Photographs from a small group of islands
For reasons unknown, loose socks are a fashion style I’ve always had a soft spot for. Not wearing them I hasten to add, but merely taking pleasure in seeing others wear them. Now the fact that they are predominantly worn by high school girls puts me in danger of being labeled something of a deviant, but if that’s the case then so be it.
For anybody interested, they are held in place by glue.
Ah, Kyoto. The cultural heart of Japan. A city full of temples, the rarified atmosphere of Gion, and the home of the geisha.
Or at least that is what we are led to believe. Not that I’m saying it isn’t true, but it’s also a bustling city, and perhaps what people expect and what they get to see are two very different things. To a certain extent that was the case for me anyway.
But there are some quiet spots, and during my visit I fortuitously found myself in the right spot at the right time. Perfectly positioned to see an immaculately turned out and stunningly beautiful Maiko walk past me and then continue along the street. Presumably heading to her first appointment of the night.
Yes, the ever present letter J
If you like football, you can go and see a J-League game.
To get to the stadium you’ll probably have to travel a fair distance, and unless you are prepared to deal with the weekend traffic, it means that more than likely you’ll have to travel by train. Most of which are operated by JR.
So as to make your journey more bearable, take along your iPod, Walkman, or whatever, and listen to a bit of J-Pop.
And if you are going to be late, you can always call your friends on your J-Phone to let them know.
Actually I should say that J-Phone has now become Vodafone. But to be honest I was quickly running out of J related words and used it in desperation. It’s not quite as ever present as I though.
Sorry.
Japan is the land of the bento, or the packed lunch as it was referred to when I was a kid. In those days my lunches contained a staple of sandwiches and a bit of fruit. Perhaps even a biscuit of some description if I was lucky. The Japanese bento on the other hand is far more exotic beast. Often more akin to a work of art than something to eat.
But to conjure up something as elaborate as the above picture takes time, and presumably a considerable amount of skill. So if like me you definitely lack the latter, and quite often the former, there is thankfully a saviour at hand. The trusty bowl of instant ramen.
Yet don’t for a second think it’s a poor second choice. Well, actually it is, but considering the vast array of options available, it’s fairly easy to convince yourself otherwise. Just look, this is merely a small selection that can be found in my local supermarket.
Pour in some hot water, wait 3 minutes or so, and you are all done. Now that’s my kind of cooking!
Yes, Hide with Spread Beaver. How’s that for a pop group’s name?
The first time I saw somebody wearing one of the band’s t-shirts, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Ok, some of the fashion industry’s English can be a bit dodgy, but still, Spread Beaver!?
Hide was the guitarist of the relatively well known X Japan, and his collaboration with, ahem, Spread Beaver was one of his side projects. Unfortunately Hide died at a wastefully young age in 1998, and in true rock ‘n roll style, his death is shrouded in mystery. Some people claim it was suicide, whilst others insist it was an accident.
But either way it wasn’t good for Spread Beaver, who/it hasn’t been heard of or seen since. A pity, as I’m sure I could have got plenty of mileage out of it.