Japanese Hornets -We aren't the only thing Huge in Japan

So I (Kevin) came across this little article on the interwebs today, which discusses the Japanese Hornet.

Now, I've already got an irrational fear of honeybees... I've been stung many times with no adverse reaction.  These mofos SPIT flesh melting acid and also kill 40 people per year.

I have yet to see one of these hornets in the wild, but fully anticipate a full on anxiety-attack when our paths cross.

Where it all began

Kev and I met while living in Seattle. Prior to knowing each other, we both signed up for kickball teams to play on Tuesday nights at Green Lake Park. Although Kev's team chose a series of offensive names, our team immediately chose to be known as "We're Huge In Japan." A rowdy bunch, we wore our baby blue t-shirts and japanese, hand-drawn flag tattoos with pride.

On the first night of kickball, still not knowing each other, our teams battled it out (both verbally over their terrible name and physically on the field). Three years later and a tour of the mid and west states of the US, we are moving to Japan....to truly be HUGE in Japan.

Standing at 5'11" Kev's height will be 4 inches taller than the average Japanese male, and at 5'7" I will be a whopping 5 inches taller...And as if standing almost a full head taller than everyone around us won't be awkward enough, the average weight of Japanese males is 140lbs and woman is 110lbs. I won't speak for Kev, but my skeletal structure alone weighs more than most Japanese women...can't wait to go clothing shopping!

Can you spot the classic signs of Japan?

Preparing for Japan

Kev ran across this gem while we were surfing for tips on living in Japan. A special favorite is "the international"haha oh to be on the other end of racial stereotypes

Dream mansion in Japan

So Kev got back from Japan on Sunday and things are in full swing! The family, friends, and bosses all know about the move. So we are a supposed '"go" for the move. Anyways, I can't stop looking at things related to the move.
Here are some of the housing sites I've become obsessed with:
http://minimini-kyoto.jp/ 
h-nw.jp
http://www.athome.co.jp

Here are some photos of my favorite place we have found online so far...keep in mind this in NOT a typical Japanese apartment. This apartment is 15 ten thousand yen, which translate to about $1500 USD. On the layout mp the funny room on the right is a loft (written in Katakana, 'rofuto" in Romanji is what it reads).

To read about your potential new apartment, the translation generally looks like this: 

At 50 meters squared this posh apartment comes in at a whopping 500sq ft!
1LDK = 1 bedroom, a living/dining/kitchen area
All apartments are measured in meters squared (or tatami mats, such as a bedroom is 6 tatami mats)
They will tell you about traffic and distance to the subway station, and give you a poorly translated description of the "equipment." Sometimes these make sense, but more than not they don't.

Below are photos of this epic apartment (or mansion as they call them in Japan). As I said, this is NOT a typical Japanese apartment....This is instead the Ikea-meets-trendy-NYC version of a Japanese apartment.  Note the "full-size" space for a fridge, full-size bathroom sink, and spacious bathroom floor...all uncommon in Japan.

If you are wonderig where this mansion of luxury is located, it is just south of the Nijojo castle, in the Nakagyo ward (ie the eastern portion of the center of the city).