A step closer to the Tokyo metropolis in the new grounds of Edogawa. When I first came to Japan I pictured I would be placed in some futuristic neon shibuya-esque landscape, though my sensibilities told me otherwise "settle with wherever you get, its Japan, enjoy it". I landed in Chiba, the "Glasgow" of Japan, much to my distaste being a little Edinburgh snob, where I was expecting hip ness and cool; I got the rougher edge of Tokyo which I grew to love. I will always remember my 3rd week in Japan, I had contacted a former pen pal to meet up only to be met with "oh you live in Chiba?!?" East Tokyo snobbery and excuses for not meeting up, in the same week one of my younger male students said "Matsudo !? There is lots of what you say 'dodgy' places there"

But it wasn't all that bad, I met some rougher more interesting diamonds in my time in Chiba, some I'll never forget, Sho, Tonny, Romi, Chie chan from Bar Shake, the マリヌス yakinuku restaurant, the really pikey sun kus on the corner by my home...

I grew to love it and will miss it dearly for all its Alba Rosa wearing high school girls, brown tanned ギャルママ (mama girls), spiky haired pachinko zombies, boozed up salarymen on joban line, obnoxious country farm aunties bustling in front of me and a fierce "We're Chiba and Proud" attitude. So long Chiba, I'll always come back and visit.