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Metropolis Issue 928

January 6, 2012

Yanaka

An oasis of Edo calm inside the Yamanote circle

Home Away From Home

How your Big Mac helps sick kids’ families

Steadicam Smoothee

No more shakin’ shots on location with your smartphone

Mediabox

Lettering us have it

Libra

Those last degrees of Saturn buckling down in Libra may seem to creep slowly this week. It’s like having a final exam in life. Don’t worry, it’s not the last one in your Sign. Saturn moves retrograde and then direct, staying in Libra most of 2012. So for now, what seems like mounting pressure is ...

Taurus

This is an interesting week for you as Jupiter in your Sign connects with the Dark Moon Lilith. The wild child within is fighting for a way out. Jupiter is happily moving direct, so you may find yourself intuitively picking up on things a little ahead of time. (Fun, isn’t it?) The main thing is, ...

Pisces

Mercury the Messenger moves to your sector of friendships, hopes and wishes on Sunday. You’re covered when it comes to get-togethers and people to share your ideas with. Monday the Full Moon transits through your solar fifth house of romance. If you have a creative idea and want to attract that special person, it’s likely ...

Sagittarius

Mercury the Messenger leaves Sagittarius, entering your financial sector on Sunday. Talk up your ideas, make calls to connect in. You’ll sound down to earth, and sure of yourself. The Full Moon Monday is a beacon of reflection about events in your life. Not sure why you have made the choices you have lately? It ...

Gemini

Being on time is easy for a Gemini. With Mercury as your ruler, you are able to streamline your daily activities and still have time to play. The Moon in your Sign Friday and Saturday makes for a very busy entry to your weekend. At the same time, Venus in your solar ninth house may ...

Aquarius

Friends are likely to be a source of strength and success this week. Your Part of Fortune in your house of group activities points you towards accomplishment and productivity. Influential acquaintances may be willing to stand beside you, especially as Mercury moves into a stronger position on Sunday. The Full Moon Monday backs this up ...

Aries

Feel psychically overloaded? That’s what happens when Ceres, Vesta and Chiron crowd your solar twelfth house. So no, it’s not all those holiday parties finally catching up with you—at least, it’s not only that. What is going on is a goddess healing circle deciding just what you need for body and soul to feel nourished. ...

Scorpio

2012 is worth stepping back and taking a look at. Energies swirl in January and there’s no point working oneself up to a froth. Challenges are part of the fun of becoming immune to just about everything. This week’s Full Moon on Monday may make you feel nostalgic. Treating yourself to deep breathing, warm lunches ...

Virgo

Cruising in style is very much a Virgo trait. When it comes to dressing well, Virgo either dresses to kill or can’t be bothered. Use your fabulous qualities of analysis to hone in on that job, project or person who makes your heart beat this week. Mars in your Sign puts you in a dancing ...

Cancer

Chances are, you’re taking care of someone and have entered into Enlightenment 101 this week. Venus in this sector helps with patience and there is undoubtedly a reward for you. You might find yourself in conversation with someone who becomes pivotal to your success, whether in person or online. Ideas that had little time to ...

Capricorn

This week is one for Capricorns, especially. Mercury moves into your Sign on Sunday. The Messenger is strong placed there for the next three weeks. You can reach people and businesses with your ideas and negotiation skills. Although it’s only early January, the Full Moon on Monday in your house of relationships begins 2012 with ...

January 4, 2012

This week's required reading

A Spoonful of Cesium

Food safety post-Fukushima

Sara Wayne Callies

The Prison Break star takes a zombie-like step forward in The Walking Dead

Horoscope: 2012 in Preview

The end of the world or the beginning. It’s your choice

Spicy

Breathe fire like the dragon

Cocktails

Award-winning shakers at Colorsol

Surgical

Amazake on a drip

Akiba Curry Kojo

Even Goldilocks and the three bears would be able to find the right portions at Akiba Curry Kojo (4-8 Kanda Hirakawa-cho, Chiyoda-ku; www.akiba-curry.com). Rice sizes go by milli (180g), regular (300g), mega (450g), and giga (600g), with 13 curries including sweetened allergen-free children’s curry (¥500) and dynamic curry (¥2,500)—a mound of tera-rice topped with prawn, ...

Hinatabokko

Support new opportunities for differently-abled people at Hinatabokko (4-31-23 Honcho, Funabashi-shi, Chiba; www.meturl.com/hinatabokko). This friendly café, one of a slew of initiatives by advocates from charity organization Chiba MD Econet, offers you a curry set with coffee (¥650-1,500), made by people who would be unlikely to find such work elsewhere. The sets come in colorful ...

Setsuden

Save the country and stuff your face with noodles simultaneously

Love

Unwind to jazz and meet that special someone

Opening

1kg bone-in ribeye... Need we say more?

Kanryu Gourmet Festa

Push for your favorite K-food at Kanryu Gourmet Festa (Yoyogi Park Event Square, Jan 7, 9am-8pm; Jan 8, 9am-5pm; www.hangfes.com), a two-day festival to elect the best Korean food in Japan. A hundred food stalls will peddle their signature dishes, with thousands of visitors casting their vote on the premises online to decide the Grand ...