#inari tee

[teqwolf]

⛩️ JAPAN - DAY 8 - KYOTO 💪

I am tipsyyyy as I write this tee hee so forgive me for any silly! Anyways started our first full Kyoto day at the fushimi inari shrine with allll the red gates and it was so beautiful! So touristy but fr so cool I loved seeing the vibrant orangey red against the green landscape. Then went to sanjusangendo, the Buddhist temple of 1000 statues. Fr so incredible and serene, I was so amazed by the artistry of the sculptures and I loved all the info our guide today shared about the history of Kyoto and the temple specifically.

Then we headed to a historic area of Kyoto called gion and walked through some old streets before getting a delicious yakitori lunch in a tea house-style restaurant. I fr wish I could eat all my meals with shoes off! Japan gets it. It’s just so comfortable and homey to be able to sit and relax while eating.

In the afternoon we headed to kinkakuji, the golden temple. It really was so incredibly beautiful, I’m so glad we got the chance to see it. After saying goodbye to our guide we did a bit of shopping and a spontaneous cat cafe! Then headed to a really incredible cocktail bar where my mom and I began our silly evening lolll had some amazing drinks! After a few we headed to an okonomiyaki restaurant which was just incredible- and I don’t think that was just the alcohol talking, if really was that good.

After dinner we went to a bar that my friends have been eagerly waiting for me to go to after they saw it on tiktok… the macho bar. Truly such a memorable experience even if I was mortified the whole time. The employees were soooo nice and I had long conversations about hxh and one piece with a couple of them LMAO they kept making jokes about how buff they were and comparing themselves to anime characters and my literal thinking autistic ass just goes “ummm uvogin? He died though…” and they LAUGHED so. I consider that a win.

Anyways. Great first full day in Kyoto lol loved it so much

[aangelenaa]

Compulsory Question 2

My Vision Statement

I lean towards illustrations and photography. I enjoy explorations of colors and different compositions in both mediums.  I want to work towards having a creative brand pursuing photography, illustrations, publications and having my works in different event, exhibitions, and stores globally.  Further explorations through passion projects. I would also like to delve into typography and publications. experimentations to put together in zines, prints, portfolio, and publications. I’ll also enrich myself with more of different works by attending art events. These will help me touch on different directions and improve in my practice.  I will achieve this by experiencing various design works, collaborations, work experience and put on my own works as well. Further improving individually and working with others. 

The artwork that captivates me is Chua Mia Tee’s painting, “National Language Class”.  His inspiration for this work derived from his interest and interactions with the Malay language. What I admire about this painting is that it isn’t solely an expression but also a means of communication. Its beautiful composition has a visual hierarchy that leads the eyes and utilising light, shadows, and colours to depict the 1950s atmosphere. Inspiring me to apply similar techniques in my photography and illustrations, I can consider this to better communicate context in my compositions. And I can also note how light interacts with structures for on-site graphics. 

An intriguing aspect of the painting is the blackboard behind the teacher, featuring two questions in Malay: “Siapa nama kamu?” (What is your name?”) and “Di mana awak tinggal?” (Where do you live?”) This inclusion reflects a significant time when Singapore began self-governance, emphasising the importance of the Malay language as Singapore’s mother tongue. I think that drawing elements from my environment and exploring beyond that can enhance my practice, fostering communication and meaningful dialogues through my work. This will help me in having more awareness of what is happening around me and using design to respond to that. 

The scene depicted in the painting is partly accurate with an added sense of Chua Ming Tee’s imagination. This painting’s characters include the artist’s wife-to-be and a close friend as the teacher. It's a portrayal of reality with self connection and presence. The departure from strict realism by the artist, incorporating imagination into the painting, teaches me the value of collaborating with the world and infusing my imagination into my designs. This can involve experimenting with forms of abstraction as an alternative to being too literal in my designs.

It's interesting to consider the factors of what is happening around us that turns an inner gaze. The things I say are possible because of what has been said and the things I do are responses to what's been done. An interesting work that I think reflects this would be Inari’s display typeface which is based on modular systems from non-digital mediums, such as tricot and embroidery. Showing respect for tradition and attention to tactility through an attentive consideration to the ink flow they would have if written traditionally. It left me thinking how I want to push my own creativity in responding to my environment and how my environment pushes creative responses.

Looking at various art forms beyond design has exposed me to diverse methods of visualizing different contexts. In essence, Chua Mia Tee’s artwork encourages me to view art not just as expression but also as a tool for communication and connection, inspiring me to delve deeper into meaning and dialogue into my creative practice.

