Japan in 2025?

Will I be able to get to Japan this year?

A Glimpse Ahead: Autumn Adventures in Japan and Reflections on 2024

As the vibrant colors of autumn start painting the landscapes in crimson and gold, I can’t help but dream about a possible Japan trip during Momiji season. The idea of strolling under canopies of fiery red maple leaves and exploring historic landmarks fills me with excitement. While plans are still tentative and depend on financial considerations, the allure of a “photo vacation” to gather material for upcoming Japan photobooks, hopefully releasing my planned Top 75 Japan Travel Guide,before, maybe during Summer to be an inspiration for others helping to plan their trips.

Reflecting on 2024: An Epic 84-Day Journey

Looking back at 2024, I’m reminded of the whirlwind 84-day adventure through Japan, a journey packed with incredible destinations and unique experiences. Some highlights include:

• Matsue-jō (Matsue Castle) – One of Japan's few remaining original castles, its charm and history left a lasting impression.

• Kumamoto-jō – Majestic and resilient, it still stands strong despite the damage from the 2016 earthquake. Nearby, I visited the shrine with the smallest torii gate—and, thankfully, managed to avoid getting stuck!

• Okayama-jō – A striking blend of history and elegance, it added a touch of sophistication to the trip.

• Fushimi-jō – A yearly ritual for me, even though it’s now more of a memory than an active cultural site, having once been part of the Castleland amusement park.

Osaka: My Base of Operations

Osaka served as my base during the trip—a dynamic city that never disappoints. Between explorations of the iconic Osaka-jō and the buzzing streets of Namba and Den-Den Town, I embarked on countless successful "raids."

Shopping sprees in retro-game treasure troves like Surugaya were a major highlight. Hunting for rare boxed copies, Pokémon cards, and the occasional figurine felt like a modern-day adventure. Speaking of Pokémon cards, the international boom is undeniable. They’ve become the hot commodity for alternative investments, even surpassing LEGO in popularity due to their space efficiency and rapid value appreciation. Unfortunately, this boom has attracted scalpers, driving up prices dramatically—even in Japan. Games that I once bought for 500–1,200 yen (around €4–10) back in 2015/2016 now fetch five to thirty times those prices.

Dreaming of 2025 and further trips

Looking forward, my wish list for the next Japan trips includes:

• Drones and Castles: Capturing breathtaking aerial footage of landmarks like Goryokaku in Hakodate, Himeji Castle, Nagoya Castle, and Matsumoto Castle. The latter holds a special place in my heart, as Matsumoto was my home for half a year during my exchange semester at Shinshu University in 2022.
• Shikoku Pilgrimage: While my next attempt at the Shikoku pilgrimage will likely have to wait until spring 2027, it remains a cherished goal.

Whether this year brings the opportunity for a full-fledged "photo vacation" remains to be seen, but I’m hopeful. Beyond the photography and exploration, it’s these trips that fuel my creative projects and deepen my connection to Japan.

What’s Next?

For now, I’ll keep planning, dreaming, and saving, with the hope that 2025 will bring new stories, unforgettable moments, and fresh material for my upcoming guides. Until then, the vibrant memories of 2024 will keep me inspired.

What are your autumn travel dreams? Share them in the comments—I’d love to hear!

The GIFT - Suzuki Suzumi

In her debut novel Die Gabe, sociologist Suzuki Suzumi tells the story of a mother and daughter whose relationship is marked by distance, misunderstanding, and emotional detachment. Set in Tokyo’s red-light district, the novel follows the daughter’s daily life in the weeks leading up to her mother’s death. Rather than depicting a deep emotional reconciliation, the story instead presents a fragmented narrative of two women forced into close proximity without ever truly bridging the emotional gap between them.

