#kannon an cafe

[00airi]

[rkhemlani]

June 19th - Day Trip to Nara

After the morning powwow of getting ready, taking the quiz, and attending lecture, we headed out for our Nara day trip! I was pretty excited because I kept seeing this spot on my Instagram reels because of the deer that roam around the city that you can feed and pet. And that’s exactly what we did after lunch. For lunch, Nico, Xander, Chelsea, Casey, Sam (boy), Eliza, Julie, Aulora, and I ate gyu-katsu, which I was particularly excited for because I wanted it at least one more time before we left Japan. Casey, Chelsea, Julie, and I snuck away to a cafe (of course, where else??) for some coffee, which was surprisingly good. We then headed off to pet some deer, which was somewhat frightening as an entire horde would charge toward you as soon as you picked up the snacks. One of them even bit Nico on the stomach 🤯. It was still a really cool and unique experience. We then walked to the Todai-ji temple, which contained a massive Buddha statue. I kept asking around which people thought was built first: the building itself or the Buddha. Professor said the building was built first but I’m not so sure, because I think it would be more inefficient to bring in the supplies needed to sculpt that statue. In any case, the temple was not only enormous in size, but also gorgeously adorned with golden bodhisatva statues and massive pillars. One of these pillars contained a small hole that represented the Buddha’s nose. If you were able to crawl through this small space, then you could be reborn. Obviously some of the smaller people (you know who you are) were able to crawl through with no issue, but I thought I was going to get stuck. However, there was an entire crowd watching when I was going through, so I couldn’t disappoint. I had made it through and now I am reborn. We also visited a nearby museum, which contained cool ancient artifacts and eerie looking statues of Kannon and other bodhisattvas. This might’ve been one of my favorite museums, despite its limited display. Afterwards, we walked through a park/forest and I was kind of tired so I listened to music while walking to get some energy. We went to another temple, which had a really dark room decorated with ornate lanterns that lit the room. We walked through and I listened to “Innerbloom” by Rufus du Sol because I thought it would be the perfect vibe, and it was. I felt like I was ascending. After that we briefly visited a love shrine and then Sam (boy) and Uncle Sebastian were getting lost when they were leading the group, so of course I had to take over. We got back and immediately went to an onsen. The group was Nico, Uncle Sebastian, Boy Sam, Vishnu, Xander, and myself. I had a good time because my muscles felt extremely relaxed as I traveled from hot tub, to cold water, to sauna, back into cold water, and then repeating. Although there were many people there, everyone was really mature (except for baby Vishnu one time when he started giggling in the locker room). We then ended the night with going to Shake Shack, which was my first burger in a WHILEEE. It felt so good, I had to double it. I got two Smokeshacks, fries, and a rootbeer float.

Academic Reflection

The readings discussed the importance of the Todai-ji temple, but more importantly, the Buddha statue inside. This colossal statue represents the one true Buddha, while every other depiction is a branch or by-product of this one. This temple was so massive in stature, but also large in influence, so much so that the capital had to be moved away from Nara to ensure that religion and government matters didn’t interfere. The temple was very much upfront and in your face in the sense that everything was grand as if that Buddha was “the Buddha” and it was surrounded by golden Bodhisattvas which I felt displayed that the followers of this Buddha were “golden” in heart and devotion. The attainment of enlightenment is the end goal to end human suffering in the Buddhist religion, but before then, humans are usually reborn in a constant cycle. This was also evident in the temple as there was a hole, about the die of the large Buddha statue’s nostril, that was said to grant rebirth to those who could crawl or pass through. This tradition seems to be common in some of the major temples as the temple devoted to Kannon also contained Kannon’s womb, which was a dark space that also was said to grant rebirth to those who would pass through. I find this tradition fascinating as I have been reborn twice in the past week. 

[sebastianinjapan]

June 12 - Kiyomizudera and Gion

Sadly the public transit isn’t the best here (or the best for 28 people to try to use all at once). The buses were packed once more so we had to walk to our destination. The first place was Kiyomizudera which was tucked away in a outcrop at the halfway point of a mountain. His appearance is rather dubious (black skin, red lips) but the temple itself (made up of various smaller temples) was beautiful. This temple had 1000 arm statute of the bodhisattva Kannon, a ringing bowl (which I struck before praying) and the main attraction which is three waterfalls (known as Otowa Falls) that one is meant to drink from. These three waterfalls provide support in three different avenues (Love, Longevity, Success) but no one is sure which is which. I drank from the middle one. Once we broke up I walked over to a small little cafe and had some very delicious Japanese curry. Here I read a book for a couple hours, as our later excursion was at 6 PM. Our final excursion took us to Gion corner where we got to see a smorgasbord of Japanese traditional art forms which have been added to UNESCO’s untangle culture list. My favorite was the kyogen comedy and the koto concert (considered as Japan’s instrument). From the Corner I departed to a rooftop bar with some friends and we enjoyed the setting Sun lighting the silhouette of a temple.

