Japan: Tokyo day 4

Last night we decided to make some pasta to switch up a little for the palette. Just a brief departure from the Japanese cuisine. Not too shabby when paired with a 5 dollar pear/apple type fruit for desert.





I could not sleep because the Japan-Denmark game was airing at 3:30 am and since I am a guest here, I had to see the game. It may have re started my jet lag but it was worth it to watch Japan destroy Denmark. Sorry to my pals out there!




Plus I got to see a fantastic sunrise.

After a whopping 4 hours of sleep, it was time to get up and have a slow start to the day. After a brief meeting with one of the gallery's new artists, we ventured through Shinjuku to locate some fabrics for the shoots.


We totally scored.



We then headed back to Harajuku to pick up some more kimonos for the shoots, grab some soup and dumplings and walk through the beautiful park with its Meiji-jingu(shrine).

We made a few prayers there and enjoyed the lovely weather and sights.


hey, whoa there..sorry, I cant help it.











We made our way home soon since I was oh so tired due to the lack of sleep.


We went to the grocery for the night dinner, soba noodles, some thin slices of beef, spring onion with ginger, tempura and baby sized beer for the lady and reg for myself.




We made some plans for Kyoto and decided to have an early night in and watch the Brazil game. Meeting with Kieko for lunch tomorrow to plan out her shoot. Im tired. Bye bye.-xoxoxDavid


oopps


What a long day - but no wonder. We were exhausted after having to stay up until 1.30am to even begin to watch the football games and whilst I passed out shortly after David was screaming and dancing and growling with all the Japanese fans out there. I had given all I had for Italy to beat the Slovenians _ my least favorite _ but alas we all know what happened.
After starting my day with a "Papple" - a $5 cross between a pear and an apple we ventured out to go meet with one of my artists Marmite Sue in Shinjuku.



I would consider Shinjuku like the fashion/fabric district in NYC. As David and I were looking for more white and black fabric for the shoot Marmite Sue was so sweet to guide us to the biggest fabric store in the neighborhood and I almost died.





I mean there was everything - stars. stripes, plaids, dots, Alice in wonderland and than some !!

And that was juts the first floor second floor was fully dedicated to eyelashes and top hats in all shapes and sizes third floor everything you need when it comes to feathers and than the fourth floor a button paradise and so much fun !!! We found what we needed and literally forced ourselves to leave the premise.

Than with dried black squid noodles - japan's replacement for pretzel sticks we went to the beautiful Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine.







The thing I love most about Shinto is that it has not founder no holy book not even the concept of religious conversion. Instead it values harmony with nature and virtues for example such as " Magokoro" - the sincere heart. David made me a beautiful present and bought me a wooden prayer plate on which we each wrote our wishes and placed them amongst the thousands of prayers or wishes that are put here everyday.



A monk showed me how to pay respect which starts with washing your hands and rinse your mouth before you bow and clap your hands in front of the main shrine.

After that we went home and on the way I found a beautiful raven feather.


Ravens are amazingly large here and their feathers beautiful blue black. It felt nice to find such a beautiful thing right after I had just send wishes to the sky at the shrine. Home bound we were and just before I went up to the apartment door I met some more doggy friends ;-)-Yasha



PS : after successfully passing tea ceremony David has been upgraded to red which means " TAKE ME NOW!!" hahahahaha

Japan: Tokyo day 3

Thanks to the world cup I was able to stay up late and beat the jet lag! We woke up at a reasonable 8:30 and found a beautiful day waiting for us. First let me show you some shots of our apartment.
I sleep here in the living room on a futon and watch the FIFA on our flat screen.


Yasha has got nice private quarters fit for a, well, a queen.


The balcony is great for a smoke and take in the sunrise and sunset.

The kitchen is super cute and equipped with all we need from rice cooker to coffee maker and then some.

For the past couple of mornings I have been preparing eel omelettes to get our energy up for the long walks ahead.



Today we made our way to Shibuya to meet up with Rie who will be modeling for me this Tuesday. First we walked around a bunch to check out the area with all its shops and places to eat.


And if you want some puffer fish, this is the place.



The malls are filled with funny little clothing shops for your cosplay, forest girl and hip hop super cool fun times with the girls screaming irasshaimase! in super high pitched voices.





We met Rie at the doggie sculpture at the Shibuya station. She took us to a sushi conveyor belt joint for yummy fish and beer.

She then took us over to Harajuku to look for some fabric for the shoots.

We met up with her buddy(his name I forgot) who knew a perfect shop to find old kimonos and we scored a nice all white one for my ghosts. It was a looong day full of great conversations and finds. Now its rest up time, make spagetti and watch Japan in the world cup. See you tomorrow!!-David






Another day of beautiful weather in Japan - we are blessed. It should be rainy season but we have been lucky - which is very good for scouting parks and locations for the shoots.

Today took us to Shibuya and Harajuku.


We met with Rie our second beautiful model and she was wonderful and amazing. She took us to a little Sushi place where in order to enter we had to agree to have 7 little dishes - i gave up after 4 David managed to eat all 7 and a beer ;-)

Than our wonderful guide and model led way to a very special little street in Shibuya known for being THE hangout place for the high school kids and "Harajuku Lovers". Store after store filled with costumes of comic characters, fake eyelashes, neon colored backpacks, Lolita dresses and tiny miniature top hats for prices that made me think I should start import- and exporting those things to the US i'd be a millionaire and finally a dog clothing store to match your bumblebee clad owner.


It reminded me of St.Marks in the early 80's and Camden town around the same time. A little cheesy, a little weird but a LOT of fun and creativity.


We bought spiderweb eyelashes for the girls and left to meet yet another friend and helper for this shoot " the stylist " We will get his name because we forgot and he is coming for the shoot on Tuesday. He knew of our search for a white Kimono and so he led us to a store called " Chicago" where we found vintage Kimonos and all the accessories needed to make it look authentic and stick with the white ghost theme of the Obake. As you can see David was so excited that upon our return home he could not resist but had to play dress up - I made him serve tea immediately ;-)!!
xoxoxox Yasha