(459 words)

Chua Mia Tee, From Studio To The National Gallery (https://youtu.be/hyAJXnrhhBI?si=O4ZCaRkfZXqkOqDO)

Inari Type (https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/inari-type-graphic-design-220420)

[lifesamarize]

1000 rote Tore

03.04.2023 - Japan, Kyoto [Tobi]:

Uff, die Nacht war nicht so gut. Zum einen blieben wir doch länger auf als erhofft. Der Blogbeitrag des Tages musste direkt niedergeschrieben werden, um die Informationen und Eindrücke noch frisch und vollständig zu erhalten. Und dann war das Bett leider auch nur 80 cm breit. In der Nacht sahen wir ein, dass es zu schmal für zwei Personen ist und ich zog in den Morgenstunden auf die bereitgestellte Futonmatte auf den Boden. Immerhin konnten wir nach der Dusche direkt bei uns frisches Toast und Tee frühstücken. Wir haben ja vorgesorgt und nutzten die Annehmlichkeiten einer Küche. Mit der Bahn ging es dann direkt zum Fushimi Inari Schrein. Sind aber ausversehen eine Station zu weit gefahren und mussten nochmal zurück, um richtig auszusteigen. Das ist der bekannte Berg mit einer Tempelanlage am Fuße und vielen kleinen Schreinen auf dem Weg zur Spitze. Und der Weg ist weltbekannt. 1000 rote Tore, genannt Torii, säumen den Weg hinauf zur Bergspitze. Und es war voll. So viele Menschen hatten wir schon lange nicht mehr um uns herum. Leider waren wir später als geplant vor Ort und bekamen die ganzen Touristenmassen ab. Klar, dieser Ort ist auf jeder Postkarte von Kyoto zu sehen und muss von jedem Touri besichtigt werden. Und historisch ist unten nichts. Also ging es schnell den Weg hinauf, vorbei an den Selfie-Touristen, die an jeder Ecke den Verkehr blockieren, um mal weniger als zehn Leute im Hintergrund ihres Selbstportraits zu haben. Ziemlich schnell bogen wir dann auch genervt vom Pfad der Tore ab und folgten einem kleinen Weg in den Wald. Hier versteckte sich ein natürlicher Bambuswald an den Hängen des Berges. Der Pfad wand sich hindurch und führte an einigen größeren Friedhofsanlagen vorbei. Die Friedhöfe hier sind jedoch eine Ansammlung von Schreinen. Alle hatten hier eine Stele mit Namen und Daten der Person, sowie links und rechts davon je eine Fuchsstatue. Den Inari. Links befand sich immer das Weibchen, mit einer Schriftrolle im Maul, wärend rechts das Männchen saß und eine Schatzkugel im offenen Maul hielt. Zu hunderten sahen wir die Figuren in unterschiedlichen Ausführungen, doch immer stets beisammen als Paar. Der Fuchs war der Beschützer der Reisfelder und galt an diesem Berg als heiliges Tier. 

Immer wieder bestaunten wir die Anlagen, manche hatten größere Schreine und luden Gläubige zum Gebet ein. Eine Glocke wurde dazu mit einem herabhängendem Seil geläutet. Und hier erhielten wir auch einen Andenkenstempel in unser Pilgerbuch. Unten am Hauptschrein gab es nämlich wieder nur die fertigen Blätter zu kaufen. 

So stapften wir den kleinen Weg abseits der Massen entlang, begegneten ab und an mal anderen Touristen und erkundeten das Gebiet. Ein Schild kündigte einen Wasserfall an und natürlich gingen wir den Abzweig. Und dort stand ein Häuschen. Ein kleines, unscheinbares Haus mit einigen Plakaten an der Hauswand. Es dämmerte mir. Hier war ich bereits vor 6 Jahren gewesen. Hier lebte ein Holzschnitzer, der sich die englische Sprache selbst über das Hören von Radiosendern beigebracht hatte und gerne mit Besuchern sprach. Und als ich Sama davon erzählte, öffnete genau dieser Mann wie damals die Tür und schaute hinaus. Er entdeckte uns und lud uns direkt zu sich ein. Da saß ich nun wieder. In seiner kleinen Werkstatt und wir quatschten über unsere Reise und was er so für tolle Kunstwerke macht. Er schnitzt nämlich hauptsächlich Figuren aus den Ästen des Teebaumes, der hier in der Region um Uji beheimatet ist. Und weil in Uji der beste grüne Tee Japans wächst, ist das auch noch eine alte Tradition, die er weiter trägt. Und so lud er uns zu einem Workshop ein, den er am Freitag in Uji geben würde. Das Bemalen einer traditionellen Tee-Holz-Figur.

Wir verabschiedeten uns bis Freitag und ich versprach ihm, ihn in weiteren 6 Jahren wieder in seiner Werkstatt zu besuchen. 

Nun schlängelte sich der Weg geradewegs hinauf zur Spitze des Berges und zum Hauptschrein. Die Leute kamen alle erschöpft und schnaufend hier an, während wir ganz entspannt den langen Weg außen herum genommen hatten. Gewusst wie. Denn auf dem Rückweg hatten wir die Tori nun oft genug für uns alleine und konnten auch mal Fotos ohne 100 Menschen mit Handy in der Hand machen.

Der Abstieg zog sich noch um einiges, wir blieben nur noch ein letztes Mal für einen Snack aus frisch gekochten Eiern und Tee an einem Stand stehen.

