Night Yogs with Yoko T.

Yo yo yo. Yo yo yoga. Summertime! You're sweaty anyways, stop tryin to look cool and dry and just let it all go!

One of the teachers at the studio also leads a class at her friend's clothing/gear shop called Chickennot. You really won't be able to miss it. It's got flourescent clothes with lots of dots on them hanging from the windows. The shop is owned by a bicycle lover who has friends who love bikes- you know those fast cool-lookin' hip ones- one of whom is Yoko sensei, and thus Chickenyoga aka Yoruyoga (night yoga) aka Yokoyoga was concieved.

In the evening, on the 3rd floor of the shop in a tiny tiny room, 8 students and 1 teacher cram together for a 90 minute sweat-a-thon. It's so squishy you might have a neighbor's feet by your face, or limbs might not be able to get their maximum extention on because of a wall, staircase, window or body. But anyhow, this class is lighthearted and fun! Another rad thing is that there are a lot of guys in the class trying out this female-dominted ...sport? ...excercise? discipline? whatever.

Chickennot is located on Tominokoji just North of Sanjo. Go to the store for more info. about reserving a very limited spot.

Here, Yoko adjusting

Watch and Learn

K-san is the most oshare (stylish) woman I know. When it comes to restaurants, shops, clothes, and goods, she's done her research. Through instinct she can spot what's good from a mile away, and knows what she likes.

On my birthday a few years ago, she gave me a leather Henry Cuir bracelet. Since then, she's taken me to the Henri Cuir store here in Kyoto, and just recently, called up to tell me Mr. Henri himself was in town. So we went over there and I got to mingle and watch him make stuff with his dexterous leathery hands.

Another day, K-san invited me out to a summer party hosted by Bar Yanagino in collaboration with two Kyoto antique dealers. Guests were encouraged to come dressed in yukata and have some light drinks while browsing the discounted antiques. We got there early and thank goodness because look what I found. These are Japanese glasses from the Taisho period (1912- 1926). I got em for 1000 yen a piece.

Watch and learn from the best, and get oshare.

Henri Cuir Kyoto is on Sanjyo x Takakura upstairs of the 45 RPM clothing shop.
Yanagino is covertly located on Sanjyo x Shinnmachi.

Beer with Geisha

Kamishichiken is a geisha district near Kitano Tenmangu shrine. We were invited to go to the beer garden there one night. Not just any kind of beer garden, but one where geiko and maiko come and sit with you at your table. Okaaay.

I imagined it to be lively and loud with conversation, but this one was quaint and low-key, like someone’s backyard patio. The geiko and maiko were not in their formal kimonos and wore simple white or pink yukata. No white face make up.
A geisha named Satoyuki sat herself down and tried to make conversation with us gaijin. Where are you all from? What do you do? Then another would come and another. They all asked the same questions and were not so excellent at continuing dialogue. Or maybe we were bad at asking questions… Anyway, it was awkward.

If you want to hang with some geisha and ask them those burning questions you’ve always had about their lifestyle, reserve yourself a table. 1800 yen for entrance, the first beer, and 2 appetizers.

Happy summer!

I Look Clean in My White T

Just came back from Ashtanga.
I didn't know I could sweat so much from so many different places.
Look at this shirt.

Speaking of shirts, nothing beats a plain white t-shirt right now.
You can wear a circle or a v-neck on your white T.
Noone says it better than these guys. I love everything about this song.

I Was Totally Thrillin'- More Thoughts on MJ

This dude is pretty rad.
I think he also may be stoned. It's the cotton eye.

In other news...I got some pet fish today. They are little tiny baby fish. Like the size of eye boogers.
There are also eggs dangling from the water plants so more fishies on the way!
So far, there are 3 of em, and one is named Wesley, another one is named Rudy, and the 3rd is nameless.