New event coming up in Tokyo for the Backcountry snowboard lover. I will actually be MC for one of the many events taking place. Check out the whole event here.
http://www.burtonbackcountryhouse.com/
Looks forward to hanging out with legends Masa Takeuchi and Hiroshi Fujiwara!
Always request a window seat! Two flights this morning to get from Sapporo to Takamatsu. That is Hokkaido to Shikoku if you are not familiar with the city names. First flight out of Tokyo was rather un-photogenic with a solid cloud cover most of the way. The second flight from Tokyo to Takamatsu was a fresh site. The multitude of small islands and inlets in this area of Japan is truly amazing.
Some random snapshots from my trip to Tokyo and Hakodate last week. The mountain is Komagatake near the Ohnuma lake
This is still a month away but thought I would get the info out early for the early planners!
One Films and Blueblood will be teaming up to create a booth at the Higashida Tomohiro live concert event in Tokyo October the 23rd! This is going to be a fun show and I am planning to be there. Will be selling copies of Car Danchi 5 and hope to display and sell some original photography. Check the fliers below for more details, spread the word!
I have got to get one of these T-shirts! Nice one from Madsaki!
The TED event was held over the weekend in Tokyo. All talks are now on line on YouTube in both English and Japanese.
Since I am an ex professional Juggle myself why not start off the viewing with a little Japanese juggle performance.
There not showing this kind of footage on TV here.
Just got back home from a very quick two and a half day trip to Tokyo, Gunma and ferry ride back to Hokkaido from Niigata. Left here Friday afternoon and made it home by Sunday evening. had originally planned to stay a little longer, but the ferry schedule didn’t work as I had hoped so I had to come back earlier than planned. Interesting to visit Tokyo for the first time since the Earthquake of a month ago. After 9.0 as I like to call it. The mood is still very subdued in Tokyo, every single person I met and talked to spoke of the 9.0 and or circumstances relating to it. Where were you? Did you have work canceled? How is Hokkaido? My house was shaking…. etc., etc., Basically the disaster is conversation topic number 1 for sure.
The airport had lots of light turned off, all the billboard ads with backlighting were turned off. I personally like it that way, nice and subdued lighting everywhere really. Even Omotesando street had one of every two street lights turned off.
Harajuku area had a very mellow and uncrowded feeling for a Friday afternoon. I asked one of the shop workers at the new North Face shop if customer numbers were down, and she said there are no foreign customers anymore. Then I realized that was the big difference I felt. Harajuku is usually filled with Chinese, Taiwanese, and a variety of European types strolling around and shopping. Well they are all gone home now and it has made Harajuku feel like the old Harajuku from years ago.
The Cherry blossoms were in full bloom on Friday and Saturday, really beautiful time of year to visit Tokyo. I didn’t get to snap many shots in Tokyo but did get a few in Gunma on Saturday afternoon. Check that out and a few shots from my ferry ride back to Hokkaido.
Side note. Japanese local elections were held today for mayor and I think Governor positions. Tokyo reelected Ishihara as the leader of the worlds largest city. I am not a great fan of the guy but he made a few interesting comments in his speach to NHK after winning. He talked about how the combined electric usage of Japans Pachinko parlors and all the vending juice machines adds up to the amount that Fukushima Daiichi power plant was producing. So he said action need to be taken to shut down the pachinko and vending machines in these difficult times. Interesting and bold comment, would be amazing to see something like that happen. Too bad it takes a major disaster to get bold ideas like that tossed around.
Today was Tokyo style moving around the SHIBUYA area fir various meeting and filming. Started the day off by going to Miura Yuichiro’s office to record a short interview/comment. This is the guy who skied down Everest and climbed it again at 70 years of age! Impressive to check out his digs! Then went to Slope Gallery, TRans world and green room before catching a bus out if the city!
Oh yeah i also started a collection of old elevator push button photos. Plus I repacked my camera bag.
Back home in time for a record breaking snow storm! Arrived back home at about 3pm to find 3 cm of fresh snow on the ground, then at about 7pm the storm decided to get serious! There is at least 20cm on the ground now and it is still dumping! Crap, still don’t have my tires changed on two of three cars and there is still a ton of stuff to do around the house!
This is the biggest early season storm I have ever seen in Hokkaido in the last 19 years, at least that I can remember. Hope it is a sign of a huge winter coming!
Picked up a rain cover for my camera bag pack at the new North Face store.
Crazy roofing at Tama Plaza in Tokyo.
Shibuya night shots.
Great door at the new “Green Room” office location. Ad agency that I work with in Tokyo.
Also one of the oldest elevators in Tokyo, love the classic push buttons.
Time to head home, Lots of new things at the haneda airport, they are overhauling a lot of signs etc., as the new International wing has opened. You can now fly directly to LA from Haneda!
The infamous Pokemon jet sighted upon landing in Sapporo!
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