Life insurance

Went out for a walk today and spotted this man in his shop doorway.

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His shop sign claims to be for financial planning and life insurance and at first glance I wondered if he was about to make use of his services for himself. He had his head hung down on his chest and was stood precariously on the end of an office chair. I thought either I would see him kick it away at any second or that he didn't need to and was already on his way to help his wife cash in on his own insurance plan.

I stood and waited nervously for a few minutes to see what would happen. Luckily he moved his arm and didn't seem in any hurry to leave this mortal coil. Then I noticed he seemed to be syphoning water out of the door for some reason known only to himself. I hope he chooses a different chair to stand on in future and that his insurance stays intact for a few years longer.

An abandoned yakiniku restaurant

Rural Japan is changing as much as in the big cities as Japan readjusts to its adding population and changes in the country's wealth and economy. While many places stand the test of time, others get left behind like this yakiniku restaurant I found in the middle of nowhere up a mountain road.

empty tables

empty tables

It has always puzzled me how restaurants are hidden away and impossible to find unless by word of mouth first gain a reputation and then maintain it over the years. In Japan it is quite common to drive a couple of hours just to visit a particular coffee shop or udon restaurant, but with strong competition and Japan's general love of new things, restauranteering in the middle of nowhere must be a risky business.

 

snake skins are supposed to bring money

snake skins are supposed to bring money

Oddly enough although the front doors were locked, the back door was wide open. The are a few nonvenomous snakes in Japan but there are always signs warning of mamushi which have a bit of a reputation even though I am sure not many people have seen one. The mamushi has distinct head markings but I didn't check this skin.

Chairs and tables still set up for customers.

Chairs and tables still set up for customers.

the sign says they are getting ready for customers

the sign says they are getting ready for customers

There were a lot of items left behind that were in good condition like this tiger, loads of glasses and a tape printer machine that must have been from the 90s but seemed to have still been in use. I wonder what for...perhaps, regular customer's bottles of sake?

I love this cheeky little tanuki that looks like he's about to run away.

I love this cheeky little tanuki that looks like he's about to run away.

My favourite find was this tanuki with hat and even little grass shoes on (草履) . I would have taken him with me if it were my last day working at that restaurant!

the office and toilet

the office and toilet

It was quite a small freezer for a meat restaurant...I looked inside and was glad there were no dead bodies or snakes.

It was quite a small freezer for a meat restaurant...I looked inside and was glad there were no dead bodies or snakes.

The washing machine could do with a clean.

The washing machine could do with a clean.

I am not superstitious but when entering an abandoned building, I am always hyper alert for any sounds of movement from humans or animals and don't like any disturbing noises like having to walk on broken glass even of it is obvious that nobody has been around for months or years. However, there is something a bit spooky about a place that has lost its purpose. It is as if the place feels sad, lonely and probably a bit embarrassed about having guests at short notice without having cleaned a little. So I found myself saying "お邪魔しました" (sorry for disturbing you) so that I left the building politely anyway.

In search of hotaru

Fireflies (or is it glow worms? I'm never sure of the difference) are active between now and June in Japan and are known as hotaru (ホタル 蛍) and tend to come out just after sunset. I walked past a river spot where they flying about only to realise I had just used my last shot in a roll of film. By the time I had returned with my DSLR most of the fireflies had already paid up for the night and turned the lights off. It's times like that you realise how convenient digital can be! I didn't get any good shots as only one firefly was left that flew around me desolately looking for a chick to pick up and take out for a kebab, but I wasn't his type.

I'm a firestarter!

I'm a firestarter!

Oh my...lens!

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I have been researching about a particular retro lens for a few years now and thanks to the advent of modern mirror less DSLRs made by the likes of Sony, the demand for it (and the price) has been on the rise for the past few years.

the Canon 50mm 0.95 dream lens dividing opinions and relationships for the last 50 years

the Canon 50mm 0.95 dream lens dividing opinions and relationships for the last 50 years

The Canon 50mm f0.95 lens is a one of a kind as the first mass produced lens to beat f1.0 from what I have read and Canon haven't tried to repeat since so it has the same heritage as ridiculously fuel-guzzling American muscle cars of the same era. It's a mighty chunk of glass that can suck light in better than most modern optics except maybe a leica or two but the thing that makes it loved and hated about as much as Marmite is its look in the photos it produces. It has a smooth bokeh that I personally find as entrancing as thickly spread Marmite on my toast for breakfast and part of its appeal for me is that it isn't a perfect lens. It hasn't benefited from digital construction or the latest computer tech to make it transmit light is cleanly as a modern optic but it does have soul and fortunately it isn't radioactive unlike some other lenses of its generation. Any imperfections make it what it is and whenever I see any images by this Canon dream lens, I can't help but want to make similar images too.

So when I saw this lens up for sale at a relatively cheap buy it now price on a net auction site I knew I had to risk it. I figured even if it was scratched or mouldy I could sell it on without a loss as I have seen even cracked copies of this lens go for a high price. (I owe a couple of people for helping me get this lens as it's been sitting in Japan waiting me to check it out for a few weeks and had to persuade my partner it would make it's money back and more when sold)... And the wait was totally worth it!

It's the cleanest lens I have ever seen second hand with not even a scratch and it's over 50 years old. The camera sold with it was labeled as just an extra but it's also as perfect and untouched a camera as could be expected. Now I just need to put some film through it to see if it works but I'm super cautious of touching either of them let alone taking them outside.

The lens is numbered 10007 which I'm sure appeals to Bond fans but according to my research means it's also the 7th lens ever made on the production line and the lowest number I could find (even the lens featured in the original catalogue is numbered higher). So now I'm stuck with a tough decision. I hoped this lens could be an investment that I wouldn't mind selling on after a few months use, but now I can't see myself parting with it at all as I will never find another like it again... BUT How am I going to explain that to the better half?

Day 4

Japanese Belgian beer: shironigori nippon beer. The can is printed and stocked on shelves upside down. Maybe you're supposed to open it upside down too. More citrusy with a creamier head than regular Japanese happoushu.

Japanese Belgian beer: shironigori nippon beer. The can is printed and stocked on shelves upside down. Maybe you're supposed to open it upside down too. More citrusy with a creamier head than regular Japanese happoushu.