Social Distancing in Kofu II - Jigsaw Puzzles

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I don’t think there’s anything insightful about suggesting jigsaw puzzles are a good way to pass time while social distancing. They’re just good because 

(1) once you get going, it’s easy to lose track of time. We had lunch about a 1/2 hour later than planned because we were making good progress on a puzzle.

(2) you can do them alone or in pairs. I think we start out working together, then we get in each other’s way for a while, then we start to tackle different sections.

(3) the kind of puzzle you choose probably says a bit about who you are.

With that third point in mind, this post is a bit about puzzles, a bit about me, and a bit about Kofu.

I’m not sure just how many jigsaw puzzles we’ve bought and done. I can remember a couple that we don’t seem to have anymore. I think we passed them on to friends. The ones we’ve held on to reveal some of my favorite things.

There are four Tin Tin puzzles and I love to read Tin Tin comics. Likewise, I love the Beatles (4 puzzles), the Rolling Stones, and David Bowie (1 each.) Now, you can buy jigsaw puzzles in the toy sections of department stores and in the Aeon Mall. However, all of my puzzles were bought online. I just couldn’t find what I was looking for in shops - not in Kofu, not in Tokyo nor Yokohama. So not only can you see what I like in the puzzles I have, you can figure out what I don’t like from what’s missing. I don’t read One Piece and I don’t care for Christian Lassen. Mickey Mouse is just fine but I’m not going to spend time on one of his jigsaw puzzles.

If you have similar interests, and if things go back to normal, maybe you can indulge those interests with more than puzzle pieces. We bought all of those Tin Tin puzzles at the Tin Tin Shop in Shibuya, near Omotesando. I definitely once went to a Tin Tin shop in Kyoto but I think it’s closed now.

My friend covering Don’t Let Me Down at Feel Rock Cafe in Yumura

The Parrots are a Beatles cover band. They usually perform at the Cavern Club in Roppongi but they do occasionally make it outside Tokyo. They once played in Yamanashi at Rock in Kiyosato.

Here in Kofu, I’ve seen Beatles cover bands at Sakura-za (the Beatless) and Brave Amusement Bar (Wishing).

My friend called this Heiwa Street Open Museum. I think a Let It Be piece has been added.

For Rolling Stones fans, on Showa Street, there’s Brown Sugar. There’s also a music studio.

I’ve yet to see Bowie get his due in Kofu. I have seen some great stuff in Tokyo but it’s always been temporary.

So, ok. We did this Agnes Lam puzzle. I don’t really know who she is but even though she’s clearly not a contemporary model, every year the book store has a new Agnes Lam calendar.

Well, think about trying out some puzzles, and hang in there.