1. Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand
2. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
3. Taipei, Taiwan
4. Iguazu Falls and Bariloche, Argentina
5. Macchu Picchu and Cuzco, Peru
6. Galicia and Madrid, Spain
7. Porto and Lisboa, Portugal
8. Tikal, Guatemala
10. Sydney, Australia
11. Iditarod Race, Alaska
12. Vancouver, Canada
My recent trip to Taipei meant that I was constantly bombarded by Leehom Wang’s presence, not only on TV and flat-screens, but also in McDs, celphone shops, bottled water, and other what nots (let me digress for a minute and say that he is very haggard-looking. The man is over-worked, and I haven’t seen spark in his eyes for a while). It is becoming increasingly hard for artists to derive sole income from album sales given how music is easily and non-commercially accesible through peer-to-peer sharing programs. Illegal downloading is taking a substantial toll in an artist’s income, and this has forced them to recur to endorsements of diverse kinds, from food to sunglasses, from clothing to drinks. However, an artist’s increased presence in a variety of media outlets creates an image saturation that can considerably harm an entertainer’s career.
Although diversification in an artist’s endorsements ensures that they will derive income from a variety of sources and promote their presence in a number of products, the downside to it is their omnipresence. Their familiarity in advertising outlets ties their popularity to a product’s marketability. If a product fails to garner substantial furor from its consumer group, the artist’s popularity can be affected and the product’s failure can in turn be transmitted to the artist’s image.
Some contend that a product’s marketability is considerably tied to an artist’s current popularity. Although I do not disagree that a product’s marketability partially depends on an artist’s image, a product’s success rests on the consumer’s final evaluation of it. An artist’s popularity propels a product into an established market, such as an artist’s fan base, but its success depend on the consumers. Thus, an artist serves as a link to tap into a market group, and the artists do not necessarily dictate a product’s success.
An artist’s image saturation in marketing outlets will be continued.
And with the long weekend closing in, I’d like to give my appreciation speech before I close in for a much needed slumber party with my pillow and sheets: You Girls Damn ROCK! – Miwa, Jess, Amanda, Elaine, Natalie and Janet, thank you for the great weekend.
Sunday night – Miwa came in from Tokyo during the afternoon. We had a quick lunch at Sunburst Cafe in Isawa-onsen and talked about good old HPAIR days, boys, and life.
We then headed out to Fujiyoshida to see Mama Fuji in full glory, but she was covered in clouds, so the view was not so good. Nevertheless, it was a great photo opportunity. We picked up Jess and Elaine and headed out for two of Yamanashi’s specialities – Budo (grape) soft serve and houtou (thick noodles boiled in miso soup base).
We then met up with Amanda, and we all drove back to Misaka, dropped our stuff off at my
apartment, and headed out to Yamanashi-shi’s L-River, a local bar popular among us teachers. Why L-River attracts a big foreign clientele (and Japanese as well) is its proximity to Yamanashi-shi’s train station (just a three minute walk), their cheap drinks, and their free and unlimited karaoke machine. The owner, Ogawa-master, is the only person who works at the bar, making this favorite watering hole perfect for intimate crowds and friendly encounters.
We headed back to my apartment to try to get some snooze before our REAL adventure, which was to catch the sunrise at Hottarakashi no Yu (Hottarakashi Hot Spring) in Yamanashi-shi’s Fruits Park, about 15 to 20 minute drive from Yamanashi-shi station on the Chuo Line. Because we were back so late (and also because some of us watched an episode of Ugly Betty) we ended up
getting about 2 hours of sleep before we woke up at 4:30am. We managed to catch the sunrise and see Mama Fuji before she was hiding in clouds again (she’s shy – hazukashi!). Entrance fee is 600-yen for adults, and even though it was 5:00 in the morning, the female side was already filled with ladies eager to catch the sunrise. Hottarakashi holds up to her title as having one of the best onsen views in Yamanashi, not only because you can glimpse Mt. Fuji from the hot spring, but also because it’s high up in the mountains. No matter what time of the day it is, Hottarakashi commands a breath-taking view of the cities underneath (Yamanashi-shi, Enzan, Fuefuki). There are two different sides, and both of them have amazing views. If you want a glimpse of Mt. Fuji, use the hot spring baths to the left. The one with Mt. Fuji view has three pools- Two outdoor and one indoor. There are changing and bathing facilities, as well as lockers and restaurants within the hot spring grounds. Delicious hot spring dip early in the morning, beautiful sunrise and great company (naked ladies), what more can we ask for?
