Ai Wei Wei Documentary

可能自己都是中国人的后代，和曾经在中国生活过一段时间，虽然不是在同样的历史背景中长大，但对于中国总是有一些特别的情怀。在马来西亚的我们，始终有点被沦为二等公民的感觉，有时会怀疑哪里才是我们真正的祖国⋯

Silent night

Past few days Ota san and me have been talking about starting some projects together so that we can continue our collaboration even after I left Nagano. The talking seems to be getting more serious and we wanted badly to make it happen.

- Aluminum silkscreen's frames.

- Screen printing machine.

So this morning we visited a T-shirt printing factory, to have some research and understanding about Japanese T-shirts' production. The printing factory is equipped with professional facilities, this is the first time I see the major silk-screening machines, the ink-usage and positioning are very accurate. I remember visited a T-shirt printing factory in Malaysia before, they were all manually adjusted and printed by man, hence the quality is easily get out of control.

- There are always visitors in Kanematsu.

Ota san show me some paper samples from Japanese retro printer, for print-freak like me will easily get over-excited to see such nice papers and printing techniques, I wish there are such quality printers in Malaysia...

- Japanese retro printing.

- Nice!

- Silent dinner.

Today is Christmas eve, Ota san is having his own dinner plan :) So I went for my silent dinner at the very nice cafe nearby - Hiyori again. Love the chicken soup curry here, it's not a typical Japanese curry, somehow it tasted a bit like our South East Asia curry, maybe I'm just getting home sick. I was trying to think about the collaboration project in this quiet cafe, the cafe manager - Hiromi san came over and gave me a free drinks coupon and their Tenugui (Japanese handkerchief) due to their 5th anniversary celebration. Thanks for the little surprises for me everyday, arigatou gazaimasu and Merry Christmas~

- Merry Christmas~

Day 17

Public holiday. Skip today's post.

Day 16

Not a productive day. Wake up at 9am this morning in Shimi san's house. Ota san is getting tired, I can tell from his face. We took a walk during lunch time, bought some cup noodle and bread then have our lunch at a small neighborhood park. By evening I went out to collect my film from a camera shop, encounter the beautiful evening sky.

- Ota performed Tetsubou flip.

- Good night zenkoji.

- Mr.Ota special fried rice.

Day 15

Today's schedule is simple, meeting, meeting, meeting, and meeting. Running a studio on your own is not an easy task, Ota san is doing almost everything from planning, design, photography, print check, meeting, presentation, account, all by himself. I'm impressed by the hard work he put in his studio and he is actually enjoying every single process in the business. "Design is not only about sitting in front of the computer creating beautiful graphics, it's involve a lot of planning, organizing and communication with people... " I agree, and that's the hardest part for me that I really need to catch up.

- Family dinner.

Shimi san, the owner of Saunter Salon invited us to his house for dinner, this is consider my first family dinner ever in Japan. Shimi san and Ota san are best friend for more than 10 years. He is a really funny man, and a good father too. "I want my family members to be happy and laugh everyday." Such a simple statement but I was touched, you're the real man Shimizu san.

- Rin, Kai, and Sora chan.

- Family's pet.

We had a long chat until midnight, with simple English and Japanese but I think we're able to communicate quite well, we share a lot about our languages, histories, religions, and so on. I enjoyed the conversation so much, Ota san decided that we should stay over in Shimi san house for tonight.

I met a lot of generous people during this trip, thank you Mina san. Not many people willing to let a stranger stay overnight in their house, sit in their office everyday, bring him along to any client's meeting, share about their business and experience without hiding anything behind.

I'm just a stupid jobless guy who never think much about money and my future, I've been lucky enough to meet with someone as stupid (if not more stupid) as me who gave trust to a total stranger from nowhere. Thanks for your kindness, It makes me harder to leave this place...

- Oyasumi busy man.

Shashin time

- Zenkoji

Took a short walk around Zenkoji 善光寺 after lunch. Beautiful sunny day, the weather is so comfy, best time to take some photos!

We had a meeting mid afternoon, I took some more photos when we're on the way to client's office. Nagano (ShinShu) has a very unique geographical location, according to wikipedia, nine of the twelve highest mountains in Japan can be found in this inland prefecture. It's a city surrounded by mountains, you can see the gigantic mountains anywhere you go, subarashii~

- In front of client's office.

- On the way back.

- Coffee time.

We had coffee in D&Department before heading back to office. Were joking about we should collaborate on some projects and call our team - Zannen Boyz 残念男衆 (simply means Regrettable Boys). The nonsense talk seems like getting more serious, I don't like the word - Boyz, so we try to think of other alternatives... Zannen rider, Zannen manz, Zannen otoko shu, Zannen koji, etc.

Hope to see our Zannen group to be formed and doing some Zannen design soon. Go go Zannen Boyz!

Achimura weekend II

- Sekitatei Ishida Onsen Ryokan.

