tobo tobo - the Japanese sound of trudging

Japanese onomatopoeic words
Originally uploaded by decentred.

Not that this is in any way a metaphor for the last couple of days - far from it. We've been very productive, despite the crushing humidity and the general lethargy it creates - I joined the gym, packed up a few things to send to the UK, and went on a monster shopping trip, buying apples bigger than my fist. Nice.

This picture actually comes from a book (please don't sue me - I'm broke) of Japanese onomatopoeic words. We've got a fair few (see this article on the great Wikipedia) but Japan has loads - each of them have their own little drawing on the page, and a short definition. It's a fun li'l book - I might pick it up...

The gym is very nice, despite looking like it was built in communist Russia and shipped over here piece by moulded-plastic piece. Most interesting is the lone Coolio CD on a table with no CD player, the boxing ring, with all the punchbags at entirely the wrong height for anyone not 5'5", and the fact that there's an onsen, sauna and 20-chair 'relax room' in the changing rooms. All good.