Und auch anders als die ganzen anderen Menschen, gingen wir nicht geradewegs zur Bahn, sondern bogen ab und besuchten noch kleinere Tempel in der Gegend.

Der Erste war eher wie ein Wohnhaus mit tollem Garten im Inneren. Hier blieben wir etwas in der Sonne auf einer schönen Veranda sitzen und ließen ganz einfach das Kunstwerk des Zengartens auf uns wirken. Es begann sogar noch in einem der Räume eine private Gebetszeremonie, die wir von unserem Platz aus verfolgen konnten. Bald wurde es wegen der tiefstehenden Sonne recht frisch und wir zogen weiter.

In der Nähe liefen wir noch durch die Anlage des Tōfuku-ji Tempels und erstaunten vor den gigantischen Torbögen. Der Tempel selbst war bereits geschlossen und es war nur möglich, durch die offene Parkanlage zu gehen. Als wir Fotos vom Tempel machten, merkten wir erneut, dass die Erhabenheit und die Schönheit dieser Anlage auf den Bildern nicht annähernd zur Geltung kommt. 

Doch auch hier blieben wir nicht lang, da wir uns in der Innenstadt Kyotos mit einer Studienfreundin von Sama und ihrer kleinen Familie von Ehemann und Tochter trafen. Sie waren zur selben Zeit wie wir in Japan und unsere Route überschnitt sich jetzt in Kyoto. Ein Abendessen und tolle Gespräche später erkundeten wir die Gassen des historischen Viertels Gion. Das ist ein originales Stadtviertel, wo sich traditionelle Restaurants, Theater und Geisha-Häuser aneinanderreihen und eine tolle Atmosphäre bilden. Mit vielen kleinen Laternen, Holzfassaden und dichten Gassen entsteht eine einmalige Stimmung. 

[frkwibergab]

Du kan höra mig sjunga när jag är långt härifrån// Från den andra sidan eller en radiogrammofon

-Rakel, skulle du vilja ha en blå- och vitrandig Inari tee dress?

-Njae, kanske, jag är osäker...

-Men skulle du vilja ha en med huva då?

-Hmm, kanske, jag är osäker...

Häromkvällen messade Rakel att hon och en god vän skulle tillbringa kvällen hemma hos oss om det var ok? Och att vännen, Moa, hade hittat ett recept hon var sugen på så de skulle laga mat till oss tre, jag behövde inte göra nåt...

Jag har alltid hävdat att om man curlar sina barn på rätt sätt så curlar de en tillbaka så småningom. Det kallas omtanke. I alla fall, när Rakel och Moa kom hem var de väldigt lika, de är båda korta och blonda, men de var dessutom rätt lika klädda. Rakel hade en av sina Inaris (den gråa) och Moa hade också en grå collegeklänning, men hennes var från Gant och hade lång ärm och huva. Det var den där huvan som satte igång mig...

Och trots att Rakel alltså inte direkt ville ha nån randig klänning och inte heller var supersugen på en huva, så sydde jag det ändå. Tyget hade jag hemma, det är samma som i min svarta groove dress, och jag kände att jag inte behövde en randig klänning till och att jag kunde ha inarin som en oversize t-shirt om nu Rakel faktiskt inte ville ha den ändå.

Men hennes förtjusta min när hon fick syn på den och den ännu nöjdare när hon provade den sa allt! Huvan har jag plockat från Grace (Jenny Hellströms), men jag fick justera den lite för att den skulle passa inarins urringning perfekt. Jag har faktiskt maskintråcklat på den först för att kolla, sen sprättat, justerat och sytt igen. Det var det värt!

Nu ska vi dra iväg på semester lite grann, mina barn och jag. En och annan bok ska det läsas, några öl ska det drickas och jag tror att det blir mer än en grekisk sallad!

[saetoru]

TEE THE DUB VOICES. sakusa’s is way too gravelly and atsumu’s isn’t whiny enough EUGHHH im sad

also WHERE’S THE ACCENT?? WE WAITED SO LONG FOR INARI 5’S CUTE SOUTHERN ACCENTS 😭

EXACTLY EXACTLY EXACTLY MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY.

i just want a break why am i hate crimed on the daily 🥲

[buttercupsfrocks]

A sartorial deception

This is the Kin Inari Pleat dress, which I tried on today and am seriously considering as a happy-61st gift to myself next month. You may think from the title and first glance that it’s pleated, but it’s not; it’s just the print playing with your head. You may also think said+ print has pops of lime green in it, (depending on your monitor/phone), but it’s more of a canary yellow, which paired with the black, white and grey, gives it a bit of a mid-century modern feel. It also manages to look very Japanese, which is pretty typical for the label. Luckily I have a pair of canary yellow tights to add a little frivolity to the proceedings. What say you, Tumblr?

I’m also rather taken with the Metoko tee, which wasn’t in stock yet. But, at thirty five quid, that can definitely wait till the summer sales.

