Her appearance may well be very different. The line of work more traditional. But this young maiko’s slightly panicked dash to an appointment was strangely reminiscent of so many stressed out salaried workers daily routines
Archives for January 2013
Old Japan in modern Tokyo
In many ways Tokyo seems to be in a constant state of flux, and yet at the same time, no matter how much it changes, it also stays very much the same.
A cat wearing a kimono as well as a wig
Taking a cat for a walk is one thing, but making it wear a kimono and a wig is another altogether. A truly preposterous affair that, judging by its expression, the feline seemed all too aware of.
Tsukiji fish market tuna carcasses and the men who cut them up
Originally set to be moved to a shiny modern complex next year, the wonderfully chaotic and happily old-school Tsukiji fish market has been granted a stay of execution due to soil contamination at the new location. Findings that unsurprisingly have heaped considerably more criticism on an already contentious decision.
However, while Tsukiji in its current form may live on for another year, it’s a very different story for the dazzling array of sea dwellers that arrive at the market. None of which are more representative of Tsukiji than the tuna; a fact proven by the recent hoopla surrounding this month’s record breaking first auction of the year which saw a bluefin sell for a staggering 155 million yen.
Huge, initially quite startling beasts, that are carefully cut up with equally impressive knives.
A fascinating procedure that is as time consuming as it is time-honoured.
With the end result being fabulously glistening raw meat, and the considerably less appealing looking carcasses.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic bid graffiti protest
Tokyo is now the bookies’ favourite to host the 2020 Olympic games ahead of Madrid and Istanbul, prompting its bid leader to confidently claim that, “London 2012’s success can be Tokyo 2020’s gain”. But, despite the undeniably positive summer showcase of the British capital, not everyone in the Japanese one is quite so enamoured. So much so in fact, that some have resorted to direct. Not to mention succinct. Dissent.
Seeing eye-to-eye in Tokyo’s shadows?
Or perhaps more accurately, not seeing eye-to-eye in Tokyo’s shadows?