Final: The Most Important Things

Changing impressions, honestly I cannot fill this blog post about how my impressions of Japan have changed during my time here, because they haven’t changed, sure there have been many things I haven’t wanted to do while in Japan that I haven’t been able to do because of a busy schedule and a lack of time, but this hasn’t really changed the way I perceive Japan.

However I have come to realize what holds the most importance to me in Japan, and that is of course is not only limited to my Japanese friends, but also my other foreign friends at Kansai Gaidai, without doubt one of the main benefits of doing study at Kansai Gaidai is that you get to make friends from all over the world, but that turns into a slight negative when you need to return to you home country.

Soon, actually within the next few weeks I need to return to Australia, and this is something that I am not particularly looking forward to, because as much as I like my lifestyle here, the music, fashion culture and all of that fun stuff, I know I am going to miss all my amazing friends here to a point where it will be painful.

I really can’t thank everyone enough for making this experience of mine so amazing.

So instead of filling this blog with lies on how my perception of Japan has changed, I will instead fill it with pictures that represent the memories of my friends that I will carry with me for life.

Ryota

This is my friend Ryota, and he was the first person who posed for this photo set for me, to me Ryota is a important friend, in a way he is kind of like a cousin to me, he has a cheerful personality and always laughing, he can also be a bit of a goof ball, and loves to tease me, but he is always willing to help and really is a great friend

Yusuke (Aqua Fresh)

Next up is Yusuke, also known as Aqua fresh, I can say without hesitation that this guy is insane, you can’t be around him for more than 5 minutes without him saying or doing something hilarious that leaves you in stiches, he is honest about everything, to the point where it’s sometimes a little too much, but underneath all of the dirty jokes he is a really good friend

Soushi

Soushi, honestly, my friendship with him has been a wild ride, but in the end I appreciate having had him as a friend, we tend to argue a lot, but perhaps that’s because we have spent too much time together, but there has been many times he has helped me when I really needed it, at times his sense of humour is golden and he can be a really kind person.

Yuji

Yuji is a friend through mutual friends, so I have only had the chance to hang out with him several times, but I would still like to think I can consider him a friend, he has a friendly personality that shines and a beaming smile that really stands out.

Ayaka

This is the second time Ayaka will make an appearance in this blog, as she was also the subject of my portrait entry, but again I can’t stress just how much of a wonderful person she is, I can say without a doubt that Ayaka is easily one of the people I will miss the most in Japan, she is kind, fun honest and just awesome, Japan would be a lot less epic place if she wasn’t here

Taishu

Taishu, really what can I say about this boy, I feel like if by any chance that if he ever read this he would tease me non stop, but along with Ayaka, I would consider Taishu one of my best friends in Japan, we can talk about the most random topics and I will never get bored, we tease each other and he will often tease me to the point of embarrassment, but somehow I often end up spilling my secrets to him giving him even more power to tease me, and on top of this we are always hitting and kicking each other, and I can talk him into almost anything (I once convinced him to let me do makeup on him) so to me he is kind of like a little brother, because at the end I see signs that he cares, I often say about Taishu “he is a friend that I would trust with my life, but not my homework” I think this sums him up well

Taiki

Taiki is a interesting guy, along with Ryosuke (the next picture) the pair is like a comedy duo, Taiki seems low key and relaxed but has moments when he is pricelessly hilarious, especially during karaoke, and even more so when trying to quit smoking and doing a terrible job at it.

Taiki is one of those people who just seems to be effortlessly funny and cool.

Ryosuke

Ryosuke is usually pretty stylin, unlike Taiki (I hardly ever see them apart so when I talk about them I tend to talk about them as a pair) he really seems to put a lot of effort into his appearance (not to say Taiki doesent look cool, he just does it more naturally) I remember one of my first thoughts about Ryosuke was “omg he is wearing the same brand name jacket as me” and naturally it’s a damn expensive brand name, but he is also a really fun guy.

All of this people have had a big influence of my life in Japan, unfortunately there are a hand full of other really important friends that I haven’t been able to get their picture like this, or that I will get within the next week, so perhaps once I return to Australia I might update this blog two last times, one time to add more of my Japanese friends who I have yet to take photos of like these, as well a a special entry for my foreign friends at Kansai Gaidai

And just as a final explanation all of this photos are taken as a photo project I am doing for my own happiness, so I have fond memories of all the amazing people I meet throughout my life, I intend to continue this for many years, if possible into old age, because I think through these photos I can capture the personality and love of the people I adore and love.

To end this I will briefly move back to the subject of changes.

Although I don’t believe I have changed my perception on Japan, I believe that Japan has changed my perspective of myself (I do think I have changed quite a few bit)  as of the day I writing this I have been away from home for 278 (maybe I counted wrong) 10 of which days I was in Taiwan, and the rest in Japan.

Me and a friend at the airport before leaving Australia

This is me just before coming to Japan, my hair colour shifted between blonde and brown, I weighed about 68kg, I didn’t wear makeup and didn’t put much focus into my appearance or the way I dressed because I didn’t really see the point in it, I was a little shy and lacked confidence in a lot of ways, I couldn’t really hold even a basic conversation in Japanese, had no tattoo’s, had a great love for music but no outlet for it.

Me now

And me now, I think my sense of fashion style has improved leaps and bounds, I went from not knowing how to apply makeup beyond basic foundation and blush, to getting good at makeup to the point where I feel slightly uncomfortable if I leave the house without it, lately my hair is often dyed pink, blue, purple and blonde, I have a lot more confidence in myself and not as shy anymore, I can now carry conversation to a certain level in Japanese and I have four tattoos and about to get my fifth one before returning to Australia.

