We learned a lot. People are nice, Japan endures, and opening a piece of book software can be downright intimidating. The workshop is complete, and now it’s time to move on to the next country. Before I go, I wanted to share a few things about this incredible country. Observations mostly, the Moriyama show, the performance of our students/athletes, and one small explanation of my eating habits, which have fallen and can’t get up. I would write more, but I have to go now. I’m hungry again.
You can run, but you can’t hide from the book.
This is a GOOD thing. These damn things make us make decisions. What’s the cover, the sequence, the trim size, and the page count? Heck, what’s my edit? Just thinking through these questions, even if you don’t print the final product, is worth the time and effort. Japan is there for us. We need to respect this place. Defer to the customs and cultures, and leave no trace. Capture what you need, put it on paper and cement it for those who come after.
Comments 8
Danielsan, I think I told you before. I lived there in the early 60’s as a small kid. I think Tokyo had around 10 million people. We went to a soccer match during the ’64 Olympics with my elementary school to downtown Tokyo. I remember how dense the crowds were on the street. No arguing, fighting. No one yelling, pushing. Somehow, everyone moving slowly- respectfully. I would expect, the large population cities, have been “westernized” for years (which comes with its own perspective). However, nice to hear you’ve experienced the same cultural behaviors some sixty-years later. Other early youth impressions were Kimonos, wooden Geta sandals and MEGA – Samurai movies!
Author
And now…Hong Kong…..so different. So crazy cool. I’ve been here twice before, but this feels like the first time I’m seeing the city.
Hi Dan
glad to hear everything worked out well and you are ok. Have fun in Hong Kong and then onwards if you have time in doha go see the birds in the Orchard. they have fake birds there just playing sounds from tape but last time I was there some real birds found there way in and lived there. all the best
frank
Author
Thanks Frank. A few more days here in Asia then off to Espana.
We were in Japan for two weeks and felt as though we barely scratched the surface! What an amazing culture. I loved watching the conductors on the trains bow to the cabin after they walked through. Oh…and the food was incredible!
Author
I have friends who have been there for between 8-25 years and they feel like they are scratching the surface.
Only 5 days for us, but a great time with my daughters and son-in-laws. People fantastic everywhere there. The same safety of self and belongings in South Korea, too. The first time I went to South Korea in 2016, I saw someone left their laptop open on an outside table at a cafe, and was freaking out, who do we tell? Where is the person? What should we do? My daughter looked at me like I was insane, and told me it was perfectly safe. Culturally, thieving is looked down on, and also there is CCTV everywhere.
We didn’t have time to travel beyond Tokyo, which was sad. One of the big differences was no wandering around eating snacks in the streets. Everyone eats at home or in a restaurant. If you have garbage, you carry it around with you to dispose of at home, as there were no street garbage/recycling cans. As a result, streets were very clean. I had a peaceful last afternoon roaming around with my camera, watching the little yellow/green mejuro birds flitting around in the cherry blossoms.
Author
Here in HK too. Someone left their camera on the table and went to the toilet. My palms were sweating.