Changing Impressions

" at Aso Mt."

After almost 9 months being in Japan, I have tried my best taveling as much as possible. As my first impresion of Japan was all about shrine, odera, and those things I thought I have already seen enough last semester. After I took a trip with my friends to Kyushu 九州, the south island of Japan, I realized that besides those newly designed constructions and historical remains that I have visited, the beautiful nature in Japan has changed my narrow sight toward Japanland!

" the top of mountain we climbed the first day."

we spent around 6 days in Kyushu, 3 days in Beppu, 3 days in Aso Mt. As a hard working student in Taiwan (part of truth) I did not have enough time to travel to this kind of countryside. I prefer going to the beach or driving a car to the coast and enjoying my time doing whatever I like. This time, it could be the 3rd time in my entire life by now climbing the mountains, and CAMPING in the mountains! That was for sure an awesome memory to me in Japan. What made me more touched was not only the beauty of nature, but also their kindness.

I was such an unprofessional mountain climber. The first day when I arrived, I was told that we were going to climb a mountain. I thought it was nothing but like it was in Fushimiinari, climbing up hill and walking up stairs. Wrong! I was totally wrong. It was actually a rocky mountain and I was climbing it with mini-skirt and converse. Of course my feet were injured and my ankles were blistered! When I almost reach the top of the mountain, I could not move any step but asking for help. Thanks for the oldman's help, I got bandage from him and walking down successfully.

" I was actually crying after receiving his help because I was too touched! "

To my surprise is that I was told that Japanese people were seemed to be distance but through what I encountered in Kyushu, I think Japanese people actually are nice and really willing to give help. After the trip to Kyushu, no matter how I was told or how they truly act, I have had the best memory in Japan and I do really want to come back again.

Gender in Japan- Japanese Girls!

Since Taiwan and Japan are so close to each other, we share some cultural perspectives, life style, and so on in common. Especially nowadays, we imported lots of Japanese magazines which focus on how to make yourself look nice everyday and on special occasions. I like to read those really girly stuff at leisure but I never followed it since I have never been that girly and skinny as many Japanese girls are.

Before I came to Japan I was warned that I’d better learn how to wear high heels walking, dealing with my boring hairstyle. Most important of all, don’t go to school WITHOUT make-up.

I didn’t really care that much and didn’t really think it matters. However, as soon as I arrived, I felt like naked with my plain face. if you ever pay attention to those lovely young ladies walking on campus with nice make-up, fancy high heels, perfect hair, and of course, with nice clothes, then, you will know what I am talking about.

Recycling in Japan

"bins on campus, usually they have 3 different catogories."

"recycling instruction@ www.genexe.com/uploads/2008/08/recyclingjapan.jpg"

Basically, everything in Japan is good, nice and wonderful to me. We don't have to walk too far to have a nice curry rice with a giant size deep fried pork; we don't have to drive a car to buy our necessaries; buses and trains are ALWAYS (since I've been here for 8 months, it has never been late.....) on time. However, I was extremely enjoying my life in Japan until I walked to the garbage can the first time to dump my trash......


In Japan, they focus on recycling in a very specific way. When I was in seminar house, I could do it by telling the instructions either posted on the wall/ bins. After I moved out with my friends to an apartment, I started to get confused every time when I dumped. We have to follow the rule separating our trash and take them to the dump on different days. I appreciate how Japanese people deal with the trash and how amazing they are that they can tell which garbage should go to which bin. It is really nice behavior but to people who is not used to it, it is a real pain.

Globalization in Japan--- Oishii Crepes!

= Spring Break! first time skiing in Akakura. =

"Marion crepes in Harajuku@Not Quite Nigella"

I have seen lots of crepe store in Japan since I came here. It surprised me a lot when I saw that many stores, vendors of selling crepes.


The first time I went to the area of Harajuku station in Tokyo, I noticed that along the teenaged fashions street, there are lots of stands of “crepes”. I was really surprised by the long line that those sweets lovers were standing in front of them. They all have a menu of various choices, with cream, ice cream, fruits, delicatessen or anything you want to eat with crepe. I didn’t have one by then since I didn’t really want to.


This time, when I went to Akakura for skiing, I had the first try in Japan.

"the first crepe I tried in Akakura."

Why there? Not only it had nothing to do in the mountains during off-season but also there was no other stand as many as those for crepes. So, as soon as we woke up from a 5 hours nap, we set off for snacks. I was wondering why there is so many stores of crepes even in mountains and it reminded me of those in Tokyo. This time, I am not gonna miss the chance to try the popular sweets in Japan. It was amazing good. The crepe itself was soft and full with the smell of milk. You can eat either with a spoon or directly chew the whole thing together. That provides you different kinds of taste. We stayed there for 2 days only and I went for it for 3 times! Now I have already become a fan of crepes. How about you? Have you tried one here yet?

"another crepe stand in 20m"

"still another one, next to the one above"

Try type key words of “crepes in Japan” or “harajuku crepes”, you will find plenty results of it!