So I don’t think Japan has changed the way I perceive myself, but it has changed me, but in the end, the most important things are friends that will accept you no matter what.

Japan is not the places you go, the things you do, or the food you eat….it’s the friends you make.





Myself and my speaking partner Rie







Myself and Ayaka

Visual Art: Tattoos

This is it, this is my final free post on this blog.

And very possibly the second to last post on this blog in general.

So I really wanted to use this entry to focus on a strong interest of mine, so originally this blog was going to take several different forms, I was going to see if I could take pictures of the musicians that I often listen too, or I was going to take street fashion snaps of all the stylish fashionable people I see when wondering down the streets of Amemura and Shinsaibashi.

But then I decided I should use this chance to focus on a set of photos that I am particularly proud of.

Tattoo’s in Japan

As part of my final grade for this class [Visual Anthropology Of Japan] I decided to do a photo exhibition in place of the end of semester exam, simply because I hate doings tests and exams and like taking photos, and when initially needing to choose a subject topic for my photo exhibition one of the first things that came to my mind was tattoo’s, specifically Japanese tattoos.

When I first came to Japan, I had no tattoos and no real thoughts, opinions or desire to get any tattoo’s, however now I currently have four tattoo’s and a booking to get a fifth tattoo next month before I return to my country, I am glad that this sudden interest and rather strong addiction to the art of tattoos occurred while in Japan, because I have quickly learnt that the style of tattoos in Japan are amazing.

So here are a few of my favourite photos from my photo exhibition.

The first photo is easily one of my favourites, more so because this is one of the many tattoo’s belonging to the lady who does all of my tattoos.

With her, you can tell its something important, every tattoo would need to have some meaning and be a work of art in its own right, so not only does she give amazing tattoos, but has them aswell

For the second picture, I won’t stray from Chopstick Tattoo (the salon where I get my tattoos), the next picture is one of the many tattoos of the receptionist, all of her tattoos are amazingly done and have such good designs and use of colour and shading.

This picture was one of the many taken at a music concert, for confidentiality reasons I can drop any hints on who this may be, but from the moment I saw these tattoos I loved them, they are all quite contrasting but still somehow manage to blend together well

The next picture is not only one of my favourites, but a favourite of many other people I have shown, naturally because it’s a really well done Japanese dragon tattoo, the quality in the design is stunning which really makes it stand out, once again this tattoo was taken at a concert, so no hints on the owner, but I will say he did seem very proud of this tattoo, but he has every right to be

This picture was taken after a music event, but unlike the other photos related to music, this tattoo does not belong to a band member, but a fan. I think it is a really interesting design, the simple black tone of it goes well, it’s very kind of simple but stylish, I think in a good way, it probably says a lot about the owner of the tattoo

Yet another one taken at a concert, so once again no hints, but I will say that this time it belongs to a female band member. I do love the simplicity but beauty of this design; I think it does really show the contrast between female tattoos and male tattoo when done in this style in Japan.

And one more taken at a concert, in all honesty, wolf designs are kind of common, because of the meaning and qualities that many people attach to the idea of a wolf, it has become a well wide popular tattoo choice, but I must say I do like this particular wolf, it is really well done, and up close you can see some amazing detailing, it does indeed suit the owner

And lastly, this last photo was taken during a visit to a host bar (it’s a interesting experience) this particular host had several tattoos, this as well as one on his hand where my favourites.

In conclusion I think tattoos are becoming a important part of visual representation among Japans youth, they are starting to become a fashionable way to express oneself, and not necessarily a taboo.

Country – Inaka

For this blog post, I will write and share pictures of something that is very important to me, both in Japan and my home country of Australia.

And that is country towns!

Old houses, Mountains and Rice paddy fields, Its a country view

I think there will always be a slight stigma attached with country areas, that they are backward, slow, and less intelligent than their bigger city counter parts, but although life in the country side does tend to roll by a little more slowly, the truth is that country side area’s are often blessed with kind people, beautiful scenery and fresh air.

For Golden Week this past week, I was lucky enough to visit the small country prefecture of Fukui.

(Hence why this entry is a little late) so I will focus this topic on Fukui specifically.

In Japan, if known at all, Fukui is renowned for being one of the very must rural prefectures in Japan.

Most of the towns within this prefecture have a small population (for Japanese standards) and relies rather heavily on the farming industry, so in Fukui you will see many rice paddy fields.

Rice paddy

In some ways, Fukui is more what a lot of foreigners would expect to see when coming to Japan in the search of traditional Japan.

There are still many old building, most of which are well maintained and handing down along families for generations

A old traditional family household

Along with the old houses and buildings, Fukui maintains many small old temples and shrines, all of which are maintained beautifully and very well cared for.

Naturally its a popular place

An old tea ceremony house

Tradition

Also because Fukui is very heavily surrounded by mountains, it means that there are many many many tunnels that you must pass through if driving around the prefecture

One of the many tunnels in Fukui

But in conclusion I think that Fukui, being so very rural, is charming, if it wasn’t a rural prefecture it would not be as great as it is.

It is the fact that it is a country side prefecture that allows for a more relaxing life, which allows old buildings to be maintained instead of flashy new buildings, hat allows natural nature to exist instead of a sea of houses and developments.

My host mother, who is orginally from Fukui

My host family dog, who loves being in Fukui

But perhaps my thoughts are a little biased, because not only did I grow up in a small country town in Australia, but this is actually my second trip to Fukui, since four years ago I lived in Fukui briefly, in which time I quickly considered a town in Fukui to be my Japanese hometown.

My first time