On a sadder note Monsoon appears to be in spectacular trouble along with most of the UK high street. And although it managed to barter with various councils to reduce its rates, it’s now closing branches hand over fist, including my local one. I had no idea till I saw it empty and boarded up yesterday. Apparently the Westfield branch is still going but it’s really saddened me, given that it’s the only mainstream bricks and mortar chain that manufactures and, more importantly for those of us for whom fit is a nightmare, routinely stocks larger sizes. I’d like to think that maybe, if councils make rents and rates less crippling, we could see a renaissance of stand-alone stores, bringing some much needed individuality back to the British high street. But I’m not holding my breath, not least with fecking Brexshit going down.

It’s a sorry pass, tumblr.

[namateaseosakajapan]

Fox Girl in the Fox Shrine wearing Octopus Girl! 🦊⛩🐙 New collaboration with FORMENTO + FORMENTO T-Shirt Photo: @formento2 Mai VI🐙 FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Available at namatease.com #namatease #tshirt #blacktshirt #japanesefashion #fashion #streetfashion #streetwear #streetstyle #style #japan #japanese #tees #teeshirts #graphictees #instafashion #fashiongram #instastyle #fashionblog #onlineshop #outfitoftheday #japanesetshirt #formento2 #octopus #octopusgirl #japandiaries #inari #tako #osakajapan #alternativegirls (at Osaka) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzHO-BOBR1_/?igshid=1v38ifzoiqiky

[miyabi-japan]

🔥🔥🔥#Repost @spyderinc with @repostapp ・・・ daniel patrick code.... #danielpatrick #knomadik #outer #bomberjacket #tee #oversized #pants #trackpants #zip #yellow #knyew #cap #crew #yeezy #yeezyboost350 #yeezyboost350v2 #inari #inarieyewear #tyga #kanyewest #ootd #todayscode #spydermito #spyderinc #selectshop #spyder #mito http://www.spyder-mito.com (Select Shop Spyder)

[ellegeemakes]

As luck would have it, I have another ‘three versions’ post for you this week. The Inari tee/dress is such a versatile pattern, it’s impossible to resist a bit of experimentation once  it’s on the cutting table!

The lovely Inari tee/dress by Named Clothing has been around for a while, but it hasn’t lost its appeal for me.

I love the boat neck, the high low hem, the relaxed cocoon fit and the side slits that give the look a bit of an edge. Then, there are the lovely finishing touches, the sleeve bands, the hem stitching….it’s the little things that elevate this pattern to bring the look home!

The pattern includes two variations: A loose-fitting tee dress and a cropped A-line tee. The dress is slightly cocoon-shaped, with an uneven hemline. There are slits at the sides of the dress and you can finish the neckline with a facing or a separate neckband. This pattern works with a light to medium weight fabric, either woven or stretch which makes it doubly versatile! The instructions are really complete and easy to understand on this pattern. I think even a beginner would find it instructive and satisfying to sew.

My fabric is a linen/rayon blend from Joann’s that is medium weight with a nice drape. I love the way the side seams wrap around to the front on this dress, causing the cocoon shape. There’s something so ‘cool-girl’ about a cocoon shape:).

My other versions evolved from the cropped tee version. I am not a big fan of cropped tees unless they’re on a teen, and this tee is really cropped. So, I added a ruffled bottom to the hem of the bodice.

This is my buddy, Mitchell…he had to be in these photos. His twin, Maggie is too shy to participate, but Mitchell loves all the attention he can get. He’s about six months now, such a funny, outgoing guy! Don’t worry about Maggie, though. She can definitely keep up. I’m guessing she’ll be pushing her way into photos soon enough.

I loved working with this rayon from Fabric Depot, and it feels so cool and light on. To make this version, I cut a hem band that was 1.5 X the width of the hem, and made it seven inches deep so that when hemmed, it would add six inches to the length of the bodice. I gathered it with a long sitch then sewed it to the bodice and hemmed it.

My next version is made of lightweight shirting from Joann’s. The stripe on this fabric is so striking….just had to have it. For this version, I shortened the bodice on the cropped tee by two inches and widened the ruffled bottom by two inches as well so that the top would have more of a raised waist look. I wear this one constantly! The weight of this cotton is light, but it launders so nicely and wears well in any temperature.

All of my Inari makes will transition well into Fall because they’re perfect with a long cardigan or a short jacket. If you haven’t given this pattern a try, I highly recommend it. There are lots of inspiring versions in blog land and on Instagram, so give it a look!

In sewing happenings, Indie Pattern Month starts next week on the Monthly Stitch. I plan on participating in at least two of the challenges. I hope you’ll join me.

Happy sewing and thanks for stopping by!

Inari Tee/ Dress Three Ways As luck would have it, I have another 'three versions' post for you this week. The Inari tee/dress is such a versatile pattern, it's impossible to resist a bit of experimentation once  it's on the cutting table!

