Vive le Mt. Fuji!

When few days ago, a friend who came from Mt. Fuji lake district (Yamanashi Prefecture) for lunch in Tokyo, I knew at once that I should go and visit her as soon as possible. Then, arranged a bus trip for that weekend.

Although the weather wasn't clear those days (according to her), that day was beautiful. It was even hot and sweaty. The cosmos field shined in multi-colours and was to bright to admire.

After a gorgeous French lunch course, with a huge view of Mt. Fuji just in front of us, she drove me to a very nice and cosy cottage style cafe, which stood in the middle of the wood. All I could see was gold sunlight penetrating between the greenery.

The hot spring was one of the main projects. It was so pleasant to feel the natural spring at the end of the day...

No, it wasn't the end yet. We decided to have dinner beside the bus stop so that I could stay till the very last minute, and off! I jumped in with a little gift box from her family, filled with Yamanashi speciality: of course, grapes!

Many thanks to my dear friend!

Autumn Shopping at arcuate

I was wondering about in Omotesando area heading to WELEDA shop, then suddenly found a castle-like building with a sign which said something like 'autumn bag fair' or what so ever. Its picture of a bright red bag caught my eyes. Despite my hesitation of peeping inside the gray brick wall of the 'castle', I let my foot step into it.

There I stood in front of a display glass through which I found a space surrounded by vivid coloured wall and few young girls dressed in French pop style which I liked a lot.

The first thing I set my eyes on was a shiny party bag by Abaco, Paris, that looked suitable for some wedding parties I'm going to attend this Autumn. By the way Abaco is a belt manufacturer and that was another reason the brand seemed credible specializing in leather.

Another reason I chose this long bag was... every time I had wedding parties I had to put the long envelope of 'Oiwai' in another shopping bag (besides my Anteprima conpact party bag which was too small for putting it neatly without folding it). However it was too shiny with the big bow too familiar and lack of originality... so I gave up.

I put the bag aside and moved on to a pair of ballet shoes designed by Maloles, a Spanish designer who created her brand in Paris. The gold feminine one was just the one most girls would like but looked unbalanced on me somehow. Then the shopkeeper suggested another one in enamel with a liberty cloth at the back ('candice'). Although I wasn't quite sure if it'd suit me, it looked nice on my feet. The cut of the shoes looked elegant than I thought but not too girlish at the same time. I decided to take it.

I also took a pair of culot which I liked its detailed back style (having a cute volumious gather). With 70% reduction (we love sale!!!), it was way less expensive than I thought.

... to be continued. Shopping never ends.

Vietnam Festival

Vietnam Festival was held at Yoyogi Park for 3 days: 19-21 Sep. I was concerned about the typhoon but luckily it didn't arrive Tokyo.

I was planning to go on the last day when Lam Truong was supposed to be singing on stage. However suddenly I was offered a job for an ad of Int'l SMS service.

Unlike my thought, all the Vietnamese people I approached asked so many questions in a mixed language of Vietnamese & Japanese. Of course some of them spoke Japanese fluently but not all. I had to try really hard to remember all the Vietnamese words I learned a long ago, in order to catch their attention to the brochure. That was the reason I was tired after this whole day, not that I was standing all afternoon handing out the papers.

Several hours had passed when I realized myself laughing among a group of Vietnamse people saying Vietnamese jokes to each other. It was a very nice moment to remember the satisfied feeling of understanding each other by using a common language; even though, of course, language is not the only way to understand each other; but it helped to build a trust and a feeling of security or reassurance which then helped to develop a conversation after having givin each other's first impression in your mind.

Pity I missed Lam Truong but I earned something much deeper instead.

Ka-So-Yo, Mejiro

September 13th, 2007. 1 year has passed.

An ideal hideaway in Tokyo.
Located in residential streets, the building restored its Japanese old style. I stepped in a little wooden gate and through a stepping stone alley, with its 3 sides surrounded by a wooden open-corridor, in front of a living room furnished with antique. I chose a sofa nearest to the garden so that I could feel the breeze. It was already 5pm, just before the closing of the cafe. I took out Da Vinci Code and started reading. A couple was working on their homework at the other end of the room. The waitress came and took my order. Cheesecake and Yuzu drink. It was the end of Summer and the heat remained. Yuzu was the ideal drink to soak my throat.

Ka-Yo-So was introduced by a friend who learned Kitsuke (how to wear Kimono) there. The cost performance was good and I decided to subscribe, only if the transport was easier...

Then a year passed. I found this picture and realized I haven't even found a Kitsuke school near my place. I might better go back to Ka-so-yo actually... transport is nothing if I've wasted a year.

John Evarette Millais

20 years ago I first saw Millais's Ophelia in Tate Gallery, London. This time it was my second chance to see her in bunkamura, Shibuya.

Although I had been in a great environment for admiring art at that time, since I was a child I did not enjoy at all. However thanks to my parents who took me to museums and galleries as much as they could to cultivate and inspire my sensibility.

The audio guide helped to understand and enjoy each work of art. The most impressive piece was still, Ophelia. The detailed work of flowers and plants were just so incredible with their joyful colours that seem to stand out Ophelia's sad fate.

Looking forward to our 3rd meeting in 20 years...