Miscellaneous Nagano Fun

Above: the view from our hotel room. We overlooked the train station and some night life.

This is an actual double-decker bus we found as we wandered around Nagano city one night. I personally love the posters on the front for "Phantom" and "Les Mis." It pretends to be a British pub restaurant, although I think most British people would cringe to see how their food and drink has been Japanified. Corn and mayo on everything! Although, on second thought, maybe that improves British food?

This building to the right is a post office/bank, denoted by the bright orange flags and T-shaped symbols on the signage. I was drawn to the design of the building. It reminds me of America's old-fashioned public office buildings that hold so much charm and history. This building hearkens back to traditional Japanese aesthetics and architecture in much the same way.

We stayed two nights in Nagano city, and we found a great Vietnamese restaurant that we ate at both nights because it was so delicious. On top of the deliciousness, the wait staff was very kind to me about my allergy. They continuously went back to the kitchen to check on ingredients, and even returned and remade some food that they put fried onions on accidentally. These dishes are from our second night. The dish to the lower left is a coconut milk concoction with sweet potato, pumpkin, and peanut. It was absolutely divine. The spring rolls and after-dinner pudding and hot tea were also superb.

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To Live in the Moment Without Fear

To Live in the Moment Without Fear is a work by Yuko Shinoda from Gifu, Japan. Danced by six women, the dance investigates what it means to be a part of a community threatened by a disaster that takes a life. Premiered June 5th 2011 in Nagoya, Japan, the dance features a strong movement aesthetic that draws from traditional Japanese dance as well as contemporary styles and contact improvisation. Shinoda's use of space and timing, as her dancers flow in-and-out of solos, duets, trios, and unison, creates a sense that the dancers are unified and alone at the same time. In the end, Shinoda's view of life is clear: we must tend to the fallen, but we must never surrender ourselves to fear while we are still alive.

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