By Martin Faynot
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        Around Kanda-Jimbocho: a gyoza restaurant with (only) a few people in line. Like most people I hate waiting in line, but in Japan it is part of the culture.  For any famous video game or new console hardware, people would line up even from the day before it's launch. In front of restaurants, some people start to stand in line... even if they don't know anything about the restaurant. It's like "Oh, people are getting in line! This restaurant must be famous, I should stand in line too!"

Fudo-Mae, 3:37 pm

By Martin Faynot

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I've been passing by this old alcohol retailer for a while, always wondering if it's still "alive" or not.  I wonder because of the very old, partially broken vending machines. Although someone seem to live inside. One day I found an answer : some guy was filling up the vending machines.
So the shop probably passed away, while the machines continue their work... before ruling the world someday ;-)

"Monokuro" Sketches Series no. 6

By Martin Faynot

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This is just a part of the "Kudanshita Building" in Kudanshita. The whole building is empty, except this "Mister Beans" restaurant and the other one. I've heard that the real estate company wants to replace it immediately by some "beautiful" mansion. May the 2010 tiger protect the Kudanshita building!

Year of the Tiger

By Martin Faynot

Happy New Year! Enjoy 2010 the year of the tiger.

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Monokuro sketches series #5

By Martin Faynot

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View from the inside of an incredibly old game center in Jimbocho. Dirty, smoky, big holes on the carpets... I haven't seen one but it might be a good place to live for a few rats, ahhh! Both new and old games (the original Space Invaders can be played!), and a lot of slot machines.
Also, 50¥ only for one play... I understand they don't earn enough to buy new carpets!

About me

martin
Kevin Cooney

Kevin Cooney is a long time Tokyo resident. He makes regular appearances on TV as a reporter. He has his own popular internet video series. He performs stand-up comedy regularly in clubs around Tokyo. In his free time he is an avid chef, and hiker.

Claytonian
Claytonian

Claytonian lives in the countryside of Japan. A very different lifestyle to the hustle and hum of urban centers like Tokyo. He takes a look at some of the traditions and settings that make Japan a unique place to live.

Anna
Anna Kunnecke

Raised in Japan, Anna wears many hats: voice artist, international business consultant, life coach, mother. But the hats are nothing compared to the shoes! See Japan through her eyes, a working mother in Tokyo.

martin
Martin Faynot

Martin Faynot a.k.a. Marutan is a french illustrator living in Tokyo since 2002. He has published many illustrated books and his passion for Tokyo keeps him always on a quest to discover and observe how the city evolves. Tokyo as seen from behind his sketch pad.

Emily Connor
Emily Connor

Emily is a young singer, songwriter just breaking onto the Japanese music scene. Mostly self-taught, she became fluent in Japanese and moved to Tokyo at only 18. Following her musical dream, she has already made a name for herself in Japanese entertainment. She shares in this blog her life experiences in Tokyo and a first hand look at someone already becoming "Big in Japan."

Danny
Danny Choo

Danny registers over two million unique users a month on his very own website and is an expert on his biggest passion: Japanese figurines. In this new Japan themed blog is all the latest from the world of Akiba-culture and society at large.