Academic Reflection

The reading I found most interesting today was about the Geisha women and the culture that exists around them. My only real knowledge of them is through Japanese film, and depictions tended to not always be favorable. They focused mainly on their sexual appeal, and their bodies as tools for their trade. While the sex aspect was much larger in ancient Japan than it is today, the Geisha was also a practitioner of the arts (even before the sexual aspect was involved) and these individuals usually knew a variety of ways to entertain their patrons. However, today the sexual aspect is largely removed (and if it happens it is very much on the down low according to my professor) with the focus finding it’s center once more on the original role as entertainers. This was evident at the Gion Corner as one of the dances we watched was done by a Maiko, who was clearly in training of her traditional art form. Further backing the reading up, at the rooftop bar we actually spotted a Geisha with a large contingent (of rather rich looking individuals). Who knows where they went and what they did after they left but before that the Geisha was enjoying drinks with her company.

While the other reading didn’t have much information to extract and apply to the excursion to Kiyomizudera it was nice seeing the locations such as Otowa Falls referenced by the readings characters. However, what I continue to find intriguing is how comedically tragic the ancient Japanese literature we have read is. None of the characters can ever catch a break, as constant misery is delivered upon them and once a character is able to get back they also tend to inflict bizarre/cruel circumstances upon other. While I mentioned this at Himeji Castle, at this temple the need for long strong logs as described in our forestry reading was once again on display. With no use of nails, massive logs are laid down almost like Link-in-Logs to construct massive support structures underneath the temple.

[akihiro0119]

. 下連雀 KANNON COFFEE Kichijoji 三鷹市下連雀、吉祥寺や井の頭公園からも近いマンションの一角にある、ご存じ #kannoncoffee さんの支店が、2023年初のコーヒーショップになりました（スターバックスを除く）。 朝早くから深大寺で初詣をしてからの帰り、まだ朝食を取っていかなった自分にとり、スコーン2種類とドリンクのモーニングセット（ドリンク代＋500円）は助かりました。 KANNON COFFEEさんには大須のお店を含めて何度も行ったことはあるけど、スコーンを食べたのは今回が初めて。程よいしっとりさでおしいかったです。こんなお店がマンションの敷地内にあるなんて羨ましい！ #kannoncoffeekichijoji #三鷹 #井の頭公園 #吉祥寺 #mitaka #inokashirapark #kichijoji #tokyo #コーヒー #珈琲 #coffee #スコーン #scone #カフェ #コーヒースタンド #cafe #coffeeshop #カフェ巡り #カフェ好き #コーヒー好き #東京カフェ #tokyocafe #吉祥寺カフェ #三鷹カフェ #cafestagram #cafepic #コーヒーのある暮らし #コーヒー好きな人と繋がりたい (at KANNON COFFEE kichijoji) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm-XbPiPQ6S/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[smallflowersblog]

In search of coolness... (2)

When one hears the word "cool" in summer, mountain streams and waterfalls come to mind. The waterfall I recently visited is secretly gaining popularity because visitors can go behind the cascading waterfall. From the front, you can see the waterfall flowing down in two separate streams. The two waterfalls flow in different ways, creating a beautiful sight. The back side of the waterfall, or the cave-like space in the back, appears to be a mysterious place that should not be entered (in fact, it is possible to enter and see the back side of the waterfall from there...). When the water volume increases, in addition to these two waterfalls, a child waterfall appears, and it is considered a place to pray for safe delivery, child rearing, and good luck, and the Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) is enshrined within the womb. It is possible to enter the inner space without getting wet from the waterfall, and watching the water splashing down from behind the waterfall is somehow reassuring, perhaps because of the nature of this waterfall.

About a 20-minute drive from this waterfall is one of the three most famous waterfalls in Japan. It is 73 meters wide and falls in four stages from a height of 120 meters, hence its other name, "Four times waterfall." The name is said to have come from the praise of Saigyo, a Buddhist priest who visited the area, who said, "You must come here once in each of the four seasons to experience the true beauty of the place." The waterfall offers different atmospheres in spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Of course, the area near the waterfall is a cool place to be, but the interesting thing about this waterfall is the artificially maintained approach. Upon entering the entrance, there is a tunnel. When I visited in summer, it was lit up in blue, and the cool air was very pleasant and enjoyable to walk through. It is a spot where you can already feel the "coolness" of the air. There is a hole on the right side of the tunnel that leads to the viewing platform, and the view of the waterfall from this hole is also nice.

From the first viewing platform, you can see the wide expanse of the waterfall cascading down in front of you, which is truly breathtaking. There is a suspension bridge from which you can enjoy the waterfall from different angles. If you take the elevator to the second viewing platform, you can get a panoramic view of the waterfall from outside. The waterfall is said to show various heart shapes depending on the change in water volume.

After visiting the waterfall, I stopped by a café, an old private house with a stylish retro atmosphere. I ordered juice made from Okukuji apples, a specialty of the area. It was well chilled, refreshingly sweet, and very tasty, and was truly a luxurious way to feel cool.

(In the order of the text above) Tsukimachi Falls, Fukuroda Falls, daigo cafe (Ibaraki, JAPAN) The photo (above) is a view of Tsukimachi Falls from the front. The photo (bottom) is a view from the back.

