It's here: the season of mizu nurumu (water loosening) when one's thoughts turn to things ocean-like: surf and sand and this year's ichiban kawaii mizugi (the cutest bathing suit).
For those living in and around Tokyo, this often means piling into a car and driving down to the Shonan area where lush green mountains offset the waves of the great taiheiyo (Pacific), fragrant bougainvillea trees sway in the breeze and local surfers cruise by on mountain bikes with boards tucked under their arms.
The music blasting from the caasute (car stereo) is of course, Keisuke Kuwata: hero of Chigasaki City in Shonan and the guardian angel of Shonan rock. Who needs Malibu when Shonan is in our own backyard?