About The Journal

Photo by: Sebastian Mayer

Navigation

Categories

• diary
• press
• japan
• ideas
• Illustration
• Design

Cherry blossoms Tokyo

Published 29th of Mar, 2009. Stored under diary

Once a year, people in Japan can take a bit of time to relax in the park and have a drink – problem is – most people do it on the same day.

Luckily there is a gigantic park next to my house, so this is where we would make our merriment. Staking out a spot near some trees and some people I vaguely know (I dare you to walk though the park and not see someone you know this time of year) we proceeded on the task at hand – getting blasted!

Read More

Mother!

Published 21st of Mar, 2009. Stored under diary

Waiting at arrivals in the airport is a strange experience. You are all these thousands of miles away, but yet at a selected time and place, you can meet anyone you like! All it takes is an email.

Christmas 2004 was the last time I saw my Mother. I was wondering what would be different. Funnily I got rather apprehensive to her arrival – we had already mapped out what we were going to do for these three weeks – but there’s always the chance that when people come to Japan they freak out. As a matter of fact I think it’s required. Also we would be sharing sleeping quarters for three weeks with her legendary snoring.

Read More

beach parties

Published 26th of Jul, 2008. Stored under diary

This July, I’ve spent every weekend at the beach. Mostly to get stung to buggery by jellyfish. Zushi beach is a short one hour journey from my part of Tokyo.

In my vain attempt to get a sun tan X pump at the gym I’ve so far succeeded in only going red and torturing myself.

I have met a few interesting people though.

30 today

Published 24th of Jun, 2008. Stored under diary

Was treated to a birthday dinner at my local pub. Lots of food and couples, presents etc. Didn’t go on for as long as I expected. Also, I seem to be having bad luck with the after effects of GF based birthday parties (second in a row). Next one…

freeze

Published 18th of Feb, 2008. Stored under diary

I never realised it could be this cold for so long!

I moved into my apartment just over 2 years ago, at that time there was bugger all furniture, just me and a sleeping bag. Soon after my boxes arrived from the UK. Now my apartment is stuffed with junk. I remember it being seriously cold back then, and the following year. However the following year I was working from another location, so the cold didn’t really affect me. That year, I promised myself I’d buy some kind of heater, as my air conditioner is useless. Well, this year, I failed once again, and come home to the Freeze.

Actually I have a certain amount of computer things to do when I get home, but it’s just too freaking cold. I end up hibernating under the covers! Too late to buy a heater now as next month it’s gonna get comfortable again no doubt. Next year, I promise myself!

Japanese christmas

Published 25th of Dec, 2007. Stored under diary

The trip was interesting, riding a rickety old tram up a mountain. Apparently it’s the second highest railway in the world, can you believe it! So the endless chatter of the robotic tour guide tape told me, so proud to be number two. Eventually I reached my destination on the side of the mountain, distant clouds of steam billowing from the hidden resorts stuffed randomly into the endless forest. Not so well hidden but majestically prominent was my hotel, clad in geisha girls and pre-war decor. That night I feasted on endless courses of Japanese food brought into my room by a kind old lady, things I’d never seen before being carefully levered into my mouth – bliss. Privately I changed into yukatta (a type of simple robe), to enter my private hot spring.

Read More

bank statement

Published 9th of Nov, 2007. Stored under diary

sometimes Japan is, well, nuts.

I went to the bank to get a statement on my account a few days ago, only to be told by a rather squat gentleman with dangerous nosehair that they can’t give me a statement. I was told to use the internet instead. Considering citibank’s internet banking is a joke, I told them to shove the site where the sun doesn’t shine and let me talk to an account advisor. Eventually I got to floor 2 of the shibuya citibank building, sidestepping the festooning nose haired gentleman who had up until this point been blocking my way, thanks to a silent but proactive member of staff. I was handed a ticket, special access!!

On level two of citibank I took my seat and waited my turn. After a few minutes I was allowed to talk to a human being who promptly informed me that they don’t “do” statements. The human being raised her arms to form the giant X symbol of no. Recognising this symbol to mean that I should get angry and pursue my right to a statement on my account, I turned my Japanese up a dial and demanded a statement or I would close my account. The human being had now lost the power of speech, and was being controlled remotely by robot using invisible wires, they collectively decided to print me a statement. Although, the beauty of this is they still had the last laugh… I wasn’t allowed to take it with me.

the new job, life, future

Published 30th of Oct, 2007. Stored under diary

Office is life is medicine for this jaded designer, who has been “on the road” for the past 2 years. With a plethora of new projects in the works, including my vision for the company homepage (something I often end up making when joining a new company!) this may well be a space to watch.

Read More

Surfing Pain

Published 27th of Aug, 2007. Stored under diary

Yesterday I went to the beach. You have to travel quite far out of Tokyo to find a decent beach, so I went to a place called onjuku. I have actually been wanting to go there for a long time, and this is probably the last decent weekend, as we enter summers decline.

Surfing was kinda eerie, just a bunch of guys sitting on their boards waiting for waves. I did catch a few, managed to ride one, then retired to BBQ. I’m always amazed at the self-automation of Japanese people. I had no idea what was going on, blindly moving from the beach to a BBQ spot next to a hostel. Most relaxed atmosphere one could ever ask for.

Probably time to get a car so I can do this more often.

Oh and the pain part of this title relates to my multiple bruises whilst taking a battering in the surf.

Mt Fuji conquered, phone broken

Published 17th of Jul, 2007. Stored under diary

if you are trying to get ahold of me, please try 03 3498 3085

Needless today, mt.Fuji hurt in all the right places. I took a rain free climb to the 8th outpost (80 mins from the summit) and bedded for the night, in order to catch the sunrise in the morning. The next day was just a wall of water with zero visibility. I got to the top and walked back down, due to the weather it felt fairly inconsequential to be up there. However, being able to say you’ve done it, or just thinking so, gives one a great sense of well being.