We drove back to my apartment and wavered before going back to sleep or grabbing dim-sum at my favorite Chinese restaurant in Isawa, Juntoku. Natalie, Jess, Amanda, Janet and Miwa went upstairs to get some more sleep while Elaine and I stayed downstairs. We were so exhausted that Elaine ended up falling asleep on the floor and I ended up in my one-seat couch.
Two hours later, we were ready for DIM-SUM! OOooooooOHHOHOHOH! We were so content! The day is not complete without some purikura, of course (see above).
And so after we finished our dim-sum brunch and took our purikura, we headed out to one of Japan’s famous bakeries, Cake House MISAWA (conveniently located in Isawa-onsen). MISAWA has a sizable selection of cakes, and their meticulous designs and delicate cakes make up for any flaw you can find. Within the bakery’s vicinity is also a small cafe area where you can order from their dessert menu or eat your cake with their specialty coffees or teas. Each piece of cake is a materpiece that must be first admired and then sampled. Cake prices range from 400 – 600 yen a piece, with desserts and coffee priced at 500 – 700 yen.
After our cake bliss, we drove out to Kofu to visit Yamanashi’s Zenkoji Temple, a replica of the larger wooden Zenkoji Temple in Nagano prefecture. Yamanashi’s Zenkoji does not rival Nagano’s, but it is reputedly the oldest standing wooden structure on this side of Japan. The oldest wooden structure in Japan stands in Nara, the Todaiji Temple. Withink Zenkoji’s ground, you’ll see a modest Japanese pond with overfed carps (you can very close), the large temple structure, an adjacent shrine, a bell, and a cemetery. The temple’s facade stands out with its bright orange and green, reminiscent of Chinese Buddhist temples with their orante carvings and brightly-colored facades. Yamanashi’s current Zenkoji Temple was burnt down once, and the standing structure is a re-built of the previous one.
You can also visit the basement of Zenkoji Temple by paying a fee at the entrance. As you walk pass the wide wooden corridor, stand by the painted footprints and clap. You will hear a faint echo of your clap, and it is only audible from that spot. You will see some Buddhist statues and old scrolls on your way to the basement, but much of these do not warrant attention unless you can read the Japanese explanations. As you continue, you will see a pitch-black stairwell to your right. There is a hidden key within this basement chaber, and if you find Zenkoji’s hidden key (more of a lock), happiness will definitely follow. There are no lights in the chamber, so be cautious when heading down the stairs (there is a very low-lit Emergency Exit sign). The chamber is dark, sound-proof, and claustrophobic. If you dare go down, feel through its walls and try finding the key. It can be nerve-wracking to be in a the narrow, enclosed space, but this feat can test your courage and might even be calming (if no other tourists are around).
After Zenkoji, we headed to Takeda Shingen Shrine, north of Kofu Station. The shrine is dedicated to Yamanashi’s famous warlord, Takeda Shingen, whose domain spread from current Tokyo and Yamanashi all the way to Nagano, Shizuoka and parts of Kanagawa. The shrine grounds are substantially peaceful and can be completed within an hour. Don’t miss walking through the bridge and over the old moat (it has now been turned into a pond) and catch a glimpse of gigantic carps, turtles and swans that dwell in the former moat. There is a former Meiji-era school house and a museum within the shrine grounds. We ended the day by catching a glimpse of Mama Fuji from the Takeda Shrine. Just a beautiful day. おつかれさまでした girls!
After a month of leading English seminars, I can at last take a break. I’m heading out to Taiwan for much-deserved time with food, Chinese culture, C-Pop, and cute Chinese men.
Many of my posts in here are written with reflection in mind. And I need this reflection as an expat living and working in Japan, because it helps me figure out who I am and what I am in relation to Japan.
And I ask myself how I have changed in the last two years. I’ve been more patient, but I am in no ways as patient as my dad. I have also learned from my language mistakes and from the stupidities that I commit such as pressing all the buttons in the ATM machine to figure out which one is the withdrawal button, or keeping my trash in my apartment for more than week because I didn’t know where the trash center was.
I think most importantly I’ve learned how to laugh it off. I’ve realized that my complaining (a natural thing for me) makes me a miserable person. I have to learn to laugh it off in a culture that both amazes me and perplexes me. At least having a sense of humor will help me get through the day. Thanks Lynn for making me realize this.