[aulorawright]

June 12th - Kiyomizudera, Gion Tour, sick day

Today I woke up with a raging headache and was feeling pretty tired from coughing all night, and my voice still hadnt come back all the way, so I stayed home. I would say poor chelsea (my roomate) but I'm pretty sure she slept through all of it, thankfully. It was definetly a long day for planned for everyone, I am sad that I missed it. My exciting day consisted of laying in bed for a while, going to 7-11 to get money from the atm, going to the pharmacy to get vitamins for chelsea and I, then back to 7-11 for food. I figured by the time I got back the cleaning ladies would be almost done with my room but when I walked up one of them was still in there, so I walked down to the cafe area to eat my food and hangout for a while. After another hour I walked back up to check the progress and my door was still open and the shower drain was taken apart. So I decided to do laundry. I finally found someone working on the bathroom in the room next to mine so I asked her if mine was done, but she said no and then ran over to finish it I believe, so I went back down stairs for a little. When I went back up it was done, and I think I probably should have told someone that I was planning on being here for the day but still wanted my room cleaned but I was scared because of the language barrier. I finally got to sit down and relax a little bit and take a nap. I was feeling better after my nap and could talk a little more. A big group of other student went to a pretty rooftop bar near where the excursions were for the day, and I was invited, but by this time it was dark out and I was nervous to make the trek alone and I figured it would take me too long to get there, so I didnt go. I definitely regretted this decision because it looked super cool and I definitely missed hangout with everyone, since it has been pretty hard to socialize after loosing my voice. I did end up going out with everyone later that night, which was a lot of fun. Me and Raj werent sure if we were going to go to universal the next day as we had not bought our tickets yet, but we said we would go if the other went.

Academic Reflection

Reading the poem in Shintokumaru about the goddess Kannon, I was a little bit confused when they referred to them as a he, as Kannon is generally referred to as a woman. I thought this was just a mis translation, but then I kept reading and it explained that it was translated correctly and described like this on purpose. The article also talks about sekkyo performances, and I found it interesting that the early versions did not have a script, the actors were given a general overview and a few phrases and then improvised the rest. I think this is cool because each perfomace would be different and you never know what you're going to get.

After reading Enlightenment Geisha, the story of the geisha seems to be a story of striving to triumph. Starting out with a bad name and reputation, women were branded with as an unsult. Accused of things that they protested were true, until finally the Meji era brought change. Women who were branded as geisha started to engage in "civilized activies", like attending school, reading, sewing uniforms for police, leading to social tranforms about educated women. First steps in a long battle for equality for women, something I am quite passionate about myself.

[szydlowski]

May 28 - Asakusa

Today was my first full day in Japan. We ate breakfast at the hotel in the morning and then took the train to Asakusa. It was my first time riding on the subway and I was super impressed by how efficient and clean the trains are. In Asakusa, we visited the Sensoji temple, dedicated to the Buddhist deity Kannon. There, I got my fortune read, bought a talisman, and even prayed for good fortune. It was so cool how a traditional temple like this is located in the middle of a bustling city.

Afterward, I walked to a nearby cafe with some friends. The entire menu was vegan! I ordered curry with rice and it was amazing. Many people told me eating vegan in Japan would be challenging, but so far it has been surprisingly easy.

After lunch, we visited the Fukugawa Edo Museum. Inside the museum, there was an entire block designed to capture what life was like during the Edo period, complete with houses, shops, and a river. I felt like I was transported into the past, everything was so detailed. My favorite part of the day was walking around Asakusa and seeing all the little shops and restaurants.

Academic Reflection

The reading that most enhanced my understanding of today's activities was "Contemporary Japanese Buddhist Traditions." I had no idea that Japan had so many different sects of Buddhism, each with its own beliefs and practices. I could definitely see the influence of China and to a lesser extent India in the paintings and statues at the temple., which were discussed in the readings. However, while the text really stressed the idea that Buddhist temples in Japan are seen mostly just as a place for funerals, that didn't really feel true for the temple we visited today; the place was very lively and full of people going to pray at the temple and get their fortune. It didn't really seem like a place for a funeral, but that's just based on my experience there.

As for the Fukugawa Edo Museum, I felt like I learned a lot about Edo Japan just by walking through the exhibit. From what I gathered, the block of houses was supposed to be that of the lower class, and the small, simple homes and shops reflected the conditions described by the "Early Tokugawa Period" reading.

One thing that interested me the most from this reading was the Sankin Kotai system, wherein the feudal lords were required to live in Edo every other year, draining their resources and keeping them from rising up against the Shogun. I could imagine how this system contributed to Edo's rapid population growth, and walking through the busy streets of Tokyo reminded me that it is a massive city.

[matchachas-blog]

May 28, Asakusa & Edo Museum

Because of jet lag, my roommate and I started our day at 5 AM. Because I was so hungry, I went to 7/11 and got breakfast before the scheduled continental breakfast at the hotel. After a health and safety overview and discussion of the assigned readings, we headed towards Asakusa.

