Two more to add to our cache.
I had about 1.5 hours to wait for these puppies to be activated and during that time I witnessed rampant consumerism as only Japan can illustrate.  I saw literally hundreds of new mobile phones fly off the shelves to eager new owners and I contrasted this with today’s other task which was the donation of the last of my parent’s household items to charity.  (As a result of the fine upbringing provided by my darling parents, I cannot bear to throw things away that can be recycled or reused - not easy to do in Japan as most people just dump their unwanted items. Charities are hard to find.)

So today I have been reflecting on what our society has become: consume then discard, consume then discard. It has disturbed me somewhat hence this protracted post.

As a child I had very little and was taught to treasure and maintain my few worldly possessions. These days I find I get a rush from spending money and adding more and more to my mainly useless possessions. I have an unhealthy addiction to shoes, skin care products, kitchen items and hardware. Freud eat your heart out. I loathe wasting time chosing from the myriad of items in stores but I adore opening my wallet. Go figure!!

But what happens to the items that are worn out or unwanted? Or what happens to the items on the shelves that are unsold?  For example I saw racks and racks of mobile phone accessories for handsets currently on the market but next year these will have been discontinued and replaced by newer, faster, better models.  What happens to the now obsolete (mainly plastic or epoxy) accessories?  Can these be melted down and used again or simply discarded into land-fill to make new islands in Tokyo Bay or sinking runways in Kansai?

I realise that I am part of the problem but I am not sure there is a solution.

p.s. Apologies for the poorly constructed post as it will pale in comparison to the pithy and erudite posts from Dr Dave. Now… Back to regular programming.

Edit - comments closed due to SPAM attack.  Just fuck off already!! Get a real job!!

Spent the afternoon creating new beverages. American Cherry with lemon, rock sugar and white liquor. Also brandy with coffee beans and rock sugar. Both ready in a few months. Who wants to help me drink them?

Friday night. Shinjuku JR zoo.

Fishtank sans fish. Shinjuku station.

Musical about Queen showing in Shinjuku. I am going next week. YAY!

Outside a clothes shop I pass everyday on way to work.

Final sayonara party for mum and dad at Portuguese restaurant. Portugese is Mums fave food. Lots of seafood - yum!

Yet another sayonara party for the folks. The lovely Keiko is our Japanese teacher and her husband Sachio is just so cute.

What are lessons 1 & 2? If anybody spots them please send me a photo. This one on Tozai Subway line.

My adorable and talented sibling turns 39! Congratulations Honey!

Edit: Comments closed due to spam attack.  Die losers!!