こんにちは

One thing you can definitely not say about Japan is that is has some gray and boring cityscape. For us Europeans it might be a bit unusual at the beginning, but here in Asia everything is a bit more playful and particularly brighter and flashier. Colorful is trendy, and the more eye-catching the better. The Japanese society is known for some modest restraint, but this is not true for advertising and billboards, and it is seems that people are allowed to let off steam here. Be it on television or in magazines, on posters or screens: Colorful is the key! This vitalizes the world and also everyday life, and unfortunately there seems to be no escape from it. But it will provide you with nice photo opportunities over and over again.

Even from a distance, you can't miss this beer advertising on top of the roof, and just below there is a giant billboard for the oldest amusement park in Tokyo's Asakusa district. Advertising with pandas is always a hit.

The Glico Man in Namba, an entertainment district in Osaka, is one of the most famous landmarks in the city and well-known throughout the country. Framed by countless other neon signs, it never seems to get dark in this part of town.

At this store in the Teradomari fish market, you can see from a distance what is on offer here. Fish and all kinds of seafood, are in Japan a almost daily part of the kitchen. With thousands of kilometers of coastline and limited inland resources, this is teh natural thing to do in this island kingdom, and I must admit that teh Japanese cuisine is simply great. You might need to show some courage occasionally, and so far I have more or less elegantly passed or bypassed the test.

Chinatown in Yokohama has an additional strong Chinese touch, making it even more colorful and dazzling. Cuteness often seems to matter more than anything else here in East Asia, even if the advertising message might arouse some suspicion in anyone still thinking clearly.

Are you ready for your first fish kiss ?

Tokyo doesn't sleep at night either. Here is a typical street scene in Shinjuku. With so many signs, I'll leave aside whether your own makes any sense at all. Colorful, bright, flashy is the motto in the whole country. You don't have to like it, but you can't avoid it. The best thing to do, as so often in life, is to watch and smile at everything that disturbs you. Fortunately, in your own house, you can turn off the lights and the TV, and you don't have to play every game offered.

Next time it will be a bit greener again, Japan is just a country with real contrasts that always energize and reactivate me, even after a long time of being in the country. And since I like it, there will be some new pictures soon!

Love and Respect !