Pictured above is the Kaminari-Mon (Thunder Gate) at Sensoji. We got our luck drawn and my roommate got the best luck and I got the bad fortune. We passed through the smaller gate as well and then went into the Sensoji building. Afterwards for lunch, my roommate and I went to a tonkatsu shop that was very small and not fancy but pretty popular with people standing outside waiting for a table. Then we went to the Fukugawa Edo Museum. The Edo Museum had life-sized houses, vegetable grocery, a watch tower and more. There was even a fake cat on one of the roofs.

The planned excursion ended and then a group of friends and I went to a small cafe before heading back to the hotel we were staying. Because I have the most experience taking trains in Japan and speak Japanese, I guided my friends back to the Hotel. But honestly I was nervous until we got there because it had been a year since I took the trains in Japan.

I learned that Sensoji is the oldest temple in Tokyo. The legend goes that two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida river, and that even though they returned it to the river it always came back to them. Therefore they built Sensoji nearby for the goddess of Kannon. Sensoji used tobe associated with the Tendai sect but became independent after WW2. We learned that the Tendai sect is a type of Mahayana Buddhism with esoteric elements which had a large impact on shaping religion in Japan.

The Sumida River was also represented in the Fukugawa Edo Museum, showing what it looked like during the Edo period. The Edo period is also called the Tokugawa period, as it begins when Tokugawa Ieyasu establishes the Tokugawa Shogunate government in Edo. We learned from the readings that he was one of the three great unifiers of Japan, and created the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan from 1603 all the way to the Meiji Restoration in 1868. it was interesting to learn about Edo and see the descriptions come to life at the Edo museum.

[ancafe]

Hi! Starting this blog a a compilation of An Cafe scans and content i have! I've collected quite a collection of magazine, photos, photocards and photobooks and I would love to just share them online! See you soon! Nyappy!

[nitrochirals]

did some scans of some of some An Cafe photocards i have last night, definitely want to start scanning the tons of magazines i have soon

[rriy]

rie_ena

[nomsandtreats]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bip5jVxFe0o/

[draconicmagicalgirl]

Pokemon Paragon: Extended Bios

Note: This is specifically for the members of the Prism Unit A-Team mentioned in the original post. There are other Paragons that’ll get brought up in the future, but they’ll get their own thing.

***********

Lucida Morgentaler

One of the first to be sent to the Lemua region in pursuit of Team Spectral. Unlike other Paragons, who obtain weapons when they transform, Lucida fights using her Aegislash, Victor, himself. Though she’s kind hearted and has a strong sense of justice, she’s also a bit mischievous, and gets serious and cunning when it comes to battling. When not on duty, she works at her grandparents’ bakery in Sinnoh, with them, her mother, and her little sister.

Age: 17 Gender: Female Soul Shard: Aegislash Weapon: Aegislash Speciality: Striker Synchro-Skill: Aurora Bayonet Support Pokemon: Roserade (Shiny) Remaining Team: Ninetales, Alcremie, Lopunny, Ribombee Likes: Baked goods, sparring Dislikes: Explosions, being interrupted

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Kannon Miura

One of Lucida’s closest coworkers and companions. Despite her delicate appearance and pacifistic personality, Kannon is incredibly protective of those dear to her, and will stop at nothing to make sure they are safe. Though her ancestors originate from Johto, Kannon was born in Alola, living on Ula’Ula Island with her family, who run a popular inn. She’s always wanted to visit Johto, but has never been able find time to go there to due to work.

Age: 17 Gender: Female Soul Shard: Froslass Weapon: Naginata Speciality: Sorcerer Synchro-Skill: Snowfall Starling Support Pokemon: Zoroark Remaining Team: Indeedee (Male), Lapras, Corviknight, Incineroar Likes: Night time, Johto Dislikes: Deep water, cloudy days

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Belric Pursglove

A member of the Prism Unit, and an Interpol Informant. Often, Belric can be perceived as lazy, clearly preferring to lounge about in cafes and play with his Pokemon instead of doing his work. But when it comes to important missions, or the safety of innocents, Belric abandons that work-shy nature, and puts all of the effort he can into it. Some of the younger members of the Prism Unit label him the ‘dad friend’. He has done nothing to oppose this.

Age: 39 Gender: Male Soul Shard: Rhyperior Weapon: Gauntlets Speciality: Defender Synchro-Skill: Boulder Bullet Twister Support Pokemon: Nidoking Remaining Team: Sceptile, Heliolisk, Drednaw, Drampa Likes: Coffee, bugging Henneke Dislikes: Too much work, small spaces

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Henneke Louffen

A member of the Prism Unit, raised in Alola but stationed to Kalos. As he currently lives in Snowbelle, and has an affinity for Ice types, Henneke doesn’t do all that well in warm places. Despite his young-ish age, he’s quite wise, and often gives advice to the younger agents. His talent as a barista and baker is quite apparent...though this makes Belric come bug him a lot for a coffee. He manages to settle with a couple snarky quips, but he really just wants to hit him.

