Japanese Markets in NYC

Tokyoshoes has become my own person reference site. In fact the word “blog” derives from weblog, literally a log of websites. The Google can’t help with things like “what is the name of that fabulous Japanese photographer girl who does these crazy self portraits.” (Well, actually that search returns one of her photos in #4 under images, but that’s not my point). Since I wrote about her I could easily find her name on my site. So that I can find them again, here is my list of the Japanese supermarkets in NYC near me:

• M2M (55 3rd Ave btwn 10th & 11th St) – a good selection of Japanese and Korean staples.
• Sunrise Mart (29 3rd Ave between 10th St & 2nd Ave) – a great place to pick up some Calpis.
• Jas Mart (35 St. Marks Place btwn 2nd & 3rd Ave) – Japanese food and beauty products.

Hello Kitty Credit Card

I want the Hello Kitty credit card so much. The Bank of America website claims it is for: “Friends of Hello Kitty who want a rewards credit card.” With this offer you also receive a FREE* Exclusive Hello Kitty Business Card Holder!. They used to offer the Hello Kitty sequined change purse, which is totally more kawaii, but I’ll live.

Japanese Contemporary Photography in NYC

Last weekend I saw Heavy Light: Recent Photography and Video from Japan at the International Center of Photography (ICP).

By far my favorite were Tomoko Sawada’s series of Japanese school class photos in which she plays the role of every girl, piecing together her own self portraits.
I just uploaded my own self portraits on Flickr.

The show is on through September 7, 2008
ICP: 1133 6th Avenue at 43rd Street

TokyoShoes Photography Exhibition

Design Collaborations in Tokyo
an Exhibition of Photographs on and around Omotesando-dori

I will be having an exhibition of my photography at bite café in the East Village. The launch party is scheduled for Friday, June 6 @7pm.
Location: bite café
211 East 14th Street (2nd & 3rd) map
Date: June 6 thru July 31
Please come and introduce yourself!

Tokyo Fashion Update: Spring 2008

I have been desperate to do an update on Tokyo street fashion. The look this season is all about the legs. Long gone are the bright colored outfits of the ganguro and while Lolita is still important it doesn’t influence mass fashion to the extent it once did. Outfits are quite bland, but from the knee down the action happens. Either bright colored stockings: hot pink, purple, yellow (as if they took a highlighter to their legs) or black thigh high socks with white, neon yellow, or neon pick patent leather shoes. Shoes include thorough scuffing.
On the other hand, it is the guys who have it this season. Think James Dean meets Sid Vicious: spiky hair, skinny jeans, studded belt, boots. Tragically hip and way too cool for school.

Back in Japan

I am in Japan for a visit. It is 4 years, almost to the day, since I left after living here for 3 years. I covered a number of my very important to do’s:
– Sushi at Gonpachi
– Ramen
– Onsen (spa baths)
Took a visit to Koyasan (Mount Koya), famous for its temples and shrines. We stayed in a temple with monks, called Fukuchi in, tatami floors, no furniture except for a low table with a heater underneath, and one of those massage chairs. Vegetarian meals or “shojin ryori” were served in the room and included about 20 different dishes (who knew fiddlehead fern could be prepared in so many ways), many the consistency of raw egg white, others cubes of aspic shaped like lego, but most of which delicious. Breakfast was pretty much the same as dinner.

Photos from Tibet

 

Tibet, “Rooftop of the World”, and perhaps one of the most difficult trips I’ve taken. I was overwhelmed, especially by the noises and the smells. In the end, no regrets as the scenery, monasteries, and people were beyond lovely.

All photos taken with a Nikon D80 that my wonderful parents gave me for my birthday.

Don’t go all crazy clicking around, if you start with the first photo, and go in order, it tells the story.

“If you are not in the photo,” my guide said, “how will anyone know you were actually there.”

Jokhang Temple, simply one of the loveliest places on earth. Everywhere the same color palette: bright orange and yellow, the garnet red of the monk’s robes, and rich blues, especially the sky. The first of the Four Nobel Truths in Buddhism is life is suffering. I can assure you I “suffered” on this trip in the form of awful food, shoddy accommodations, and bathrooms that can only be described as “character building.” The concept of clean was completely relative.

On a banquette covered with Tibetan rugs, camera perched on a prayer table, I reclined, set the timer to reduce camera shake and clicked. It would be hard to say I “suffered” for this shot.

Buddha referred to his teachings as the Middle Way. With this hand sign, I have never, so elegantly, been directed the way. On my trip, I didn’t encounter one American. I did, however, meet the following: -The British great grandson of Sir Charles Bell, Tibetan scholar and intimate friend of the 13th Dalai Lama. He’s overviewed in Lonely Planet. -The Australian “challenge designer” of the Survivor series. They just finished filming Survivor China. – A dozen or so Chinese tourists who asked to have their picture taken with me (aren’t they supposed to take photos with the locals?).

The face of poverty? She delicately asked for money, I negotiated for a photo. Her expression seems so pained to me.

Finger puppets seem silly until you see sweetness like this. This little girl got “snowman.” I managed to unload two dozen during the trip.

Apparently, there is a new racket of boys posing as monks trying to get money out of people. My guide warned me. This, however, is a real monk.

I asked my guide to help me find the “best” prayer wheels. They pretty much look the same everywhere, but these were the least blackened by yak butter grease.

Monks at Sera Monastery during “debating,” philosophical issues I suppose, but it gets animated, almost comedy like.

Along the Southern Friendship Highway somewhere between Shigatse and Gyantse. The “cost” of this photo was a dozen or so crayons, markers, and colored pencils, but I got the shot. I wanted to hug and take her home. I’m kidding! About the hug part that is.

At a nomadic camp along the Southern Friendship Highway, the children pose for a picture. Many Tibetans are now wearing western clothes (read Chinese clothes, it is not like anyone is walking around in $200 7 for All Mankind jeans).

At Sera Monastery, the Monks during “debating” become quite intense with yelling and a bunch on hand slapping to make one’s point. Krplack!

I love how colorful their outfits are. Notice the plastics water bottle, it is filled with yak butter used in the monastery lamps.

This sweet nun graciously shows us around the nunnery. She was excited and a bit embarrassed to see the image of herself in my Nikon D80’s display.

A woman in cowboy hat, hawking fake turquoise jewelry, swings her prayer wheel. The women were so beautiful with wide, dark faces and rosy cheeks (that sun is intense!).

 

A Hello Kitty Christmas

Starbucks booted from Forbidden City

I flew over Beijing on my way to Tibet and had an afternoon to re-visit the Forbidden City. I planned to take a few more shots to the Starbucks inside, as it seemed so bizarre and out of place. As of mid-July, Starbucks has been booted out or “left” as some of the news articles say. Fortunately, I still have my commemorative Starbucks Forbidden City mug.

Trip to Tibet

Tomorrow I am leaving for Tibet for 2 weeks. In planning the trip I found these beautiful pictures of Tibet on Flickr and reached out to the photographer. He was kind enough to send me a long email worth of tips and suggestions. My gawd, I love the internet sometimes!

In the last email from my tour operator they imparted this advice, “Keep the happy mood and take it easy, the Acute Mountain illness would be happen more or less. It is very common! So you do not worry more about it!”

Thankfully my bohemian aunt suggested I get a prescription for Diamox for altitude sickness.