The mother, a poet battling terminal cancer, has spent much of her life writing and publishing poetry. As she nears the end of her life, she wishes to write one last poem but finds it impossible to do so in the sterile environment of the hospital. Seeking inspiration, she moves in with her daughter, who works as a hostess in a nightclub. However, this move is not a sign of emotional closeness, nor is it driven by a desire to reconnect—it is purely a practical decision. While it is common in Japan for aging parents to move in with their children, in this case, the mother’s decision is motivated only by her desire to complete her final work.

The daughter’s job as a hostess involves entertaining male customers, encouraging them to drink, and occasionally having sex with them—though the novel makes it clear that this is not part of her official job description. The mother disapproves of her daughter’s profession, but rather than expressing her disappointment directly or seeking to understand her daughter’s life, she simply maintains a cold distance. This reinforces the emotional divide between them, making their shared living situation feel more like an obligation than an opportunity for connection.

Although one might expect the mother’s illness and their forced cohabitation to serve as a catalyst for emotional growth or reconciliation, no such development occurs. The novel does not depict heartfelt conversations, reconciliations, or a growing understanding between mother and daughter. Instead, their relationship remains one of silent coexistence, where their only real connection is the mother’s illness itself. The narrative even creates the impression of a three-way relationship: mother, daughter, and disease. However, even as the mother’s condition worsens, their interactions remain distant and lack warmth or genuine affection.

Eventually, the mother becomes too weak to stay in her daughter’s apartment and returns to the hospital. This marks yet another missed opportunity for emotional resolution. There is no grand moment of realization, no shift in their dynamic—only the continuation of their mutual detachment.

Structurally, the novel is fragmented and often feels disjointed. It jumps between different aspects of the daughter’s life, including her work at the club, her occasional visits to the hospital, and mundane daily activities. The protagonist’s thoughts are scattered, making it feel as if the reader is wandering through Tokyo’s Kabukichō district, observing fleeting moments without a clear narrative thread. The book reads more like the diary of a young woman struggling with depression and low self-worth than a carefully structured novel with a clear emotional arc.

Despite its setting in Tokyo’s red-light district, Die Gabe does not offer deep social commentary. While it briefly touches on topics such as hostess culture, social stigmas, and the association of tattoos with the Yakuza, it does so in a superficial way. The protagonist has accepted her life in the “water trade” (the Japanese term for jobs in bars and entertainment establishments), showing no motivation to leave it or critically reflect on her situation. The novel does not explore the challenges of women in the industry or the societal prejudices they face. Instead, it merely references these elements without providing meaningful insights, making it feel as if the author has observed the world of hostesses from a distance rather than truly immersing herself in it.

In fact, the story could take place almost anywhere. If one were to remove the Japanese cultural references, the plot would be just as believable in another city—perhaps Hamburg’s Reeperbahn or another red-light district. The location, the profession, and even the country itself feel largely irrelevant to the central narrative.

Even the title, Die Gabe (translated as The Gift), remains ambiguous. The book never clarifies what the “gift” refers to—whether it is the final poem the mother wishes to write, the unspoken bond between mother and daughter, or something else entirely. Readers searching for a clear thematic throughline may be left unsatisfied.

Ultimately, Die Gabe is a novel that lacks a strong emotional core. It presents a mother and daughter who remain distant until the very end, offering no real development in their relationship. Without a compelling dramatic arc or deep character growth, the novel feels more like a collection of loosely connected diary entries than a cohesive, impactful story.

Cosplay vs. Costuming

Cosplay vs. Costuming: The Evolution and Cultural Context

Cosplay: Performance-Based and Otaku-Subculture Origin

• Cosplay (a combination of "costume" and "play") originated in Japan, deeply intertwined with the Otaku subculture, which is a fandom-driven, performance-oriented culture. The core of cosplay lies in embodying a character and performing their persona, often in a social, community-centered environment like conventions or fan gatherings. It’s not just about the costume, but about immersing oneself in the character through interaction, role-playing, and engaging with others.

• In the early days of cosplay in Japan, it was heavily rooted in anime, manga, and related fandoms, where accuracy and craftsmanship were paramount. Cosplayers often create their costumes by hand, engaging in crafting, sewing, and prop making to replicate the characters as closely as possible. Performance and fandom engagement were key parts of this culture.

