Day 8 Sunday, our second day off and our only chance to go shopping, the group meets at noon in the lobby of the hotel. all but J dog, Hugh and I go shopping. We head off to buy sake, first at a department store which turns out to have a large selection of sake. We figure out what to buy after a long time of discussion and questions to other folks in the aisles. The next stop is to get J dog a Tokyo Giants baseball hats, the only place is at the Tokyo dome for every sports store in Tokyo carries American major league team hats only. The heat is down right brutal I could be in an African jungle. The Tokyo dome is packed with people waiting for the game of the day to start j dog finds his hat and we head to purchase sake glasses. J dog and I depart from Hugh who is hooking up with friends for a night of drinking. J dog and I head to a high end neighborhood the SOHO of Tokyo that we had visited the night of Italian food at Africa. We stop at a French cafe for refreshments and escape from the heat, I try a new beer from Tahiti . After an hour of cool relaxation we head back into the heat and discover that the shopping in the hood is all westernized stuff nothing tradition Japanese which to this point I realize globalization has taken hold. After walking for a couple of hours we find nothing to buy, but enjoyed the amazing hood for all its richness and that can buy. We navigate the trains system the first time without a guide back to the hotel. I shower up and head to eat ssushi, I bump into mike at the sushi bar and chow down on Torro only 4 bucks here.

Mike and I head over to an office complex behind the train station that he explored the night before. The architecture of the complex is amazing five or six sky scrapers clustered around a park with covered walkways. The only way to describe it is to make reference to Akria and Ghost in the Shell movies, just huge buildings with strong lines and perfect complementary lighting. This society is amazing all this metal tile and glass put together to create a minimalist's complex that must have cost a fortune, it is the most amazing balance of architecture. Mike and I head back to the hotel were the bed just came at me .

Day 7 My first day off we are all just exhausted the long week of work and heat has knocked us out J-dog was the first to pass out on the train. We took a hour long train ride to the country side for a group tour to a temple and small towns I have no idea of the names of the places I can't read the signs. The small town was nice but I have been noticing a thing about cats with the Japanese there are cat images everywhere bowels,glasses, posters, warning signs on trains, just about anything you through an image on there's a cat. I asked Hugh about the cats and the response was I have no idea why you ask me i have not lived here for 4 years. I will find out this cat thing it just to weird. We worked through the town that was a tourist haven and wedding Mecca because of its heritage and large temple. The streets were full of stores with traditional Japanese items, but pretty much over price chopsticks for $50 bucks and some cool stuff I can get in chinatown in NYC. We stopped at noodle restaurant that Hugh knew, had one of the nicest bottles of sake in my life and the noodles that were out of this world. It was nice to sit down and enjoy a leisurely lunch my first since I have arrived. We moved on to the temple and I could feel the sake, it was like walking on air. The temple compound was serene and a breath of fresh air from the mad rush of Tokyo and the office, the humidity was past 100% but the beauty of the place made the sweat worth it. I sat down on a rock bench and stared out over the landscape listening to birds for sometime. Photographed a monk with my rolliflex taken my time to enjoy the exchange. On the temple compound was a modern art museum with three galleries, I paid 8 bucks and saw some very interesting oil paintings. The paintings were to best describe them seeing light through your eyelids, try it you'll see shades of pink,white, and purple. The titles of the paintings were light in the wilderness, dawn, light again, it made think of my sister who is legally blind and a tinge of homesickness came over me. I at the moment wished to be home with family and friends or have them here with me to enjoy this. I joined the group again and headed to the train by this point every step was a wet one my shirt was drenched in sweat we stopped at a liquor store and bought a couple local brewed beer, you can drink in the streets here without a paper bag. Hugh and I polished of a beer each walking down the street to the station. On another train heading to see a Buddha. Mike Mount and I broke away from the group and strolled down the street discussing the layout of buildings and the wish to live in a minimalist home. As we were walking down a sign caught my eye I remember a documentary on the Nazi symbols and the swastika had been borrowed from the far east odd to see on a small street in a small town in Japan. Mike and I walk into what we thought was a sake bar turned out to be a sake jar store. The owners of the store were very nice and with broken Japanese and broken English we talked for sometime and Mike end up buying a beautiful jug. The owner thanks us for the conversation and purchase gave me a gift of a small sake cup with the symbol for summer in it, I believe it was one of the nicest gifts given to me by a stranger. Rejoining the group we head back to the train to meet with Jay Asano and some other Japanese from work for dinner. Jay had chosen Korean barbecue in Tokyo, if your not familiar with Korean barbecue the tables have grills in them and food is brought to the table and you cook it. After dinner Jay took us all out for drinks a cab ride to the bar, throught the door of a hotel to a small hotel bar. The hotel and bar are known for two things one being 250 years old the oldest hotel in Tokyo and for being the headquarters of general MacArthur. Unfortunately the small bar was packed and we moved to a jazz bar across the street which turn out to be a jazz bar and something out of Lost in Translation. I placed an order for the last round that i wanted to pay witht he waiter who billed me the entire evening at the bar 300 worth, lost in translation I'm just glad I can expense it. Leaving thr bar we walked through Tokyo's chinatown which looked close to pretty much every other Chinatown in the world. We managed to grab the last train before that line closes until the morning. We were tired and in a slap happy mode and like tradition with the group every major event we work together someone's got to get naked in public for a picture this time it was Mike's turn

