May, 2025.
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
— Andre Gide
Contents. [MAY, 2025].
Contents. [MAY, 2025].
I. Opening foreword
II. Moriya River [04.03.2025]
III. [04.10.2025]
IIII. [04.18.2025]
V. Research
VI. Bloodaxe [04.31.2025]
VII. PORTRAITS
VIII. PHOTO OF THE MONTH
I.
Whatever it will start out as and Finish as, is anyones guess.
II.
Moriya River, Ibaraki.
A Daydream by a River.
[04.03.2025]
Early morning, 2 hours 30minute journey. 2 shrines and a live show by a river.
Ibaraki.
What comes to mind when you see the name? Fermented soy beans [Natto] or Aikido [Martial arts]. How about True Fight? A band pushing out record after record of Youth Crew style music? Or a community of friends, family and acquaintances putting on a show by a river in Moriya?
Moriya and it’s shrines.
Having arrived at Moriya station, i had enough to venture around the local area. With a keen interest in shinto shrines and local mythology i thought i’d visit a couple whilst in the area. [Yasaka Shrine, Moriya. + Ishigami Shrine / Inari Shrine].
There is something about a local shrine, that is still quietly attended and cared for that really gives you a sense for the area. Whilst Yasaka shrine is off a larger scale to the latter.
The deity that is said to be enshrine here is “Susanoo-no-Mikoto, also called by Gozu Tenno. They are often refer to him by “Tenno-sama”. frequently worshipped and visited by the people of Moriya and surrounding area’s.
With Ishigami shrine and Inari shrine located a few minutes away, i thought i’d give it a quick trip. The stillness of the area and the hot wind whistling through the tree’s, a somewhat emptiness and void was felt. Yet inviting. This is why i visit shrines, the feeling of nothingness can be endearing for some. The shrine itself is not visually special, but rather the lack of nothingness between the two shrines. The unity of them, the area, brings forward the beauty.
The Walk.
As i walked through the streets and suburbs, to come across a highway i had to carefully maneuver. I would finally end up 1o minutes away from the underpass by Moriya river. I would hear a car drive past with my name being shouted. As i ran after the car, it was the True Fight lot. I quickly jumped in the car, said my hellos and that last 10 minutes turnt in 2 minute drive!
Thankyou Yajima-san for stopping! And Shun-kun for shouting!
Greetings and Music
One thing i love about Japan. Especially in a community surrounded around music is friendship. I was quickly introduced to people, spoke about football [soccer]. Arsenal being the best team, and every team that was mentioned was terrible.
I also loved that regardless of being someone outside of the Ibaraki community was how welcoming they all was. I got smiley faces, and people laughing at my terrible sense of humor.
Having no clue about any of the artist’s playing outside of True Fight, i was pleasantly surprised at the mixture of genre’s, talent and support each act got!
From heavy sounding duo act’s, a hip hop act, youth crew to a ska act. Everything was ticked off musically i would enjoy. My biggest surprise was what would come later.
What on earth did i witness?
You ever watch something, and know people are focused on your reaction?
It was very much a chaotic start and a
majestic finish. So what on earth happened? WRESTLING THAT WAS SO BAD IT WAS AMAZING. There was some questionable things happening, but the sense of humor, style and the lack of a script made it perfect. I couldn’t help but laugh and enjoy myself. It is this childish sense of humor, shared between a community that makes it special. Something that always strikes me with living in Japan is the sense of unity within the community. On a service level you might think it’s the idea of “being strong as one”, but i also see the shared hardships and understanding between each other. This is something growing up i witnessed but somehow have lost later on. Maybe it’s the changing of times, my mindset changing or the world itself. But you still can find pockets of humanity.
I hope to visit everyone again in Ibaraki soon! Share memories, create new ones, speak to more people and have a fun time!
Would i say was worth the 6am wake up and the 2 hour 30 minute train. YES. Would i do it again. In a heartbeat.
I love everyone i met, the kind souls and laughter shared.
Make it stand out
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Yenfor
[introduction, genre, upcoming shows] [band music links]
Band: Yenfor
Venue: Cyclone, Shibuya.
Year
04/18/2025
Research
*
Research *
Title
Venue
New York, NY
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.
Make it stand out
VI. BLOODAXE, SPRING. 2025.
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Dream it.
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Build it.
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Grow it.
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Sell it.
