#8: Buddha the Bargain Hunter — January 8, 2013 The Manga University Daibutsu knows a good deal when he sees one. Today we took a trip to Ameyayokocho, more popularly known by its nickname, Ameyoko. During the Allied Occupation of Japan, this was the area of Tokyo where black-marketeers haggled with American servicemen, who were there to buy (and sell) candy, clothing, and wartime souvenirs. Residents who have lived here since the postwar era still refer to the neighborhood — in English — as "American Alley." Today, it's an old-fashioned outdoor bazaar where you can get ridiculously great discounts...

  #7: Back-to-School Buddha — January 7, 2013 Today was our first full day back on campus following the weeklong holiday break. We held a traditional shinnenkai (new year get-together), with everyone bringing food and drink to share with one another. The Manga University Daibutsu, always the life of the party, treated us all to vegetarian curry. Yum! Another fun part of shinnenkai is the opportunity to hear motivational speeches by learned scholars. Here, the daibutsu imparts pearls of wisdom to two of our eager MU undergrads.

  #6: Trainspotting Buddha — January 6, 2013 Who would have guessed? It turns out the Manga University Daibutsu is a densha otaku (train buff). Here we see him watching a train speed by on the Japan Railways Keihin-Tohoku line, which connects the Manga University Campus to Tokyo. Trainspotting is a popular activity among many Japanese, particularly men and young boys. Every weekend it’s easy to find hundreds of these enthusiasts lined up along major rail lines, where the fans hope to catch glimpses of the newest shinkansen (bullet trains), long-haul freight trains, and even the occasional steam-powered locomotive.

  #5: Double Dutch Buddha — January 5, 2013 It was cold and windy when we took the Manga University Daibutsu for his photo shoot at Ukima Koen today. Among the attractions in this spacious park is a large pond with a Dutch-style windmill at the western end.  Regular visitors to the Manga University website will recognize this windmill from a picture we took a couple of weeks after the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. That photo, which showed the windmill framed with cherry blossoms, was one of our most popular blog photos ever.

#4: Planet Buddha — January 4, 2013 We had a busy day today at the Manga University Tokyo Campus. It was time for the traditiional "spring cleaning," which in Japan takes place in winter. We swept, scrubbed and polished the four-story MU Administration Building from top to bottom. The chores continued until sundown. By then, we were too worn out to do anything but watch some anime. But there was one task remaining. We needed to get a picture of the Manga University Daibutsu. So, we set him in front of the TV and began snapping away. This is the...