Cruisin’ Nagano

At the end of the first week, we left the Tokyo area and headed for Nagano-shi.  Being that it is in the middle of a mountain, right when we got in, it was lightly snowing. After a night’s rest, we went to my office to catch up on some work and do a photo shoot with my boss.  The next day, Kris, Scott, my friend Ken-san, Yama-san, Yama-san’s friend and I went snow boarding.  Instead of going to a large resort, we went to Kurohime.  Its the resort right before Miyoko, which by the way is an enormous snow resort.  The run comparison would be going to Mt. High instead of Mammoth. But being that it was a local’s snow park, there was barely anyone there.  Fortunately, it dumped snow the night before and stopped early morning. The conditions were epic being sunny and fresh snow. Unfortunately, I didn’t want to risk breaking my camera, so I left it in the car when we rode.  Kris and Scott headed out to Tokyo that night. It started to snow non-stop after those guys left and I ended up catching a bit of a cold after those guys left.  But just pressed on with work until I had to leave the following Thursday. Despite the snow and being ill, it was a good trip and I honestly am anticipating going back. 

Asama Shinkansen

Back at the old desk

Kris and Scott hard at work

OG triple OG

Nagano’s super good looking man.

Snowboarding demons 1

Snowboarding demons 2

If you need parts call this guy.

Another day at work

But outside it looks like this!

Free Days

While on this past trip, we had a couple of free days.  Well, they were semi free.  I still had to do something for work.  But being that it was Kris’ first time in Japan, I wanted to make sure we did stuff non-car related.  So I took him to Akihabara one of the days we had off.  We ended up geeking it out at Yodobashi Camera for 3hrs.  This place is like Best Buy on steroids.  Its huge.  9 floors huge.  We ended up searching through Akiba for a gift for Kris’ girl, but it was sold out.  We did however stumble upon a maid cafe. 

I must say it was one of the most awkward, funny places I have ever been to.  I recommend you going there if you have a chance.  The place we went to is called @home cafe. It costs 800yen to enter and about 500 yen for drinks. There are all sorts of other things you can do there, but I will let you discover it for yourself. They don’t speak English there, so make sure you bring a translator or and understand whats going on.

We finished the night going to expensive ass market at Shinagawa station. Its like a Whole Foods and the prices reflect it. Being that we had to get up early the next day for an appointment, we ended our day there.

Yodobashi Camera

Kris likes but… pirates

I wasn’t down with the pirates

He was still dreaming about the magic drinks when we left.

I was amazed that we even stumbled upon the place.

Nyao!

Some expensive meat.

I seriously could eat like 3 of these… but not at that price.

Photo Trips

Thanks to Scott at Turbo, my ticket was taken care of.  They had me come along to coordinate shoots with people I knew and help guide our photographer, Henry around.  I ended up going to Honda Twin Cam, Tracy Sports, Yashio Factory and MCR to help shoot cars.  My buddy Kris came along with us to help as a photo assistant.  Since there were so many of us, for two days, Scott and Henry went on their own with Tomei to a couple shops.  It is interesting to go see what other people are doing in Japan.  The concensus is that business is slow all the way around.  Hopefully this slump will turn around and people will start tuning the newly released cars. Anyway it was cold where ever we went. Being stuck outside shooting photos when it is 4 degrees C(39F) is no fun.

Henry, Scott and Kris in Shibuya.

It was super windy at Honda Twin Cam. Every time the wind blew we would freeze.

This is Tracy sports NSX on sports injection. This car is buff. Check out its feature in an up coming Honda Tuning Magazine.

We had to take the train everywhere we went. This is the bullet train en route to Osaka.

Okamura-san’s D1GP machine and tow truck

This cat wanted to be in the shoot.

MCR’s shop, tucked away in the back streets of Yashio City.

TAS08

Its a new year and another Tokyo Auto Salon has gone by.  The first time that I went to TAS was like a dream coming to fruition.  I both finally going to Japan and going to the greatest car show relevant to what I do.  But since then, it has become a chore as now I work the show instead of just attend it for leisure. Don’t get me wrong, I am blessed to be able to go, but its just lost its lusture.  I mean going to SEMA is just boring, but at least at TAS, I can enjoy being in Tokyo as well.

This year was spent half translating for various companies we work with and in meetings.  I had to stay after the show was over to work or go to meetings, so there wasn’t even time to go out.  I would make it back to run into people on the train drunk.  Oh, well… maybe next year there will be more time to go out.  Since I just breezed through the show, here are my pictures.

Back room meetings: AP Boss, DG-5, GP Sports

Couple of bums smoking cigs

The life of a junior worker is hard

Sorry no pictures of cars.  If you want that just got any of the gazillion car sights for them.  Lots of GTRs and EVO Xs though.  I am sure next year will be even better with the public release of the cars and parts being developed.  But who knows with the way the global economy is going.  Stay tuned with more pictures of my trip.