If you've ever wandered through the streets of Tokyo, ducked into a Don Quijote, or even attended a quirky tech event like Sliders & Sake during SF Tech Week, chances are you've encountered the irresistible charm of gachapon machines. These colorful capsule toy dispensers are more than just vending machines, they're a cultural phenomenon, a collector’s dream, and a delightful dose of randomness.

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In Japan, train travel isn’t just about getting from point A to point B, it’s a full sensory experience. And one of the most delicious parts of that experience is the ekiben: a station bento box that’s as much about storytelling as it is about sustenance.

Short for eki (station) and bento (boxed meal), ekiben are sold at train stations and onboard trains across Japan. Each one is a culinary snapshot of the region, featuring local ingredients, seasonal specialties, and thoughtful presentation.

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Lately, I’ve been writing a lot about train journeys: from my recent Amtrak ride through the Rockies to a nostalgic autumn trip to Nikkō in Japan coming up on Monday. Revisiting those memories reminded me of something - or someone!- central to my everyday life: my husband, a proud densha otaku, a Japanese train enthusiast.

Before I met him, I thought trains were just a way to get from A to B. Efficient, yes. Clean, definitely. But exciting? Not really. Then I married a densha otaku, and everything changed.

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After a recent stretch of work travel, including a trip to Northampton, MA that left me both inspired and exhausted, I found myself wishing for a teleportation device. Not just any device, but a door. A door that could take me anywhere, instantly. A door that could bypass airports, traffic, and time zones. A door that could bring me home in time for dinner, no matter where I started my day.

I read and watch a lot of media, books, anime, films, short stories, and over time, these worlds tend to run together in the most interesting ways. Sometimes, while waiting for a delayed train or navigating a crowded airport, I find myself mentally stitching together scenes from sci-fi novels and cartoons, imagining what it would be like if teleportation were real.

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