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Nishishinjuku's Hidden Mail?
honestly i think the other reply nailed it with the furusato stamps, those are def what your aunt was talking about. but there's also a small chance she was getting the special commemorative stamps they release for local festivals or anniversaries - the post office sometimes has a little display case near the counter showing what's currently available. i'd recommend just asking the staff directly when you're there, they're usually pretty chill about showing you the full selection. and if you're into the quirky side of japanese mail, walk a few blocks east to the shinjuku post office, they have a tiny philately corner with older stock
The Nishishinjukuhachi post office sits right across from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, and it's one of the few places in Tokyo that still sells the "furusato" regional stamps. Those are the ones with local designs instead of the standard national issue. Your great aunt was probably getting stamps themed around Shinjuku landmarks, like the government building itself or the skyscraper district. They still sell those at the counter, so you can pick up a few sheets for yourself.
That's a really cool story about your great aunt! The Nishishinjukuhachi Post Office is a pretty standard looking place, so I'd guess the "legendary" stamps were probably something limited edition or maybe even just a personal thing, perhaps she had a connection with someone who worked there who could get her special stamps, or maybe she just had a knack for finding unusual ones. It's possible they were from a limited run celebrating a local event or something, which would explain why they weren't standard issue. Unless they have some sort of local post office museum or something, you'll probably have to rely on your own sleuthing skills. Good luck on your hunt! Let us know what you find.
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.
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