Photographs from a small group of islands
Political correctness in many parts of the world is often seen as either essential for a sensitive society or simply censorship, whereas in Japan, it invariably appears to play little or no role in vetoing peoples vocabulary, regardless of whether any potential blunders are perceived to be big,
or small.
Despite their much mentioned group mentality, just like everywhere else in the world it would seem, Japanese group photos are also wearisomely waylaid by people wandering off with their whereabouts unknown at the most inappropriate of moments.
(click image for full-sized photo frustration)
After already featuring far too many cherry blossom flavoured photos, these will definitely be the last, although in my defence, it can be really hard to resist when it’s arguably the perfect time for playing with pals,
sharing pictures with partners,
pottering about in the hope of taking pictures of people hoping to take pictures,
or possibly even posing with peace signs for a self portrait.
Pottering about in high heels is presumably pretty hard, but for the fella who really wants to find out what it’s like, and at the same time doesn’t want to be fingered as effeminate, these particularly tricky looking geta appear to be perfect.
If a little painful.
Standing big and bulbous at the side of Sagami-ko in Kanagawa Prefecture, the Hotel Royal was hungrily looking to penetrate the lucrative love hotel market, but after functioning for what must have been a pathetically short period of time, it pulled out prematurely, apologised, and packed up — at least partially.
A sorry state of affairs that has left the office furnished but unfrequented,
and the keys for the considerable number of rooms uncalled for.
However, heading up the stairs, the decor does begin to deteriorate, with all the lager long gone,
and a situation health and safety would be somewhat unsatisfied with.
But that said, the rooms themselves remain surprisingly unsullied,
although their nobility in name only,
perhaps hints at why the business went bankrupt.
And even reminders of the reason they were rented out,
thankfully remain as unused as the rooms once were.
A situation that may also have had something to do with the Royal taking the unusual step of incorporating a restaurant on the top floor. A space that is now little more than a dumping ground for detritus of all descriptions,
which peculiarly includes a pet’s cage, and perhaps more predictably, the hotel’s vital video collection.
An eatery where, when privacy would have been paramount, people may possibly have been prompted to pontificate over pasta on how horny the dog happened to be,
or even the performances of Pussyman 3’s predecessors.
Big thanks to Mike for giving me the location of the hotel, and his pictures of the place can be seen here. Plus, for those after more ruins/haikyo, there’s always the previously posted mining town, cable car and Sports World hotel complex to have a look at.