[lazywack]

At Fushimi Inari-taisha. T-shirt: LW016.

http://www.lazywack.com/product/ciroc/

[ganbattesewing]

Inari Crop Tee  by Named Clothing

The pattern includes two variations: A loose-fitting tee dress and a cropped A-line tee

Short sleeves with a rolled-up effect

The dress is slightly cocoon-shaped, with an uneven hemline

Slits at the sides of the dress

Finish the neckline with a facing or a separate neckband

Link: https://www.namedclothing.com/shop/inari-crop-tee/

[frkwibergab]

I want to ride my bicycle I want to ride it where I like

OK, så jag undertecknar ofta mina sms till barnen med en kacklande höna, för att driva med mig själv och visa dem att jag fattar att jag är en jobbig hönsmorsa... “Var rädd om dig” har jag skrivit så många gånger att jag numera oftast bara skriver “Var rädd”. Jag tror att detta delvis beror på att jag har varit med om att det hänt så himla  mycket saker, sånt som egentligen inte kan hända, så jag vet att man måste vara beredd även på det omöjliga. 

Och någonstans, fast jag är en intelligent människa som vet att det ju inte funkar så, så är det skönt när något illa händer och det inte går fullt så illa som det hade kunnat gå. Då tror man liksom att det som skulle hända har hänt och att man har något slags skydd mot att det ska hända igen, vilket ju låter superdumt nu när jag skriver det, men så funkar väl hjärnan och känslolivet på något sätt?

Häromkvällen messade Rakel att hon var på väg hem på cykel, jag ritade av en Ottolinejacka jag ska sy i mörkblått linne och hade det ganska fint hemma för mig själv, så jag svarade väl “OK.Puss” eller nåt. Ni kommer ihåg att jag påstår mig vara häxa va? För jag gick ut i hallen för att möta henne när hon kom, något som jag såklart inte gör jämt men just den här gången kände jag att det behövdes.

I hallen stod en 22-årig femåring i tårar med skrubb- och skrapsår, blåmärken och en stor känsla av att DET ÄR ORÄTTVIST! Hon hade, när hon nästan var hemma, fått syn på två fjortisar som cyklade utför en backe här, den ena skjutsade och de vinglade omåttligt fram och tillbaka över vägen. Rakel stannar upp och väntar, stående gränsle över cykeln på höger sida av vägen (där hon ju ska vara) och tänker att hon låter dem cykla förbi helt enkelt.

De rammar henne! Och med sån fart att Rakel far i backen och faceplantar, dvs tar emot sig med båda händerna och det vänstra kindbenet och ett öra! rakt ner i asfalten! Ena stortån gick sönder och hon hade hack och skrap lite överallt. Vad gjorde tjejerna? De cyklade vidare, FNITTRANDES!!!

Men som sagt, om hon nu ska vara med i en cykelolycka så var det ju bättre att rammas av två fjortisar på cykel än av nåt större, tyngre och hårdare, och jag tänker tro att hon kommer att slippa det nu...

På sig när det hände hade hon inte denna klänning, den hade nog inte sett så fin ut då... Detta är ännu en kort variant på Inari Tee dress från Named. Den här gången grävde jag i mina gamla lådor och hittade ett riktigt college-grå tyg som var på Rakels önskelista, men så liten bit att jag fick pussla lite för att få ut delarna. Ärmarna är således på andra ledden är resten av klänningen och den är inte fållad, bara overlockad nedtill. Gärna kort men inte kortkortkort, va?  

[PS jag ritade på de beiga tygplåstrena pga vi inte hade några bamseplåster hemma. 22åriga femåringar vill ha fina plåster!]

[rememberthattime]

Chapter 30. Move II. Part I. Japan

Well, it was the long route, but we finally made it to Sydney. Things are relaxed: I’m beachside. It’s 80 degrees in late February. I’m in sandals, shorts, and a tee shirt, and I’m sipping down back-to-back açaí smoothies.

Three months ago, on December 12, I knew this day was eventually coming. Back then, I even knew exactly how the next twelve weeks would play out: absolute madness. In our indirect and unusual move from London to Sydney, Chelsay and I fit in trips to Tokyo and Kyoto, Dallas for Christmas, Seattle for New Years, a one-month-only busy season reunion with EY US, before catching our 24 hour flights to 'Strayaaa.

It was the absolute madness I predicted, but now, several months late (and with my third açaí smoothie in hand), I can finally present: Chelsay and I’s three-part moving post. Part I: Japan.

To begin, I need to rewind three months to early December. We were pulling together visa applications and arranging our London move (see last post), so I didn’t have much time to plan Japan. That said, I was too excited for the trip to not look into a few things.

I’d watched YouTube travel videos and developed a broad idea of the places I wanted to see. Instead of exact sites or temples though, my list was made up of unique Japanese experiences. In Tokyo, I wanted to experience the 21st century city: neon-lit streets, overwhelming density, and arcade-inspired quirkiness. Think Lost in Translation.

In Kyoto, I wanted to experience the opposite: Japan’s 9th century temples and shrines. Removed from the big city and hidden deep in maple and gingko tree forests, I wanted to walk through peaceful and perfectly manicured Japanese Zen gardens. Think The Last Samurai.

