I’ve said it before (in April 2012) and I’ll say it again – the new Studio Ghibli film From Up On Poppy Hill (Kokuriko-zaka Kara / コクリコ坂から) is absolutely wonderful! I’ve walked home singing “Ue o Muite Aruko” (上を向いて歩こう) to myself feeling relaxed and warm and fuzzy inside, after watching From Up On Poppy Hill for the second time … Continue reading
Last year when I went to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo, I picked up a flyer for an upcoming Studio Ghibli film called From Up On Poppy Hill (コクリコ坂から / Kokuriko-zaka Kara). The film was released in Japan in July 2011, but by that time I had already returned to the UK. Now, finally, … Continue reading
Carrying on from my previous post, you might remember that it was April 20th and I was in Inokashira Park, waiting to go into the Ghibli Museum. I had visited the Ghibli Museum before, back in 2006, but since then I have become much more of a Ghibli fan and seen a lot more of … Continue reading
On April 20th I planned to visit the Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (an area of Tokyo), but I decided to start my day with a peaceful walk in Inokashira Park first. Inokashira Park is actually home to the Ghibli Museum, but I hadn’t looked around the park last time I visited the museum because I … Continue reading
Today couldn’t have been geekier. 8) I started at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka: Then walked to Jindaiji, which is famous for GeGeGe no Kitarō (ゲゲゲの鬼太郎): After that I took the bus back to Kichijoji where I finally found a Rilakkuma Store: Finally, I was directed to Pancake Days by the lovely Rilakkuma Store staff: … Continue reading
If you keep your eyes open and occasionally wander off the beaten track, life in Japan is full of what I like to call “Totoro moments”. Totoro, as I’m sure you know, is a famous character from the Studio Ghibli animation “My Neighbour Totoro“. “My Neighbour Totoro”, like most of the other Studio Ghibli movies, is … Continue reading
At the beginning of August I went to see the new Studio Ghibli film, 借りぐらしのアリエッティ (Karigurashi no Arrietty, or The Borrower Arrietty). It was instantly up there in my top three Ghibli movies (along with Totoro and Kiki). I felt like I had entered a magical world and, even though the movie was entirely in … Continue reading
“Ponyo, Ponyo, Ponyo, sakana no ko… aoi umi kara yatte kita…” Yes, I went to see the new Studio Ghibli movie, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea today (more info here too). It was only my second time in a Japanese cinema, and my first to see a movie entirely in Japanese! Luckily, Ponyo … Continue reading
I decided to have a proper day off today – and it’s been awesome! I didn’t bring any work home, and I’ve tried not to think about it too much (there’ll be plenty of time for work tomorrow!). Last night I went to the supermarket and did my first proper food shop. I spent ages … Continue reading
Haikugirl's Japan 