Will Ooi » Japan

Felix & Natsuko

Will Ooi — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 03:11:12 +0000

A rising sun gazes atop the orchid flower of petals five Shining and luminescent, bringing life from her eyes He is amazed by the brightness that allows him to see All the joys she has conjured, all the love she's set free

The orchid has ventured afar, influencing and embracing new friends And the sun has envisioned him along her soft steps, from end to end But this day forth, together, they will connect and they will show That from tomorrow on this bright orchid is kindled by his blooming sun's morning glow

Beautiful Japan

Will Ooi — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:43:43 +0000

~ We watch on, Japan, so far away and with no idea of what it’s like Visitors and admirers of this wonderful country, intimately connected through smiles and unfading memories May hope lend you all a helping hand, especially to those lost, frightened and strong in Sendai ~

Movie Review: Takeshis’ (2005)

Will Ooi — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:00:00 +0000

So when does a film like Being John Malkovich get out-Malkoviched? When Takeshi Kitano makes one, that's when.

A few words about Kitano San to begin. Many of you will remember that crazy old 80's TV show Takeshi's Castle, where contestants participated in a myriad of next-to-impossible obstacle courses with predictably hilarious, injurious, I've-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this, results. Well this is that very same Takeshi. The very same Takeshi who then went on to make a name for himself in the 90's with hauntingly beautiful (and often very violent) Yakuza films, before finding relative international success in the 2000's with the fascinating Zatoichi, a film about a blind samurai, a pair of revenge-seeking geishas, and tap-dancing. Obviously. And in between? Well, that very same Takeshi made a lot of weird ones too. And when I say weird, I mean crazy, messed up, only-in-Japan weird.

Ah, capitalism!

Will Ooi — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Ryokans, Love Hotels, and Geishas: A Noob’s Guide to Kyoto

Will Ooi — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +0000

The following is a guide for beginners going to Kyoto based on the recent experiences of two young guys from Australia visiting for the first time. It is, by some distance, not to be taken as a ‘definitive guide’ of any description, but merely serves as a kindred sharing of our adventures and therefore cannot [...]

The Girl From Yokohama

Will Ooi — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:00:00 +0000

She was the one in white We were on the bus to the stadium to see Yokohama FC vs Vegalta Sendai in J-League Division 2 on a Saturday afternoon. I was sitting down towards the back, on the right side. Unlike the buses in Kyoto, the Yokohama buses give passengers entry from the front much [...]

Emails From Japan: Nihon ATTACK Part 2

Will Ooi — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:25:18 +0000

Dear All Right this moment I am sitting in the foyer of the World Friendship Centre in Hiroshima, a lovely, homely place run by two American volunteers, Sarah and Kent Sweitzer, and open to travellers from all over. There is an Englishman, a Scottish girl,and I can even hear the male half of a Spanish [...]

Emails From Japan: Nihon ATTACK! A very long update of Japan, for the patient readers

Will Ooi — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:20:41 +0000

Dear Friends I am writing to you now in the comfort of a kimono in `Kikokuso Ryokan`, Kyoto, having just exited a `family bath` with my travel mate, Eugene, and sitting in the lounge/smoking/internet area trying to comprehend and recall all that has happened so far. I would like to attach photos to this email, [...]