Japan

There’s Nothing New Under The Sun. It’s Never What You Do But How It’s Done.

Dear Ashida Sensei,
This one’s for you!
Thank you for reading my blogs. I miss you and I miss Japan very very much, too!

Yesterday, I received a jam-packed envelope containing letters from my ex Junior High School students in Japan. Ashida Sensei, thank you for initiating them. I have always admired you. You once told me that you teach because you feel an obligation to open your student’s minds to the outside world. At the time, I thought your statement was beautiful. Today, with the heartbreaking circumstances of our world, I understand it as incredibly necessary, too. Thank you for selflessly shaping our future. Funnily enough, lately I have been receiving some negative opinions (and unfortunately from those dear to me) about my work. The education of children is not adequately valued in our society. These attitudes have left me unhappy, thinking that perhaps I should have studied something different, something more reputable like medicine or law. Fortunately, other positive forces in my life have rescued me from the quicksand of such negative thoughts. One beautiful lady in particular pointed me to the following quote by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet Founder of the Bahá’í Faith:

Among the greatest of all services that can possibly be rendered by man to Almighty God is the education and training of children… It is, however, very difficult to undertake this service, even harder to succeed in it. I hope that thou wilt acquit thyself well in this most important of tasks, and successfully carry the day, and become an ensign of God’s abounding Grace; that these children, reared one and all in the holy Teachings, will develop natures like unto the sweet airs that blow across the gardens of the All- Glorious, and will waft their fragrance around the world. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. pp. 133-134)

So, “the education and training of children” is not only the greatest service of all time but also one that is very difficult to do and to succeed in. Don’t get me wrong, I am not tooting my own horn. Rather, I wish to acknowledge the true importance of a teacher’s work.

I would like to finish with my favourite Japanese Proverb:

Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.
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Making Great Art Is About Being More Of Who You Are

Sorry my last post was a whiny one. I’m quite good at that, whining. So much so that my primary school teacher, my Payne, told me, as I whinged my way through the wet mud on school camp, that he’d never met someone so complaining and impatient before. Though in my defence (and his) the same teacher gave me the class diligence award at the end of the year. So, I am complaining but I am persistent, too. Yes, a woman of many qualities. Alas, don’t you think I have good reason to complain? Harry seems to think so. You know, Harry from When Harry Met Sally? He takes the words straight out of my mouth when in his epic declaration of love he says: “when you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”Image-2
So, I keep busy…Image (1)
I bake. Image-1
I shop.
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I work.
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And I work some more (watching Japanese movies for my next Savvy article).
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And I reassure myself that this too shall pass. For almost one year has passed since mummy and daddy came to visit me in rural Japan where my life was so very different to what it is today.
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Trying their first ramen. image79
Enjoying sakura (cherry blossom) season. Aimage123
And watching their daughter imitate Mimasaka’s best sushi chef.
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Japan Assorted

Odaiba, Tokyo:
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Those boats are restaurants. Romantic, right?!
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A big game arcade.
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Sumo game which I played and lost (sad face).image[3]image[2]
Japan obligatory, purikura  (or in my language, “sticky photos”) where you can thin your face, enlargen your eyes, change their color and much much more!
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Japan famous Kobe duo performing at Odaiba, Tokyo:
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Tokyo art students’ exhibition. Is there anything more beautiful than seeing creativity at work?
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First time trying Taco Bell (in Tokyo-go figure). Verdict? Good! Much prefer the soft tortilla to the crunchy corn one though.
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I’m not sure if you know, but I take all of my photos with my iPhone so I apologise for the low quality of the night photos. I hope you can still see the purple reflection of the ferris wheel though.
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Osaka somewhere:
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Delicious Pakistani food and immaculate service. Click HERE for more details.
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One last time at Osaka station:
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My favorite, Moku Moku:
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Suita Green Place, Oasis supermarket:
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In other words, Japan has it all!

Beautiful People Do Not Just Happen

Do you remember THIS? When I introduced my favorite illustrator whose work I randomly (and luckily) came across at a small bookstore in Osaka station last year? Well, I added him on Facebook, declared my love to him and begged him to meet me in Tokyo the other day. Mitsuie-san is an incredibly humble (as well as talented) artist. He couldn’t believe how much I loved him. We spent the evening discussing his work, life and inspirations. As well as taking an hour train to meet Minako and I, he gifted me a big bunch of postcards featuring all of my favourite pieces of his which I have shared on my blog and social media since I have known him. God willing, we will be collaborating in the near future so watch this space! To check out more of his work, click HERE.image[2]image[1]image[1]image
When this precious little girl and I met two months ago, we both felt an instant connection. Aoi is so sweet it hurts. And though we couldn’t communicate more than a few words, we spent the entire day making origami (paper art) and playing on the hammock together.
Last week, she and her mother visited me in Osaka. I was so blessed to see her radiant face again. It’s true, children are the light of the world!image[5]image[1]image[2]imageimage[3]image[4]
I made a big batch of fresh granola for Minako and I’s Tokyo trip because I didn’t want to be eating out for breakfast, lunch AND dinner. After our one night stay at a hotel which came free with our shinkansen (bullet train) ticket (thanks to Mina’s amazing organisation skills) we took the remainder to her parents’ place – our accommodation for the next two nights and days. Mina’s mom tried (my) muesli for the very first time in her life and happened to love it. So on my last day, this happened: a big bowl of delicious. After, she (Mina’s sweet mother) wouldn’t stop thanking me for it. She said she thinks she is going to lose a lot of weight (hehe).
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“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” ― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Tokyo Had Everything But You

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A rainy summer festival.
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Senso-ji temple.
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My lucky fortune – now ain’t that the truth? I had a really hard time living in the Japanese country side and working in their education system but now, apparently (hopefully) all that’s gone.
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A pancake/pikelete thingy majig filled with anko (sweet red bean paste) and matcha (green tea) ice-cream.
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A maid cafe waitress hoping for business.
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This is Akihabara. A popular Tokyo district mostly famous for its many electronic stores.
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Ramen. image[4]image[5]image[6]image[4]image[3]
image[2]image[3]I really enjoyed this colourful district and I kept thinking how much my father (the ex electrician) would also.

The More I See, The Less I Know For Sure

Despite the bright lights and overpopulation, Shinjuku (housing the world’s busiest railway station) is surprisingly quiet. Over-photographed Shibuya crossing is surprisingly small in size and Harajuku isn’t bursting with Harajuku girls. This is why travelling is important. We need to SEE for ourselves.

I have decided what I like most of Tokyo is its diversity. Diversity is the life of this city. From its tacos to its art aquariums, it’s buzzing. image[9]
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The view from our free hotel – thanks to Mina’s amazing organising skills. image[3]image[2]
Guzman y Gomez – an Australian Mexican-food chain in Japan (go figure).
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100% organic milk soft-serve from SOFTTREE in Laforet Harajuku.
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Harajuku desu.
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Over 8000 goldfish.
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The happiest place on earth.
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I can’t stop. I won’t stop.
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Shibuya desu.