Costuming: Community-Centered and "Nerd" Culture Origin

• Costuming, in contrast, stems from broader Western "nerd" culture, notably in areas like Star Trek, sci-fi, and historical reenactments. Costuming often has a community-centered focus, where the emphasis is on fandom participation rather than acting out a character’s persona. For example, wearing a Star Trek red shirt uniform might not involve portraying a specific character but simply being a part of the Star Trek universe as a fan.

• The goal of costuming is often less about performance and more about identity expression within a group. People may wear costumes to join a community, share their love for a show or movie, and participate in fandoms, even if they're not performing as a particular character. Many people who are into costuming buy their costumes rather than creating them, though there are still DIY elements in certain fandoms.

Cosplay's Evolution from Japan to the West: Combined Definitions

• As cosplay spread from Japan to Europe and the West, these two ideas—performative immersion (from Otaku culture) and community participation (from "nerd" culture)—merged under the same umbrella of "cosplay." In Western cultures, the term has expanded to include both DIY crafting and buying costumes, as the culture evolved to incorporate these varied aspects. Cosplay is no longer just about performance art or character embodiment; it also reflects the desire for community connection and shared fandom.

The Current Misuse of "Cosplay" in Commercial Contexts

• Unfortunately, the term "cosplay" has also been misappropriated in recent years, especially in the context of kink and OnlyFans marketing. In these commercial spaces, "cosplay" is increasingly used as a marketing tool to attract followers or subscribers, often distorted from its original context as a creative, performance-based fandom activity.

• This trend involves sexualized portrayals of characters, where the focus shifts away from fandom and community to manipulation for profit. This commercialized version of cosplay exploits the term for attention and marketing, straying far from its artistic, craft-oriented roots and original community-driven intentions.

Key Differences Between Cosplay and Costuming:

1. Cosplay:

   • Originated from the Otaku subculture in Japan, where it was about performance, role-playing, and character immersion.

   • Strong focus on craftsmanship (DIY costumes, sewing, prop-making) and community engagement.

   • In the West, it blends crafting, sewing, and performing a character, with a growing emphasis on fandom involvement and character portrayal.

2. Costuming:

   • Rooted in nerd cultures like Star Trek and sci-fi, focusing more on community participation than character portrayal.

   • Involves wearing costumes to be part of a fandom group rather than embodying a specific character.

   • Costumes are often bought rather than made, and the focus is more on fandom identification rather than creative performance.

The Misuse of "Cosplay":

• Cosplay has been distorted in recent years by kink culture and OnlyFans, where the term is now sometimes used as a tool to generate subscribers or create commercialized, sexualized content. This represents a shift away from the creative, fan-centric roots of cosplay into more exploitative, profit-driven uses of the term.

Final Thoughts:

In the modern context, cosplay and costuming are often used interchangeably, but their origins, cultural meanings, and community roles remain distinct. Cosplay started as a performance-oriented activity deeply connected to fan culture, particularly in Japan's Otaku subculture, while costuming is more about community participation and often doesn't require the same level of character immersion or craftsmanship. As the term "cosplay" has gained global popularity, especially in the West, it has broadened to encompass both DIY crafting and purchased costumes, leading to its current multifaceted definition. Unfortunately, this has also led to the term's misuse for commercial purposes, straying from its original community-driven, creative focus.

Cosplay Festa Osaka 2024

Nipponbashi Street Festa: Origins, Cultural Relevance, and Comparison with Major Japanese Events

The Nipponbashi Street Festa in Osaka is one of the most significant cosplay events in Japan, attracting thousands of fans, photographers, and participants every year. Held in the bustling Den Den Town, an area known for its vibrant electronic and otaku culture, the event has become a key gathering for cosplay enthusiasts, anime fans, and pop culture aficionados.