Resources:
-Mazazu Crepe http://www.mazazu.com.sg/
-Not Quite Nigella-Angel hearts and Marion Crepes at Harajuku http://www.notquitenigella.com/2008/07/07/angels-hearts-and-marion-crepes-at-harajuku/

Japan, Through His Lens, Hiroshi Hamaya

"Hiroshi Hamaya@Horvatland"


Hiroshi Hamaya, born in Tokyo, on the 28th of March in 1915 and deceased in 1999. He was doing freelance photo-journal from 1937. He got two world-wide known publications, one is “Snow Land” which were shot during 1939 to 1954 and were all about the rural life in Niigata prefecture. The other one is “Japan’s Back Coast” which were shot in 12 different prefectures about the life of farmers and fishermen. He was also the first Japanese who worked for Magnum from in 1960.




"Hiroshi Hamaya@Hasselblad Foundation"

I saw one of his reports that his photograph of a headless woman working in the farm was considered ugly at some point. Then couple years later, people changed their point of view of that photo. This report made me had interested in knowing more about his style of photograph. Later on I found out most of his pieces on internet were about Japanese rural life, such as people working in the farm, walking in the snow, landscapes…etc. He also took photos for diverse categories, landscapes, children, women and men. Somehow those pieces about streets were not as popular as those about human beings.




"Hiroshi Hamaya@Hasselblad Foundation"


When I saw this photo that women working in the field, I could feel the strength of it. It seemed so real that those people were like harvesting in front of you and you can feel their busy of doing the job. It’s nothing but a photo somehow it tells a lot through what it was shot. It’s like having conversations with those pictures I saw and made me delightful when I could understand what the photographer wanted them to be seen.






Resources:
-Horvatland http://www.horvatland.com/pages/entrevues/04-hamaya-en_en.htm
-Hasselblad Foundation http://www.hasselbladfoundation.org/hiroshi-hamaya/
-International Herald Tribune http://www.iht.com/articles/1997/03/01/hamaya.t.php

Let's Purikura!

" a collection of purikura from one of my friends. using the magical tool of the machine can either erase the annoying pimple or make your skin lighter!"

Purikura has been popular in Japan for more than 10 years. Back to Taiwan, we have the same pop culture goes on. I still remeber when it was first imported to Taiwan, i burned up most of my allowance for taking a photo sticker. It was so popular during my school life that almost everyone had at least 10 different stickers!

" another collection. from more than 4 different photo booths"

" my collection. Usually you'll look better and thinner in purikura! that's why I love it!"

Here in Japan, I have been to 3 different photo booths. Ususally those machines are located in the top floor of game center, shopping mall, or usually where people go for leisure. In the begining, the photo booth did not that amaze me since its only for you to take a sticker photo. As the time goes by, now, you can adjust your skin color, put a heart between you and your love, write down anything you want, especially, if you want, it can make your eyes bigger, even BIGGER as you wish!

Resource:

Laura Miller---Graffiti Photos: Expressive Art in Japanese Girls' Culture

http://www.asiaquarterly.com/content/view/138/40/

"V" power in Japan

= That's a rainy day in Hirakata, same as in my home town =

Last semester I went to a junior high school around Korien for their "English day" even I am not native speaker! that was awesome! It's the first time for me to experience school life in a foreign country. The thing is that I found somehow my 17-year-old cousin she uses the same gesture as the Japanese do A LOT!

"those junior high school kids"

"my cousins, both around 17."

"same as my 22-year-old friend..:)..."

Since Taiwan and Japan are so close to each other, we got lots of influences not only in our life style but also in the way of dressing and behavior from Japan. Especially in the young generation. Lots of girls in Taiwan they try to be as cute as Japanese and usually put a "V" gesture next to their faces while taking a picture. I didn't know that its that popular until I reviewed those pictures I took with them.

"2 Japanese girls+1 foreigner"

" we are ALL Japanese ね！"

Unseen Hirakata

= 14 Feb. lovely Saturday,as well as Valentine's Day. =

I have been here for almost 6months and I considered myself knowing the area pretty well. I know how to get cheaper groceries, how to get to Starbucks and Tsutaya when I feel the need of realxing. mostly, if you wanna get your necessities, go to Shimamura and Avail by Seminar house beforehand.

"on the way the the lake park."

However, I didn't realize I was still a foreigner here until I spent a whole afternoon exploring the unseen Hirakata.

It's around 2pm., we left Sem 3 for the opposite way to Gaidai. Biking along the river enjoying the sunshine. Til the end of the path, we reached a gorgeous lake park which I've only been there during the moonlight. How can such a nice place exist that I only got drunk and fooled around there?

" the lake park"

We were biking around the park toward East exit then got to another open field where has lots of families having there happy hour there. After looking up the map, instead of entering another park, we decided to expolre the farther side from school. Without knowing the direction, we made a turn while we felt like to. Suddenly, we found a peaceful odera located in a normal Japanese community. That's the place of dreamland.

" a random odera"

After staying there for a while, we continued our exploring trip toward the way we have never gone before.

........then, we found this," Metal Museum" in Hirakata!! woohoo, what if we didn't set out for the trip, I would not know that in the ancient Hirakata, it was famous for refining metal!

" the Metal Museum"

What a lovely day in Hirakata! :)

Early impressions of Japan

The fiirst trip to our neighbor city- Kyoto in the begining of fall semester. Kyoto is such a city full of the old style houses, streets, vendors and so on. I heard from one of the Japanese girls in our tour said Kyoto is the only one place that ask those overseas chain restaurants to be "kyotolization". No crazy signs on street Shijo (well, thats the only place i went in kyoto by the time) and everything along the alley to Kiyomizu Dera looks so classic and full of history. What a peaceful city, I like it.