+ Gazing at summer yukatas (cotton kimonos) and wondering when I’ll get around to wearing one. Usually, Japanese women wear yukatas to a matsuri (festival), eg. fireworks, called hanabi, , or watching fireflies like the one I went to in Nagano two weekends ago.

I heard the yukata is actually quite uncomfortable, with its tight obi (belt) and wooden geta, traditional wooden slippers, but it looks so sweet and feminine… I like dark blue yukatas with pink and purple prints like this, and this, and this.

+ My new Esprique loose powder. Love its fine texture and keeps me looking fresh.

+ Summer sales. The hot weather makes me want to get more airy tops and cotton Capri pants to stave off the heat.

+ Taking two showers a day, turning off the hot water tap and just dousing myself in ice cold water… and loving it. You should try it — it’ll get rid of any sluggishness instantly.

+ Paul & Joe cosmetics. I’m a fan of pretty packaging but what’s inside must be good, too! I have a review on a makeup base I bought recently coming up in this space.

+ Giving and receiving omiyage (souvenirs; usually snacks or dessert-like munchies). If you go on a trip, you’re sort of expected, or it would be the polite/nice thing to do, to buy some snacks as small gifts for co-workers and friends. I don’t approve of it if you feel obligated, but if you really want to give a gift, it feels lovely to have someone say “Thank you!” and like your tiny token. It’s a great way to build relationships in Japan where I’m learning that actions truly speak louder than words.

Photo credit: here

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+ The anticipation of summer and strawberries in my garden. That’s a photo of our first red strawberry this season.

+ Being back in my own home and spring cleaning. I always feel like I’m ready to take on the world after a big clean. Don’t you agree?

+ Reading new Japanese blogs like *it will stop raining. It’s so simple (the blogger posts photos about her meals) but you’ll find lovely layers under layers and you realize it’s really not about food at the end of the day. Here’s another gem.

+ Discovering the world of anime lovers who try to replicate food showcased in anime movies, eg. My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery. Sugoyi…

+ Spending time with my better half in Tokyo. It always makes this city sweeter.

+ Reading about what values are important to Japanese people.

+ Being surprised, no shocked, at how much melons can cost in Japan.

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This is the first part (out of five) of one episode and you can watch the rest on Youtube.

+ Following a Japanese show about beautiful middle-aged women, called majotachi, 魔女たち, which means magical women. This weekday programme is different from other TV shows, I must say.

Every Tuesday on Fuji TV (Channel 4), 10pm, this hour-long talk show features incredible “feats” done by mature women. Last night’s episode showed a 44-year-old woman who had a 29-year-old boyfriend and his friends/colleagues were shocked that she was middle-aged despite looking like she’s his age.

There were more dramatic stories that were told. For example, an over-40 izakaya owner raised eight children on her own, took on three jobs, and still looks like a million dollars — and was mistaken for her 21-year-old eldest son’s girlfriend! Another much-talked about episode featured a female body builder who was over 40 and works out daily to achieve her muscular frame — a rarity in Japan where women take pride in being dainty and petite.

Also popular are women who had heavy debts to pay or serious illnesses and they rise from the ashes rich and looking even more gorgeous than ever. Some women on the show are also over 50 and they actually look as good as 30-something women. It’s pretty inspirational stuff — I’m hooked.

+ My new ultra marine sweater dress from Zara. It’s brrr freezing in Tokyo right now so no more flimsy tops and cardis and heavy duty turtlenecks are in order. Click here to find out what shade of blue ultra marine is. This color is on the streets on women everywhere – love it!

+ Snow in Tokyo.

+ Marc Jacobs’s Daisy body lotion that is rich and creamy. The weather has been gray and dreary all week so I was feeling fed up. For a pick-me-up, his classic spring fragrance put me in a happy mood all day. I kept marveling at how rounded this citrus-floral perfume develops as the day goes on (plus remaining as fresh as when you sprayed it!) and certainly stands out from the crowd of citrus-florals on the market — it’s no wonder because it won Fragrance of the Year in 2008.

+ Pocketwarmers, hokkario, in my socks. I don’t take to the cold well at all so I use up to four of these babies a day. For those not familiar with pocketwarmers, they are small sachets filled with a special metal that gives off heat when exposed to the air. I know you guys up on the US East Coast are shivering so I would highly recommend using these, instead of turning on your furnace full blast and getting unnecessary wrinkles.

