2015 is soon coming to a close. In standard Japan time, it's currently 10:30 pm. Nothing really exceptional happened this year. It's probably the calmest year for me. Looking back, I can only say that I've learned a lot of lessons.

I wish for a happy and healthy 2016.



Some pointers about Tokyo compared to the US, or, more specifically, NYC:

- Less trash cans. On the flipside, there are bathrooms everywhere. Plus they're clean and technologically up to date.

- No public parks where you could just relax and leisurely play, say, some ball. Every recreational activity you could think of is indoors. There are a bunch of buildings with multiple floors.

- Trains are on-time, and when I mean on-time, not even a minute late. On those rare occasions where they are, they'd apologize.

- Talk on the phone in the train and all you'd get is reproachful looks. It's rude.

- Everyone is careful about everything. Probably from a sprinkle of Shintoism—people are considered gods, so everyone treats everyone with humble respect and politeness.