Whoop! Congratulations to my brother who has just found out he has permission to live and work in Japan for the next three years. Well done bro – your hard work has paid off. And on a more selfish note, it means I can now start planning a return trip to visit him in Tokyo, the city of curiosities and contradictions such as…

I loved how even organisations as serious as the fire department are represented by cute, cartoon logos.

£20 melons at Japan’s most expensive fruit stall.

I don’t know what this was advertising. But whatever it is it costs less than those 2500 Yen melons.

Looking forward to seeing you on your beautiful ‘zutumi balcony soon, dear sibling.