lovegeek Blog

Amy is back from Japan, and come bearing gifts! THANKS for my Tea For Two teapot from Loft and my Kitty Chan bike bell! Watch out Sydney!

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This is an easy one. What A-Z list about Japan can go past Hello Kitty? Sanrio would be nothing without their mouthless mascot.

FYI: She is referred to as simply Kitty Chan in her native country. And yes, all kids and teenagers (and most adults) love her - boys included.

When I was in Japan I spent most of my time with two super fantastic people called Ben and Amy. I didn’t really know them in Sydney, Amy worked with my boyfriend Hon, and we did Japanese lessons together right before we left. By chance they ended up renting an apartment literally around the corner from us in The Cho (Hanazonocho, Nishinari Ku, Osaka). And the rest, as they say, is history.

Ben and Amy were a great support base for me when I was living away from home, and Amy and I became BFF’s as fast as you can say Zakka Kawaii 4evs!

I am thinking of them tonight as I freeze here in Sydney, and I remember the horrible summer we had in Osaka, which would have been far worse if it weren’t for Ben’s banana chair and beer nights on the roof of their apartment.

Amy and Ben welcomed me in to their home, long after my welcome had been outstayed. We even spent a White Christmas together in the Snow where Ben spent the whole time snowboarding, and Amy and I ventured to Mon Pigeon for French Bakery Goods (in the middle of Hakuba!).

This photo is funny because I became obsessed with the beautiful golden retriever at Mon pigeon, named Koji. After viewing this Amy burst out “you look the same!” She later amended that it was because we both had shiny golden hair - but it was hilarious all the same.

Anyway, my year in Japan would have been a whole lot different if I didn’t have these guys around to do lots of fun things with, including, but not limited to:

- Okonomiyaki and Ramen in The Cho
- Bike rides to Ocat to get foreign food goods and red wine
- kushi Katsu and Yaki Niku (as much as I objected) in Deep Osaka
- Asahi Cans, Candy and Ice Cream from Family Mart
- Random DVD hires from SKIP
- HAKUBA!
- Uncle Steven’s @ Ame Mura
- Magic Candy, complete with hottie bar tender Jo Chan
- Orange St, Spinns and Lowry’s Farm
- Daily rundowns of our time at Osaka schools
- Pizza made in our mini ovens
- Ben’s home made Plum Wine
- Osaka Cafe Lunch outings
- HANAMI in Kyoto
- SUPA TAMADE
- Minoh in Autumn
- Eating in public
- Karaoke in the shotengai
- Puricura
- Giddy Giddy STEP and SMAP x SMAP on Ben’s big screen
- HUGS

So, I don’t know if I said it enough, but Thank You Amy and Ben,

Rabu Rabu

Mads Chan

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Yay! My Re-ment toys are finally here from Japan!

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Well, maybe not for you, but it is for me! Today I received two very special orders from Etsy.

These are some cards I bought in bulk from Able and Game. I buy all my cards from them now, so I figured I should stock up. They are really good quality and they get them in the post straight away, great for the late birthday rush.

And finally, my Kitty Chan Stamp Set, all the way from Japan! Featuring Hello Kitty and Rilakkuma, it also has little word stamps saying kawaii, Bye Bye and I Love You, among other Japanese phrases. I think I will get a lot of use out of these!

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This is what my friend Amy suggested we call our imaginary Etsy store that will sell cute things from Japan. She will take care of the Kawaii, while I’ll do the Zakka side, forever.

But srsly, I’ve been meaning to show you this awesome stamp set I got from Village Vanguard in Osaka. They have been great for decorating presents and my Etsy envelopes.