sometime in 2018 / shot on 35mm film / Osaka, Japan
Happy New Year!
As 2023 draws to a close and having recently returned to Japan for the first time in five years, I’m just reflecting on an awesome period of reset and inspiration.
It was great to be back with Bev, take in some new things and feel welcomed by soul much familiarity that I experienced while there. The inner connection I feel towards such a special place has made visiting and returning an easy decision, and in many ways, has made it feel like it could be home during and after each time that I’ve been fortunate enough to go.
But I won’t disect and dive too deeply into things today because since the New Year is upon us, and people will be gathering to gather, and possibly/arguably just as if not more important getting together to eat, let’s talk about the experience of food.
Food in general in Japan is to quote the all-powerful Bryce Davis:
Epic.
The value placed on high-quality, the care of how food is presented and displayed is just next level, and let’s not get into how affordable it can be. While the USD to JPY exchange is quite favorable, even during our last trips five years ago and my first trip a few years before that, I continue to be dumbfounded at how it’s even possible to get so many well-prepared, tasty meals that are quite affordable.
And most of all, it’s fun!
Going out for simple meals like the amazing egg salad sandwiches sold in convenience stores and little bakeries on each block to fun kaiten rotating sushi restaurants, ramen that is an experience, themed restaurants, and unreal cafés, everywhere you look:
Japan hits different.
From grocery stores:
To special food hall floors in department stores:
And late-night ramen:
Exploring and experiencing food in Japan is pretty much an adventure!
And let’s not even get started on vending machines…
another time in 2018 / shot on 35mm / somewhere in Tokyo
Stay tuned for more musings, and if you missed it, check out episode 02 of the soul what podcast, which was recorded in Japan’s capital city, and thanks for being out there.
A hui hou!