Today, it suddenly became our shopping day for Christmas!
MoonFlower got what she wanted and, somehow, so did I.
I came to a big shopping… in fact, the biggest shopping of the year.

December 3rd, 2017, I become the owner of Italian watch called Panerai owner.
1st weekend of December is quite historic for me. It must mean something.
Back in 2013, I purchased Audemars Piguet on December 1st.




Unbox ceremony



Brand new - Paneral Luminor Due 42mm Blue - boutique edition

Wow, super cool. I had never dreamed about buying big Panerai watch. In fact, this is slim one. Thus, this is unusual Panerai.
Interesting huh.
So far, I love it. Cool watch it is.

Big reward.

3-day extended weekend has come to an end, already.
Time does fly and things get passed so quickly!
Well, I am still out of town to Chiba… and will be driving back to Tokyo in the early morning tomorrow.



Soba and Tempura were selected for today's lunch.



Today's my attire. T-shirt is obviously well worn-out. MoonFlower suggested me to replace it with something new.
In the US, this is okay… you can see lots of similar stuff… people do love wear color-faded T-shirt and no one really notices.
However in Japan, T-shirt is very cheap fashion and such worn-out T-shirt may not seem to be attractive too much. Well, time for shopping!



Along with my attire for the day, GaGa Milano - Italian watch fits to my wrist.
Went to an outlet shopping mall as single event of the day. No other fun stuff except it. Hahaha.



No T-shirt today. No clothes at all. Instead, this is under my possession now.
Another GaGa Milano - Watch? Nope. It was jewels.



Famous? GaGa Ball.



This ball is decorative to my bad like this.
Very shiny ball is fun add-on to my bag… Hahaha. Too vivid?
Anyway, fun shopping it was.

Another movie day for me! Movie number 17 in this year.



Wonder Woman - from DC Comic.
Unlike Avengers movie, the story was quite flat and simple. Well, I still like a little sophisticated story...
Wonder Woman - simply beautiful and strong. Not bad, though.



While being hungry in watching the movie, ramen noodle crossed my mind more than several times.
I then rushed into a ramen shop immediately after the movie. No hesitation.
With today's watch - Audemars Piguet



Stopping by Cartier boutique shop for picking up my watch from overhaul. They call it as "Complete Service." Whatever.
Unfortunately, the service provided was unsatisfactory.
Didn't pick up then. I had to wait. Oh boy, this is a mess.

For supper, MoonFlower and I went out to Kanda area.
Went in to the Bistro Brook Kitchen. It is our 1st time to dine in.



Very fancy place with full of guests tonight.



Chose sparkling wine and several fish dishes.



No more wine afterwards. Picked Mojito for my 2nd and last drink. Not bad at all.



This place's speciality - dry-aged beef. Pretty expensive… and we expected good quality… but not so much, unfortunately.
Different place we went before - back on July 9th - "Beef Beef Beef" day… we went to restaurant called "LE VIN ET LA VIANDE."
That place is much much better off for aged beef / steak. I should go back to that restaurant one more time.

Hot Japan… welcomes two friends of mine from US today.
I had no plan until the dinner with them today.
Thus, spending time for nothing until then.



During the time that I did nothing, G-Shock was perfect telling me time…
Then, I switched it to Royal Oak since I had to show up to the ANA Intercontinental Tokyo - one of luxury hotel in Akasaka.
Yeah, exciting to see friends whom I hadn't seen for a long time.

Dawn and Xavier - they are my colleagues in old time when I was working in Atlanta.
Dawn was a great friend of mine… we played softball together for many years.
She even wrote a recommendation letter for Thunderbird MBA entrance. I owe her a lot!

Xavier - this is 1st time in 20 years? Dawn comes to Japan with him for business. Nice occasion for catch-up.



In fact, more than them… business related people joined the dinner.
Actually, I am the one additionally joined the business occasion… to be precise.
At least, I still spoke English a lot even though I worried a little bit about it since didn't speak English too much for a while. Hahaha. Nothing to worry about that.

Better see the dinner table with 360 degree photo as below:

With Dawn and Xavier! - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

Dawn sits right next to myself and Xavier is stilling across the table from her. He is wearing glasses.

What a great night! How wonderful to see such great friends!