Preparing for Mt.Fuji

Published 11th of Jul, 2007. Stored under diary

I’m taking a trip to mt.Fuji on the 14th, I’m not sure whats it going to be like but preparing is a wildly varying mish mash of advice. Some people say take everything but the kitchen sink, others say travel light. I have no idea whats up there. Will there be snow? Ice? Will I freeze my balls off?

So I am taking a trip to get some “real” shoes on friday, considering I own what can only be described as “city” shoes.

I’m really psyched to be going up there, and watch the sunrise at the top.

29th birthday

Published 25th of Jun, 2007. Stored under diary

Sunday was my birthday, happily celebrated on saturday with some close friends.

We started off with 2 hours of food and drink, which seemed to pass by very quickly. Followed by darts, and karaoke. Drunken mess.

The following day I went to check out the last day of an exhibition in a place called odaiba, but the queues were so insane we decided to just hang out at a massive mall instead. Watched Pirates 3, ate food, drank, happy and content. Thanks for the gifts. I’m enjoying my Gerard Butler 2008 calendar!!

300

Published 11th of Jun, 2007. Stored under diary

Went to see 300 on saturday afternoon. Slightly gory and over the top but interesting and dark film. Really good art direction.

So we came out of the theatre (it’s the first day of screening) at roppongi hills and went for a coffee at tullys (next to banana republic).

Who was sitting right in front of us? Only the main actor from 300… Gerard Butler.

The girlfriend and I looked at him for ages, umming and arrring to if it really is him, because he did look slightly fatter and had no beard.

Finally I couldn’t take it anymore and went over to talk to him. It was him. He humored me a bit as to his identity but was indeed humble and down to earth. We shook hands and got the hell out of there. Then spent the rest of the day in awe and shock.

injury

Published 13th of Mar, 2007. Stored under diary

I managed to fall of my bike yesterday evening, after colliding with a post.

My left foot, both wrists and my chin (!) are a bit worse for ware. I actually landed on my chin and hands when my foot got trapped by one of these ridiculous metal bollards on the street near me. Lucky I didn’t land on my teeth, like a friend of mine once experienced.

Irony is, I can’t walk on my foot at all, but riding my bike is no problem!

Ikea part 2

Published 3rd of Mar, 2007. Stored under diary

Took a trip down to Ikea in Yokohama today, and to my surprise they use HP display computers!

Way back in November 2004 I bought myself a HP laptop, only for it to fry it’s self some 14 months later ( Buy / I lost a year of diary entries so the Fry moan is gone)

So while traversing the maze of Ikea, doing my best not to get annoyed by the hordes of happy love birds, my earlier Ikea post came to mind. In that entry I mulled over the idea that maybe it would make sense for Ikea and Apple Inc to team up, selling iMacs from Ikea. Looks like HP have got in on the act!

Read More

NDS homebrew with passcard3 & M3Perfect

Published 20th of Feb, 2007. Stored under diary, ideas

I live out here in Tokyo, and despite what you might imagine, it is very hard to get ahold of homebrew kit out here. There are some dodgy shops here and there, but often they are geeky and un-comunicative about what they sell due to legal reasons.

So, out for a walk trying to find a dreamcast with my friend in Akihabara last weekend, I spotted a shelf full of NDS “stuff”.

I enquired to the geeks behind the counter about what hardware I need but they told me that they cannot give me any information about how it all works! They even told me that even if I do buy any of the kit I can’t take it back or have a receipt!

Read More

pimps

Published 29th of Jan, 2007. Stored under diary

Got invited to a “pimp’s & ho’s” party this Saturday, in some blokes apartment in Roppongi (Tokyo).

Lots of pimp’s, not so many ho’s. Unfortunately. I think with the Japanese dress code you see around Shibuya and Roppongi, most girls look close to the western image of ho’s anyway, thusly a failure to understand was apparent. So we ended up in a party with many evening dress ladies, standing amongst men in chest hair wigs and gold chains / rings / shades.

Shooting for Summer!

Published 15th of Jan, 2007. Stored under diary

Spent the whole day art directing in Jingu today on a shoot for the Salon Boutique Spring / Summer collection. Model was from Germany.

We interviewed the models a few day previously, it’s was a strange “cinderella” ordeal, as the models needed to fit into a size 25 shoe! (Japanese shoe size is in centimeters) Only 3 of the 11 or so models made it, goodness knows how these bounding amazonian gazelles were going to make a size 25. The zoo keepers scuttled them off as swiftly as they scuttled in.

The photographer put some of the shots up on his site, eventually they will be incorporated into my illustrations, in a similar way to the Autumn and Winter shoot we did for the same client.

Basement Jaxx secret gig

Published 11th of Jan, 2007. Stored under diary

Myself and a guy called Jack went to a secret after show gig at the Ruby Room here in Shibuya, Tokyo. From 2400hrs.

Totally un-publicised, they didn’t play anything of their own, was fun!

winter 2006 – new coat

Published 11th of Dec, 2006. Stored under diary

Santa bought me a new coat. Not that there was anything wrong with my old one, except for a few holes here and there, it kept me warm and that was the main thing. Apparently it wasn’t good enough to be seen in, and thusly a new one must be purchased. The old one was referred to as the “sleeping bag” by my previous co-workers. Indeed, it could be used as a sleeping bag. This one is made from real coyote… cheers mate!

Looks like I won’t get much use out of it this week. Although Japan is entering the insanely cold season where pesky Russia blows down upon us, I’ll be tucked up in the office 24/7 with projects.

I hope it snows again this year.