It ain't all fun and games

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 [...]

Fire and water

‘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 [...]

Floating world or bust

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 [...]

Red light, green light?

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 [...]