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+ Christmas lights everywhere.

+ Japanese friends who say they love Christmas parties and log cakes.

+ An abundance of Japanese fuyu persimmons.

+ Discovering Twilight Beauty cosmetics. I’m such a fan of the Twilight series and can’t wait to see New Moon at my nearest cinema.

+ Is it weird if I said I’m loving turtle-necks in these chilly times? I like them because I don’t have to wear a scarf and my black knit one literally cuts the pounds out of my torso. What’s your fave winter piece?

+ Wearing my latest “fall/winter” eye shadow combination: Bobbi Brown’s Cognac 13 Metallic Eye Shadow which is a lovely dusky brown and Clinique’s Quick Eyes Cream Shadow 09 Glimmering Gold that highlights with a chic finish.

+ My floor heater. A lot of people find it amusing that my floor gets toasty with just a flip of a switch. Apparently it’s more common in Korea where winters are much harsher.

Photo credit: here

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Let’s do a special edition of Things I Love…..in NYC. Yup, I’m still in the US and I got back from Toronto and Niagara Falls yesterday night — I’m a bit tired but am feeling lucky that I get to travel loads and visit old friends. On the downside, the weather is cold and dry, so of course I had to nose around for wintry beauty fixes. Here are the American beauty products I’ve come to adore in my stay so far…

+ Desert Essence Jojoba Oil is one of those multi-tasking products that will solve several beauty emergencies in one go (actually, the Dessert Essence website claims it does 15). I tend to forget a couple of things when I pack and this time I didn’t bring along my L’Oreal hair serum.

I read that organic jojoba oil is affordable (USD13-14) and is not too oily for skin and hair. I’ve been using it on my face as a serum (my chin and nose areas were flaking like crazy, but they don’t anymore!) and I comb two small drops over my hair after a shampoo. My verdict: smooth smooth smooth. I will buy two more bottles to stock up and the great thing is they’re small, so they’ll be easy to pack.

Apparently it can be used as eye makeup remover and all-over body lotion. I have to report that a little goes a long way, but if you are too generous with it, your skin/hair will feel very oily.

+ Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream. Juiced up with macadamia and grapeseed oil, this lovely hand salve smells fantastic in a girly, creamy way. It took away the dry skin around my cuticles.

+ Philosophy Bath & Shower Gels. OMG, I could spend all day sniffing these dessert-like body products. My faves so far: Cinnamon Buns, Vanilla Birthday Cake, Fudge Cake and Crème Brulee. I’m considering the small three-in-one sets they have which would be easier to pack in my suitcase. Perhaps it could help quell late-night binge cravings? I’ve read somewhere that our sense of smell determines 70 per cent of what we taste.

+ Tom’s of Maine Wholecare Toothpaste. I’ve never tried natural toothpaste before and so far I’m liking it. It’s not foamy at all and is chock full of peppermint oil which makes my mouth feel so fresh. And yeah, I forgot to pack toothpaste, too.

+ Too Faced Mood Swing Lip Gloss. This is a brand I’ve been very curious about and had fun experimenting with their colours and cosmetic potions. What took my fancy was this lippie that gave a cute pink tinge to my lips — I wonder what mood it indicated? Happy to be shopping? LOL.

That’s all the beauty snooping I’ve done so far. I’m heading to San Francisco so wish me luck on finding more beauty gems on the West Coast. If you have any suggestions, do drop a comment below.

Photo credit: here

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+ Fashion magazines, Sweet and Spring, that give adorable freebies like Jill Stuart cosmetic cases and Anna Sui travel wallets. I can’t wait to use them for my upcoming NYC trip.

+ Discovering a bbcream, SINN, that is made in Japan, and what got me even more excited is it’s natural and organic. It’s a bit pricey but I think it’s worth it when you pay more to take care of your skin.

+ It’s officially fall, so out come ultra-chic boots and coats.

+ Making my own vegan kimchi — my neighbourhood has several Korean grocers so finding the ingredients are super easy.

+ Watching Coco Avant Chanel at Roppongi Toho Cinemas. I love Audrey Tautou! She’s not a classic beauty but she exudes a wistful charisma and impeccable confidence. What I liked about the movie was realizing Coco Chanel not only changed the face of fashion for women, but she lived a life liberated from societal norms in a time where women were not meant to be seen or heard. She truly broke conventions of what women should do and wear. Ooo, and I love the latest Chanel No 5 ad, too (the making of the ad is here).

