Chinatown Yokohama

Pictured above is the view from my living room. A modern concrete jungle indeed! But when I turn around the corner I enter Chinatown, which is a whole different world....

There are many old buildings. I wonder if there are people living in this building...it looks like the windows have not been cleaned for quite a while. But looking at the bicycles parked in front I think there are actually people living here. 

Most shops in Chinatown sell food. Especially dumplings and dim sum are very popular. And even if you are not hungry the smell will make you want to buy something. Watch out if you are vegetarian (or muslim) since there is pork meat in almost everything. 

I do a lot of my grocery shopping here since fruit and vegetables are a lot cheaper than in my local Japanese supermarket.

Besides groceries you can also stock up on some weapons. 

And get a new hairdo at the local hair salon. Although I wonder if they are up to date with the latest trends?!

Celebrity poodles

Source:  http://fashionsmostwanted.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/mad-on-poodles.html

What remains

Yesterday I watched 'a year later' reports on the Japanese television. Most of them featured people who lost their families and homes. Many still living in temporary houses and without a job. I'm impressed with the way the Japanese people accept what happened. And was especially touched by a photographer who lost his wife and daughter in the tragedy. He told the interviewer he was happy he found a picture his wife took. He lost his family, house and business but was still grateful for what remained...a single picture. 

One year ago

One year ago many people lost their loved ones
One year ago many children lost their parents
One year ago many families lost their homes 
One year ago many people lost their jobs

Today many people are still missing 
Today many people are still struggling
Today many people live in temporary homes
Today many people suffer from the fear of radiation

On becoming a Japanese housewife

So I'm slowly turning into a real Japanese housewife. Although from management consultant to housewife within 5 months is actually not that slow at all.


And the change could not be any bigger.


Last year I spent driving my sports car to client offices, reading management books, spending long days in the office having multiple meetings a day, hiring and firing people and making business plans. This year I'm driving my bicycle to japanese cooking class, practice the art of Ikebana, read origami books and drool over Japanese stationary.


Mmmm...still wondering which lifestyle I prefer best...

Kawaii stationary props

I'm busy this week taking pictures of all the products for the shop. The picture above shows some of the props I bought this week for the product pics. So sweet!

Instagram rules!

Wow...people are creating some beautiful stuff on Instagram! I like the work done by Karen Michel, especially love the colors. 

Many of the best shots seem to be taken at beaches, these are also a recurring theme in Matsumotokazuo's shots. 

Eime_e really knows how to work the vintage feel into her pictures.

Sgoralnick makes great shots with a good sense of composition and color.  I hope one day my phone pics will look just as good as hers.

Product sneak peaks

Another rainy day today which I spent taking product pictures for the soon to be opened online shop. Here are some sneak peaks.