Getting hard to wake up in the morning, we went for breakfast at 9am. I have been on a budget trip in Japan, I think this is the most luxury breakfast I had for this trip. Japanese services is totally amazing, from the first step we stepped into the Ryokan I feel that every tiny details has been nicely taken care of.

Went for Onsen after breakfast, and then we had a meeting with Hemi sensei (the man from Karaoke yesterday). He was Ota san's art teacher in his elementary school. I can't imagine after 18 years later I'll be working together with my primary school teacher...

The meeting held until late afternoon, Hemi San try to explained about Japanese spirit to me in simple English. I really hope I can understand Japanese better, I think I'll seriously take a Japanese language lesson in future.

- Achi-mura.

Too bad we don't have chance to explore around Achimura. Most of the time we were just stuck in the ryokan, but it was an enjoyable experience, the services and the amenities are simply perfect. I admired Japanese's distinctive sense towards every tiny details in their daily life, It's a good practice for a graphic designer too.

- Omedetou Yamada san.

Back to Nagano city at night, celebrated Yamada san's birthday in 1166 backpackers hostel. Otanjoubi Omedetou for Yamada san's 23 birthday~

Achimura weekend I

- Ohayo 1166.

Saturday. Had good rest after the long hard working week, Ota san still rushing work in office today... I was just lazing around, walked to Gondo 権堂商店街 for lunch, bumped into a flea market and choir performance by school kids, good start for a cheerful weekend. Merry Christmas~

- Country road, takes me home...

Ota san came back from office around 4pm, and we went to a nice venue called nijuHair for some live performance again. I don't know exactly what's that shop do, but it a got good ambient, I really love the old antiques and wood decorations, it's all over in Japan!

- Kamen Ai chan. - Man on the swing.

- NijuHair.

We had to leave before the show ended because we have a meeting at Achimura tomorrow morning, a small town about 2 1/2 hours drive from Nagano city. Otsukare chan Ota san~ Once we touch down Achimura, Ota san's friends asked us to join them for karaoke... It's a really local and old Japanese style Karaoke. It's remind me of cheesy karaoke we had in Malaysia too :)

- Gambatte. Mina gambatte.

- Ota singing.

- superb Ryokan.

We spent 4 hours mostly doing nothing in the karaoke session. Arrived Ishida Onsen Ryokan at 2am. Had free stay here because we're working on some project for this gorgeous Japanese onsen hotel, hurray!

Day 11

- Kazehakase san and Gen san (water water camel)

We are going to have first round presentation with Sato Kensaku san today. Ota san had already finish the design yesterday night, I'm still working on it. ( I always work until very last minute, have to learn how to work efficiently.)

Kazehakase san and Gen san's (guitarist from Water water camel) visited us around lunch time. They are both talented musician, I felt pressure standing beside the 2 gentleman. Just realized that they are having performances around Nagano for few days. Now I know why Ai chan lend me their CDs...

- free jam in Kanematsu.

Had quick lunch at Shimaya restaurant right around the corner, and then head back to office to rush out my design.

Tea time with Kei san and Hattori san around 4pm (I'm so easily get distracted). We had coffee and Kei san bought cakes for all of us. Back to work again finally finished up the flyer design with helps from Ota san to layout some Japanese text.

7pm, Sato Kensaku san and producer came over for the meeting, we presented 2 visual design, one by me and one by Ota san. It was quite exciting, the presentation went really well, they loves Ota san design, and might want to apply it into poster too for the next stage. Yokatta ne.

Ota san was so happy and even bought me dinner, I feel relief too at least my first task in Manz office is consider done... although I didn't really help much (as my design didn't get chosen at the end). Let's move on for the next project. Hope can do a better job next time.

男は黙ってサッポロビール!

Too fast to live, too young to die.

Got a bad news this morning when I login to my facebook. A friend of mine has just passed away at a very young age of 25. A bit sentimental today, rest in peace Champ. I'll pray for you from here, life will goes on.

R.I.P

今天收到Champ的死迅，与他不算是深交，但他也不只是个陌生的学弟。 有点伤感，为何他这么快选择这条路， 每个人都会有低落沮丧想轻生的时候，到底是多大的压抑才让人决定走上这条路。没有想过这些事情会发生在自己的朋友之中⋯ 或许他终于找到令他解脱的方式。

曾经想自己也会很早死，痛痛快快疯狂地活，然后死而无憾，从来没有想过为亲人和朋友做些什么。所有事情都先为自己想的人，最后是寂寞和悲哀的。长大了开始怕死，不是怕生命的完结，而是怕不能再见到亲人朋友，和世上一切美丽的事。

从现在起要学会更加爱惜自己，然后才能保护别人。每天为心爱的人活着比起只为自己而活可能会更加幸福吧⋯ 生命本来就已经很短暂，无论发生什么事情，请把握自己仅有的生命，去爱惜身边和更多需要帮助的人。

Soft movie for soft music

- Kazehakase and friends' live at Hiyori Cafe, Nagano.