Drive my car... to IKEA? Why did we come to Japan anyway?

A-biko is all a-quiver. An Outlet Mall has come to town. Well, 20 minutes down the road as the SUV flies, in the neighbouring prefecture (just call 'em counties and be done with it) of Ibaragi. Add to that a Joyful Honda DIY superstore somewhere in the not too far hinterland of Kashiwa, a CostCo somewhere nearby too, oh and an IKEA down the road and you have to ask yourself, What's the bloody point of living here if all the shit from the West has washed up here too?

Our Man would like to say he's making a principled stand against the influx of flatpack consumerism, but it's only because he doesn't have a car. (Yet - the strength of Al Gore's Incontinent Truth is waning on Our Woman and she has sent off our British driving licences to be converted into the local variety). It's only a matter of time before Sundays are spent choosing between beech and teak veneer bookcases. Ho hum.

Oh, at the other end of the scale, you'll be glad to hear the number of Ferraris sold in Japan last month was 59 - about double the usual number, according to an Our Man agent provocateur. Whether this means the rich tossers are getting richer again, or Fiat is off-loading some of its unsold motors at bargain prices, Our Man couldn't say, being the proud owner of a 12-year-old mountain bike (and having visitation rights to Our Woman's shopping bike).

Which reminds me... must get that video finished...

Pic lifted from here.