Age: 19 Gender: Male Soul Shard: Cloyster Weapon: Whip Sword Speciality: Shielder Synchro-Skill: Icicle Carapace Support Pokemon: Frosmoth Remaining Team: Mamoswine, Vanilluxe, Weavile, Alolan Sandslash Likes: Cold weather, baking Dislikes: Belric’s shenanigans, intense heat

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Nesina Calandri

Along with her twin sister Tessa, Nesina works as a detective for the Prism Unit. Nesina is quiet and stern, often only opening her mouth in order to call out something someone said wrong. Earn her friendship, though, and you’ve got a selfless and loyal companion for life. Besides Tessa, the one Nesina trusts most is Henneke, since he’s basically raised the two for a long while, and she sees him as somewhat of a father figure.

Age: 14 Gender: Female Soul Shard: Toxicroak Weapon: Tonfa Speciality: Absorber Synchro-Skill: Venomous Double-Strike Support Pokemon: Cacturne Remaining Team: Hatterene, Hitmonchan, Obstagoon, Sableye Likes: Donuts, being inside Dislikes: Crowds, being without Tessa 

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Tessa Calandri

Alongside her twin sister Nesina, Tessa works as one of the Prism Unit’s detectives. Tessa is energetic, super friendly, a huge prankster, and loves Baby Pokemon and their evolutions. She’s easy to make friends with, but betray her, and she’ll hold a grudge for the rest of her life. Tessa sees all of the Prism Unit as her family, especially Henneke, who’s raised her and Nesina for a while now. She treats her elders with a surprisingly large amount of respect.

Age: 14 Gender: Female Soul Shard: Togekiss Weapon: Twin Crossbows Speciality: Dasher Synchro-Skill: Mystical Arrowhead Support Pokemon: Hitmontop Remaining Team: Sudowoodo, Chimecho, Toxtricity (Amped), Mr. Rime Likes: Donuts, baby Pokemon Dislikes: Complete silence, being without Nessa

[ghosthunthq]

Memento (Part 2 of 2)

For: @seoulsborne123

By: @csakuras

Mai stood on the wooden platform of Kiyomizu-dera, overlooking the surrounding wooded hills.  Fall foliage lit up the landscape in red, orange, and green, with a view of the city beyond. But sadly, the scenery was almost spoiled by the constant droning voices of tourists crowding the platform.

“Wow, it’s packed, huh?” Keiko said, beside her.  At the moment, Kiyomizu-dera’s veranda was at nearly full capacity.

Mai laughed.  “Yeah…Naru would hate it here.”

Michiru nudged her with an elbow.  “Oooh Mai, why are you bringing up Shibuya-san all of a sudden?”

“Do you miss him?” Keiko teased.

“Yeah, right.  Besides, I only just saw him yesterday.”

A cool breeze wafted through the treetops.  Mai leaned on the wooden railing and took a breath of fresh air.

“It really is a beautiful view though.”  She raised her camera, taking a picture.

The bulk of that day had been devoted to group tours of several popular tourist sites: Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion; Ryoan-ji and its famous Zen rock garden; Sanjusangen-do, with its main hall filled with 1001 statues of Kannon.

At each location, Mai couldn’t help but wonder.  Did Gene come here too?

——

The next morning, Mai woke up at the hotel, and let out a deep sigh.

Last night, when she went to bed, she had foolishly hoped that Gene might appear in her dreams.  As if just the energy of this place could summon him to her.

Of course, she saw nothing.  Maybe if Naru was here, and they had a case, she might have had a chance.  But Gene didn’t tend to appear only for her sake. The only time she could recall that he did…it was right before his body was discovered.

She knew, Naru was probably the reason Gene still lingered.  That was fine. She wasn’t jealous or anything. Not like she could even come close to comparing to a twin brother anyway.

Not like she’d even known him when he was alive.

But she couldn’t mope forever.  That afternoon, the class was free to go wherever they liked within their groups.  Mai managed to convince Keiko, Michiru, and the others in her group not to tell the teacher that she would be slipping out on her own for a few hours.

She had called Suzuki earlier in the week, explaining that she was an Investigator from SPR and would like to speak to him in regards to his meeting with Gene.  Suzuki had suggested they meet at a teahouse in the Gion entertainment district.

And so she went.  The address he’d provided led her to a quiet side street.  Mai found the teahouse and waited outside. The surrounding buildings looked ancient, though well-cared for.  This whole street looked like it had barely changed in centuries. Standing there, Mai almost felt like she’d slipped back in time.

A few geisha passed by and she blushed.  She’d never entered this kind of establishment before, and she wasn’t sure it was really a place for teenage girls to hang around.  She probably should have mentioned her age to Suzuki on the phone. But even then, why did they have to meet here? Why not a cafe or something?

Soon, a middle-aged man walked up to the teahouse.  He had long, graying hair and a goatee. He was a bit handsome too.  Mai wondered if Bou-san might look like this someday.

“Excuse me, are you Suzuki-san?” she asked.

He blinked at her.  “Ah, you must be Taniyama-san.  It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He spoke with a (now familiar-sounding) Kyoto dialect.  Though, John’s version of the dialect tended to be comical.  Somehow, the real thing sounded much more elegant.

They entered the teahouse, where a kimono-clad hostess welcomed them.  Suzuki mentioned a reservation, and they were promptly led down a long hall.

The hostess opened a screen door and motioned them inside a room.

