I first noticed the oversized hair ribbon fad while tripping Japan in January, and it has gotten quite widespread here in recent months. I think I like ribbons very much even though I’ve never worn one as eye catching.

What was meant to be a girly scribble turned into omg have I been fed too much Japanese fashion this, which took a few hours in photoshop. She should be named Summer right? :D

I’m intrigued by this photo to no end; not only because it truly depicts the era (1880s) of Japan that is often seen only in period dramas and in illustrations, but because of the striking resemblance at first glance. I couldn’t help but imagine Ohno living in this very surreal world – he would most probably enjoy making umbrellas and fishing at lakes all day, no? 「優しい傘そっと差して行こう」嵐

See more of these, taken by Adolfo Farisa, the man who shot old Japan.

And it sure gets even more surreal. The portraits are beautiful.

Wallpaper, 1280 x 900. Picture taken at Tennouji Zoo, Osaka.

この写真は大阪にいた時、天王寺動物園で撮った。
冬だったので、あの日の気温が低くて、人も少なくて、自然な景色を撮れてよかった。
写真に動物がいないのに〜　
午後の静けさに自分で歩きながら、『冬の時の動物園がやっぱきれいだね』と思った。
いつかほかの季節になったら、あそこに戻って行きたいな。★　

写真に歌詞も付いているよ〜

大切な思い出さえ　because even the important memories
いつかは色褪せてくから　will fade of their colours someday
現実から目を逸らして　averting my eyes from reality
夢という言葉に逃げた　I escaped to the word called “dream”

明日の記憶 – 嵐

Clearly I’ve never known of the hassle that comes attached with the beautiful picture depicted by “WINTER” until I started shopping for appropriate clothes, and then deciding what exactly to wear is altogether a different issue. Due to my non-existent fashion sense, I painstakingly mixed and matched them, noting down so I would be at least a mile away from becoming a walking fashion disaster on the streets of ZOMG Japan.

First of the many firsts of this year (oh, did I mention we are ALL freaking celebrating our twenty firsts?): a holiday trip with the family to Nagoya and Osaka during winter from Jan 15-22. Is this too awesome or what??

I know it’s been long overdue – one year, spell y.e.a.r – the concert report for the finale of AAA 08 in Shanghai, but heck! Without finishing it, I’ll owe myself another one *with a kazillion and satozillion moments worth spazzing about*, that is Arashi’s 5×10 Anniversary concert in Nagoya Dome~~~~~~!!! Finale show :D This is so thrilling – the mental image of meeting them upfront again in Jappoland – that I might just pass out from an Arashi overdose at the concert XD

So far things are looking good; I’ve recovered from my bout of illnesses and more than ready to embrace the chilly winds (and snow? pretty please??); my packing is almost done and I’m only missing several items like a new wallet and a light coloured scarf; I got new brown coloured contacts today when I went to have my eyes checked, etc. Yet the itinerary is still undone. Omg.

Hello!Japan in about 24 hours :)