Aug
07
Just another day in the life of an expat in Japan.
Another benefit of living in Japan is the proximity to other awesome countries. This week I’m in Hoi An, Vietnam, writing a story for SavvyTokyo and getting in a bit of rest. It’s only been a couple of days but it’s really hard to miss how beautiful everything is in this town. One of my personal hopes is to improve my photography skills. Hoi An is the perfect workshop.
Hoi An is a small town on the central coast of Vietnam, about 30 minutes from DaNang. Less popular than frenetic Ho Chi Minh and more commercial than rural Hanoi, Hoi An has deep history in craft culture.
Everyone is making something. Everyone is selling something. Silver, ceramics, silks, lanterns. Yes it’s touristy. And oh my yes it is lovely. I’m going to get back to vacation, but here are a few snaps I’ve taken thus far.
Lanterns aglow, Hoi An Night Market
17th century door, Old House Quan Thang
Artist Duong Tramuu (first name pronounced Yung). Simple ink on rice vellum. I caught an instant art crush on him and bought two. I’ll mount and frame them once I’m back in San Francisco. He’s showing at the An Phuc Gallery in Ancient Town. Worth a look.
Beauty is everywhere in this charming little place. It’s hard to get anywhere because I stop every 2 meters to take photos. And there’s still so much to see!
There is always more to see, isn’t there?
Jul
26
Every day, I get email from friends and strangers asking about expat life in Japan. “Is it hard?” “Is it lonely?” “Scary?” “Beyond amazing?”
Yes to all of them.
Some things don’t change… just the location. Case in point: my genkan (玄関). A genkan is the entry way into a Japanese apartment and it’s where your shoes are kept. There’s usually a shoe box or closet (mine is full of shoes and other stuff) so on any given day– this is what entering my apartment looks like.
(it’s not messy, it’s agile…)
But I’m embracing a few Japanese customs, actually some just stick to you after a while. I bow a lot, and make a weird grunting noise when I agree with you, and have developed a fondness for kimono, especially the vintage ones!
But figuring things out is a daily chore. Whether it’s a storyboard for work,
Or just trying to eat a bowl of noodles. I love the push-button ramen shops. You pay, pick your dish and your toppings and just push a button for a ticket. Hand the ticket to the ramen master and you’re done! I just wish I knew all of the buttons!
(This is tsukemen– ramen with a dipping sauce.)
So there are times when life feels pretty alienating. But just when i start to feel sorry for myself, there’s always a little reminder of home. Something that says it’s not so different here after all.
And it’s a small community– the expats in Tokyo. I write for a few foreigner sites and I get recognized in the weirdest places. Like my meditation app?
But you adapt. You adjust. You figure it out. Discover new things you like to do,
New places you like to go,
Play with new looks (it’s a wig for an audition). They might want me blonde. Why not?
And hopefully, make new friends. 
Living in Japan has been one giant life experiment. It’s easy for expats to get frustrated and feel down when it gets tough, and it gets tough often. Even though Japan is not home forever, I have to say I’ve learned a lot since being here, and will go home a better person having been here. So hard, so scary, so lonely, so amazing.
So far, so good.
Jul
09
Balance, flexibility, strength. Yoga has been my friend for about ten years now, but more of a passing, casual friend-of-a-friend kind of relationship. Since the beginning of the year I’ve been doing Ashtanga yoga almost every single day. No classes, no sexy gear, just me and my cheapo mat, in my micro-palace, focusing on the primary series and inversion work. Yoga is now my one true companion. Daily, I learn something new from it, and daily, it pushes me to my limits.
The Ashtanga primary series is a group of moves that are considered the standard sequence for any basic Ashtanga class. There are variations for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, so you can adjust your practice as you improve, and challenge yourself to try new poses. I’m an intermediate practitioner, so I tend to focus on the core moves and increasingly add more challenging inversions and flexibility work into my mix.
