Fortnight in Osaka

I went to Japan with four people who don't eat sashimi.
(What are the odds!?)

1. Before flight a four-dollar Jack's Place chicken pie like how I imagine prison food is bland nearly induces upchuck. 2. Nankai line takes a year to bring us to Rinku Town, where I see furry shoes. Busking singer at Tennoji station induces upwelling. 3. Shingo, Megumi (You Are Not Alone), Akane (Wizzy Wow), Kato. Japan loves Janet. 4. Yukimi (Blood on the Dance Floor), Narie (Yesterday), Reiko (Alejandro), Shige, Nisshan. 5. No snow or sakura, but the Japanese garden at Tennoji Park is pretty in the rain. 6. Four storeys of Dojima Hotel serve as galleries for Art Osaka. Nakanoshima promenade is pleasantly deserted at night. 7. Otters roll and jellyfish glow at Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. 8. Kyoto gives gold but no Zen, tofu but no sunset. 9. Solo hike discovers Utsubo Park and Tennis Center, road-side bento ladies, and D&DEPARTMENT in Horie. Megumi (Dreamer), Masumi, Kyogo twice. 10. Shingo, Lee (Dancing), Shohei, Yokoi, Reiko (I Am Not a Whore). 11. Nara deer shun a cuddle but crave a nibble. One stall sells both the best daifuku (green tea mochi with red bean centre) and the best senbei (speckled shards in assorted savours). 12. Takami, Narie, Mika Nagaya, Megumi, Sayaka. Late night Amerikamura featuring Bikkle, oden daikon, and Standard Bookstore. 13. Tomoko, Reiko, Hal (Freak), Tatsuya. 14. Posters and animation at National Museum of Art, followed by four hours of puppetry at National Bunraku Theater.

5. Rain.

5. Namba. Pedestrians are go.

9. Utsubo Tennis Center.

11. "Don't touch my groin."

The Great Happiness Space

I re-watched The Great Happiness Space last night. It is indeed set in Osaka. The opening shot is of its skyline, with the familiar subway chime and voice-over in the background. The documentary presents yet another side of the city, the world of the host club. Protagonist Issei explains, "When people ask me what a host does I say it's a business of selling dreams to people. In other words we have fake love relationships." Makes me wonder, though, how real relationships generally are; perhaps the host club merely brings relationships to an honest extreme, where transactions and delusions are openly acknowledged and deliberately indulged. I love the film. There are more layers of human nature and webs of lies in it than I can unravel in just one sitting. General Manager Kanata remarks in conclusion, "People are not so strong, especially alone. People are lonely and sad." It is then fascinating what we do to cope, or to convince ourselves otherwise.