Winter in Jyuso

WinterJyuso-9, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

I just got around to posting my first day out shooting with my new lensbaby G3. I have to say it was fun, but a
bit freezing walking around with out my gloves on. Focusing the lensbaby will take some getting use to.

Jyuso is an area of Osaka across the river from the downtown district of Umeda. It's one of the Hankyu line's biggest stations and there's many crowed shotengai (shopping arcades) near the station. Jyuso is also known for it's live house (Fandango) and it's large red light and love hotel district.

I chose to go here for the shot of the Hankyu train crossing the river with the double tower Osaka Sky Building in the background.

River sides are free game for homeless to set up whole shanty towns. This structure appears to be a patchwork shinto gate, or someone's piece of art possibly set up by one of the invisible homeless.

The homeless are so assured that they won't be kicked out that they build fairly large structures they also sell things from their lean-tos. This person has signs advertising fishing bait for sale. The issue of the homeless in Japan is one which I would like to invest more time into studying. I find the construction of their structures to be innovative and visually appealing while also symbolizing various social problems in Japan.

All of these photos can be found in my Winter in Jyuso set on Flickr

Hanger Engrish

IMG_4913, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

The 100 yen shop is the place to find great Engrish as these hangers prove.

I got Boned by United and the Weather!

This morning we woke up at 3AM Arizona time to get a 5:40AM flight to San Francisco. After being delayed for 3 hours we got on our flight to Osaka. Then the luggage had to be double checked. Then we had to wait to taxi. Then a backup system failed. Then the flight was cancelled because there wasn't a flight crew that had enough hours. Then we had to wait in obscurity to find out what we were going to do. We finally arrived at a hotel. Tomorrow at 7pm we are leaving for Osaka, via Los Angeles and Seoul. It's 12:45 AM. Good night.

Things I Miss About America: American Sushi?!?!

I donno if I really miss oddball american sushi with its cream cheese, lack of nori and spicy mayo, but it's a fun treat. And what's with the spoon in the miso soup!

These were taken at Sushi Saga in Tucson.

Things I Miss About America: Lots of Different Beer.

Things I Miss About America: Mexican Food

So, if you haven't guessed, I'm in America for a week. So I'm going to focus on some things I miss about America for the next week. Number one: Mexican food in Tucson. Soooo good. We had fish tacos, a pork burrito, and a fish burritos.

This is from the b-line on 4th Ave. in Tucson. おすすめ！

My first lensbabies shots.

I got a lensbabies 3G from Santa (Mom), It's gonna be fun to play with this back in Japan.

Santa Claus Spotted In Japan, Buying Tea, Saying "Ho Ho Ho!"

CIMG0824, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

It seems that Santa needed a warm pet bottle of green tea today in Hyogo, Japan. Santa also showed his adoption for new technologies, paying for his tea with a Nanako enabled cell phone. But beware this Santa although he looks friendly is known for calling out "Merry Christmas" in his loud jolly voice to unexpecting Japanese folks.

Battle of the vending machines.

Two great vending machines paired next to each other at the end of a long shotengai (shopping arcade) in Nada ward, Kobe.

Chips & Salsa... Konbini Style

Every-time the chips and salsa box pops up at the konbini I have to buy it. It's inevitable. Mexican food is a rarity in Japan, and typically I end up making it my self. It's not that you can't get salsa, it's just harder to find. Chips even harder. This is actually quite a good little snack, but it's a great example of packing and preparation complexity that makes the little things in this country quite fun.

Step 1: Open top. Remove salsa and chip packets.

Step 2: Following the directions on the chip packet, open chips and salsa packets. Empty contents into their given places in the tray.

Step 3: Consume by scooping the tomato salsa using a chip.

Japanese Landscape: Old Style Apartment Block

IMG 3498, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Osaka Pref., Fujiidera city
大阪府藤井寺市

I’ve seen and posted many photos of similar apartment buildings but have yet to explain them. this simple two story apartment block was very popular in the post war years. Yuko told me that prior to the Great Hanshin Earthquake these were quite common in her neighborhood but were replaced after the earthquake. In general the entire area has gone through a great deal of gentrification in the last 10 years.

