Ninniku is garlic. But when I looked at the picture in the menu it looked like a bowl of curry with asparagus on top of it. Boy was I wrong. I've never seen this before but it's definitely similar in shape and texture to asparagus with all the smell of garlic. And it is strong stuff.

In the morning when I walk through the office everyone says "ohayogozaimasu." (Good morning.) The older guys always shorten this to a fairly rude sounding hiss, "ooss." I've been walking past one old codger in the hall a lot lately and we're practically on speaking terms. The other day I saw him walking down the street and I think he was pretty pleased that I recognized him and said hello. I know because this morning when I passed him in the hall he let out an extremely friendly "oosssssss." Wow. I'm getting the nerve up to say "ii tenki neh." (Nice weather isn't it.")