So what are we planning ?

We're thinking 'Document & Publish' with this trip.


Bev will be photographing and videoing everything with her Fuji JZ500 and I'll be recording noises with my little SAFA Recoboy. In addition to this I'll be running an experimental cine project with my Quartz 1x8S-2 Cine Camera. This cine camera lets you take single frames, usually for animation, but I'll be using it as a regular camera ... hoping to collect 3600 single frame 8mm images of Tokyo on one cine film. I don't know if it will work, but hey ... if you never try, you'll never know ;-)


For any Cine buffs out there here is a great site that explains all about the fully manual, clockwork Quartz 1x8S-2 Cine Camera.

Zen in the Art of Archery - Training the mind and body to become One - Eugen Herrigel - 978-0-14-019074-8

Zen in the Art of Archery - Training the mind and body to become One - Eugen Herrigel - 978-0-14-019074-8

This is a nice book of one man's discovery of his place in things through the training of Zen Archery. Very Enlightening and enjoyable to read. 

Streetwise Tokyo - City Centre Street Map of Tokyo, Japan. - 978-193125711-4

Streetwise Tokyo - City Centre Street Map of Tokyo, Japan. - 978-193125711-4

A Fantastic Waterproof City Centre Map of Tokyo. Remember that Tokyo has approximately 12 million inhabitants and that means it's BIG BIG BIG !

Tokyo - Popout City Guide - 978-0-7495-6116-1

Tokyo - Popout Cityguide - 978-0-7495-6116-1

Good Maps, Nice Visitor Leisure Idea's and Far more information than you would expect from this little pocket-sized book.

Introducing Japan - Text: Donald Richie | Foreward: Edwin O. Reischauer - 4-7700-0592-X

Introducing Japan - Text: Donald Richie | Foreward: Edwin O. Reischauer - 4-7700-0592-X

Although this book seems at first glance to be a coffee table job, it has great information about the population, landscape and climate of Japan. There are also some stunning images to whet your appetite.

Zen Culture - Thomas Hoover - Random House - 0-394-41072-6

Zen Culture - Thomas Hoover - Random House - 0-394-41072-6

All in all a deeper insight into the culture of Zen. Many lovely chapters explaining subjects ranging from the Tea Ceremony to the serenity of a Japan Garden.

Japan - It's History and Culture - W.Scott Morton - 0-7153-5768-9

Japan - It's History and Culture - W.Scott Morton - 0-7153-5768-9

Tourism has become big business and, as a result, we tourists are bombarded with a bog-standard experience where ever we happen to visit. I'm not so sure that this is the case in Japan. I have always been very interested in Japanese Culture, which by extension is just a result of Japanese History.

This book takes you way back into the early development of the Japanese and I think it's of paramount importance if we are to make the most of this experience. Only two weeks and so much to appreciate.