The interior was traditional, with tatami flooring.  The two of them sat on cushions with a low table between them.  Screen doors opened to a courtyard with a beautiful garden; there were Japanese maple trees, moss-covered rocks, and a small pond where koi fish swam, shimmering red, white, and gold in the dappled sunlight.

Shortly, another woman in a kimono came and served them green tea.

Mai fidgeted, feeling out of place in her school uniform.  Masako would fit into this kind of environment much better, with her beautiful kimonos.  Then again, Masako said she wore a uniform to school too, so would she also be in a uniform on her school trips?

Whatever, that wasn’t important right now.  Mai shook her head.

Once they were left alone, Suzuki spoke up.

“So, Taniyama-san.  You are quite young to be an Investigator, aren’t you?”  

She laughed nervously.  “I know it’s surprising.”  

Suzuki smiled.  “Well, after meeting both of the Davis brothers, I suppose I’m not as surprised as I perhaps ought to be.”  

“You didn’t think I might be an imposter?”  

“I had my suspicions.  Out of precaution, I called the number Oliver had left for me last time and confirmed beforehand that you are indeed who you say you are.”  

She blinked.  “You talked with Na— I mean, Oliver?”  

“Yes.  If I understood him correctly, he seemed to imply that Eugene was very important to you as well.”  

Mai clenched her hands in her lap, gripping the hem of her skirt.  Naru.

“I…yes.  He is. But…I’m sorry, I’m not here for anything nearly as important as Oliver was.  I just wanted to know what you talked about with him…with Gene.”

Suzuki smiled kindly.  “It’s no problem at all.  But, I do apologize if you feel uncomfortable.”  He gestured to the room around them. “There is a reason why I thought it appropriate for us to meet in this establishment.”

“O-oh?”

Suzuki took a sip of tea.  “I think it may interest you to know, that I have been coming to this teahouse for over twenty years.”

Mai tilted her head slightly.  Why would that interest her?

“This is where I always prefer to have my meetings, you see.  I’ve become such a regular, that the owners have this same room reserved for me every time.”

She finally caught on.  “D-do you mean, this is…?”

“Yes.  This is where I met Eugene, two years ago.  And where I met Oliver as well.  They both sat in the exact spot you’re sitting in now.”

A shiver ran down her back.  Two years ago.  Gene was alive.  And sitting right here.

Suzuki nodded to himself.  “Eugene was a remarkable young man.  Truly an expert in his field. And very open and friendly.  He was also quite taken with the geisha,” he laughed.

“Oh…was he…”  Mai didn’t know how to take this information.

“His brother, on the other hand, was very…business-like.  Straight to the point, you might say.”

She laughed.  “Yeah, that sounds like him.”

“It was the honor of my life to meet them both.  Despite the…circumstances.” The man’s smile faded and he sighed.  “It’s truly terrible, what happened. I wish I could have done more to help.”

She nodded.  They lapsed into silence.  Mai sipped her tea.

After a moment, Suzuki resumed talking.  “Taniyama-san, is there anything you wanted to know in particular?”

“Um, yes.  Did Gene mention anything about what he did in Kyoto?”

Suzuki put a hand to his chin in thought.  “Yes, he seemed quite impressed with a number of tourist sites.  Fushimi Inari, in particular.”

“Fushimi Inari…”  She made a mental note to visit there later.

“He claimed to have seen a fox spirit there, and attempted to capture it on camera,” he smiled.

“Oh wow.”  Mai leaned forward.  “Did it work?”

“Unfortunately, no.  He said he would have to resign himself to taking ‘regular’ scenic photographs instead.”

She laughed.

But then Suzuki sighed, smile falling again.

“…Suzuki-san?”

“I’m sorry, that just reminded me of something.”  He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Toward the end of our conversation, I got the impression that he was becoming quite homesick.  He began reminiscing about road trips his family used to take when he was younger. He also mentioned that he and his brother had grown apart in recent years, and that he was starting to miss the closeness they once had.”

Oh no, Mai thought.

“He wished his brother could have been here to see the sights as well.  However, he thought Oliver wouldn’t appreciate the crowds. So he was planning to take plenty of pictures instead, so at the very least, Oliver could get some idea of it.”

Mai swallowed against the lump in her throat.  “I…see.”

They fell into silence again.  This time, the atmosphere remained heavy.

Unwittingly, her eyes drifted to the garden.  A scarlet maple leaf drifted slowly to the surface of the pond, causing silent ripples.

Two years ago, in the summer, Gene was in this exact spot, admitting that he missed his brother.  

One year ago, in the spring, Naru was also here, searching for leads on Gene’s location.

And now, it was Mai sitting here, looking back on the brothers’ separate journeys.  

Though the seasons were all different, time still seemed to overlap in that moment.  She could almost feel them there with her, gazing out into that garden together, both thinking of the other.

Where was Gene’s camera now?  At the bottom of the lake? Abandoned on the side of the road?  Or in his killer’s possession?

Gene had wanted to show Naru the beauty of Japan.  But in the end, all Naru saw was his brother’s death.  

Tears welled in her eyes.  