What I love about practicing at home is that is requires zero prep. I get up, brush my teeth and wash my face, turn on the zen sounds, and do my thing. I only practice about 20-30 minutes a day, but I do it every day… yeah standing on my head has become a minimum requirement for me. I have to get massages every so often because a lot of the inversion and back work requires muscles that have gone largely unused, so I’m sore a lot, but it’s that “hell yeah, I feel great” sore, not the “owow-something’s-wrong” sore.
I’ve noticed physical changes for sure. My arm strength has increased dramatically and my legs are more defined. But any instructor will tell you, yoga is not fitness. It’s a discipline of the mind. There is something wonderfully peaceful about transmuting your energy and thought direction into a single, pointed, physical act. When I’m done for the morning, I’m never tired (maybe a little sore?). Usually, I feel revived. Not happy exactly, but content and level, ready for the day.
Meditation and yoga have worked for me in oh so many ways. Yes, peace of mind and a tighter physical form, but more importantly, they’ve given me insight into who I am and what matters most. The people who love me (and how to recognize and accept that!), my creative enterprises, and the notion that my identity in the external world is merely a veneer I apply to get on with it all. And the people in my world? Their veneers aren’t who they are either. Being still and focused and connecting: to me, those inner worlds are where life is really at. Vast, unfathomable, and so so lovely.
Being in Tokyo has given me the time and space to discover so many things about America, Asia, and the magicland that is Japan, but most importantly, it’s helping me learn that I don’t need to “find myself,” or figure anything out. I’ve been here all along, and for the most part, life reveals itself as it should. And it’s beautiful.
Jul
01
My little palace in Tokyo is oh so wonderful… but it when it comes to tiny living decorating, it comes with a few challenges:
- It’s super modern and brand new, but at under 300 square feet, it’s quite small.
- As a renter, I can’t use any kind of nail in the walls. One wall does have a picture rail, however… hmmm.
- I know that it’s not a space I’m going to live in for years and years. For temporary expats here, getting rid of stuff is a bit of a hassle, and discarding large items is very costly in Japan.
My barren walls need some true love, but really, I know there’s only so much I can do. So I’ve been searching for realistic inspiration.
This wire grid is an awesome idea for hanging little photos or jewelry.
Ooh, a patterned wall. This is totally doable with washi tape. This is a goodie…
I love the idea of leaning a board against the wall for bags and scarves… a great afternoon project.
And this smartie just took a huge corkboard and went to town… I don’t own that much jewelry but this could make for a super fun inspiration board wall… constantly changing? Oooh.
Okay I’m now totally inspired. I need to go measure! If you know of any other amazing tiny living or apartment therapy-esque blogs I should check out, by all means, link away!
May
27
The biggest beauty and spa show in Japan. Every year, Beauty World showcases the hottest trends in skincare products and gadgets– thousands of people descend on Tokyo Big Sight to check out what’s going to be on the shelves next year.
The biggest trend? Natural everything. Organic, all-natural products. YAY. I’ll do a product post later this week after I’ve tried some of these goodies out.
I did double duty at the show: I went to write a roundup article for GaijinPot so expats could check out the beauty buzz, and I worked as a model for my makeup artist pal Yuki Haba, hair master Asuka Higa, and rockstar photographer Ryo Onodera. It was way too much fun.
Here are a few shots from the work we did for Atelier Raison– a professional makeup artist product company in Tokyo.
Asuka is a hair genius. I want her to come over to my house every morning and braid my hair.
Yuki used stencils and a Temptu airbrush for the effects. I love the way Temptu feels!
Next week I’m shooting with Yuki and Ryo for a creative test— both of these guys are absolute masters. So excited to see what we come up with! Oh! And you can check out more behind-the-scenes shots on my FB page.
Post by Cynthia Popper.
Next post: The Beauty World Haul!
Apr
30
Thailand. I’m so lucky to be here!
I’m in Thong Lor, one of the fancier districts of Bangkok, known for it’s shopping and spas. The past two days have been pretty decadent: lots of massages, ridiculously good food, and shopping.
