We went to a pottery store in Shibuya and I bought two miniature plates; one I'm planning to use with some scented cinder cones the other maybe for a candle. The artist who I could find on IG is here, Ochiai Shigetomo:
Their insta bio is two kanji that allegedly mean, “beneficial fruit”. Sounds like a Standards album name. (They name songs after fruit and have one already called Fruit Island)
By way of IG suggestions, I also stumbled across another cool artist, oldsweaty.
Example:
Speaking of art, in Atami, a beach side town we stopped at for a night between Tokyo and Kyoto, we stayed in an incredibly well designed and aesthetic Airbnb. It includes it's own mini onsen which was not only more quiet and private, but provided better ambience to enjoy nature and not have to see a hundred naked Japanese men, though I suppose that's part of the experience…
This home was nestled in the trees, away from the city itself, even though it was just a short walk. Hearing the creek babble as we walked from the bus to our stay was calming and restorative, as the sound of running water always is.
Furthermore, in Kyoto, we stopped into a bookstore, where, among other things, I discovered a series of wrapped photography books on a main display that seemed very modern and cultural to Japan.
While not inherently inappropriate, it plays with the idea of the Japanese school girl as something both innocent and not. And we all know art loves a good dichotomy. (There is also be a full series on salary men!)
More on Yuki Aoyama.
That name reminds me of Aomame, one of the two protagonists in 1Q84. I am now reading Norwegian Wood, another Murakami novel, that has scenes in places around Tokyo. I loved recognizing places as I read on the train to Kyoto. Reading books on their own setting is a treat!
On “the point”
Read this, then read it again, then explore the suggestions:
https://whatsimportant.substack.com/p/whats-the-point
From my phone, pardon the typos and simple descriptions.
Enjoy!