Origins and Evolution

The festival, which started in 2005, was originally conceived as a way to celebrate Osaka's otaku culture, which has been thriving for decades. The Nipponbashi district, also known as Den Den Town, is the Osaka equivalent of Tokyo's Akihabara, housing numerous shops selling anime, manga, video games, and electronics. The event was designed as a public celebration of this subculture, providing a space for people to express themselves through cosplay, as well as a place for vendors to engage directly with fans.

Over the years, Nipponbashi Street Festa has expanded, becoming one of the largest outdoor cosplay events in Japan, drawing around 250,000 visitors annually. The festival includes cosplay parades, live performances, vendor booths selling anime merchandise, and special photo zones where cosplayers and photographers alike can create memorable moments. It has now become a cornerstone of Osaka’s identity within the otaku community, celebrating a mix of traditional Japanese fandom and modern pop culture.

Cultural Relevance for Cosplay and Otaku Culture

Nipponbashi Street Festa holds a special place in Osaka’s otaku culture and in the wider context of Japanese pop culture. In Osaka, Den Den Town serves as the heart of the otaku community, similar to how Akihabara is viewed in Tokyo. The festival attracts people not only from Japan but also from overseas, highlighting the global appeal of Japanese pop culture, particularly anime and manga. Cosplay is the highlight of the event, with participants dressing as characters from popular anime, manga, video games, and movies, showcasing Japan’s deep connection to visual storytelling and character-driven entertainment.

For cosplayers, the festival offers a rare opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals, share their creations, and participate in one of Japan's largest cosplay celebrations. It’s a moment of creative expression where fans transform into their favorite characters, often spending months on costumes and makeup. The festival encourages inclusivity and appreciation for the art of cosplay, helping it to evolve from a niche hobby to a mainstream cultural phenomenon.

While the event's crowds and challenges with photography (especially during rainy weather or overly crowded conditions) may limit certain aspects of the experience, they also reflect the immense popularity and cultural relevance of the event. The queues of photographers waiting for a chance to capture a perfect shot underscore the importance of Nipponbashi Street Festa in both local and international cosplay communities.

Comparison with Other Major Events: Comiket and Tokyo Game Show

When comparing the Nipponbashi Street Festa to other major events such as Comiket (Comic Market) and the Tokyo Game Show, it is important to understand their unique roles within Japan’s pop culture scene.

• Comiket: As the world's largest doujinshi (self-published works) convention, Comiket is primarily focused on the exchange and sale of indie manga, art, and fan-made materials. Held twice a year in Tokyo, it attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees, many of whom are there to buy and sell self-produced works, while cosplay plays a secondary role. Unlike Nipponbashi Street Festa, which focuses on outdoor cosplay and fan engagement, Comiket is more of an indoor, vendor-oriented event, offering a distinct atmosphere centered around fan creativity and self-publishing. Comiket’s emphasis is on fan-made content rather than professional cosplay, making it a more niche event compared to the wider public appeal of Nipponbashi Street Festa.

• Tokyo Game Show (TGS): The Tokyo Game Show, held annually in Chiba, is Japan’s most significant video game expo, drawing large crowds of gamers, industry professionals, and media. It is not focused on cosplay or manga, but rather on the latest developments in the video game industry. While the TGS occasionally features cosplay as part of its promotional efforts, it is primarily a trade and media event aimed at showcasing new games and technologies. The Nipponbashi Street Festa, by contrast, is much more about the fan experience, allowing for direct interaction with other otaku and cosplayers in a celebratory public space.

Both Comiket and Tokyo Game Show have a much larger scale and international recognition in their respective domains, but the Nipponbashi Street Festa offers something unique with its street festival atmosphere, the integration of cosplay into the urban landscape of Osaka, and its ability to bring together cosplay fans, anime lovers, and pop culture enthusiasts in an open and festive environment.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Nipponbashi Street Festa

As for the future of Nipponbashi Street Festa, there are high hopes that the event will continue to thrive in the coming years. Despite challenges such as the unpredictability of crowds and weather, the festival's ability to adapt and grow remains a testament to its importance in Japanese pop culture. The festival’s relaxed outdoor vibe and its focus on cosplay and fan-driven creativity ensure that it will remain a beloved event in the Japanese otaku calendar, alongside other major events such as Comiket and the Tokyo Game Show.