I’m not a massive clothes horse so to be honest… the cheapo marketplace shopping didn’t rock my world. Yes, the stuff is cute and really cheap, but a lot of it seemed to be mass produced stuff you can buy at H&M or Zara. OR, you can do to the supermalls which house every massive luxury brand on the planet– again– stuff you can buy anywhere. I head to Phuket tonight so I think I’ll see what’s going on down there.
That said… Bangkok did have a few goodies:
Origano: May is a young indie Thai designer making quality, super cute clothes and shoes well worth the prices. Her shop is in Siam Square (just off Siam Station). I picked up these super cute flats: leather, comfortable, and unique without being wacko. There are a few locals designers doing some really cool stuff (more later!).
The underwear: Okay this is probably because I live in Tokyo and all of the lingerie is SO frilly and over the top cutsey it loses its functionality (to actually be worn under clothing… right?). Anyway, I went to the Emporium mall at the Prong Pham Station and found really nice, comfortable, pretty sets for super good prices, and aren’t covered in bows and hearts.
Boots: I know this one is because I’m in Tokyo. It was SO nice to walk into a drugstore where I could read everything, and buy the stuff I can’t find in Japan. White skin is the favored look there, so I was ever so happy to find loads of self tanner! (Review forthcoming– using it right now). And I’m also testing the Boots depuffing rollerball because humidity makes my eyes poof.
I also bought this aromatherapy spray by Thai wellness company, Sabai-arom called No.4 Peace. Lemongrass, kaffir lime… it’s crisp and light and makes your space smell like a spa. Perfect for chill time. And this travel candle by Harnn is a little jar of luxury. Lemongrass and jasmine… perfect for meditating in Phuket, where I fly off to tonight for a four day yoga and wellness retreat.
Just a quick update for now… I’ll give the full rundown when I get back next week!
Mar
31
Bittersweet.
Today marks the end of the school year in Japan, and saying goodbye to all of my students this past week has been tough. So many notes, gifts, and hugs from students, aged 2-60+. Businessmen, housewives, travelers, toddlers: I’m quite sure they’ve taught me more than I could ever teach them.
One of my students from my adult media class gave me an extra special gift. A few weeks ago, I was lamenting my lack of Japanese skill, especially when it comes to kanji. Even expats here who can speak Japanese fluently still have trouble with the over 2000 characters, derived from the Chinese alphabet.
English is so tough for Japanese speakers because the language has over 3000 sounds, Japanese has only about 800. BUT, Japanese uses three alphabets, the traditional Japanese alphabet (hiragana) the alphabet for foreign words (katakana) and kanji. So for us foreigners, speaking isn’t usually the trouble. It’s reading. For Japanese people, it’s usually the reverse.
Back to my story: I was chatting with class about kanji, and how I understood that many foreigners are given kanji names… it’s a token thing, like a nickname, but an interesting part of the culture and something I wanted to learn more about. One of my students offered to name me!
Here’s what he came up with, and why.
Cool right? I was so touched by his interpretation of my personality. Such a thoughtful gesture. I showed the letter to my friend (who speaks fluent Japanese) and she said OH NO HE LOVES YOU. Haha. Maybe like a daughter. He even declared himself my “Godfather.” Sweet.
Then, if that wasn’t enough, the last day of class, he gifted me with this beautiful custom-made hanko with my new name!
Hankos are official stamps used in lieu of a signature.They’re used for everything: signing receipts, contracts, and almost any kind of application. I had one made with my Katakana name (シンシア) but made the mistake of having my first name carved instead of my last. In Japan, everyone goes by their family name first (i.e. Tanaka-san). Because I’m not local, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t matter, but still. Rookie.
Anyway, I love it. It’s one of the cool Luddite-like aspects of the pen-and-paper culture here. And it means so much to me that a student would be moved to do this for me. Even though teaching is only a part of my life here, it’s proven to be so rewarding. I am a lucky girl indeed.
