P.1
[]: I haven’t heard the announcement of the rainy season’s start yet, but it’s raining hard here.

P.2
Bird: Thanks, thanks.
Kosuke: Want some bread crusts?

P.3
Bird: Thanks, thanks.
Bird: Come again, thanks.
Bird: I’m hungry, one Oyako! [chicken and eggs over rice]
Kosuke: A restaurant parakeet huh...
Bird: I’m hungry, thanks, thanks!

P.4
Bird: Thanks, thanks.
Bird: Thanks, thanks!
[]: The rain stopped after 3 days, and the parakeet who visited me flew away.
Bird: I’m hungry. Read More " "

P.1
Kosuke: Near where I live a huge maze was set up. My girlfriend wanted to go in.
GF: Hey, how about a contest? Last one out buys dinner.
Kosuke: Sure...
Sign: The Great Maze
[]: I’m really bad at directions.
GF: Good luck!

P.2
Kosuke: Ah.
Kosuke: Hnn...
SFX: BAM
Man: Dead end over here.
Man: Hey, have you seen a kid about this tall? He’s cute like me.
Kosuke: ...No.
[]: He got separated from his grandson, and so I let him ride my shoulders to find him.
Man: Thanks for this. Little more forward...
Man: Takao~.
Takao: Gramps!
Man: Wait there Takao! Hey you, to the left!

P.3
Man: Takao, how dare you leave your grampa behind!!
Takao: Its cause you’re so bad at this!
Man: Forward march!! Just follow me... Read More " "

P.1
[]: My girlfriend asked me out to eat, and I wanted to wear my new pants.
Kosuke: They wrinkled in the wash.
Landlady: An iron? Sure, but...
Landlady: It’s a bit heavy.

P.2
[]: This Iron was handmade by a craftsman named Denshichi, and had been used for 30 years.
Kosuke: She said it takes a long time to heat up.
Kosuke: All right.

P.3
[]: It was indeed very heavy.
Kosuke: Hup. Hup.
Kosuke: In the face of the Iron’s weight, the wrinkles smoothed out in one pass.

P.4
[]: It was hard, but the old iron pressed the wrinkles out. When I wore the pants, they were so sharp they practically cut. Read More " "

P.1
[]: My girlfriend who likes to sketch said that there was an animal that resembled me, so we went to Ueno zoo.
GF: This animal’s the spitting image of you.
Kosuke: The lesser panda...[Red Panda]
Girl: What is it??
Guy: Nuthin here.

P.2
1: Ah, I see it’s face!
2: It came out, it came out!
3: Huh. A bed smell maybe?
Girl: Kyaa! Is it a widdle tanuki? [Japanese raccoon-dog]

P.3
Panda+Kosuke: staaaaaaaare

P.4
GF: Kosuke-kun...
GF: Kosuke-kun!!
GF: I finished.
[]: While I was in my staring contest, I somehow became a model for her.
GF: You two are totally alike.
Read More " "

Translator’s Note: Viewing of the blooming cherry blossoms is a popular spring cultural activity in Japan.

P.1
[]: Going flower viewing with the other residents of “Peace Apartments,” the landlady sent me to get a spot.
Kosuke: This looks good.

P.2
[]: On the side of an embankment, the tree roots made a luxurious seat for my back.
Kosuke: Just the size of my room..
Kosuke: A top grade ceiling.
Kosuke: Nice breeze too.

P.3
Kosuke: And good light.
[]: I brought volume one of the works of Kajimoto Jiro with me.
Kosuke: Petal shower!
Book: Under The Cherry Tree.
1: I don’t see him.
Landlady: Kosuke!!
2: Maybe we should check over there...
Old Man: This tree is probably 1,000 years old...
Old Woman: Yes... Read More " "

P.1
[]: When the spring equinox comes round, there’s one thing I have to have.
Shopkeeper: Hoh, it’s the messenger of spring!
Woman: Just like a robin.
Shopkeeper: Heheheh!

