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/