Hotel is located in the middle of very fancy area… lots of bars and taverns around!
Just like this:



Very traditional Japanese night street, don't you think?
Well, I didn't come to a chance to drink in such atmosphere… that was what I thought.
Turned out to be wrong…

Clients invited over dinner and I came to drink in Nagasaki.
I heard so funny things from them.
Two representative from local business at dinner table told me that they are big watch fans like me.

From my presentation at the kick-off, they paid attention to what kind of watch I have…
In fact they are big Rolex fans. One has Deep Sea and the other does Daytona.
Wow, truly big fans for sure.

They were happy to see my "old" Explorer II.

So I found Team Rolex in Nagasaki. While, I have faced similar circumstance.
Team Panerai was found in Fukuoka.
Interesting, huh!

I guess, I have come to confirm that they make full commitment to the project after all.

Very famous "counterfeit" brand called Frank Miura. Miura is ordinary Japanese (last) name.
Sounds "Muller." That is the point of humor.
For my 44th birthday, I got one replica similar to real Frank Muller that I own.



This is fake Frank Muller called Frank Miura.



Fake along with real. Can you see the difference? It is obvious, isn't it.
Recently, authentic Frank Muller sued the company producing the replica.
However, the judge let this lawsuit go because "it is too obvious."

It means that now Frank Miura is "official" counterfeit of Frank Muller. Judge has a good humor!

I did put that on my wrist to work. It was cool at least to myself!



Box - this is what MoonFlower got from Isetan yesterday.



The ball - this is what she got… for home decoration. Very detailed work… of course, hand-made!
This is not the 1st ball… this is indeed addition to her "ball" collection. Oh boy!
How many balls does she need then? Hahaha.

April 25th - another time… another birthday of mine!
Now I am 44 years old.
Yeah, really middle-age, already. Am definitely not young anymore.

Though, at least I should feel like young! Hahaha.



I picked up this watch for this day… Cartier Santos 100.
No meeting with client. I picked what I want.
That is why this gorgeous watch can be on my wrist.

I cannot forget one more person on this day. My mother who has same birthday… TODAY.



She sent me photo of flowers that I sent for her.
Look good!

April 25th passed by in peace. That is all needed.
What's ahead in the 44th year of my life?
Will see.

Wow, new to my collection? Not so fast.
Today I come to a fountain pen by German-made Pelikan called "San Francisco."
This is limited edition. Though, it is already being discontinued.

Sold back even in 2003!



Pretty calm design… not of my kind of choice? Hahaha.
In fact, this is MoonFlower's pen.
Since she gave up on this kind of pen for good and I now take it over. Yeah, new addition to my collection, indeed.



Since my Pelikan is gone for repair, this San Francisco is helping me to write up my meeting memo for the day.
This particular writing instrument is pretty smooth and great to hold. No complaints whatsoever. Perfect stuff.

Color of ink is brown to match the color of body. Good choice made! Hahaha.

Even fun to write rather than typing on PC. You know such difference? With and without pleasure…

After the closing of a big project, I am quite relaxed and slept in. This is sure thing for all of you folks as well, right? I am sure that it is.
Crossed my mind about what to eat and I ended up a new place not too far from home.
It is called "Wheet and Olive."

What an interesting name for Ramen shop. It is really and it is FAMOUS. Original shop is in Ginza.
Now it opens new place in Nihonbashi. I think that it is from 22nd of February. So still quite new.



Not "Ramen" it called. Rather, "Soba."
Soba applies more Japanese noodle with buckwheat flour. Rather, Ramen is made out of ordinary (?) wheet flour.
Hahaha. Cannot explain the real difference in English… but they are different.

In Japanese, Soba-ko vs. Komugi-ko. They are different.

Well, first time for me to go into this famous noodle place. It was very different from ones I usually eat. Pretty simple but very taste.
I may try other on the menu soon!



From 2:20pm, I went in a movie theater to check this out:



Vin Diesel's TRIPLE X - Return of Xander Cage.
Very easy story to follow and fun to watch because he never gets shot at all no matter how many bullets shot aiming at him.
Is this American James Bond? Or reality of America's Avengers?



This is finally bought and here at home. Now still missing new suitcase. Be here soon??? Will see.