Luckily June’s family lives in Tokyo, so even though I didn’t know the exact sites to visit, she knew exactly where we could get the above experiences. That said, not only were we getting June’s insider tour, but we’d also get to spend time with June’s family, especially Chelsay’s cousin Yuka, and her daughter Sayaka.

Juju (a family nickname I’ve adopted) clearly knows me well, because the first place she took Chelsay and I was a katsu place for lunch. With all respect to the international city London is, this was our first good katsu in two years. Our Christmas trip was off and running right from the very start.

After lunch, June took us around Tokyo’s many unique neighborhoods, including the bizarre Tsukiji fish market, the jaw-dropping city views from Roppongi Hills, and the charmingly nerdy arcades of Akihabara. Small side story from the arcades: Chelsay shockingly beat me in Need for Speed. I’m not sure how she won, but it was a perfect showcase for her mixed background: the Asian side had the video game advantage, while her white side handled the driving.

For dinner, we met June’s mom and sister in trendy Ginza for shabu shabu, thinly sliced meats that you self-swish (“shabu” in Japanese) in boiling broth at your table.

This is going to be a long post, so I’ll just list my Day 1 takeaways in bullet form:

First, I don’t understand how Tokyo can be so clean. In any other major city, trash cans are over flowing and dirty newspapers are blown up against the sides of buildings. Not in Tokyo though. Despite being the largest city by population (36 million), Tokyo keeps things tidy.

Second, I’ll just repeat that last line: there a 36 million people in Tokyo. There are only ~15 million in New York City. There are only 24 million in ALL OF AUSTRALIA! I remember feeling crammed in London (8 million), so Tokyo was bound to be a circus, right?... Not so fast my friend. The difference between London and Tokyo is that Tokyo was built vertically, with retail and restaurants filling 20+ stories in each endless block of skyscrapers. London’s a relatively short city given most of the buildings were made in the early 1800s. Tokyo, on the other hand, was leveled during WWII, so city planners were able to rebuild a taller city using more modern methods.

Third, things are strange. White strawberries, square watermelons, pour-over coffee filters, massive tunas, crazy gamers, and Tweety bird giving the finger (see below). We hadn’t even cracked into some of the weirder neighborhoods (Shinjuku and Shibuya would come a few days later), but I’d already started to experience the unique, quirky, Lost in Translation-y side of Tokyo.

So, to summarize, Day 1 was a success. For Day 2 and 3, we’d be taking a bullet train to Kyoto before returning to Tokyo for Days 4 and 5. As a reminder, my goals for Kyoto were pre-turn-of-the-(first)-century temples and shrines. See, unlike Tokyo, Kyoto was not a target for the Allies, so the city’s temple parks have maintained that Last Samurai feel for 1,000 years.

Our journey back in time actually started with one of the most modern modes of transportation: Japan’s bullet trains. Topping out at 375 MPH (though only 200 MPH with passengers) Chelsay and I covered over 300 miles of Japanese countryside in less than two hours.

It might have been a futuristic commute, but our first stop in Kyoto, Daigoji Temple, immediately pushed us into the past. I’d never even heard of this place, but Juju’s insider tour proved valuable because this ended up be my favorite memory in Kyoto. Daigoji is tucked into a neighborhood on the outskirts of Kyoto, shrouded in quiet privacy behind a rows of maple and gingko trees. It was the exact experience I was hoping for in Kyoto: peaceful Japanese Zen gardens, precisely manicured bonsai trees, creaky but colorful timber shrines. It was Tom Cruise’s temple in the Last Samurai.

Daigoji was certainly a June-insider-special, but our next destination has gone slightly more mainstream: Fushimi Inari. Founded in the 700s, this temple ground is massive. It takes up an entire hillside just outside Kyoto, and its famous 10,000 torii gates weave through the surrounding fall colored forest. These bright red shrines are built by the temple’s Shinto followers, each displaying a prayer inscribed in the gate’s frame. Sayaka was starting to get hungry as we set off through the shrines, so she led our rather quick 2.5 mile trek to the top.

The sun set on our descent, so we made our way from Fushimi Inari to Gion for dinner. Gion, Kyoto’s most historic neighborhood, is lined with machiyas (traditional wood townhomes with paper interior walls), but is best known for its secretive geishas. For being entertainers, geishas are actually very discrete and hard to spot. ... we were on an insider tour though.

June and Yuka kept their eyes peeled and pounced once they saw one. Yuka sprinted down a tiny back alley after the geisha, yelling in Japanese: “Wait, we’re showing around Americans!” She actually caught up to the geisha, but apparently our American-ness has its limits: the geisha said she was “working”, so we let her carry on with her evening.

After our high-speed geisha chase, Saya finally got her dinner wish. We met Chelsay’s non-English speaking cousins at a small yakitori restaurant hidden in the back alleys of Gion. As Chelsay’s family seemingly beat boxed at each other, I politely nodded and laughed when it seemed appropriate while enjoying grilled chicken heart and beef tongue.

