It's tsuyu in Tokyo. It's warm and humid, but the relentless rain has finally let up. The buildings show wear from time and weather. The air smells of cigarettes and steamy noodles.

The ramen shop is well loved by the locals, some of whom live above. Street cats belong to no one and everyone. They stick around for the scraps the ramen Chef collects for them after he closes down his shop. He employed them years ago to keep the alley rats at bay. I wonder how Chef feels about the well fed rat snake that travels over the street, back and forth between the apartment above and the hotel across the way. Is it just eating mice, or are there a few less kittens than there were yesterday?

This was such a fun kit to build and alter. It wasn't difficult, but it was rewarding. I used new (to me) techniques and products to make the scene a bit grittier and more lived in. Rusting up the long pipe and the air conditioners was a hoot. I felt the residents may have a few bad habits, so there are some ashtrays available to those who need them.

Mr. Tony's Sake House has a story. When my husband and I started dating, he lived minutes from a Japanese restaurant. We were there A LOT. The owner was a lovely man who took the time to know his frequent patrons. His eyes would light up whenever he saw us, and he'd join us at our booth with a bottle of sake or some green tea ice cream. He had a very thick Japanese accent, and though he could pronounce Tony (my now husband), he could not pronounce my much more difficult name. So... we became Mr. Tony and Mrs. Tony. The fact that we weren't married yet was of no concern. I miss that man. RIP Mr. Robert.