The Constorium of Greater Minds

my friend cole will be in japan next month and he recently asked for a few suggestions on what to do there – if you think this is overboard i should let you know i could go on. i always love the opportunity to impart my knowledge of places and experiences – it makes me excited thinking of the amazing time i had in tokyo and the opportunity to help friends and family have a similarly great adventure is always a joy – plus i get to reminisce a bit…bon voyage, cole!

Cole,

I love the opportunity to pass on the knowledge of places I’ve come to love – I know how much fun and excitement I experienced in Tokyo over my 27 months in the area and I hope I can guide you to experience the city in a similar manner! Here’s a version of my Tokyo Tour Guide – not at all comprehensive…I could type for days, but will definitely set you on the right path. But first a disclaimer: one of the features that makes Tokyo so amazing are its maze like streets and alleyways – you will quickly find it apparent that street signs are useless here and any sort of urban planning has been an afterthought for many years – but this is what makes every hour in the city such an adventure. Searching down narrow streets for a shop or restaurant, wandering through quiet neighborhoods to find cool boutiques or hidden bars is something I always loved about the city. So, the disclaimer – I’m not going to give any directions, you’ll have to do a little searching on the internet for maps, and you’ll inevitably get lost trying to find some of the more tucked away spots, but, hey, that’s half the fun. Enjoy!

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more sakura viewing. this time in shinjuku park. yoyogi is wild, shinjuku more subdued. hanging out in the tokyo city parks at spring time will be one of my fondest memories of my time in japan. an entirely unique scene.

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real life is never as interesting as
old stories and black and white films

where the hero falls
in love
with the girl he’s only just met a few pages
ago

when all it took was one look from big eyes that are far bigger

than any modern day girl’s
and a face that is obviously from the 1930s

then after defying his parents
and saying to hell with this life

he pursues her

but she plays hard to get of course

but then they are only what, sixteen?

eventually he gets her to notice him
and confesses his undying love for her but then

he probably has to go off to war

or some other place far away but then just before he goes

she declares she’s loved him

all along

and they promise to marry when he returns
and
perhaps she’s pregnant
from the one and only time they made love
because in stories that’s

all it takes is one time

of course in the end he dies in the fields
and maybe she dies too of a broken heart

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357 days ago

it was exactly one year ago today that i touched down at atsugi air base north west of tokyo on a MAC flight from seattle full of excitement and anticipation. excited to live in japan, to be working at my first real job and to be a real officer in the united states navy (not a college student required to wear a uniform once a week). i didn’t know anyone, everything was new and fresh. the day was sunny, warm and i spent the entire two hour drive to yokosuka naval base with my eyes glued to the window staring out at my new home. one year later i am still excited and i still ride the trains eyes wide open taking in this amazing country. i love the ship i am on and the crew and what i do and how i have integrated and made a space for myself on board. i absolutely love tokyo and i do not ever see myself growing tired of the city. one year on i have few regrets and many plans and ideas for the next year and a half. in the new year i plan to see more of japan and steer my focus away from tokyo every weekend. i plan on spending less nights out in tokyo and less money on nights and girls in tokyo. i’m refocusing my energy from partying in the city to experiencing the country on a wider scale and taking in more of the day time scenes. i just purchased a digital SLR and plan on using it extensively in the coming 18 months. i want to continue to spend my days outdoors but keep my nights out of the clubs and off the streets or roppongi. no more fancy hotels and less expensive dinners. less energy spent on getting girls and not being fulfilled by the hunt nor the kill. i’m done with night girls and i’m moving on to day girls. meeting birds in the park, in the library or in the museum is how it will be done from now on. no more drunken nights with chicks that turn out to be half as nice sober as you thought they were when you were drunk. i will make a concerted effort to learn the language and experience the culture of new parts of the city and country. i love this place and would like to share it with all of my friends. you know the invitation still stands for anyone who wants to visit japan and have a free place to stay. one year down and i feel like i just got here one day ago. must mean something is right.

7 days ago

another weekend, another beautiful saturday…just can’t stay in doors when the world outside is coming out of it’s season long malaise. the vibrancy and life in the air is palpable. families, old couples, young couples, friends, solo travelers, school groups, visitors and locals alike all out in the sunshine…everybody loves the sunshine. the city alive and thriving, alive and well, and me alive within it. i love the city. some shots from a day in ueno

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so spring is finally here. went into the city for a re-up on that good urban life. the life blood that keeps me going, keeps me inspired and keeps me creating. every time i walk the streets i see some little thing that gives me energy. whether it’s the first cherry blossom tree of the season in daikanyama park, or catching a truck full of construction workers following a beautiful girl with their eyes as she walks past on the street, the hustle and bustle of busy harajuku back streets teaming with young people or the quiet lanes of naka-meguro full of amazing street cafes and shops. the poetry of the city, the noises, smells, sites, action. there is a life running through the veins of tokyo like no other! some photos from a stroll through a favorite neighborhood: naka-meguro. peace

naka-meguro

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shimokitazawa is one express stop from shibuya on the inokashira line. home to tons of second hand clothing stores, antique shops, record shops (supposedly dj shadow makes a pilgrimage here whenever he’s in town), one of the best spots in tokyo for denim – Bears, it’s easily one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. some photos from a day in shimo.