Tokyo Photo Essay and Japan Substacker’s Event

And Daily Yamabushi for the week

This is what I picture when I picture Tokyo. And I love it. And so does Gianni Simone (give him a follow if you haven’t already!)

When I was 12, my brother showed me photos of his time as a high school exchange student in Tokyo. One photo in particular was looking down a steep street covered in power lines with the never-ending metropolis fading off into the distance. This was my first glimpse into real life in Japan, and I was hooked. I started studying Japanese formally the next year, and the rest, as they say, is history.

So last week when the opportunity to join other Japan-based Substackers at an event in Tokyo came up you better believe I jumped at the chance. Any excuse to walk the streets of Tokyo once again. Although, I don’t think I could live there, too many people for my liking. My heart belongs up in the mountains of Yamagata with the birds and the… bears (?)…

Annnnnnyyyywaaaay…

The event was a great success. The organiser and main protagonist Mark Kennedy (although he won’t admit as much himself, claiming it was a team effort) did a stellar job. To be honest I would have been happy just having the chance to meet Mark in person, but I got to meet so many more people, who, if like me you like Japan, I guarantee you’ll want to meet to. Or at least read their stuff. An exhaustive list and write-up of who was there can be found here.

For now though, here are some photos from my time in Tokyo:

Both eyes are painted. Wish granted?

See? What did I tell you? This place opens at 11!

Pretty expensive place to park your coins.

Dog Cat Small Animal. And what is a reptile frog?

At the event. Can you see me? (Hint, I’m the white guy).

I promptly bought this book by Michael Thuresson! Really funny, and bilingual too!

Meeting Jake Adelstein, who very randomly bought THE MANGA LIBRARY IN SAKATA of all places! I imagine there’s a story in there somewhere.

Some articles either about the event or by people who were there featuring Yours Truly:

Echoes of the West Village

Where Are Tokyo’s Morning Cafes?

Also related:

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Daily Yamabushi Posts for November 6 to November 12, 2026

Hard to believe the richest family in Japan lived here in Sakata at one point in time.

Here are my Daily Yamabushi posts for the past week. Get more Daily Yamabushi posts at timbunting.com/daily-yamabushi. Discover more Japan essays and daily insights in the Kiwi Yamabushi Substack Archive, or follow my writing over on Medium.com.

Rather than clicking on these individually, you can just read all at once here.

1. Immediate Goals

2. The Purpose of Doing Anything

3. You Know You’re Going To Have To Uketamo That, Right?

4. How To Feel Time Pass

5. When The Winner Is Decided

6. Possible Certainty

7. You Know The Drill