Ohhh just back from Japan and had the best time. About to do laundry and wash my little hand towel whilst musing over last night’s dream which clearly had me back in an imaginary Japanese city. Will be going back through your past missives for bits on life over there, then listening to EIF...Thanks for all the good things!
Val! You seem to align so well with the Japanese aesthetic... how lucky you are to have the most compelling reason to visit so often.
Have you heard of Feiyue sneaks? (https://feiyue-shoes.com/) An even more minimalist version of the sneaker-that's-really-a-sporty-ballet-flat. I first discovered them at a Kung Fu school on the very lower, very east side of Manhattan. We had to wear them so as not to blister on the mat, and now I wear them everywhere. Zero arch support, pure cool.
Hey! I had exactly the same experience with Matryxl in a product called IDerma that was sold to someone.... You can buy it still on eBay but it doesn't have the same effect. And I'm using No. 7 but no one is saying--Hey...you look 70! (I am 80.) So did you ever find a product that is as good...?
read a story with amazing photos not toooooo long ago (time is relative now given your and joni's star-dust theories) about how thousands of young Japanese people are living in tiny i mean miniature apartments with clever NASA quality folding things and designs and can only imagine there is a connection to those squeaky clean and well appointed public toilets. There IS a connection there but i'm not gonna hazard a guess, its not late enough.
Okay, it's time to get to Japan. Thanks for the on-going inspiration! I've always wanted to visit and once had a friend who was from Japan and loved all that she brought to our friendship at that time.
Love this informative post, served up with your inimitable wit and wisdom.
Japan’s public toilets certainly have it all over the ones we encountered in Italy back in the ‘80s. While one is encouraged to carry “a small kerchief” for hand-drying in Japan, when in Rome one had to carry one’s own rolls of toilet paper. Luckily the local farmacias were well stocked.
Thanks again for an entertaining read, and enjoy stepping out in your new Onitsuka Tiger sneakers!
“ The less work they have to do, the better they work.” Hah! So true. Often of people as well as beauty products.
Love the photo—your hair looks great!
Love your work Val! You may not be aware, but the term “gypped” is hurtful to many Roma people. You may consider not using the word, and if you’re interested yoh can read about the history of the word here: https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/12/30/242429836/why-being-gypped-hurts-the-roma-more-than-it-hurts-you
Congratulations on that super cool featured publication badge! 🥂
Ohhh just back from Japan and had the best time. About to do laundry and wash my little hand towel whilst musing over last night’s dream which clearly had me back in an imaginary Japanese city. Will be going back through your past missives for bits on life over there, then listening to EIF...Thanks for all the good things!
There is a brilliant South Park all about the supremacy of the Japanese toilet. And now you have confirmed that. Who needs the NYT? :)
Val! You seem to align so well with the Japanese aesthetic... how lucky you are to have the most compelling reason to visit so often.
Have you heard of Feiyue sneaks? (https://feiyue-shoes.com/) An even more minimalist version of the sneaker-that's-really-a-sporty-ballet-flat. I first discovered them at a Kung Fu school on the very lower, very east side of Manhattan. We had to wear them so as not to blister on the mat, and now I wear them everywhere. Zero arch support, pure cool.
I love that photo so much I have made it my screensaver for the month! ox
A whole brave new world - looking forward to stepping in!
Hey! I had exactly the same experience with Matryxl in a product called IDerma that was sold to someone.... You can buy it still on eBay but it doesn't have the same effect. And I'm using No. 7 but no one is saying--Hey...you look 70! (I am 80.) So did you ever find a product that is as good...?
read a story with amazing photos not toooooo long ago (time is relative now given your and joni's star-dust theories) about how thousands of young Japanese people are living in tiny i mean miniature apartments with clever NASA quality folding things and designs and can only imagine there is a connection to those squeaky clean and well appointed public toilets. There IS a connection there but i'm not gonna hazard a guess, its not late enough.
Okay, it's time to get to Japan. Thanks for the on-going inspiration! I've always wanted to visit and once had a friend who was from Japan and loved all that she brought to our friendship at that time.
Test test
Blushing (but laughing). ox
A brain like Velcro...all the cultural lint just sticks in it.
Love this informative post, served up with your inimitable wit and wisdom.
Japan’s public toilets certainly have it all over the ones we encountered in Italy back in the ‘80s. While one is encouraged to carry “a small kerchief” for hand-drying in Japan, when in Rome one had to carry one’s own rolls of toilet paper. Luckily the local farmacias were well stocked.
Thanks again for an entertaining read, and enjoy stepping out in your new Onitsuka Tiger sneakers!