Not quite rosy but it'll get there

Yes, you haven't heard from me in a few days, I realize that all too well, as a three day run of what I call nonsense (but necessary) work put me through the wringer and spit me out unceremoniously into the sick bed, from which nearby I am writing.  Of course you know me to exaggerate the extent of any of my ills and pains, saying I am near death's door when I get a paper cut, so I wouldn't really start shopping for any black outfits just yet.  Anyway, I have other things on my mind as well, damned things they are too, but hopefully they will get sorted out soon enough.

In the meantime, to save anyone (including, but probably most especially myself) from rolling eyes and covering ears from hearing any sentimental mumbo jumbo, I will instead post a photo of a rose cake that I saw in London a little while back.

A Bowl of Tea and yet so much more

I am most certainly glad that the summer has crawled back into its hiding place, not to be seen in these parts for a good number of months, and I am proud to say that once again I did not step (barefooted or otherwise) onto any beach in "paradise" (or, hell), and it is the rain that has greeted me for the past few days and evenings.  Well, rain has never gotten me down, whether it is the lightest of showers or the most torrential of downpours.

Although I seem to be a bit under the weather, perhaps catching a cold, or perhaps not, but one thing is certain, which is that I had a quite horrible thing that passed for beer or something like it yesterday evening, something with "Strong" in the title.  With a throbbing headache this morning, and thanking the luckiest of stars that I am far away from city noise, I can have some hot tea and listen to some Beethoven Sonatas.

Today would be a great day to enjoy some proper Japanese green tea, although I must confess that I could not bear any ceremony at the moment.  If I could be alone, drinking from one of the chawanya master Raku Kichizaemon cups, that would be more than heaven on earth.

gorgeous work in a revolutionary tradition

one statement, one truth

the book

Septemberfest

Neither being a foodie nor a drinkie, and increasingly less so now that I have temporarily relocated to this place, I still had some enthusiasm left over from the past to go to the annual Octoberfest a short walk away from me.  It being Opening Night, there were far more people than I expected, and all of them seemed to have been drinking well in advance of my arrival, such was the festive mode with the german beer hall music and environment.

I did not bother to try any of the german beers on tap, mostly because I have had them before, but I was happy to try four of the Japanese brews, one of which won the Gold Medal at a beer competition, and which for me was also the winner.  I was very much looking forward to drinking one of the IPA's on offer, but when they poured it and I saw the color, I realized that something was off, and sure enough, it was not a proper IPA.  It didn't matter, though.  It was just another night of good fun.

Of course, I also got the sausage plate- that other german delicacy of sorts.  As usual, whether I ate it in Germany, New York or Sendai, Japan, it's still just a hot dog by another name.

the main hall of festivities.

note the chopsticks.

beer statue, giant sized. the boozer's requested size.

there's always some cutesy character.

The Last The First

i went to a place not far away, not really that far away, but when I got there, mystery wrapped itself around mystery, and although I was sure of my own reality, I was not, unreal as it was, as it were, and there I saw the possibility and impossibility of life, right there as mist enshrouded the world, and up ahead there was nothing to be seen, but it could have been heaven, purgatory, hell.

what i came to see was already obscured

others went on ahead without me, but i...

it was the aftermath without the smell of death

and there alone stood i, the last, the first.

Night Falls, the Road Home

I have been increasingly removed from the life of the City, losing touch of its heartbeats, but while in former days I would have nearly cried at this idea, I find myself nowadays quite overjoyed to keep up the Country life.  Why, just the other day, I went for a two hour drive to a location which seemed to be the entrance to another world.

The following images are just at the threshold.  What I saw afterwards (the subject of the next post) is something that defies explanation, although I will of course offer some.

To turn one's back to the City is a rather good idea, I find.

Tokyo Tower Vs. Tokyo Sky Tree

In my many visits to Tokyo, I have never once paid any attention to Tokyo Tower.  This goes the same for the many monuments of this type throughout the world, including the one that I am most familiar with (the Empire State Building).  And, yet, last week when I went to Tokyo, I found myself caught in a web of nostalgia, fueled perhaps by the use of Tokyo Tower in many of the monster films.  Now, as it stands there, alone, in its red and white glory, surpassed in attention by the new Tokyo Sky Tree (a rather boring addition to the skyline), I feel more of a kinship with Tokyo Tower than ever before, prompting me to think that perhaps on my next visit to Tokyo I may pay it a visit.  Who knows?  They may tear it down one day, with the "Out with the old, In with the new" policy beloved by movers and shakers.

