Grand saunter around

We went swimming in the pool at the Tokyo National Stadium. We think this may have been the pool used at the Tokyo olympics in 1964. I am quite convinced that a nation's habits in and around swimming pools can tell you a huge amount about its culture at large. I am preparing a short monograph to explore this idea for future publication.

The showers are always the best bit. And none better than today's. Imagine constructing your child a miniature dressing table. The table is about a foot off the ground and cast in concrete. The stool is plastic and about six inches high. When you, as a Japanese adult, squat at the table, there is a mirror at head height. Add a plastic hose and shower head and, voilà, a Japanese pool shower.

There are three rows of these in the shower room and everyone squats starkers on their tiny stool (chair) and hoses off. Running along the far end of the room is a communal bath. Lots of OAP flotsam. Avoided.

After swimming I went off to explore. First, I needed lunch, and located something I had been looking for: a hot-dog vending machine. It was nestled in a vast array of different machines.

In fact, it didn't just sell hot dogs but a whole menu of 'casual frozen foods'.

The machine was proud to announce it kept all items at -24C. I purchased my hot dog for 300 or so yen (a few pounds), a counter popped up and within 80 seconds a small box popped out.

Inside, two miniature hot-dogs, individually wrapped.

Each sausage was piping hot, in soft bread and pre-squirted with ketchup and sweet mustard.

A triumph.

I pottered off to a shrine (Hatomori-jinja) which was rather nice.

Across the road was a high-walled cemetery.

I sauntered off to browse some shops and find the local park. On the way I passed a double decker garage. These and variations are everywhere.

I also passed these chaps.

And I stumbled on a Japanese car boot sale. Much the same crap as you get in England. More remote controls.

The only thing worth photographing was a van advertising the Japan Fiber-recycle Solidarity Association.

In the park all the roads were shut off for what appeared to be municipal cycling lessons. There were rows and rows of children's bikes, brasarded instructors and various practice circuits for complete beginners to the competent. A sound initiative.

I went on to the National Noh Theatre and managed to book a ticket for the next production. Luckily, it's a play I've already read, I managed a tidy 30% student discount and there appear to be English subtitles. Can't wait.

Going home, I passed a removal man with a very Japanese bottom half.