I think the $200 steel version might qualify as *actual* tactical gear

Aaaaanyway, who wants to start a travel agency with me that only does responsible travel for the 15% "Best of Class" tourists @craigmod.com talks about? Get out of Shibuya and go see some mutsugoro in Saga, people!

As opposed to Tokyo, which was just grossly over-touristed, even in areas I didn't expect. Like Setagaya, thanks (I'm assuming) to the very Instagrammable Gotokuji. Our Japanese friend said the streets are basically impossible to walk in from all the tourists now.

This trip, there were like FOUR random white people besides us who got off the train in our (now less-little) little city. There is a Shinkansen line that runs through town now, but still it was pretty weird (though not unwelcome, I think—more people should see Saga-ken!).

When I lived in a little city in Saga-ken from 2003–2006, I'm pretty sure I knew every gaijin in town. There were the Western English teachers and the Eastern European exotic dancers (custom dictated that the two groups were to smile awkwardly and nod if we passed each other in YouMe Town).

Think this sucks and you could do better? Want receipts, as they say? Great! All the data is public domain (as is almost everything produced by the government), so anyone can have at it. www.consumerfinance.gov/data-researc...

And if you say "but lots of other places do this, you're not so special!" you'd be right. Like this article from NerdWallet (www.nerdwallet.com/article/fina...) …which cites two sources, both from the CFPB.

Tootsie Pop better be looking for a new agency…

Amazing, thank you for the recs! Super excited to catch a match while we’re there, lots of places to look into now. Thanks again!

Anywhere between Tokyo and Fukuoka (hopefully catching a Hawks game there, too)

Probably fun atmosphere first, fun on the pitch next. Cuteness of any mascots will also probably be a factor for my kids.