Photo credit: here

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+ Loved watching this video on fashionable golf wear that Japanese women wear. If you don’t understand Japanese, there is an English write-up on the key points in the link above. Check out the yummy outfits and rhinestone-studded golf bags :O They make golf look so cute, cool, and youthful. Wow.

+ Fancy chopsticks. So creative.

+ Breezy pool-side parties.

+ Push chairs for small yappy dogs. The Japanese adore their dogs.

+ Having a chuckle over this year’s Miss Universe Japan’s interview.

Photo credit: here

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+ I realized I’m a big bag girl. I need my stuff with me when I’m out. I’m sure you urban-trotters out there understand that your bag is your home away from home. My latest obsession: Rootote. I got this and this. And thinking about this, too.

The medium sized ones fit me to a tee and hold my bento, books, wallet, and makeup nicely when I’m out and about.

I got to know about this brand through Karen Cheng’s blog and assumed it was an Aussie brand, but actually, it’s made in Japan! Here’s where I buy them online and the designs are quirky and girly. I’m still wondering if I should get a felt bag with carnival horses etched on a light blue background — would be perfect for fall.

+ Tucking into a Japanese veggie curry and brown rice with my boyfriend in a treehouse. Only in Japan. (English write up here)

+ Shamelessly girly cosmetics.

+ Japan’s answer to Allure: Biteki.

+ Looking at Tokyo through the eyes of a tourist who is an absolute fashionista.

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+ Whoo, it’s hawt right now. Ever wondered how Japanese women look perfectly coiffed in the sweltering humidity? Underarm sweat absorbent pads, facial oil removing sheets, and Maquillage’s Styling Keep Base UV that helps to prevent your foundation from running.

+ According to the grapevine, there is a new bra, Bust-O Appu, in Japan that pulls the fat from your back to your front that gives a more bountiful appearance. Being Asian, I can understand the obsession with bigger boobs. There are always these products that claim to lift things up in the mammary department: F-cup cookie and Bust-up gum. Yes, you eat them. I heard that wild yam root helps, too.

+ Lots of watermelon to keep cool; peaches to slurp on; sleeveless tops that feel sexy.

Drinking lots of iced lemon water to keep cool,
Yu Ming

Photo credit: here

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Every other Thursday, I’ll post news about what’s hot in Tokyo for women. I know there are many Jap-mad gals out there and there’s just so much stuff going on here in the Big Mikan (an affectionate pet name for Tokyo; means big orange — go figure).

+ ‘Tis the rainy season so rain-resistant rubber boots are all the rage. I always associated them with construction workers and little kiddies, but Japanese women sure make them look ultra-chic and cute.

+ A new after-hours café in Shibuya gives out product samples for women. From 12am – 4.30am, gals can hang out and feel comfortable with women’s magazines and touch with hand mirrors. How does it all work? If you buy a drink or snack, you’ll get tokens and you can swap them for samples. I can feel it in my bones that it will definitely be new cosmetics and beauty products galore.

Aren’t those crazy hours to be trying on lip-gloss? Well, most people here take the train and if you miss your last train (usually around midnight to 1am), taking a taxi is not an option because of the astronomical rates (a 45-minute ride costs 20,000JPY or USD200), so what’s a girl to do?

Some check into a karaoke room as they are 24-hour places; or if there’s a boy involved, a love hotel is a cheap way to spend the night (8,000JPY; USD80); and now a sample product café. Cool.

+ Coca-cola released a new drink: green tea infused diet Coke. Not that I’m a fan of any kind of caffeine or soda pop, but it’s amazing how huge companies are targeting women all the time in product campaigns. I heard that the biggest market to tap on is the cash-rich oba-sans (mature women) who splurge on their adult daughters and themselves to designer bags and expensive cosmetics.

Photo credit: here

*Edit: I changed the title of this column to Things I Love In Tokyo because a) I truly admire Gala Darling’s Things I Love Thursday — she shows me how to appreciate the little things in life, fashion, and her TiLT posts make my soul overflow with creativity and passion b) show what’s great about Tokyo and continue to love it myself while sharing nuggets of info with others who do, too c) It’s really a better title than the clinical “Tokyo Trendspotting”. Writing in the blog universe lets you improve and change at the conjure of a click in our post-modernist times. We patch together what we encounter in the past and make it our future. Hope you enjoy my upcoming installments.

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