My favourite curious things

Spring has sprung—or at least it’s making an admirable effort. The weather’s warming up, and the birds have clearly received the memo. Their songs are livelier, filling the air with a chorus that ranges from charming to mildly overenthusiastic. In the countryside forests, flocks of birds are busy with high-pitched calls, while the peaceful coo of the Oriental turtle dove does its best to be heard amidst the commotion. The other day, during a visit to the Former Yasuda Gardens, I spotted an Oriental turtle dove perched proudly atop a tree that a gardener was diligently pruning. Against the backdrop of a white concrete building, the dove looked both regal and slightly bemused—perhaps wondering when its countryside retreat became part of the urban decor. Unlike their city-dwelling cousins who loaf around temple squares or parks with an air of entitlement, these doves originally preferred the tranquility of countryside woods, where their distinctive calls echoed without competition from ca...

Oi, chaps and chapettes! Gather 'round because I’ve cooked up a purr-fectly cracking new idea for my blog - #ThursdayThoughts. Think of it as a rendezvous for those quirky, fascinating tidbits that make you whisker your friends, “Huh, well isn’t that the cat’s pyjamas?” First on the docket: let me introduce you to the Manekineko. Picture a dinky little cat statue, paw aloft like it’s hailing a cab in Tokyo. But no, it’s not late for a meeting—it’s summoning good luck, one paw-sitive vibe at a time. Have you met this charming feline before? If not, brace yourselves for a meow-ment of enlightenment. Take a gander at this curious little chap, would you? Now, squint a bit—do you see a cat? Or perhaps it’s just art playing tricks on your over-caffeinated brain. Behold the beckoning cat, or as it might prefer to be called, "The Paw-some Greeter," with its left paw loftily raised as if hailing an invisible taxi. Here’s the twist: typical beckoning cats are right-pawed, clearly ...