LOST IN TRANSLATION - Chapter 9 Kagoshima and then to Bepu
Getting around in Japan is so easy, when you are taken in hand. If we were a little tentative about in which direction our hotel Dormy Inn was to be found, Jerome took a look through the map views and off we went!
Once at the hotel I saw that we were to be « overtaken » by Halloween. It’s surprising that such a fete has now become a commercial event in Japan and when I say hard sell, I mean it. We would see later in the evening - when once again we were restaurant hunting. The crowds were impossible. But then of course, I had my sake to help me on my way and those horrible looking cakes and kitsch flower decorations to make my eyebrows raise even more than usual.
The men wanted to go and see the volcano. I would let them do so happily as the volcano is still erupting…Etna was enough for me.
Sakurajima’s activity became more prominent in 1955, and the volcano has been erupting almost constantly ever since. Thousands of small explosions occur each year, throwing ash to heights of up to a few kilometers above the mountain.
I would take myself off to the Kagoshima City Museum of Art. The collections were mainly Japanese artists although there was quite a sizable display of the impressionists and modern European artists. Monet and Picasso to name two. The few people who were around were more involved with the Japanese artists. Picasso didn’t get a glance…
It was a good thing that the men walked with me to the museum before going onto see the volcano. The map given to me by the hotel looked straightforward but ... before getting there, we had a little lunch in a very Japanese restaurant. It was excellent.
When I got to the museum, I found myself included in a radio program with some Halloween creature chatting along. Obviously I had taken the wrong entrance.
What was enchanting was the permanent collection of Yayoi Kusama’s work (1929-) A strange lady. She says that she had visual and auditory hallucinations from an early age. Her style is original and she used these hallucinations in her work. At 28, she moved to New York and for 16 years, moved around the world while living in New York. In 1973, she returned to Japan and set up her own studio in Tokyo. I’ve seen a lot of her work but these were new for me.
Other artists seemed to have copied a European style and frankly didn’t really interest me for that reason. On the other hand, there were some works which I loved. The two below as starters...
As for taking photos. Out of the question. Even when I was noting down information on my Iphone, I was told to STOP. Very firmly. Then a woman brought me a pencil and pad so I could continue…No is, (once again) NO. I bought the catalogue - not a word of English. It was mainly to show the men. Jerome noted that there were dates for the paintings and names of the artists otherwise I would not have been able to say anything about what I saw...
I wandered back to the hotel taking a good hour or more to do so. Looking at shops and signs reading about the Japanese Gaslights and walking along little gardens.
When the men returned, I was "bubbling" with discoveries and I can assure you that Halloween was not one of them.
In the restaurant that night, there was a crowd of young people behind us - making a lot of noise. When they left, we looked behind us at the table and saw just how much mess there was, not to mention food. This was very un -Japanese for as all.
We would take our final train to Bepu and then board the ferry for Osaka. I had forgotten we were taking the ferry. Thought it was a night train. I couldn’t have been more thrilled. Our cabins had an ocean view. The ferry was very comfortable . Some odd people around ...
then lo and behold, we were making our way out to Osaka. The last day was upon us.
I would cetainly not have liked to sleep there. (below)
And the evening sunset
Once at the hotel I saw that we were to be « overtaken » by Halloween. It’s surprising that such a fete has now become a commercial event in Japan and when I say hard sell, I mean it. We would see later in the evening - when once again we were restaurant hunting. The crowds were impossible. But then of course, I had my sake to help me on my way and those horrible looking cakes and kitsch flower decorations to make my eyebrows raise even more than usual.
 |
 |
 |
| I also drank the white wine which tasted dreadful! |
 | |
The men wanted to go and see the volcano. I would let them do so happily as the volcano is still erupting…Etna was enough for me.
Sakurajima’s activity became more prominent in 1955, and the volcano has been erupting almost constantly ever since. Thousands of small explosions occur each year, throwing ash to heights of up to a few kilometers above the mountain.
I would take myself off to the Kagoshima City Museum of Art. The collections were mainly Japanese artists although there was quite a sizable display of the impressionists and modern European artists. Monet and Picasso to name two. The few people who were around were more involved with the Japanese artists. Picasso didn’t get a glance…
It was a good thing that the men walked with me to the museum before going onto see the volcano. The map given to me by the hotel looked straightforward but ... before getting there, we had a little lunch in a very Japanese restaurant. It was excellent.
 |
What was enchanting was the permanent collection of Yayoi Kusama’s work (1929-) A strange lady. She says that she had visual and auditory hallucinations from an early age. Her style is original and she used these hallucinations in her work. At 28, she moved to New York and for 16 years, moved around the world while living in New York. In 1973, she returned to Japan and set up her own studio in Tokyo. I’ve seen a lot of her work but these were new for me.
 | |
| Yayoi KUSAMA (1929 -) - 1978 |
 |
| 1979 |
 | |
| 1984 |
 | |
| 1999 |
 | |
| 1989 |
 |
| 2009 |
 |
| 2010 |
Other artists seemed to have copied a European style and frankly didn’t really interest me for that reason. On the other hand, there were some works which I loved. The two below as starters...
 |
| MATSUMOTO, Yoko (1936-) - 1990: I really loved this |
 |
| FUJIMATSU, Hirosho (1922-1996) - 1978 and I loved this |
 |
| SAIGO, Kogetsu (1873-1912) No Date |
 | |
| ISHI, Hakuteu (1882-1958) - 1922 |
 |
| KOBAYASHI, Kuni (1906-1990) - 1979 |
As for taking photos. Out of the question. Even when I was noting down information on my Iphone, I was told to STOP. Very firmly. Then a woman brought me a pencil and pad so I could continue…No is, (once again) NO. I bought the catalogue - not a word of English. It was mainly to show the men. Jerome noted that there were dates for the paintings and names of the artists otherwise I would not have been able to say anything about what I saw...
I wandered back to the hotel taking a good hour or more to do so. Looking at shops and signs reading about the Japanese Gaslights and walking along little gardens.
 | |
 | |||||
| A video Shop!! |
 |
| Roses and Kitty... |
 |
| How's this for flower decorations? |
In the restaurant that night, there was a crowd of young people behind us - making a lot of noise. When they left, we looked behind us at the table and saw just how much mess there was, not to mention food. This was very un -Japanese for as all.
We would take our final train to Bepu and then board the ferry for Osaka. I had forgotten we were taking the ferry. Thought it was a night train. I couldn’t have been more thrilled. Our cabins had an ocean view. The ferry was very comfortable . Some odd people around ...
then lo and behold, we were making our way out to Osaka. The last day was upon us.
 |
I would cetainly not have liked to sleep there. (below)
 |
| All together now... |
 |
 |
| In the lounge |
 |
| Coming into Osaka |
 |
Getting off the ferry in a very orderly manner |
 |
| Now work this one out ...? |
And just to give you another idea of signs....
 |
| But where was the building? |
 |
| We think it was this....!!! |
Commentaires