Japan Chronicles #31 à 40

Chronicle #31 (May 7, 2022): Japanese grocery baskets are designed for efficiency—small, compact, and perfectly suited to narrow store aisles. Ideal for quick errands… but definitely not designed for a family stockpile! Here, you have to master the art of food Tetris to maximize every inch.

Chronicle #32 (May 7, 2022): Sometimes in Japan, a simple glass of sochu turns into a full-blown boozy expedition. You order a glass… and a full pot arrives! Luckily, the experience is accompanied by delicious grilled food and a festive atmosphere, just to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Chronicle #33 (June 26, 2022): At 39 degrees, even hydrangeas begin to melt—an almost surreal scene! These robust flowers, usually in full majesty, seem to surrender to the heat. It’s as if they’re trying to become aquatic plants to survive… Tokyo under the blazing sun is a true test of endurance—for us and for nature!

Chronicle #34 (July 18, 2022): Losing your "random" credit card in Okinawa—and finding it again thanks to Japan's incredible network of goodwill. Without even realizing it, my card went astray in the north of the island on Saturday at noon. On Sunday, a stranger contacted me on Messenger after spotting a post reporting a lost card. She took the time to look up my name and let me know—proof that solidarity here goes far beyond mere chance. After checking, I contacted the person who found it 30 minutes from my hotel and offered to send a taxi to retrieve it. But this morning, he came himself, incognito, dropping the card off at the counter without asking. A story that seems almost unreal… and yet, only in Japan does this kind of magic work so naturally!

Chronicle #35 (July 20, 2022): An impromptu trip to Okinawa… and a logistical surprise on the way back! Leaving with the car to Narita, returning to Haneda, and realizing after 20 minutes that our trusty vehicle is waiting for us elsewhere… that’s a little unexpected twist. Result? A bonus trip tomorrow to Narita, heading to pick up the vehicle. An adventure that proves that even the return trip can hold surprises!

Chronicle #36 (July 28, 2022): Corporate Bento—an elegant way to have lunch at a business event. Currently traveling outside of Tokyo, this is what a traditional business meal looks like: a carefully prepared Bento Box, consisting of several small, varied portions.

Chronicle #37 (August 13, 2022): In Japan, cantaloupe is a true luxury—average $60, and sometimes as much as $200. But by going directly to a farm in Hokkaido, we managed to find one for $35! The result: a family-sized snack made from an ultra-tasty half-melon, much better than those in the Canadian supermarket… but honestly, not sure it’s worth ten times the price. A gourmet experience, but at this point, it’s almost a fine jewelry tasting!

Chronicle #38 (October 2, 2022): The vending machine version of the Japanese restaurant—where the art of ordering becomes an ultra-efficient experience. Here, there's no server, no waiting. A touchscreen, a few buttons to press... and out comes your meal, almost like a soda.

Chronicle #39 (December 1, 2022): In Japan, over-packaging is reaching unexpected heights—every product seems to experience its own textile adventure before reaching our hands.

Chronicle #40 (December 7, 2022): Office elevators in Japan at night—where even at 8:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, you have to queue to get out. Today, about twenty people were waiting their turn… which explains why I'm always alone in the elevator at 5:30 p.m. The work schedule here leaves no doubt: finishing early is almost an anomaly!