Japan Arrival. My 5th Time and thee best time yet!

So Sam from The Critical Slide Society and I left Sydney for Tokyo Saturday morning May 14th. We were supposed to leave on Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong, but the flight was delayed. As we arrived at the help desk, the C.P staff had already booked us on a Direct SYD-NAR flight on JAL. Not only were we high fiving coz it was a direct flight but arrived at 5pm instead of 9.30pm. Hooray!

My luggage. I'm all about the shoot the bags before and after, you always come back with so much more right? Especially from Japan, you get given a lot of stuff too. (The marshmallows and snakes alive were requested from my pregnant friend, Angie Takanami) oh and how's I bloody left my reflector at Tina's place! Grrr. Oh well now Nick and I will always have one to use in Tokyo.

Shit breakfast/lunch on JAL. Coz I want a block of cheese and a Tim Tam at 10am. I've always thought they had the best airline food, oh how they've changed. (on the way back is better)

Sam and Masa driving into Toks. Masa always use phone

Masa met Sam and I at Narita. No waiting around at all, straight on the freeway into Tokyo. The sun was blazing at sunset. It was my first time to arrive into Tokyo by car, usually its been trains or Airport Limousine (up right ha). Already felt like a different trip.

Masa and Sam dropped me off at Tina's place where the girls were waiting for me. Dinner was served then we went into Shibuya for a drink. I was sooooo exhausted and still sick so an early night was had.

Shibuya station. Used to be Much much brighter before the Tsunami. Most of the lights are off at night now to save energy. Looks less crazy thats for sure. Kinda makes you think about how much energy and power was used purely for advertising/marketing purposes.

My Tokyo bitches- Mish, Yuka and Tina!

Nike Skate Park + Meiji Shrine

On Monday 16th May, Tina and I took the bus into Shibuya then walked into Harajuku. We stopped at the new Nike skate park off Meji Dori. It runs behind Tower Records, one level up and along the Yamanote line. Looks pretty sick how the trains crusise past all the time. There's a definite 'inner city' movement, hype sorta feeling. The whole site is anally manicured, with rock climbing walls, small soccer field and apparently charging ¥200 for skaters to use the park. There's no Nike signage at all, which being Nike and in Japan- you'd think there'd definitely be advertising all over the place. Just wait and see I guess. Pretty shit though how the area used to be a massive 'home' for the homeless. So they've all had to relocate somewhere else. There's been a lot of up roar about it and people saying Nike will do some wack 'sub culture' like commercial, like I said.....just wait and see.

Click here for reports about Nike + homeless invasion

Now to lunch....hooray

Hot Soba, Tempura, Miso and some other thing that tasted amazing all for lunch in Harajuks

We walked to the Meiji Shrine in Yoyogi park. I have only been to Yoyogi for a wild 2 day Brazilian festival a few yrs back, never did I know there was a beautiful Shrine there. Tina says its where you'd come to chill out, being so peaceful, I could totally understand living in Tokyo you'd need some quiet escape. Funny to think how close its situated to crazy Harajuku and Shibuya.

Tina on the phone init

These are little blessings/prayers you purchase at the Temple. There's many different meanings so you pick the best one for you, keep it in your wallet or bag, something you have everyday to hold the prayer. They say to keep it for 1 year, then return it. Tina's had almost reached a year.......

How cute are these prayers? His heart goes out to the fish that died on that day, so sweet.

Tina and I skyped Nick (who was in cold Melbourne) at the cafe after. I got some Strawberry icecream.

Left the Shrine and made our way back to Hiro-o.....!

One Day we went to the SUMO!

My favorite thing about being in Tokyo is you cant plan anything. Everytime I've been there, my day seems to progressivly get better. Like this day- Tina and I woke up similar times, around 9am or so....she got a phone call from Mish and boom! 4 free tickets to see the SUMO at 3pm that day. I love it! Everyday no idea whats in store.....just be open and it'll come to you.

We were pretty close to the stage too. I like that you take your shoes off and your seats are small thin cushions on mats with a gold rail running around your small area. I have never heard Japanese yell and clap so much. It was awesome.

Tina, Michael + Mish

These boys were sitting next to us. Love that they're in business suits and everyone was eating this wafer icecream thinge?!

I was asked by a friend a week later if I could smell chicken and did I notice people eating fried chicken....I said ahhh No? He told me there's a chicken factory beneath the stadium hence why you can smell it and that its a "thing" to go to SUMO and eat fried chicken-

yeah....maybe.....No

How's Tina left her bag outside, she didnt realise straight away....we went looking for it. She asked a security guard who knew exactly which bag it was (had monkeys on it). He took us all the way (seemed like half way round the massive stadium) to the lost and found/security office. Funny to think the bag got so far so quickly. Tina had to fill out all these forms and ink her thumb print. The bag was there with everything in it, including the Y30,000 (AUS$330.00)she had just taken out prior. Only in Japan! Only in Japan would you get your bag back with everything in it!

After SUMO Teens, Mish and I had to ride the trains back to Hiro-o to get ready for Okinomiyaki dinner that night. On the subway I believe we were 6 levels or more in the ground......awesome when there's earthquakes all time still!

Tina just chillin', illin'

My FAVORITE pet store is in Roppongi right near Havana and the old Lime. I have spent many a night squealing over how cute they all are.

Japan 2011

I cant believe its come around so fricken fast! I fly out this Saturday 14th to Tokyo!!! Yeeeew!

Since the tsunami 2 months ago, I was real unsure about going back as one could imagine. Buuuuuut my friends who live there have assured me Japan is finally settling down, getting back to the norm, however still experiencing earthquakes (shit?!). I am nervous and excited to go see Japan after all that has happened...........

I am going to shoot for The Critical Slide Society for the 3rd time! I will be flat out shooting for artist Steven Harrington show in Harajuku May 17th. We have bump in May 19th, the Opening on the 20th then 2 days of Greenroom Festival which I am exhibiting at for the 1st time (excellent!)

Greenroom wont be the same without the majority of American and Aussie surfers like the last 2 years, but hey it'll still be fun all the same!

TCSS also have a show on May 24th too. Im gonna be crazy busy over there but super looking forward to it. No one goes to Japan to relax anyway (however a traditional onsen with my friend Angie in Ichinomiya will have to be done)

Oh! and I've been listening to a lot of Ray Barbee and Whitest Boy Alive lately too. Ray Barbee meets the Mattson 2 played Greenroom '09, so his music always brings me back to that time..........