Woke up at usual time and jumped on my car right after that.
Drove up to Chiba since MoonFlower spent last night at her sister's home.
I joined her there and continued for shopping.

After grocery shopping, stopped by an outlet shopping mall in Kisarazu.
Very nice BALLY business bag found on the shelf.
ALMOST bought it. Yeah, really close.

I saw one in navy color. This is black one but you can tell how it looks.



Almost bought it.
Made our dinner early today and opened a bottle of wine first.



Didn't drink 2nd bottle. Just one for today. Same as usual.
French wine from Bourgogne.

Early start didn't result early finish. I stayed up late… hahaha.



Extra shot for today.
I may sell it out… maybe?
Resale value of this kind of watch is not so (at all?) high. Hahaha.

Now it is mid-February, things get really started. I just received signed / sealed contract from a client today.
Yes, it is official start of the project today. YEY.
I will be "engaged" in a project for next 10 months. Yeah, job for a year! Hahaha.

I put two out of three "luminous" photos on Instagram today. First two of them are just ones.



Cool and different face at night… simple gorgeous one. Different from complex chronograph face.



Another awesome one… very stylish luminous face. Long bar indices are very stylish, don't you think? I do!!!



This one does not, at least has not gone to Instagram yet. Compared to above two, things are still good but somehow mediocre. Hahaha.

Anyway, time to get back work.
Let me finish having fun with watches. Hahaha.

All right… Friday is over. Now going into a weekend!



Today's attire and pen for work.
Brioni tie is always cool and I love it. Very fancy and perfect match to Cartier Santos100XL.
Pen is also gold today. Pelikan Souveran M450 Vermeil / Tortoise. This is no longer produced.

Pretty good match and coordination, don't you think? Too vivid?



Finally came to see this movie before too late. I took advantage of free movie ticket today.
Somehow, "The Accountant" is changed to "The Consultant" in Japan. Probably, it is much easier for all to imagine.
Well, the movie was so-so. I thought that it would be much better and fun. It was mediocre one.



Last shot for the day… over the supper in the pizza place. MoonFlower and I found very good place!
Yammy pizza it was.
Okay, let's enjoy the weekend!

Today's agenda was the cemetery visit with MoonFlower.



I put on tsumori chisato shirt along with blue-strap Frank Muller. Pretty young adult fashion for today.

Spending night at second house (?) located in Chiba and of course we take everything very easy!

Family dinner taking place tonight to celebrate the completion of 1st month in 2017!
Well done! Lots of things happened… already.
MoonFlower and I went to our usual place in Chiba. Restaurant that friend of ours running…







Too much of great stuff. No complaints whatsoever. So good.
Great dinner wrapping up the 1st month of a year.
Hope things are going okay next month and even longer.

Our family tradition comes in today… same time of a year!
It is Tableware Festival 2017. MoonFlower's favorite event EVER!
I happened to reserve two tickets for ourselves.

So went to Tokyo Dome where so many people were waiting for opening.



A long line to enter the Dome…



Fancy exhibits on and on…



Found that spoons and forks were the same as ours. She has made a pretty good choices!



MF found an antique plates that she wanted to buy. Well, it was a set of 6 pieces for sale.
She wants only two for our use. Unfortunately, the seller didn't break it down to sell two for us.
Too bad.



Today's one on my wrist - GaGa Milano. 1st time in a long time. Good weekend watch on wrist. Hehehe.

Instead of those antique plates, MF purchased different ones. Well, I will take picture of those when using them on our dining table for the 1st time.
That shouldn't be too much time from now on. Gotta be rather short, I believe.

Okay, this weekend is over. Getting ready for new week at work. Busy week ahead?

Went out to Ginza for WINDOW shopping.
Yes, window shopping only.
Looking for watch and bag…



Another day with Santos100XL. Cannot complain that this piece still goes well with jeans! Hehehe.



For watch - order made?! Of course not.
Just requested that I would get a call from the shop once it gets sample from 2016 new products.
Yeah, am looking for Offshore Diver - WHITE.

Supper was with MoonFlower. We selected Italian foods.





Good foods but a little bit over the budget. Hmm, we need financial adjustment in this month since tight budget. Hahaha.