Day 6 Friday Breakfast needed a little something closer to home to started the day Japanese version of American breakfast. Another day of meetings and powerpoints, I am holding on only with knowledge that this is the last day of powerpoints other wise I would look for knife to cut my wrists. I have been drinking coffee like water here to keep awake, I switched to chilled coffee because of the heat and have been drinking BOSS coffee, it caught my eye with the image of Hemingway on it. The coffee is not bad here except for the Starbucks everywhere eight beans and a drop of water burnt. The day ended with a shopping trip to eletronic stores, nothing really to interesting, all my eletronic needs are filled at the moment so I was kind of bored. The group was then taken to a shopping district, I have not seen anything that has caught my eye here to buy. What is cool hip and in style in the majority of the shops were American jeans t-shirts and just anything that is American culture, I thought about buying an I love NY tshirt just tell people I got it in Tokyo. We had a group dinner in an Italian restaurant called Africa, I still can't make the relation but the chopstick were held in an zebra stripped holder. The Italian food only had a loose resemblance to Italian, was ok but not enough to hold one over. Train ride back to the hotel and crashing in to bed

Day 5 Thursday, took a different route to the office from the train stop, and found a surf shop, the area is miles from the ocean. Another morning of powerpoints, I want to find the sick masochist's fucker who invented the progam and knee him in the balls. After a morning of meeting the foreign visitors and I were taken to a studio to shoot images. A long cab ride and many shared stories of the night before advantages limited as they were was exchanged, the Dutch folks end up in a section of Tokyo called Ripponge a dodge night life section known for the red light services and bars and clubs. Jim one of the young guys from Canada tagged along with the Dutch contingency, had one to many drinks and was trying to hook up with a women who was not a women but a transvestite. After being told repeatedly look at the feet it finally sunk in that indeed the chick was a dude.Of course with the information at hand after the cab ride the American group tortured Jim with songs of hands, feet and toes.