PLEASE FOR HEALTHY LIFE

IMG 3497, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Engrish Eggs!
Osaka Pref., Fujiidera city
大阪府藤井寺市

FRESH
EGGS

IT’S... COUNTRY
BRED.
PLEASE FOR HEALTHY LIFE

Japanese Landscape: Underpasses

IMG 3217, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

北新地の横断歩道
A pedestrian underpass in Kitashinchi, Osaka.

Okadera and Nara Park

While the rest of the gaijin community is getting flustered over this, I’d rather go to cool temples. Yuko’s Mom has been on a route going to various temples around Kansai and getting a scroll signed and stamped at each one. This is much like the famous 88 temple route in Shikoku. Sadly I’m not that well versed on Buddhism and I cannot explain the meaning behind it all, but I can say that the temples are beautiful. Okadera (lit. hill temple) was especially beautiful.

A view of main temple of Okadera from the walking path that circles the temple grounds.


A moss and fungus covered tree stump on the grounds of Okadera


A lady selling drinks and snacks near the public restrooms in Nara Park


A priest signing the temple's name in Nara Park.

The rest of the photos from this trip can be found in this set.

Firestorm

California is on fire. Or was. Still smoldering at least. My house burnt down in a similar firestorm back in 1993. I was a freshman in high-school. It was a big deal I guess, but I wasn’t really saddened by the event. It was something that happened. I lost most of everything I owned, but to me it was just stuff and I was young at the time so I didn’t have that much of it. I remember being brought in for counseling during my favorite class, World Geography with Mr. Slevcov, and telling the counselor that he was interrupting my favorite class. I guess it was easy on me. I know it was harder on my Mother who lost her history. It also might have even been the start of the long decent that would eventually lead to the breakup of my family.

I look back upon it as an incredible experience. Maybe one that has made me stronger in the face of other disasters and made me less connected to things in a way that makes living abroad easier.

These are the few photos from the event that I have on my computer.

Two views of rural detritus in Nara prefecture.

IMG 2905, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

1. The Pachinko Parlor

The popular past-time of grandpas has fallen on hard times. Due to changes in gaming laws and pressure from the government pachinko parlors have turned away from big reward-big loss scenarios in favor for low risk-low reward gaming. This has turned away the hardened gamblers. While it still remans profitable, it can no longer pull in as many customers. Those parlors in older centrally located shotengai (shopping streets) like this one have closed down as more people head to larger shopping centers and pachinko parlors on the outskirts of town.

2. The related businesses

This cafe next to the pachinko parlor also went the same way as it's neighbor. One can imagine that it sustained on serving those going to or leaving the neighboring pachinko parlor. Whether or not it is related to the pachinko parlor’s closure is unknown; nevertheless the two events are tied to the general aging of city centers. The urban renewal movement that is rebuilding many of America's downtowns has yet to come to Japan--at least in the same way. I don't know if shotengai (shopping streets), sento and the like are under the threats that their counterparts in America have faced either. Crime being the most important of those threats. Also, suburban development and subsequent shopping centers are servicing a new and expanding lifestyle choice for many Japanese--especially young families.

Old and deterioating shotengai, such as this one I found in Nara prefecture, have an atmosphere and style that is worth paying attention to.

Be The Best Bacon For The Fans?

IMG 3076, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

The Hanshin Tigers have their own bacon now. It's not too bad either! I bet you'll not find this for sale up in Tokyo.

Japanese Landscape: Night in the City

IMG 2881, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Osaka's night time sky.

Early morning in the city after the last trains have run has an amazingly tranquil feeling, but that tranquility is like a thin fog over the early morning festivities which hide around every corner, under every tree, behind every sign.

Japanese Landscape: Wakayama City

IMG 2836, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Wakayama city's landscape is noticeably different then other places in Kansai. I'm still trying to put my finger on it but the rust, low rise buildings, and preponderance alcohol vending machines has something to do with it.

Here are three more examples of the Wakayama city landscape.

Japanese Vernacular Landscape: Oshibori delivery

IMG 2889, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Oshibori are damp hand-towels that are given out at restaurants. Commonly one of the things that people miss about Japan when they return home. I love them to. Most cheaper places have plastic wrapped paper oshibori, but many restaurants use cotton ones. These are delivered typically in the morning before most restaurants open for lunch where they are put into heaters or coolers, depending on the season, for customers. Companies like KCC deliver the fresh wrapped oshibori for the previous days used ones for washing and reuse.

This photo was taken in around 10:00 AM in Umeda.