Saturday Night in Tokyo

Posted on 11.29.15 under Dustin Wong, Junko Wong, Mamoru Sato, Nakano, Takako Minekawa, Tokyo, Uncategorized

It started in Nakano, a place known for Nakano Broadway, a mecca (wait, is that still a positive description?) for Otaku with its vinyl figures, manga, anime cells, maid bars, maid costumes, and all that good stuff.

Nakano Sun Plaza reminds me of the Tyrell Corporation in Blade Runner.

Not nearly as majestic, though — and where are the flying cars? It’s almost 2019…

We had dinner with Jessie, the daughter of my mentor, Mamoru Sato, a sculptor professor at the University of Hawaii, Manoa that advised me to become an art major. This was one of the biggest turning points of my life. We babysat Jessie and Dustin together — they were born just a couple of months apart.

I worked on Mo’s commissions throughout the years I was a student at UH.

Mo and Kathleen Sato — perhaps before they married.
(B&W photos ©Peter T. Brown estate)

Peter Brown (1955-1981) did jump through hoops, but not the usual hoops… I took this photo with his camera, turning the tables.

Signage in “ura” Nakano. The “ura” parts of the major centers (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, etc) can be some of the most interesting.

Then I drove Jessica to her hotel in Shibuya and Dustin and Takako back to Wakabayashi, Setagaya.

I think they used this intersection in “Fast & Furious — Tokyo Drift.” Obviously, not going to race in this part of town. There would be more than a few traffic fatalities.

Hachiko intersection. Very interesting on weekends.

This party bus was empty. Kinda sad on a Saturday night!

Honolulu…

Posted on 11.29.15 under Estria, Honolulu, Waikiki

Ever-changing Kakaako. The construction in Honolulu is overwhelming. All fueled by fake money from the stock markets both domestic and foreign.

But on a nice day, it all looks wonderful, regardless.

Even a cloudy day…

There is a block or two of token “urbanism.” Estria has something to do with this, I think.

Kalakaua Ave is four lanes of one-way traffic through the heart of Waikiki, which is several square miles of boutiques. And a beach, I suppose…

It’s been a while since I’ve spent more than a day or two in Honolulu and while it certainly is beautiful, the traffic is not. At all…

The sign lies. There is no parking!

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