In conclusion, Nipponbashi Street Festa stands as a significant event for Osaka’s otaku culture, offering a unique blend of cosplay celebration, community interaction, and cultural expression. While it shares some similarities with larger events like Comiket and the Tokyo Game Show, it remains a distinct and cherished part of Japan's broader fandom culture. The event’s dedication to cosplay and fan engagement ensures that it will continue to draw passionate participants and fans in the years to come.

New Year - new projects

The new year has just started and it's time to get creative again.

Once again I am working on a book, this time it's about places in Japan that are somewhat connected to a story and not just being nice or sightseeing spots.

The book is called "Japan in Black and White" and is live on Kickstarter like the last one already.

I decided to select monochrome pictures, because they deliver a stronger feeling, which is some times quite melancholic depending on the memory, e.g. 

• sleeping in a tree house in Winter with -20°C
• getting a heatstroke and collapsing in front of a temple during my pilgrimage and ending up in hospital with a small kidney damage resulting in being "homeless" and sleeping in an internet café for 3 days
• almost breaking my leg while snowboarding
• being "arrested" for flying a drone in Tokyo
• being "stranded" at night in Okayama - walking and dancing in the streets for 8+ hours
• sleeping in an office

 

The book will contain at least 200 pages and will feature 100+ photos of 100 spots and stories.

Because of Japan's borders still being closed this project is also a way to fight my wanderlust making it some sort of art therapy as well as the book from last year. Being unable to make new memories, discover new places and gather new materials I am forced to stick with my current stock and getting creative with it.

Beside the book project there are 2 more campaigns that I support as project manager:

• Make 100 - Origami Earrings - Make a Wish
• the inspiration was taken from the myth of being granted a wish when folding 1000 origami cranes - 200 of those cranes, using 3,75x3,75cm sheets, will be used to create earrings - in addition there's an addons to buy a set of origami figures on top making it possible coming closer to 1000

• MAKE 100 - Handdrawn Portrait Prints
• after editing photos in too many different ways I reached a "limit" until I rediscovered drip painting - I always liked that abstract painting technique but was never able to paint it digitally until I bought a graphic tablet and Clip Studio Paint and found a way to combine that technique with editing my portraits
• 100 different portraits are offered as 15x15cm high quality prints on cardboard

Maybe you like these projects and consider supporting them, I would be happy.

Thank you in advance - Enjoy!

New Kickstarter Project - Postcards of Japan VOL. II

I've created yet another Kickstarter campaign, once again it's about postcards.

You can find it here:

Postcards of japan VOL. II

Regarding the postcard sets and their rewards I took some inspiration from other projects, so I reduced the final goal to 150€ and "locked" the other sets behind stretch goals to keep full control of my costs, because during the last 2 projects I got carried away a little.

I hope you like and enjoy the idea and that campaign and I would be happy if you consider supporting it

It's a long way

Indeed it is and I don't mean the pilgrimage on Shikoku - I hope my next approach will be better - I am actually talking about the Kickstarter campaign for my illustrated book.

We've already achieved ~20% but there is still a lot left.

Uwajima

Beside the project page of 日本の城 - Japanese Castles I will show you a few pages of the book giving you a better idea of the book and its 292 pages with 400+ pictures of 19 castles.

There won't be any text, except for the preface giving you the opportunity to completely focus on the pictures. Every chapter is having one page with a family crest, this resemples the daimyo (samurai lord) clan that either build or is connected the most to the history or the relevance of that specific castle, e.g. Fushimi/Momoyama castle in Kyoto got the emblem of the Toyotomi clan, who's leader Hideyoshi built the castle, in Uwajima it's a mixture between the Ashina and Date clan and a 3rd example is about Kiyosu castle which was the residence of Oda Nobunaga.

