A.K

My wife is only 95 lbs, so she gets to pig out on high-calorie food every day without a care in the world. She’s having gratin and onion soup.

Tonight is just miso soup and a side of pickled vegetables. I might be skinnier tomorrow morning.

Canola flowers have started blooming here in Hokkaido. Summer is just around the corner.

Fossilized rice balls dating back about 2,000 years have been excavated in Japan, so it’s said that onigiri originated in the Yayoi period. Turns out, it's a food culture with a surprisingly long history.

Two types of alpine plants I spotted at a lower elevation: aleutian avens and bleeding hearts.

Actually, tonight's BBQ was also a birthday party for my aunt, who just turned 99 last week. She was absolutely crushing both the meat and veggies, and even polished off her slice of cake.

When we eat lamb, rice balls and wiener sausages are a must.

@Ross98329500 Almost all the mutton and lamb that ordinary people can buy at butcher shops in Hokkaido is from Australia. Thanks for always coming through!

@ak17nov most Asian people I know won't touch lamb, bit is a staple in Australia

We’re having a Jingisukan party at my wife’s parents' place tonight. Eating lamb is a big part of Hokkaido’s food culture.

A car customizer was holding an exhibition right over a tulip field. The cars were pretty old, but the camping gear and setups were really interesting.

I was amazed by the variety of tulips today. I bet it’s even more incredible if you go to the Netherlands, where they're famous for them.

@Anntics The weather was beautiful today, and the colors of the flowers were so vibrant.

@ak17nov Beautiful

Today, I'm at my usual park checking out the tulips. I don't really know much about flowers, so even if there were a rare variety, I wouldn't notice.

We're having Italian this morning. Being able to eat this much first thing in the morning must be a sign of good health.

Recently, the sculpture in the local park got a makeover and looks great now. It used to look like something straight out of a horror movie, so it really brightened up the park's atmosphere.

Back in the day, planting creeping phlox all over the slopes of house foundations was a huge trend, but you rarely see it anymore these days. I guess people either got tired of it or just don't have the time to maintain it.

The azaleas in the backyard of my wife's parents' house suddenly came into full bloom. The vivid colors are absolutely stunning.

When it comes to the kids' playground equipment in my neighborhood park, their smiling faces have crept me out ever since I was a child. I've never even ridden on their backs.

Around 100 years ago, a missionary named Sarah Smith brought lilacs over from the United States. Today, they have multiplied so much that they’ve become the iconic flower of early summer in Sapporo. They are incredibly resilient plants that adapt well to environmental changes.

A weeping cherry tree survived by the pond. It looks like I missed the peak this year.