P.2
Kosuke: The usual please.
Shopkeeper: Sure.
Sign: Sakura Mochi [mochi wrapped in cherry blossom leaves]
Shopkeeper: For here, right?
Kosuke: Yes.
Shopkeeper: Extra Uguisu mochi. [a sweet green mochi. Uguisu is a Japanese bush warbler]
[]: This shop gives you an extra mochi with your order.
Kosuke: Afternoon
Mochi maker: Hey.
Kosuke: A fresh batch?
Mochi maker: I’m just now putting in the sweet bean paste.

P.3
Kosuke: The smell of spring.
Kosuke: Is this the real thing?
Shopkeeper: Pickled in last years salt.
Kosuke: Preserving... Read More " "

P.1
[]: Taking a shortcut to buy an afternoon bento, I met a young caricature artist.
Sign: Portraits 500 Yen
[]: I’m bad at stare downs.

P.2
Artist: Just like that.

P.3
[]: It had the soft touch of Degas. Moreover, there was a very strong charm to it.
Kosuke: Um...
Artist: No thank you.
Artist: I’m not totally satisfied with it. If there was more time I’d do better, but...
Kosuke: Well then...draw till you’re satisfied.
Artist: Are you sure?
Kosuke: Certainly.

P.4
Artist: How is it?
Kosuke: This is the best one.
[]: I never did get me bento, but I did get a superb portrait.
Artist: This is my first pay of the day. Read More " "

Translator’s Note: Shogi is a Japanese game similar to chess.

P.1
[]: My cousin Masabo made it into college, so I took him to Koma-san, a former gangster real estate agent my landlady introduced me to.
Sign: Komada Real Estate
Kosuke: Door’s still sticky as ever.
Koma: Ohhh, Kosuke! Good timing!

P.2
[]: Koma-san loves shogi more than 3 meals a day.
Koma: All right, let’s play
Kosuke: Actually, today we’re looking for property...
Koma: It’s fine, let’s play a round first.
Masabo: I’ll just eat my bento here.
Koma: Hey, share that tea with us?
Koma: Hmm, like that eh?
Kosuke: I-I give up.
Koma: Ahahaha! Still not much of an opponent Kosuke. How bout another?

P.3
Kosuke: Uh, actually... Read More " "

Translator’s Note: Sake (sah-keh) is Japanese rice wine.

P.1
[]: I subbed for my friend in a sandlot team of veteran barflies, and kind of “Without sake, you aren’t on top form” team.
[]: I was out in right field, and with no balls coming I felt like my legs were stuck.
Glasses: Position change!

P.2
Kosuke: Thanks for this.
Man: Great game, huh boss.
Shibuyama: Hic!
Glasses: Looks like you’re up, Ko-chan.
Kosuke: Yep!
Umpire: Strike, batter out!
Kosuke: Another strikeout huh...
Shibuyama: Hey Ko-chan, have one, it’ll put you in top form.
[]: After just one drink, my legs slowly got weaker.
Man: Last inning, and we’re up by one!

P.3
[]: The boss, Shibuyama-san, pitched better and better the... Read More " "

P.1
[]: I went on an errand for my landlord to Asukayama station by the Arakawa line.
[]: It’s usually 140 yen, but that day I wound up paying 420 yen.

P.2
[]: The rhythm of the train on the tracks is like a lullaby to me.
Old Woman: Good afternoon.

P.3
[]: As a result, I slept all the way to Minowabashi
Kosuke: Ahh damn!
Girl: You see the show last night?
Announcement: Next stop Asukayama, Asukayama
Conductor: Sir, please enter at the front.
Man: Eheheh...
Conductor: In here please.
[]: This time I slept all the way to Wasada. On my third try I rode standing up.”
Kosuke: I’m falling asleep because I’m sitting...

P.4
Sign: Asukayama
[]: Thanks to the old lady’s croquettes, I made it on the 3rd... Read More " "

P.1
[]: I went to the library to continue my reading of Hemingway’s “Islands in the Stream.”

P.2
[]: Reading in the spaciousness and high ceiling of the library, I felt I too was within the majestic nature of the book.

