent publication over at Kyoto Cryptids 👀If you'd like a little Kyoto-based whimsical horror in your life, please consider giving our literary magazine a peek!

[shoku-and-awe]

stefaniewhat replied to your post “todayintokyo replied to your photoset “I tried this banana bread and...”

I feel blasphemous admitting I've never put walnuts in my 'nana bread. I want to try it now. Do you put them in the batter, or on top?

I’d put some in the batter, and then some more on the top toward the end for a nice texture in the crust :)

[pixelatedlenses]

stefaniewhat replied to your post: These children just straight up called me a nerd...

Pfft I do love the “How do YOU know about [series]?!” reaction you can get from students sometimes.

It’s pretty funny, tbh, because I remember being amazed that adults also knew about the things I liked when I was their age. 

I kind of like how amazed they are coupled with them calling me out for being a nerd too: it’s nice that they feel comfortable enough to communicate with me like that.

Who would have thought i’d hav liked teens to think I was the Cool Teacher so soon, heh.

[hug-your-face]

@shoku-and-awe @stefaniewhat @todayintokyo and you thought it was just Japanese summers that were harsh

In Japanese folklore, Gashadokuro, also known as Odokuro, are giant skeletons, fifteen times taller than an average person, and are constructed from the bones of people who have died from starvation. Their bones are collected into this giant skeleton creature which is filled with intense anger and a thirst for human blood. He wanders around at night, grinding his teeth and making a “gachi gachi” sound. The giant skeleton towers so high above the ground and walks so quietly that he can be almost invisible. The only warning you get when the giant skeleton is near is a strange and inexplicable ringing in your ears.

If the Gashadokuro finds you, he will reach down with his bony hand and snatch you off the ground. Then he will pluck your head off and suck the blood out of your headless body until his thirst is quenched.

[livekyoto]

Officially putting a huge dent in my remaining student loans so I’m celebrating tomorrow’s payday with some HECKIN SPICY chicken. @shoku-and-awe this is RECOMMENDED heck yes. I’m so pleased with this, considering what a disappointment last summer’s 10倍辛 was.

(Side note that it’s been a hot minute since I had spicy food and it’s entirely possible that my tolerance has plummeted)

[readysetgaikokujin]

stefaniewhat

Coming home to a clean house is one of the best feelings.

It really truly is!! I still have my suitcase to unpack, but there is not anything that needs cleaning which is the good part.

[stefaniewhat]

Love how fluffy and cotton candy-like the trees get during cherry blossom season!

[getstuffednstuff]

@singacrossthemoon @stefaniewhat omg

♪♫ Old MacDonald had…

…enough.