Recap: Japan

Where do I begin? We spent the lion's share of our Asia trip in Japan. Touching down in Osaka, Kobe (yes, the beef is incredible), Kyoto,  Shimizu, Yokohama and Tokyo, we were able to take in a quite a bit of geography. It's difficult to give so many cities all the words they deserve in one compact post, ergo I have decided to share more photos than I would typically include.

Impressions Snapshot

People

In brief: beautiful, poised and playful. While wandering miles throughout Shimizu, with Mt. Fuji making appearances as the clouds passed, a man approached us and asked if he could walk with us on his way home. He explained that he wished to practice speaking English. We obliged and learned that he was a mechanic, had only left Japan once in his life (honeymoon in Thailand 20 years ago) and his son is in college.

The kiddos were incredibly friendly. Everywhere we ventured, they enthusiastically waved from buses and sidewalks. Return waves were eagerly accepted.


Culture

Everything in Japan makes sense. The way things are executed is incredibly considerate and practical.  It makes me want to take America by the shoulders and shake her until she takes notice. For example, we learned that trash is burned and converted to the material that is used to pave the roads.  While on the topic of refuse, we noticed that garbage cans were non-existent. People are accustomed to carrying their own plastic bag to collect their trash throughout the day and dispose of it at home.

Cats are everywhere and respected. This detail brought to light the constant theme of cats in Haruki Murakami novels (my favorite author). One evening, in Osaka, we were walking in the dark when we realized we were surrounded by cats lurking in the shadows. Watching us. It was a bit amusing and slightly terrifying.

Toilets are refined. Would you like a heated seat or a particular music genre played? This is possible.

Style

A few things resonate with me in terms of fashion. To begin, it appeared that all students wore uniforms. There were few options to express individual identity outside of key chains dangling from backpacks.

As well, it came as a surprise (to me) that women were out-and-about in full geisha styling. I assumed that this custom was something that happened some time ago, and perhaps, for tourist interactions. However, on multiple occasions, we saw geishas in Kyoto. Wikipedia (my knowledge authority) confirmed that geishas are going strong in this particular region.

View all my Japan photos on Flickr.

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Dine in Alice in Wonderland

For those who loved to get lost in reading Alice in Wonderland, this incredible restaurant in Tokyo is worth a visit. Designed by Eichi Maruyama and Katsunori of Fantastic Design Works, the menu includes "Chesire Cat Pizza" and "Burgundy-style braised beef cheek in Queen of Hearts red wine sauce." (View more images here).

Levitation

"We are all surrounded by social stress as we are bound by the forces of earth's gravity," Natsumi says when asked why she took on the series. "So, I hope that people feel something like an instant release from their stressful days by seeing my levitation photos."

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I love these. They make me think of rainy, balmy days- when the only thing you can do is pull on your wellies and a comfy dress...and hop over puddles! View more at her website.

Together: Pets & People in Japan Disaster Relief Shelters

I'm a little comforted to read this update on pets and owners offering love and support to each other while sorting the aftermath of the tradegy in Japan. Above, a woman shares her food with a dog in a disaster relief shelter in Japan. View more heartwarming images at Global Animal.

Image: Reuters/Global Animal

The New Yorker & Japan

Artist Christoph Niemann designed the cover of the recent New Yorker- donned in nuclear flowers. The art editor, Francoise Mouly, details: “wanted to use the irony” but said she had a “reservation about how beautiful it was.”

via

Minamisanriku, Japan

Image of vehicle headlights streaming through Minamisanriku, Japan- While the darkness of the aftermath is extraordinary, the band of surviors captured in the light is stunning.

via AP Images- Japan

(Heart Melting)

Here is an update on these sweet hearts.

(For Japan)

Photographer Alicia Bock has created a set of limited edition prints with Japan in the heart. Proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross in the efforts to help Japan recover from the devastating earthquake.

Medical woodblock prints from 19th-century Japan

Bodily functions personified as popular kabuki actors -- Artist unknown, late 19th century [+]

Defeating cholera -- Kimura Takejiro, 1886 [+]

Pregnancy guide -- Hamano Teisuke, 1880 [+]

Niseko Restaurant

Manhattan is cluttered with snowflakes again this morning. I'm hoping the storm will offer a cover on par with this gorgeous photo of Niseka Restaurant in Hokkaido, Japan:

It was away from the main road in the town so it was never very busy, but it stood out like a beacon in the darkness of the night. The food was mediocre. Still looked cool.

via Gadgetlam's Flickr

Japan. View more

Vintage Japanese Industrial Posters

Sea and Air Exhibition – Tokyo, 1930 [+]

Japan-Manchuria Industrial Exhibition – Toyama, 1936 [+]

Nagoya Pan-Pacific Peace Exposition – Nagoya, 1937 [+]

A Mirror from Tetsu Kondo Architects

Tokyo's Tetsuo Kondo Architects have designed a mirror that reflects a clear image when viewed straight-on but appears cloudy from the side. Gorgeous concept, no? Read: (more…)