“Um, did you tell Oliver about this too?” she asked quietly.

“Yes.  And I did suggest that he do some sight-seeing while he was here.  However, he respectfully declined.”

Mai nodded slowly.  “…Even if he wanted to, I think back then, he would have been too preoccupied with finding Gene to appreciate any of it.”

“Yes.  I’m sure you’re right.”

And in that moment, Mai decided.

She had to do something.

——

Two days later, Mai returned to SPR carrying bags of souvenirs.  The gifts were modest, but she had fun picking them out. The Irregulars gathered at the office to hear stories from her trip, and they had a little party, eating snacks from Kyoto.  (Of course, Naru only made a brief appearance to complain about the noise.)

But once everyone had left, and she and Yasuhara had cleaned everything up, Mai slipped into Naru’s office with a paper bag.

“Hey, I’m going home soon.”

“Oh,” Naru said, not looking up from his computer.

She gathered her courage.  “By the way, I got you something too.”

Mai reached into her bag and pulled out his gift.  But unlike the others, this wasn’t a simple souvenir.  It was a small photo album.

She placed it on his desk, and Naru looked at it, perplexed.

“Open it,” she urged.

He opened the cover.  Fall colors immediately sprang off the page.

“This is…?”

“What it looks like.  Photos from Kyoto.”

“And you are giving this to me, why?”

Mai took a deep breath.  “Gene took a lot of pictures on his trip too.  He wanted to show them to you when he came home.  But he never got the chance.”

She pointed to herself.  “I’m kinda similar to Gene, right?  Personality-wise. That’s what Mori-san told me, anyway.  So, I pretended to be Gene for one day. To do what he couldn’t.”

Naru frowned a little, but returned his gaze to the album.  He turned a page.

She had spent all the rest of her free time in the city hunting for picturesque locations.  Among the pictures in the album were ones she’d taken at Kiyomizu-dera, as well as from the Gion district, Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the Philosopher’s Path, a tranquil stone path running along a canal.  The lighting in the pictures reflected the fact that she had been taking them from morning until sunset.

“You sure went to a lot of trouble for Gene’s sake,” Naru said off-handedly.

“I did it for you too.”

He looked up and blinked.

Blushing, she pushed on.  “Before, you gave me a picture of Gene, right?  So in return, I’m giving you pictures from Gene.  Or…something like it, anyway…”

He stared.  Mai averted her eyes.

When he told her about Gene’s desk.  And when he asked why she wanted to meet with Suzuki.  She’d thought Naru just didn’t understand why such things would matter to people.  She’d thought he wouldn’t care to even try to understand.  But in reality, he’d helped her every step of the way.

She’d misjudged him.  If he didn’t understand the value of a memento, he wouldn’t have given her that picture of Gene in the first place.  If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t have stayed with her that day while she cried.

She took a deep breath, forced herself to look at him straight on again.  

“I know you’re not really interested in looking at travel photos.  But, if you could just…keep it on a shelf somewhere. Maybe look at it once every few years…I think it would make him happy.”

Naru raised an eyebrow.  “Him? Or you?”

Mai sucked in a breath.  What was with him and these heart-stopping questions that had no easy answers?

He looked at the album again, flipping through more pages.

“…You’re right,” he said at last.

“Huh?”

The corner of his mouth turned up just slightly, half-amused, half-nostalgic.  “This seems exactly like something he would do.”

Mai let out a sigh of relief.  “Really?”

“Yes.  He was always sticking his nose into other people’s business, doing things no one asked for.”

She winced.  “Yeah, well…that’s just who we are, I guess.  Learn to live with it.”

He shut the album.  “Unfortunately, I already have.”

[tokyooctober2019]

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

This morning Mike and I took a run around the Imperial Palace grounds. It took us about half way around to discover that we were the only ones running clockwise around the grounds. All the other runners were running counter clockwise! Another Central Park incident!!!! Oh well - stupid tourists! After Jill woke up we headed to the Asahi Beer Hall, which is a famous building designed by Philippe Starck. The locals call it poo, or a turd.

Next we headed to the Senso-ji Temple. Sensoji (浅草寺, Sensōji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. It is one of Tokyo's most colorful and popular temples. The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple. When approaching the temple, visitors first enter through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), the outer gate of Sensoji Temple and the symbol of Asakusa and the entire city of Tokyo. Beyond the Hozomon Gate stands the temple's main hall and a five storied pagoda. Destroyed in the war, the buildings are relatively recent reconstructions. The Asakusa Shrine, built in the year 1649 by Tokugawa Iemitsu, stands only a few dozen meters to the left of the temple's main building. Jill and I tried our hand at the omikuji paper fortunes. Jill’s was bad luck so she tied it to a rack that they provide and left it behind at the temple.

Just outside the temple is the Nakamise-dori shopping street which we took a stroll down and bought some age-man-ju which is deep fried bean paste buns.

Next we went to the Aki Habara area which is known for its geek subculture and Anime. We went to a Cat Cafe where it cost $17 for the 3 of us to pet some cats for 10 minutes! Crazy!!!! Then Jill took her parents to a 7 story sex shop. Awkward. This was a very different and unique part of Tokyo that we enjoyed taking part in.