Tokyo Sky Tree as seen from Asakusa Sensoji

Tokyo Tower as seen from Roppongi Hills

Slipback and Forwards

Deep underground in one of the subway stations of Tokyo (that of Nihonbashi) is a long illustrated scroll depicting the old time Edo period, with an additional description above and below it of the many goings-on there in terms of the people and the places.  At first hand, it looks like an alien atmosphere, but this is really only the surface.  When one takes a closer look at the small gestures, and thinks of its many modern day affinities, then time has not really moved so far forward, and what is seen is merely a small slip-back.

Progress is really quite relative.  It's just time.

Home Sweet Sendai

There's one thing I find rather strange and incredibly interesting.  If you've been keeping up with me for the past few posts, you will know that I went to the mecca of mumbo jumbo aka Tokyo, and I cannot believe that I am very excited and happy to be back here in my new hometown of Sendai.  Sure, I don't have any friends here except my sister and my cousin, and spend most all of my time alone, but I am so happy to be here doing writing that it seems there really isn't any better place for me at the moment (though I must again throw in a vote for the high life in Paris).  New York, though, gets further and further and further away, and that is really, really great.

the mystery of zelkova trees in sendai

Babylon has fallen

It's been a week or a little less since I last posted, not because I have been so busy at my work (that is to say, writing), but because I made a little excursion down south (of Japan) to the Japanese Babylon, which anyone with any sensitivity will know to be Tokyo.

Although I was only there for four days, I too succumbed to my old wicked ways, finding myself spending money (a little), looking at and for nonsense (material garbage), and assuming my old identity of looking at luxury items and wanting to catch up on the latest things.  All around me was a world that catered to those unnecessary desires, and I was very surprised (and delighted) to find myself back in good old, home sweet home Sendai.  The country has claimed me for one of its own...

But, I was of course happy to see my friends who visited from far and away New York City, and also to see my great friend who lives in Tokyo as always (and with whom I went to the Special Effects Museum, where the following catastrophic photos were taken- a very large scale model used for the production of the Godzilla type films.  Each building is about six to twelve feet high).

Stick Em Up. (No.)

If one spends even a little time in Japan, one realizes very quickly that the Japanese have a penchant for getting things stamped as a souvenir (some keeping special books in which to collect these stamps) and also they love to use cute characters (often some animal or such) to represent a product.  Well, the Eco Fair that I have been going on about is not that much different- the only difference is that instead of animals, there is a human family (with their cat and dog) who show up in the promotional materials around town and in the mail.

Walking around the fair, I was just as enthusiastic about collecting the stamps (using a page from my sketchbook, since I haven't been doing much sketching recently) and I invaded the children's area when I saw that they were giving away stickers.  You had to color a black and white illustrated sheet in order to get it, and I said that I will most gladly do it (despite the fact that only kids under 8 were seated), but the fellow distributing it just brushed me aside and I was able to get the stickers without sitting down with crayons in hand.

flyer, sticker and sketchbook/stamp page

stickers! (which won't be stuck anywhere)

the stamps, and 2 stickers (the gold one from lunchtime)

Tops That

The other day, still high from the many splendors of the Eco Fair, I came across a number of free things that were placed outside an old stamp store (which is moving to a new location).  Among this random lot were things that because of my unfamiliarity with certain aspects of domestic culture (cooking equipment of an earlier time), I could not discern what use they had.  I had initially thought of salvaging them, but they were not aesthetically pleasing (even in the wabi-sabi sort of way) and I did not want to destroy my rather minimal apartment with the beginnings of a hoard.

Although I did pick up this wooden block, which had nailed into it small items which resemble tops or some kind of child's game.  I believe that I have seen such things before, but I did not understand what the display was for.  Perhaps it was something that people saw in a shop, pointed to the one they liked best, and then the proprietor would then bring out one from a drawer.  I will get to the bottom of this soon enough, and I find it silly that I did not ask when the owner put them out on the street.

Tied for the Occasion

You must forgive me for posting about what I picked up yesterday at the makeshift flea market, but I absolutely have to tell somebody that I have broken my non-materialistic streak and actually bought something (other than the odd book or two) in the last two months.  No, I can't say that I made any conscious effort to not buy anything- it was just that the availability of things was much less.

Even though the humid summer is almost dead, it still rages on, and were it not for the luxury of air condition, I might have to go native (american)- not Native American- and opt for a t-shirt and shorts.  But, of course, you know I wouldn't do that if my life depended on it.

So, I have four new ties in patterns that are not my usual, so as to be able to add a little color and a few sparks of whimsy into my daily life- especially now that it is September.  There were some school looking ties at another booth, but I decided to give a pass on those- I've never really fancied that style myself.

Some of you may know that I will be going to Tokyo in a few days, which is the center of materialism (if one has both the taste and money to know where it is, as well as the ability to go beyond the curtain so to speak- as refined environments often are closely guarded secrets), and, even though I do have a small shopping list (very small, indeed), what I look forward to is seeing my friend who I miss rather dearly, and any time seeing her is one of the real treasures of my life.