Quince tree in Showa backyard on way to the Nakano JR train station

昭和時代風の庭で、カリンの実が熟したみたいです。中野で。

Bait and tackle shop “Sansui” adds fun to urban structures

渋谷のSANSUIという釣具屋はつまらないビルを楽しく見せています。

Tea cup balconies and giant chef’s head decorate entrance to Kappabashi, Tokyo’s Kitchen Town

合羽橋を知っていますか。台所に必要なものが何でもあります。最近フライパンを買いました。大きなシェフの頭とベランダのカップが面白いと思いませんか？

Between Asakusa and Ueno is Kappabashi, or Kitchen Town, a great place to buy everything from pots and pans to kitchenware and even the plastic foods restaurants use to advertise their menus outside. I’d seen the giant chef’s head online, but was completely surprised by the red, white and blue teacup balconies across the street and next to the police box.

“Twins.” My relocated balcony morning glory is blooming at my in-laws’ garden

このきれいな携帯の写真をもらいました。パートナーのお母さんから、題名は英語の「双子」です。天気が寒くなったのに、アサガオはまだ咲いているので、驚いています。手仕事屋久家の裏庭で。

I received this lovely cellphone photo from Shu’s mom, with the title, “Twins!” With the weather getting cold, I am surprised the morning glory is still flowering. At Kuge Crafts‘ rear garden.

Maritime shipping company has been operating for decades in this pre-Bubble office

芝浦にある海運送会社です。バウハウスのような簡潔さがあるので、バブルの何年も前に建てられたと思います。濃い青色の陶器タイルは空に似合います。

The Bauhaus-like architectural simplicity and the decorative ceramic tiles mark this commercial building as product of postwar industry and trade, long before the excess of the Bubble. It’s lovely to see maritime companies that have done business for decades still exist along Tokyo’s waterfront.

I am amazed that no stranger has yet eaten these sidewalk cherry tomatoes Chinese restaurant on busy sidewalk

誰かがこの歩道のチェリートマトを食べていないのがすばらしいと思います。

Outside a Chinese restaurant on busy sidewalk.

Tiny garage does not fit entire car

小さなガレージは、普通のサイズの車に合わなかったようです。昔の看板に、「プレイスポット」の意味が全然わかりませんでした。

I love how this car always pokes out of the tiny garage. The building is very old, and I can’t imagine when “Playstation Dateline” was last open. In Shinjuku’s Nichome.

Giant sidewalk weed is as tall as the shop behind it. Anyone know what it is?

不便なところなのに、この背の高い雑草がお店の前に育っています。店のオーナは気にしていないようです。誰かこの植物の名前を知っていますか。

It seems that the shop owner has long accommodated herself and her shop to the annual giant weed that ‘s growing just in front. The leaves are enormous. What is this summer weed?

UPDATE: Thanks to my smart readers, I’ve learned it’s called キリ (kiri) in Japanese and Paulownia tomentosa in Latin.

My Tokyo garden and design work is featured in a fashion brand video

このビデオのなかで、スペースの小さなところで庭を作るインスピレーションを、近所の方からもらったことについて話します。友達のショーが作った東京のファッションブランドのPVです。ベランダの庭とデザインの仕事についても話します。

My friend Sho, whom I met in Nakano, created this promotional video for a Japanese fashion brand called ID Daily Wear. You can see that I am wearing their super high-quality and made in Japan pocket t-shirt. But it’s cool that the video also introduces my high-rise garden, the field of design anthropology, and why my neighbors inspire me to document Tokyo Green Space. The photography and especially the editing tell a a big story in a few minutes. The Japanese translation is also superb. Thanks, Sho!

Mesh bag and clothes pins protect sidewalk blueberries

近所の方が、メッシュバッグと洗濯挟みで歩道のブルーベリーを守っています。食べるのを楽しみにしているみたいです。

I love how this neighbor is protecting her delicious blueberries with a mesh bag and some clothes pins. It’s such a DIY solution. She must be looking forward to eating the berries.

Beefy tomatos ripen outside of workshop on busy sidewalk

工房の外の歩道にトマトが育っていて、もうすぐ完熟しそうです。食べたいです。

These mid-summer tomatoes look so delicious. I like how this small workshop owner always grows spectacular sidewalk plants.

Tanuki visits busy advertising agency, bringing surprise to digital workers

忙しい広告会社をタヌキさんは訪れて、驚きを提供しています。

These seven office tanukis took the Making Friends workshop back to work

芝浦ハウスの「タヌキと友達を作ろう」のイベントで、参加者が７つのお面をオフィスに持ってかえりました。@watanukinow さんが、オフィスの方たちの写真を送ってくれました。ありがとうございます！

Tanuki sent one of the Shibaura House Making Friends with tanuki lunchtime participants back with seven masks and some snacks wrapped in a scrotal cloth resembling fabric. Thanks, @watanukinow for sharing this great photo of your co-workers! 

Marigolds provide spots of color in hand-made ceramics

スーパで１００円で買ったマリーゴールドはきれいな色です。５年前に、手仕事屋久家で、このしっかりとした陶芸の植木鉢を作りました。

These were some of the first ceramic flowerpots I made at my in-laws studio, Kuge Crafts. Here I’ve added some bright yellow and orange marigolds that I picked up at the nearby supermarket for 100 yen each. The ceramic are thick and heavy, which makes them ideal for a sometimes windy location. And the white glaze makes them easy to match with different flowers and herbs.

Selling small fig trees at local flower shop

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いつも行く中野の花屋さんは、このかわいいイチジクを売っていました。もちろん、ベランダに一つ買いました。たったの７００円！

I couldn’t resist buying one of these tiny fig trees for sale at a Nakano flower shop I frequent. Only 700 yen!