P.3
[]: In the basement cafeteria I got the 300 yen set lunch.
Kosuke: All right!
1: Hey!
2: Hi.

P.4
[]: As it got dark and the library closed, I became the 11th person to finish the book.
Voice: Attention all patrons, the library is now closing. Read More " "

P.1
Translator’s Note: “It’s Rice!” is a salty seaweed paste.
[]: My cousin “Big Eater Masabo” came to Tokyo for his college entrance exam.
Masabo: Ko~suke, how’s it goin!
Masabo: Phew!
Masabo: I brought some stuff for dinner.
Foods: leeks, Potatoes, “It’s Rice!”, polished rice.

P.2
Translator’s Note: one Go equals about .38 pints
[]: I’d never even boiled 2 Go of rice in that pot before, but that day I had 6.
Kosuke: It’s done!
Arrow: Leek and potato miso soup
Masabo: Ah, I have my own...
Kosuke: Here.
[]: As long as Masabo has his 228 yen “It’s Rice” flavoring, he doesn’t need anything more.
Masabo: Want’s some? It’s great with hot rice.
Kosuke: Thanks.

P.3
Kosuke:... Read More " "

P.1
[]: There’s a man who lives nearby, “Creator Chin-san,” who mourns the buying of worthless new things and the throwing out of valuable old things.
Chin: Amazing! This could be 100 years old!
Kosuke: Good Morning.
Chin: Nihao! Morning!
Chin: This is good, could you help me Ko-san?

P.2
[]: I waited for Chin to get what he called “treasure.”
Chin: Hmm...
Chin: We’re here!
Upper Sign: Chin’s Dining
Lower Sign: Chin’s Crafting
Kosuke: Ah.
Chin: This is your first time here huh. I’ll give you a tour starting on the first floor.
[]: On the first floor, Chin-san’s newly made creations sat waiting to be bought.

P.3
Chin: Let’s go to the second floor workshop.
Chin: All right, today... Read More " "

P.1
[]: My landlady kept a dog for one night.
Landlady: Kosuke, I’ve got a favor to ask. He won’t stop crying!
Landlady: He’s very spoiled.
Gon: Awoooo!

P.2
Kosuke: Ah!!
Kosuke: It’s huge!
Landlady: I know!
Landlady: He’s this big, and yet he won’t sleep without someone near.
Kosuke: There there, there there.
Landlady: He stopped crying!
Kosuke: He actually seems quite gentle.
Landlady: Looks like its ok...
Gon: Awoooo!

P.3
Kosuke: Now what do we do?
Landlady: I hate to ask, but could you stay with him? You’re free now right?
Kosuke: Maybe he just needs some exercise.
Landlady: You think?
Landlady: Well, I leave it to you.
Kosuke: Let’s go.
Gon: Woof!

P.4
Landlady: Well, looks like he slept... Read More " "

P.1
[]: I was asked to help out my girlfriend’s former art school classmate on a project at a rental warehouse.
[]: The project leader is known as “tight spot napper” Guu-chan.
GF: Hey Guu-chan, what color should this be?

P.2
Man: She’s doing her thing again...
Kosuke: What’s wrong?
GF: Whenever she hits a mental wall, she falls asleep.
GF: Looks like we can’t even talk with her...
Man: She’s totally asleep
Kosuke: Shall I get a blanket?
GF: That’d be nice.
GF: What now?
Man: Guess we wait till she wakes up?

P.3
Guu: Tadahh!
Kosuke: Ah!
Guu: Let’s make that spot light blue.
Man: Yeah?
GF: Awake now huh?
GF: Guu-chan, after napping you really work hard.
Man: today especially.
Guu: Heh heh. ... Read More " "

P.1
[]: While messing around with a friend’s ski goggles, I heard a “little band” performer.
Friend: It’s the weekend, you should come skiing.
Kosuke: I used to go all the time as a kid.

P.3
[]: Just as suddenly as it started, the recorder performance stopped.
Friend: It’s the scary goggles.

P.4
[]: The next day, the “little band” girl had a body guard.
Read More " "

Translator’s Note: Mochi is a traditional Japanese sweet made of pounded rice dough.