On our way home we saw the Tsukiji Honganji Temple. It is another jewel in Tokyo's cityscape, especially at night. This Buddhist temple is unlike any other, especially in terms of its architecture.

[aussiboris]

Hanami Season

March 21st onwards

When the Sakura is out in Japan there is a party atmosphere as Japanese families, couples, salary men stop for beeru, nigiri picnics and insta moments beneath cherry blossom hues. There is a media frenzy from January when the projected blossom forecasts come out. In mid-March, the tv crews are about in the top hanami sites looking for the magic number of five open blossoms on a designated tree. This signals the official start to the season in Japan. Good merch is available in the shops, the travel agents suggest weekends away to get your pink blossom fill and photographers make good business snapping up next year calendar shots and wedding couple pictures.

Our first glimpse of the Sakura this year was in Kagoshima on the Southern island of Kyushu. Pink is the usual cherry tree colour so the white against the moody greys of the sea and sky were an attractive contrast. The rain drops on the fleeting blossoms are a truly ephemeral moment of nature.

This highly managed `natural phenomenom` attracts many international visitors. This year we hosted two sets. The first arrivals were Susannah and Alvin, a little premature for the Nagoya and more centrally located blossoms, so we headed to Kyoto to check out the historical sights.

The first stop of the day on this version of `Tamsin’s Kyoto Tour` was the world famous Kinkakuji or Golden Temple. This tourist site is always packed and we joined the extensive queue to enter early before it was even open. Once inside we dutifully took our pictures walked the trails around the `tranquil` location and indulged in green tea and Kinkakuji themed sweets.

The sites history dates back to 1397. The temple narrowly avoided destruction during the Onin war between 1467-1477 when all the surrounding buildings were destroyed by fire. However after surviving for over 500 years including through the bombings of world war 2, that claimed a lot of Japan’s historical monuments, Kinkakuji finally succumbed when a `crazed` novice monk decided to burn it to the ground in 1950.

Ginkakuji was the next stop on our Kyoto tour. The Silver Temple is located across the other side of the city and marks the beginning of the Philosophers Path. The temple buildings perch in front of the mossy hillside garden, whose paths meander through the towering pines. At different viewpoints from above the cityscape of Kyoto, ponds, gravelled zen gardens and the somewhat dowdy Pavilion appear in the foreground. 

Ginkakuji was built by the grandson of the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu who was responsible for the construction of Kinkakuji. It was supposed to be covered in silver leaf when finished, hence the name, but by the time of its owners death, it was still unfinished so was purposefully left incomplete. This was in keeping with the Wasi-Sabi artisitic movement that is centred on transcience and imperfection.

We did manage to find the odd early blossoming tree but most buds were tightly closed. Our final stop on the rather lengthy trail was Nanzenji. The most impressive part of the temple complex was the massive Sanmon entrance gate. The gate was apparently built in 1628 to honour the Tokugawa clan soldiers who died in the siege of Osaka Castle in 1615. The vistas across the grounds and Kyoto were very impressive (and a great spot for a quick selfie.)

It was great to extend the tour itinerary to include the Philosopher’s Path; however, it can take time away from other potential landmarks. The feedback from the Tamsin’s tour participants was it was a bit far and not enough places to sit down!

A few days after the Kyoto trip we were joined by other Trowbridge travellers - my parents. Finally the blossom was starting to appear en mass so we headed to Tsurama Park in Nagoya to get involved with the blue tarp action of a hanami party beneath the trees. 

Mum was ready in her matching pink attire to get the perfect Sakura photos. The sun shone and we ate some lovely cheese tartlets and drank hot canned tea and coffee. Making the most of the somewhat unpredictable March weather. We then headed for another well known Nagoya Cherry Blossom spot - Yamazaki River. Again, it was not quite full bloom yet but this meant it was not too crowded and we could enjoy the peaceful one kilometre stroll along the river. 

The next day was miserably rainy. As it was Saturday, Rob joined our group and we headed up to 31st floor of Mum and Dad’s hotel for a picturesque breakfast.

This pic of Susannah is taken in what has to be the most scenic ladies toilet ever. Having missed the hanami party the previous day, Rob was keen to get in on the Sakura photos (this one is courtesy of the fake display in the hotel lobby). 

After a wander around Osu kannon, we found the Puffle and waffy cafe for an afternoon snack. At this point the group split to accommodate varying tastes. Rob took Alvin Record store shopping and on a Kirin tasting session. Meanwhile, the rest of us headed top the Tokagawa Museum. The blossom outside the museum was in glorious full bloom. This was marred somewhat by the continuous rain. We spent some time taking pics then mooched around looking at the museum’s collection.

In the evening we decided to indulge our inner carnivores and to bbq some meat at a yakiniku restaurant. 

The following day was Alvin and Susannah’s last. We got a quick trip in to the Shinkansen museum. It’s a great interactive space with so much information. Mum was pleased as she got to see Mount Fuji from the window of a bullet train (kind of), and there are lots of amazing displays and exhibits, but I personally loved the fact that the toilets were styled like a shinkansen’s; small things...