Now I just need to learn how to write it!
(a.k.a. 真紫茜 )
Mar
01
I’ve been non-stop, bananas moving since touching down from SF a few days ago. The busiest week ever, but it’s a good thing when it’s all super fun!
A producer from The Travel Channel emailed me last week– turns out she’s a reader (!!) and there’s a crew in Tokyo this month shooting for a new special. They’re filming loads of stuff all over Japan, but they wanted to interview a few expats about their experiences here… would I come to Roppongi for an interview? Um. Yes. Yes I will.
They were really cool and it was a very informal deal– just the basic questions I get asked constantly. Why am I here? (Because, why not?) Will you go back to SF? (Sure.) When? (How the heck do I know?) We talked about stereotypes (both Japanese and Western), living as an outsider, and fun stuff like onsens and awesome food everywhere. Once I know when the show is coming out I’ll post a link. Fun, right?
I want to eat this picture every day.
In other news, any actor will tell you… auditions come in fits and starts. As soon as I got to SF, the Tokyo agencies were blowing up my inbox with appointments I couldn’t make (SUCH a drag). But I was able to reschedule a few and got myself in front of some new producers and directors this week. Because it’s Japan, I can’t name names, but the spots are for food, drinks, and underwear. Tell me to break a leg!
Even if you’re not booking, go go go. NO REALLY GO. Getting in front of the right people is so important when cracking into a new market. Making connections, giving out your website info, handing the meishi: TV and commercial work relies heavily on community (I’ve recently decided that I dislike the word networking– it’s fake and no one likes doing it.) Don’t just fake it… really meet people and try to build a real foundation.
I finished the week with a sexy rocker shoot with my shooter friend (who’s also a visual genius) Alfie Goodrich and his stunning model pal Shinyong Lee. We set up at her amazing flat in Shimbashi and scouted locations… and just played! These shots are just from my phone– but the clothes are pretty good right? Which leads me to… a few tips for creative shoots:
Tell a story: Interesting photos have a creative direction in mind– this comes across in the wardrobe and the locations. When you can “see” the story, you’ve done something special.
Wardrobe: Texture, layers, quirk. Anything shiny, leather-y, fuzzy: Texture photographs so beautifully. I picked up some lace shorts and a few velvety pieces from a thrift shop that I’d never wear in my daily life– but I knew would reflect light and as some interest to a plain street scene. That said– we didn’t use any of that stuff because Shinyong had a super sick black negligee and fuzzy black coat for me to wear. We foiled the sexiness with my black biker boots (my old friends– I wear them every day) and BOOM. Hot without being super in your face. Plus I had to be able to walk around town.
Keep props minimal: Too many props can make a cool shot turn into stock photography. The executive girl with the curling iron in one hand and the cell phone in the other is a bit much these days– there’s a more interesting way to tell that story. The sexy girl covered in… well, anything… it’s been done. Sexy is awesome, but subtle sexy PLUS a cool story is way better.
So so fun, but more on this shoot later when I get frames. Right now, I need bath, tea, and bed. Whew!
Feb
23
The days run away like wild horses over the hills. Charles Bukowski
Time flies and flies. Officially today, I’ve been an expat in Japan for one year! Here are a few of my favorite discoveries, moments, and memories.
My First Japanese Lesson
Shinjuku, at 回転寿司 (kaiten-zushi, a.k.a conveyor belt sushi place). This was the third photo I took on my Japanese phone. The kanji for this dish is 白子, which translates to “White Child.” Yeah, but kanji can mean a few things. This is Shirako.
It’s whale sperm. Tasted fine, but not what I wanted.
My First Matcha Love
This is more like it… I discovered an unbridled passion for 抹茶 (matcha, green tea powder). Matcha anything really, but the soft cream in the summer is especially lovely. Matcha is super good for you too, so it’s pretty much like you’re eating vitamins when you eat this.