I should note somewhere in this post that I barely slept while in Japan... We were crossing quite a few time zones going from London to Japan to Dallas to Seattle and finally to Sydney, and I did not get off to a good start. I think my nights ranged from 2 to 5 hours while in Japan, and this night specifically was closer to 2. I guess this was also part of the Lost in Translation experience.

The next day’s schedule certainly kept me awake though. We started by banging gongs at Kiyomizudera, one of the 21 finalists for UNESCO’s New Wonders of the World because of the fact that the timber temple is built WITHOUT A SINGLE NAIL. We then took a stroll down the historic Three Years Hill, picking up tasty Malebranche matcha cookies as well as other various rice-based snacks. Next, we visited the Earthy Ginkakugi temple, hidden among a mossy, natural Japanese garden that reminded me of Iceland’s terrain, followed by the more superficial Kinkakugi temple, whose walls are plated in gold leaf. Finally, to close out the day, we walked through the Arashiyama Grove, where flood lit bamboo trees grow up to 90 feet tall.

This didn’t turn out to be too bad a day given I’d only slept 2 hours. It might be the most anyone’s ever accomplished with that little sleep. Who’s to say. Either way, I (finally) slept like a rock that night.

The next day, Chelsay and I grabbed a return bullet train from Kyoto to Tokyo. ...back to the weird stuff (in the most charming and culturally unique sense). Our first day in Tokyo included white strawberrys and Tweety bird giving the finger, but somehow this day would be even more bizarre.

After arriving back in the city, Chelsay and I’s first stop was the Shibuya crossing, labeled as the busiest intersection in the world.

Every three minutes, the great migration begins. As soon as the traffic lights change from green to red, 1,000 travelers take their first step in an arduous journey from one side of the road to the other. It is a chess match navigating this cross walk, but each delicate dancer somehow manages to weave around one another without colliding.

After witnessing this miracle of nature, Chelsay and I headed up to Shinjuku for a miracle of mankind: the Robot Restaurant. Restaurant is actually a misnomer, because there really wasn’t food. I’ll more accurately refer to it as the Robot Spectacle.

The Spectacle began in a bizarre technicolored waiting room that can only be described by the picture below. Really, no more needs to be said because you already have an idea where this night was heading. It was sensory overload, starting with the waiting room. 

After about 20 minutes, the Spectacle was ready, and we were taken to our seats. We descended a few sets of clown-puke staircases before arriving in a dark, basement-level arena. Was this actually just a drug trip? Was the waiting room an ecstasy high and this basement the crash?  If so, the buzz soon returned, as the dark arena was illuminated in a seizure-inducing rainbow of neon lights. The black curtains were pulled and the Spectacle was on!

For the next hour, Chelsay and I were completely sober but tripped balls. There were flashing lights, robots, dinosaurs, a Michael Jackson tribute, a cabaret, and a Kung Fu Panda rip-off. It was a non-stop, 60 minute sensory overdose. I don’t know of any other way to describe this point in my life (nor do I want to, given how long of a post this is), so I’ll just let the videos do the talking.

After the Spectacle, we needed fresh air and open space. We exited the arena into the cold Tokyo night, unsure whether it was the same evening or several days had passed during our long drug trip. I joke about the overload of the Robot Restaurant, but it was actually one of the exact experiences I was hoping to have in Tokyo. Neon-lit, overwhelming, quirky. It had everything, but now we needed to decompress.

It was our last night before heading to Texas, so we decided a wintery walk through the city’s illuminated streets was the perfect way to unwind. Starting in nearby “Piss Alley” (a series of “Old Tokyo” restaurants and sake houses where the patrons used to step into the small outdoor alley for… relief), we walked through the colorful, skyscraper-lined neighborhoods of Shinjuku, Harajuku, and finally, Shibuya.

To end the evening and our bizarre but exciting week in Japan, Chelsay and I stumbled into the perfect exclamation mark for our trip: a yakiniku grill. Over the past few days, Chelsay and I had enjoyed almost all of her favorite treats from summers in Japan: shabu shabu, katsu, raman, bento lunches, vending machine coffee, senbei from the local conveni, mochi balls, onigiri (no doubt), matcha cookies, yakitori, takoyaki (grilled octopus balls), and genuinely dozens of rice-based snack variations. The one type of food we hadn’t found yet though: yakiniku, a beef dish served similar to Korean BBQ, with grills in each of the tables.

There are 36 million people in Tokyo, and genuinely thousands of yakiniku options to feed them. This means you can’t really research because any TripAdvisor search for "best Tokyo yakiniku" comes back with 100 results. Instead, we Google searched for nearby options and just went to the first result with a high rating. I don’t even know the name of the place we chose because it was in all Japanese characters.

It was located on the ground floor of a large residential building, and was tucked about 100 feet in from the street. The entrance certainly didn’t suggest this place was anything special: plain, dimly lit, and with beer casings stacked up beside the door.