The studio was located in the Beverly Hills of Tokyo, very apparent with the Alfa Romeo dealership on the corner of the block. Upon entering the studio as the custom we had to take our shoes off and put on plastic slippers two sizes to small for any of us. The set was pre-lit a very flat bright set, the crew knew their stuff.I had experience the set up upon my last visit. The light in Japan due to its location on the planet is very flat and a cooler colored light then what we have back in New York or in California. In New York the light is warmer and due to the sky scrapers there is more shadows and contrast, and Cali the light is very warm and even perfect for shoots. The Japanese light for pictures, how they perceive light which in this country is bright and flat. I was given free range to relite which I did, the communication was a bit difficult, but after I moved a light and changed diffusions and gels the crew followed me. I had a very beautiful model to work with who was very professional I think one of the most professional models I have ever worked with. I did three light set ups and three wardrobe changes with her and got some great shots. The crew was taken notes on my work which I found very flattering to say the least. Today was the first day since I arrived here that I was out of the windowless meeting room in the day time. My synapses were not firing properly today do to the heat and long work days I shot what I thought was a roll of film in five minutes only to discover that there was no film in the camera. The crew and all those in the studio got a good laugh at the mistake, I polished off three rolls of film and about 150 digital shots by the end of the day. After all the formal thanks and good byes the group of us walked to the local trains station which was a good 15 min walk through some of the nicest homes of Tokyo. The sweat pouring down me and the down right exhaustion that I felt, sushi once again came to mind. I asked Hugh if he would join me for dinner which he excepted, got back to the room showered laid down for 1o min and out the door. Hugh and I went to the same restaurant as Mike Mount and I had gone the previous night, I left myself in Hugh's arm when it came to ordering, I told him I'll eat anything you order. I am getting so spoiled on sushi here. Hugh ordered stuff I have never heard of or seen before, after proclaiming how good it was Hugh look at me queerly and said the sushi was average at best. I have eaten sushi at Nobu, Tomo, and many places in la, and the sushi at this little restaurant near the hotel is damn good in my opinion. But as Hugh has told me wait and see in a couple of days from now he will take me to one of the best sushi places for dinner.

Day 4 Wednesday, woke up this morning to find blue skies, headed out the door to the train station for breakfast. I think this was the first time I ate fish for breakfast. Today for some reason there are more people about I mean more as in thousand more than in the past days the sidewalks, train station, and the trains was just jam packed make moving around stressful. It seem like I have been here for weeks, but I have only been here four days with six more to go. I have been focusing on the little things that just strike me odd culturally like the weird American jingles in the train station this morning was Some where over the rainbow done with bells to announce the train doors closings. The strange magazines about photographs of cats giving love advice. I spent the majority of the daylight hours in a room without windows being shown powerpoints in Japanese. Today was a little less painful but still very long. I drank another eight rounds of coffee wishing I tattooed eyes on my eyelids to fool people that I am awake. Not much to mention on the business day I feel like I am Japanese my entire day is work commuting to and from work. I finally got to eat sushi with Mike Mount at a restaurant close to the hotel. Just as I was ordering at the sushi bar the chef placed a fish dish with the fish still breathing it freaked me out, but assured me that this place is so fresh the fish are not even dead when they serve it. Order an assortment of sushi melted in my mouth, hands down one of the best sushi I have ever eating at a price that was so cheap that Mike and I thougth the check was wrong 43 bucks for a large amount of good quality sushi. The starter course to the right, Oh yeah I love sushi. Fading fast I went up to the top floor of the hotel to check out the view before retiring, it was well worth holding off sleep.

Day 3 Tuesday the paper reports a typhoon is coming it is raining cats and dog, the low grade sake from last night hurts a little. I hit the noodle bar for breakfast which is playing Hawaiian music noodle bars are ubiquitous in Japan. Jet lagged and a bit hung over and now wet leaves me wishing to go back to bed. The commute is uneventful but I notice I must be the only person in Tokyo without an umbrella and its a bad day to wear white.

The meetings start and are again conducted in Japanese first then translated into English. The Japanese portion seems to me to be a lot of information but when translated its a sentence or two on any subject. I am amazed at the incredibly smart engineers that somebody figured at to manipulate electrical pulses to create images and then shrunk it down. The meetings are running at a very slow pace and it is custom for the present to repeat every line item on the powerpoint, it is taken its toll on us.I believe if there is a purgatory God design it to be a Japanese powerpoint presentation i can feel myself aging. I have drank 8 coffees one ice cream bar and handfuls of M&M candy to stay awake, but some folks just give up and put their heads down.
The day has slowed to a stand still, I have been craving sushi all day I am going to make an attempt to put some in my belly when i get out of the office.

The rain is coming down heavily you can hear it hitting the windows, should a fun walk back tot he hotel.

