A few days before Christmas, I went into Shinsaibashi in Osaka to get the elusive gift (that I was unable to find in other places). I'm not going to reveal just yet what the gift was, but the mission to Shinsaibashi was a successful one. Not only that, before heading back to Nagaokakyo, I stopped in at the Nike Store were I found that the Nike Gore-Tek hiking boots that I had been wanting for ages were on clearance for half price, but only a few sizes were left. In Australia since my shoe size is about average, I never get half price clearance items, but in Japan were my shoe size is bigger than 99.9% of people, they still had stock in my size (note: only Nike and ABC Shoes actually stock my size here, most other places in Japan don't). So not only did I successfully find the Christmas present for Ritsuko I was looking for, I also got a pair of warm waterproof hiking boots just before the New Year's holidays.
Note: This photo is of some Ichou (Ginkgo) that were still (rather late) showing the yellow foliage not far from the store where I secured the elusive Christmas gift.

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