Umeda

Umeda (Osaka CBD)

Umeda is the CBD of Osaka City, not a lot to photograph. Lots of shopping and lots of people. One drawback of shopping in Japan, is that clothes don't fit and the super electrical goods won't work back in Australia. So we can drool at the cool clothes and great electronics, without worrying about how we are going to afford it. Maybe one day we will see these great things in Aus. One disapoint for me, is the internationalisation of music, 20 years ago Japan was a great place to import special versions of top 40 albums that you could get nowhere else. But sadly now, the release here are just the standard US issue with a japanese cardboard sleave, no extra tracks.. no rare remixes or artwork.

Fridges in Japan are amazing. While in Australia the current trend is for stainless steel fridges; Japan has taken fridges to the next level. Multiple door, some up to eight doors, each with its own purpose and temperature control. Super rapid chill wine, make ice, ice water etc, even good for cheese making where ripening cheese needs special conditions. (Gillian & I are certified (certifiable ;-) cheesemakers))

Current wave of mobile phones here have built in TV and FM radio, along with digital still camera (& short video), voice recording, real email capability (not crappy sms)

Because the population is so large. Specialy shops can survive... next to novelty plush toy shops, you will find one who specialises just in Snoopy.

Always fun to keep an eye out Engrish (Japanese attempts at English).. ie there are many posters for the "Marry Widow" opera ;-) And then the was the homemade curry in a packet, that effectively claimed "We made homemade curry so you be sure it is homemade curry" que?