Day two Monday in Japan the hardest part of this trip is over the travel day. I some what have my sense back, I don't have full Jedi strength, but I am able to focus. The 20 minute commute to the Canon's office is by far the most interesting part of the day outside of the Canon group I am with I am the only westerner on my commute allowing me a glimpse into Japanese life. Being the only westerners on the metro makes us a novelty and something to stare at. I brought with me my Rolliflex camera which because of its age and it being an uncommon item gives me and icebreaker with strangers on the metro allowing me to photograph them which I got to shots off.

Upon arriving to the office gifts and greeting are done with within an hour or so. Now its a work week starting off with meetings on the weeks schedule and training on new camcorders. The meetings are conducted in Japanese first then translated into english making the simplest presentation doubled its length in time. Mr Jay Asano my form boss in USA now second in command of video in Japan Inc walks into the room and " David you look different i don't know in a good way but you look younger". My last trip to Japan which was last year, my head was shaved and now I have long hair and most of the Japanese that i met last year don't recognize me. At the end of the days meeting a reception is held. The reception has a nice spread of food and abundant amount of sake and beer. Jay pulls me a side "David your presence is required after the reception at the sake bar, not a fancy place and sake not very good i will see you there. The majority of the usa group is escorted out of the building to go back to the hotel leaving me and three Canadians and a couple Japanese salesmen to head off to the sake bar. The bar is local hang out a kind of dive serving local brew sake which is milky white do to it being unrefined. I believe it to be 8:30pm when we leave the office with a 10min walk to the bar so early enough to catch the tale end of the after work drinking crowd who immediately inquire where we are from. Jay cruises in with a couple of folks from the office and starts ordering the local brew which is not bad but something if not watch could bring pain tomorrow. I hit the the bar bathroom to fine what i must say was a culture shock, the toilet or there lack of one. I was thankful that i did not have to do more than pee for it could have been more than just a culture shock.After about several rounds and ten fags we depart company to head back to the hotel. My trusty Rolliflex in hand and a buzz I shoot a roll off of strangers i walk to and ask to photograph, and not one person turns me down. The process of taken a photograph with the camera requires me to use my light meter first then carefully focus whine the camera and then click. The ritual fascinates people and they ask to look at the camera and speak with me about photography. The Japanese escort Hugo translates the interaction The Canadians humor me with my constant stops and conversations with locals to the point that they to start to point people out for me to photograph. I retire to the hotel bar for a sake with Hugo and discuss work children and life in Japan. Fading fast my head hits the pillow heavily thus ending the day.

Postings from the future, it's Tuesday evening in Japan. Being inspired by a couple of friend's blogs I have placed fingers to keys and record my experience here to share with you.

This was my view for the 14 hour trip to Tokyo, 5 bottles of sake three movies one book and no sleep I arrived. I could not tell if was legally sane or not, but the custom agent gave me an odd look. Grabbed my gear left terminal 2 to go to terminal 1 to meet the Canon crew coming in from the states. I step out of the terminal into pea soup, broke a full body sweat its hotter here than in NYC. Took a shuttle bus ment for 20 people with about 40 people the smell was lovely. Raced into terminal 1 down a couple flights of stairs to the meeting point set back in the states ,one of several Starbucks in the airport and there waiting for me was Mount looking lost.

Mount and I sat around admiring the cleanliness of the Japanese culture for about three hours waiting for the others. Joe finial arrived and after determining that the others were delayed we grabed a train to Tokyo. Emerging from the training station into Blade Runner, Tokyo seems futuristic world.

Our hotel the pacific Meridien across from the train station has all the western comforts including a TGI Fridays which i avoid like the plague. After check-in went straight out the door to eat and explore. Did not take long to chow down some food that i could not identify and found a bar. Three sakes later i hit the bed at 11pm and awoke 6 am ready to start work. Dawned a suit and tie and walk out into the heat three steps out from the door of the hotel broke a sweat that lasted all day.

Took a 20 minute train ride to the Canon's office complex which reminds me off a collage campus with sky scrapers. Did the formal greetings of hand shakes bows and gift giving, gifts being Scotch, chocolate, and beef jerky they love the stuff. The group of us from the states now numbering seven were taken to a meeting room, were more greetings were dispensed.