Something struck me the other day as I watched a young Japanese girl pound away at the multi-colored keys of an arcade machine blaring loud techno music. On screen little colored blocks floated down to the beat in a steady stream, the goal being to push the right button at the exact moment it reached [...]
‘What kind of camera do you have again?’ Tom asked giving me a hand up. ‘A digital Rebel XT, why?’ ‘Well, the body isn’t water sealed but you should be okay, probably. Just give it a few days to dry out.’ Everyone around was staring and those closest to us were asking, daijoubu (are you [...]
Out of uniform Maiko
For about $30 you too can experience a small taste of the enigmatic and mysterious world of the Maiko. Those beautiful doll-like people bedecked in old-style kimono, traditional hairstyle and pure white makeup. Those women who duck in and out of exclusive restaurants on the arms of older Japanese businessmen, bells [...]
The streets of Kyoto are not safe. They are not safe at all I have witnessed things that would cause the sanest and most controlled of us in the US to begin screaming obscenities and shake our fists. I know this for a fact because I have been hit by a car, not once but [...]