My First Gig(s)
I was beyond lucky and started acting and modeling within just a few weeks of landing in Japan. I met Anthony Joh, my editor and pal from GaijinPot, and he booked me to shoot a video for Yokohama tourism. It was super fun and a great launch pad for my writing work at GP.
I also booked a national for IKEA, which was super fun and a great professional opportunity. I met some super cool people and got a ton of exposure from this spot.
Great print job with Anaconda Beauty.
My First Tests of Patience
Ice cream and acting gigs aside, living here hasn’t been without it’s frustrations. The language barrier is an obvious and unavoidable hurdle. Daily stuff that should just take a few minutes TAKES ME FOREVER. And my American attention span often cannot handle it.
This is my microwave control panel. Microwaves here also double as convection ovens (you can put metal in them!) Does #4 mean I can deep fry in my microwave?
This is a shot of the package box next to my mailbox. It took me about twenty minutes of trial and error to jailbreak my stuff– even with translation help. If I knew Japanese it’d take two seconds. It’s this kind of stuff that used to make me crazy. I’ve always considered myself a pretty patient person, but since being here, I’ve really learned how to slow down and calm down. Annnnnd breathe.
One of my favorite things about Japan, is the natural beauty. Tokyo is often thought of as a neon-cement jungle, and that’s definitely true, but there are loads of gorgeous parks and natural spaces to chill your brain at.
And I can never get enough of the sky here. The sky, for whatever reason, is just different. It’s lively and brilliant. On a day like the day I took this photo, I’ll just gaze and gaze. Like a weirdo.
This Buddha is in Yanaka, behind Nippori Station. Yanaka means old town, and is pretty much the exact opposite of the frenetic cities like Kichioji or Shibuya. The Yanaka Ginza is an amazing little shopping street, lots of little vendors and street food.
My First Adventure(s)
Seoul is the beauty product capital of the world, and is like… 2 hours away by plane? Take Sephora and multiply it by 10,000, then cut the price points in half (not even kidding) and you have the Myeongdong District. I wrote about this trip a few times because it was just too good. I’ll go back this year- no question.
Shimoda, in Japan’s Shizuoka prefecture, is the Santa Cruz of Japan, but with better seafood and onsens! I wrote about Shimoda for GaijinPot, and did a little summer beauty research while I was there.
There’s SO much more that I could talk about and put up, but let me just say that it’s been a pretty eye-opening experience living abroad. It’s made me appreciate my own country in new ways, and also, look at it from a different perspective. New perspective is what travel is all about.
I’m not sure how long I’ll stay in Japan (it’s the question everyone, EVERYONE, always asks). Who knows? One thing I have learned: it’s easy to take the magic of your town for granted. Appreciate your daily life, no matter where you are. Magic is everywhere.
Feb
22
Brrr. I’ve never lived in snow. Even living in Japan, where just a couple of weeks ago, we got over 60 centimeters of snow in one day, I’ve still never lived in snow (I was in San Francisco and missed the Great Tokyo Snowpocalypse!). There’s a bit nudged up against corners of building here and there, but nothing that really qualifies as official SNOW.
That said– it’s pretty chilly on the Big Red Dot, and I’m dreaming of next month when the cherry blossoms begin to bloom and I can remove a couple of layers. Here are some of my favorite Spring beauty looks from Pintrest to make me yearn for Hanami in the park with bare feet.
Messy up hair, light makeup, nude lip. No drama, just pretty.
I recently bought a ballerina skirt at a thrift shop and I love it. And the carmel highlights are giving me ideas… (I really want to change my color but not TOO much. Sigh.)
Nude faces, low-drama, brows, and eyes with a just touch of pastel.
Seeing a lot of orange lips for Spring… Not sure how I feel about that. I love her hair and her lashes but for everyday wear I think orange might be tough to pull off. I dunno… whattya think?
Spring is messy, natural, fresh and pretty. All of these looks are perfect for sakura gazing in the sun. Soon!
photos: refinery29, harpersbazzar,ecstasymodels
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