I would appreciate every support - Thank you!

Aizu-Wakamatsu in Fukushima

Kiyosu Castle in Nagoya

Osaka

Fushimi

Okayama

Hiroshima

Project launched

We finally launched our project 日本の城 - Japanese Castles on Kickstarter

My way of saying "Thank you Japan" via an artbook with 400+ pictures of 19 Japanese castles on 292 pages.

Enjoy!

日本の城 - Launching next week

After setting up everything we will finally launch 日本の城 - Japanese Castles next week.

I've been working on this artbook about Japanese castles for a few months now and after receiving copies for proof reading last week we can finally go live next week. In this book I share over 400 pictures of 19 Japanese castles on 292 pages.

The Kickstarter campaign will be launched next week: https://lnkd.in/dxFyw86 Please join and support my project to help me publishing this book and make my dream of self publishing come true. Thank you for your support

Last Week I finally finished the book and already ordered a copy for proof reading.

As soon as everything is fine I will start launching this project on Kickstarter.

Here's a preview of some of the 400+ pictures of "日本の城 - Japanese Castles" of 19 castles on 292 pages. Launch on Kickstarter will be in April. Enjoy! 

Only 4 castles left

Still Working on my Picturebook for my upcoming Kickstarter campaign, a few more castles are finished now, currrently there are ~40/290 pages left: Fukushima, Nagoya, Matsumoto and Kishiwada

To finish up that entry I hereby present Fushimi castle with a mixed abstract Background and the family crest of Toyotomi mixed with Matsudaira.

Join my project on Kickstarter - coming soon - April 2021 - https://lnkd.in/dxFyw86

Shikoku - Cherry Blossom

Once again we've reached the next chapter. After working on Shuri on Okinawa I went over to Kyushu's Kokura and Karatsu Castle close to Fukuoka followed by Okayama.

Karatsu

Okayama at dawn after Hadaka Matsuri

Kyushu and Okayama is finished now, so it's time to return to April of 2017, when I was on a pilgrimage to 88 temples on Shikoku during Cherry blossum season, I only finished ~30, due to a leg injury my journey ended in Kochi forcing me to return back to Osaka. On my way back I went via Uwajima und Matsuyama before finally arriving at the bus station back to Osaka.

Therefore Kochi, Uwajima and Matsuyama castle on Shikoku are my current chapters to work on, here's a small teaser, enjoy and join my followers for my upcoming Kickstarter project 日本の城 - Japanese Castles with 350+ pictures of Japanese castles on 280+ pages.

Uwajima

Kochi

Mixture of photo and drawing of Matsuyama

Kiyosu Preview

 Hello everyone,

I will try to give a few updates about the current process of my picturebook "日本の城 - Japanese Castles" on Kickstarter. In my previous entry New Photo-Project on the horizon I gave a small roundup.

I am currently working on my pictures of Kiyosu castle, which is close to Nagoya-shi.

Kiyosu was already featured in my 1st Kickstarter campaign.

Beside being used in the book this picture will be part of my  ADD-ON-Postcards reward, I hope you like it and will support my Kickstarter campaign, when it's launched soon.

Kickstarter - Postcards of Japan - from Hokkaido to Okinawa

Hello everyone,

after many months of inactivity and Corona I wanted to post something again.

I had started a Kickstarter campaign, because I normally travel to Japan every year and in 2020 I can't so I wanted to "give something back", creating that project to print postcards that I would like to offer for international shipping, giving the opportunity for some sort of inspirition for future travels or just for decoration.

Imagining someone would be inspired to travel to those places and using one of my cards to send it back home after exploring those spots themself is a nice idea.

The last hours have started and only a few are left to back my project.

If you like the idea of a poctcard pictures from Hokkaido to Okinawa, just follow this link: http://kck.st/36fwe3E, I am happy about every support.

Thank you and enjoy

Here's a small preview of some of those cards: