Anybody living in Japan?

Blackpool - a truly wonderful place.

The overview of the second shot is interesting I don't thought there were so beautiful places relatively close to a Japanese town.

bmhana wrote in post #8111597
Blackpool - a truly wonderful place.

I even heard it called "The Northern Riviera" once by someone from B************N
(Won't type the name of the town....too many bad experiences with people from there to consider it mere coincidence).

alessandro2009 wrote in post #8111614
The overview of the second shot is interesting I don't thought there were so beautiful places relatively close to a Japanese town.

Actually, you'd be surprised. Kumamoto isn't such a big city (population about 650,000), and has the ocean on one side, and mountains and volcanoes on the others.
You can drink the spring water straight from the streams in the mountains, and the gorges are awesome.

Many people think only of Tokyo when they think of Japan. Tokyo, of course, is a fantastic city, but other areas of Japan are great, too.
Also, Kumamoto and where Skygod lives, are on a different island to Tokyo. The people, dialect and climate are all pretty different down here!

skygod44 wrote in post #8111623
I even heard it called "The Northern Riviera" once by someone from B************N
(Won't type the name of the town....too many bad experiences with people from there to consider it mere coincidence).

Northern Riviera!!
Mind you, that could be Grimsby, too!!
(Grimsby is on the coast, right?)

bmhana wrote in post #8111633
Actually, you'd be surprised. Kumamoto isn't such a big city (population about 650,000), and has the ocean on one side, and mountains and volcanoes on the others.
You can drink the spring water straight from the streams in the mountains, and the gorges are awesome.

Many people think only of Tokyo when they think of Japan. Tokyo, of course, is a fantastic city, but other areas of Japan are great, too.
Also, Kumamoto and where Skygod lives, are on a different island to Tokyo. The people, dialect and climate are all pretty different down here!

You tell 'em B!
It still amazes me how few visitors to Japan leave the main "tourist traps".....although the language-barrier is one mightily massive problem!
I hope that more people coming here will try to see somewhere less like a scene from Bladerunner though, as it's worth the effort.

bmhana wrote in post #8111639
Northern Riviera!!
Mind you, that could be Grimsby, too!!
(Grimsby is on the coast, right?)

Thanks! Imagining Grimsby - especially in winter - as a "Riviera" just caused me to wet my pants!


You know....we're sooooooooooo lucky - if that's the right word - to have broken away from the "standard existence" where we were born.
Well, that's my opinion anyway.....

Photos from Kumamoto are wonderful. I really want to go n see and of course photograph it!! Sadly travel in Japan is sooooooo costly.
And I just spend a lot on 2 night Kyoto Nara trip!! Came back yesterday with more than 550 images!
Tony , you inspired me to get that 32G card . Thanks but now I am wondering how I am going to manage the harddisk part I kept shooting all the time.
This time I went to see Gion to photograph Geisha n Maiko. Went there twice but second time it was Sunday and nobody was seen. So I guess Sundays are holidays there...which of course surprised me. Will post some photos later.

John , Tony I will join any other photoshoot walk, around Chiba is fine too.

One positive thing about Japanese TV is violence and blood is not shown on national channels. It is safe to see anytime if you like the discussions and weather reports frequently

It's a shame that travel around Japan is so expensive - there are so many places I want to see!

Actually, one of the good things things about living down here is that having a car becomes financially possible. In Tokyo, you don't really need one, and even if you did, the parking cost itself may put you off.
Down here, the public transport is good, but not like Tokyo, so a car becomes a necessity. Especially at the moment because a lot of the jobs are outside the cities and you have to go into the countryside. Taking the train can be a pain in the neck!

Anyway, if any of you ever have the chance for a visit, let us know!!

In the meantime, I've only been to Kyoto once, and I've never seen a Geisha or Maiko, so I'd love to see those photos, when you have the chance to post them up, Swapnali!!

bmhana wrote in post #8123253
....In the meantime, I've only been to Kyoto once, and I've never seen a Geisha or Maiko, so I'd love to see those photos, when you have the chance to post them up, Swapnali!!

I could be wrong, but my wife has just passed her translator's exam....during the studying, she had to learn all about Japanese history, etc., and I think geisha in Kyoto and actually called "geigo". Or something like that....

Back to the Future......
5D2 order went from "Backordered" to "In process" back to "Backordered". Pending credit card charge, no longer pending. Arrrggggghhhh!
Two shipments scheduled, quantities unknown. One is 29 June, then not until 9 September. Fingers crossed now for 29 June. Jeeeeeze!
John

Ah....Geisha. Geiko is the term you are thinking of Simon, and Maiko is the apprectice version. I have socially consorted with Geiko in my previous life, and have entered the innrr sanctums of Gion only twice in my life, both being unforgettable experiences. Once in 1964 with a dentist I knew well and once in the 1970s with a diplomatic friend. In Tokyo, also possible, and at 300,000 an hour for the exquisite experience of being in the company of the real deal, it is is recommended at least once if you have the connections. As Westerners, we have zero opportunity to peer into this world without a a very special connection. We can see Maiko in the early evening as they leave the Gion district, but there have been incidents with photographers that has made them camera shy and sometimes they get into dark tinted window Mercedes rather than traditional 'jinrikshaw' to go to their appointments. 'Onsen Geisha' are a different breed. We have a few where I live, and I know one well, since I need to attend various social events on occasion. Hope to see Swapnali's photos soon!
Cheers,
John

john-in-japan wrote in post #8123755
Ah....Geiko

THAT'S IT!!! Thanks John. I knew someone would correct whatever my error was....

"Onsen Geisha"....ooo-errrr!!!
Is this something that can be discussed on a family forum, or is it PM-material?

Onsen Geisha....
The.....er....ah... type of entertainment is different. Usually involving an alcohol rubdown (from the inside), a game of baseball, and wearing your necktie on your forehead instead of your neck. This is just for starters. Not for wimps. Can't say more here.
John

Still the photos are unedited ...
Being unemployed is a big work!!!
all grocery shopping, banking , postal work are mine now
Of course the cooking part comes 3 times a day (
Further I need to go to HelloWork to show my face. To cityoffice etc etc...
Anyways will do my best to post asap..

BTW I do not know what difference between geisha, geiko, maico etc etc..
Its very strange but I dragged my husband and my daughter there along with me. There were few others families as well. We were standing there for around 30/35 mins along with too many other people+ photo enthusiastic. Those alert people used to watch in all directions and if any Geiko/Maiko seen everybody used to exclaim and shoot until she is gone!!!!!!!
PS. My poor hubby could not watch them well , as he was taking care of dear daughter!!!!!

After reading your posts I searched something on google and here is what I found

http://www.immortalgei​sha.com/faq_geisha.php