Thank god we opened the door though, because this place was phenomenal! The interior was still dimly lit and cramped, but from the entrance, we could see the perfect, copious, thinly-sliced, deep red, marbled beef. In the same night we witnessed the Robot Spectacle, dinner might have provided the greatest sensory overload. We were hooked at first sight, and the scent of the grilled meats on each large wooden table’s barbeque reeled us in. What’s that we hear?  Harry Potter playing on the restaurant’s TV? This place really was the perfect finale for our trip to Japan.

As we grilled the succulent, thinly-sliced hunk of beef, Chelsay and I reflected on the weird and wonderful week that was. As I wrote earlier, I didn’t have exact sites that I wanted to visit, but rather unique Japanese experiences I wanted to enjoy. In Tokyo, I wanted the Lost in Translation experience of neon-lit streets, overwhelming density, and arcade-inspired quirkiness. In Kyoto, I wanted to walk through the temples of The Last Samurai, peacefully reflecting beside Zen gardens and underneath colorful shrines.

To sum up our few days in Japan, all I can say is that it was exactly as I expected. This is the highest compliment I can give for this trip, a perfect Part I in our three part move to Australia.

[sauerkraut2kimchi-blog]

Städtetrips, Mütter, Prüfungen...was haben sie alle gemeinsam?

(außer den Umlaut)…sie halten einen vom Bloggen ab. Genug der Ausreden, hier kommt ein lange überflüssiges Update!!

Wir beginnen unsere kleine Zeitreise Ende Oktober (oh mann, ich habs wirklich verpennt). Nach den Zwischenprüfungen bin ich zur Belohnung erstmal los nach Japan! Kyoto, um genau zu sein. Wer Kyoto bei google eingibt, findet vor allem eines: viele bunte Tempel. Wer Kyoto im Oktober besucht, findet zunächst einmal: eine graue Regenwand. Aber dank der mir innewohnenden Charaktersträrke (lies: Sturheit) hielt mich das natrürlich von überhaupt nichts ab. Zwei volle Tage bin ich bei strömendem Regen von Tempel zu Tempel gestapft, quer durch die Stadt, ausgerüstet mit quietschgelbem Regenponcho und 2€-Regenschirm. Gelohnt hat es sich in jedem Fall, ich war hellauf begeistert. Kyoto an sich ist nur mittelgroß und durchzogen von unscheinbaren Wohngebieten, zwischen denen man auch ohne große zu suchen über wirklich unzählige Tempel und Paläste stolpert. Man sollte meinen nach 10 Tempeln hätte man das meiste gesehen, aber es ist wirklich jeder anders und einzigartig. Und als ich am dritten Tag vom höchsten Punkt des Fushimi Inari Schreins auch noch die Sonne über Kyoto begrüßen durfte, war ich so glücklich wie jeder Grinse-buddha zu meinen Füßen. Kurzfassung, meine Top 3:

1. Fushimi Inari - “der orangene aus dem Reiseprospekt”. Der Schrein zieht sich in langen Reihen knallorangener Torbögen quer über einen ganzen knallgrün bewaldeten Berghang. Dazu die oben erwähnte Sonne = zauberhaftes Spiel von Schatten und Farbtönen. In den wenigen Momenten, wo keine Mitstreiter (Touristen) im Bildfeld sind, könnten Tagträumer wie ich schwören, dass Feenstaub statt Feinstaub durch die Lauf wirbelt.

2. Sanjusangen-do - “1.001 Statue”. Riesen-Holzbau, sieht von außen aus wie eine (sehr elegante) Reithalle, und beherbergt eine ganze Armada von tatsächlich 1.001 Statuen, man kommt kaum vorwärts, weil man sie alle persönlich begrüßen möchte. Wie oft in Japan muss man am Eingang die Schuhe ausziehen und schlappt auf Socken durch die heiligen Hallen.

3. Tempel unbekannten Namens. Ohne Japanischkurs und ohne Orientierungssinn werde ich nie wieder nachvollziehen wo genau ich war, aber es war ein ganz kleiner, menschenleerer Tempel, mit nur einem Mönch und einer Hausdame. Die beiden waren unglaublich freundlich, haben mir Tee und Kekse angeboten, einen und mir alles über ihren Tempel erzählt - auf Japansich versteht sich, wir hatten dennoch ein Fachgespräch über buddhistische Gebetsketten und den christlichen Rosenkranz - smartphone, hey-ho!  Als ich schon am Gehen war, kamen sie hinterhergerannt und haben mir eine kleine Plastik-gebetskette geschenkt. Verbucht unter “Geschichten, die das Leben schreibt”.

[isornstory]

พี่มาเพื่อสิ่งนี้...📸✨✨#isorn #อ๊อฟไงจะใครล่ะ #โอซาก้าเปรี้ยวซ่าท้าตะลุย #kyoto #nikon #nikond750 #d750 #mykita #denim #shortpant #studiodartisan #anachronorm #cap #toysmccoy #tee #nigelcabourn #frostriver (ที่ Fushimi Inari-taisha)

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