P.1
[]: I wasn’t home for New Years, so on the way to getting some tobacco I picked up the mochi they sent.
Ronin: Happy New Year!
Ronin: Nowhere to go huh...I didn’t go home for New Years either.
Kosuke: Oh, so that means you didn’t get any mochi! I have some here.

P.2
Translator’s Note: “Ronin” refers to one who has failed their college entrance exam.
[]: I met this Ronin at a Ramen shop. This year will make his 5th year trying to get into college.
Ronin: Hyah, I didn’t think I’d be getting mochi this year...I’m over this way.
Kosuke: Wow, Thomas Mann! You have a lot of literature.
Ronin:... Read More " "

P.1
[] In my hometown, they say a long winter is predicted by a long snowfall. Seeing that in Tokyo makes me strangely excited.
Landlady: Kosuke, I’m going to New Year’s shopping. Take care of things here!

P.2
Kid 1: Hyah, hyah!
[]: Tokyo snow is light.
Kosuke: Hm?
Zeppeki: Mine’s bigger.
Kid 1: I’m bored.

P.3
Kosuke: Hah!
Zeppeki: Ah!
Kid 1: Hey Zeppeki, we’re gonna go play video games.
Kid 2: Yeah, quit shovelin’ snow.
Zeppeki: I’ll go later.
Kid 1: Psh, never changes.
Kid 2: Once he starts, he never quits.
[]: Somewhere along the line me and Zeppeki-kun became engrossed in playing in the snow.
Kosuke: Let’s make a snowman.
Zeppeki: Yeah!

P.4
Landlady: Whew, I bought too much.
Landlady: Wow,... Read More " "

Translator’s Note: Oden is a winter dish of various components stewed in a light broth

P.1
[]: I got a part time job as a traffic quantity monitor. It suits me, and I can do it sitting down, but in the winter the cold is terrible.
Beard: Phew~!

P.2
Beard: I can’t take it, that smell in this cold...
[]: Me and my partner, “Beard-san,” wouldn’t have any money until we finished the day’s shift.
Beard: So cold...Ima go take a piss.
Kosuke: Ok.
Beard: Pops, that smells damn good!
Oden seller: Want some? It’s hot!
Beard: If I had some cash...till then, it’s nuthin.

P.3
Beard: Check it out, got some cardboard from an old guy sleepin’ in the alley.
[]: We had our own little room to block the... Read More " "

P.1
[] Among the customers at the “Peace Water” bathhouse, there’s a man named Heinosuke who’s been going for 60 years known as “The King of the Baths.”
King: ...You’re not supposed to do your washing in the baths.
Man: Ah...right...

P.2
Kosuke: Want me to wash your back?
King: Oh, thanks.
Kosuke: Your right arm’s a little thicker.
King: It’s ‘cause I still work as a plasterer.
King: Hey!! No running in the bathhouse!
King: Hey Kosuke, you ready?
Kosuke: Shall we?

P.3
1: Looks like they’re at it again.
2: Wonder who’ll win this time?
[] Whoever can stay in the hot bath the longest gets a bottle of Fruit Milk from the loser.
[] Hei-san called this the “duel of Tokyoites.”
Kid:... Read More " "

Translator’s Note: Okonomiyaki is a sort of Japanese pancake.

P.1
[]: I wanted some okonomiyaki the other night, so we went looking of a restaurant
Sign: Okonomiyaki Niban
GF: Here’s one!
Kosuke: You’re right!
Kosuke: Are you closed?

P.2
Man: What’s the matter?
Lady: These 2 wanted to come in, but...
Man: Well, we can’t have them starving to death...C’mon in.
Lady: Are you sure? I thought you wanted to get up early and fish tomorrow.
Man: It’s fine, come in.
Lady: Ok then.
Ko+GF: Thank you!

P.3
Man: Sheesh, your stomach’s really grumbling.
[]: The Hiroshima style okonomiyaki with udon noodles were making me unbearably hungry.
Man: Thanks for waiting!

P.4
Man: All right! I’ll keep you... Read More " "