Spawning in Japan 🇯🇵
Japan has been a mental reset I didn't know I needed
Konnichiwa!
From the islands of Hawaii enjoying the beautiful 80º sunny weather to getting off the plane in Japan greeted with rain and 40º weather their lies beauty in the dichotomy between the two. Japan’s “warm” welcome aside, i’ve been just trying to soak it all in from the parks in the city, beautiful gardens, museums, the amazing food, and just taking time to observe how people operate out here. I’ve started the Japan trek in Tokyo and have been here since getting off the plane a few days ago, Tokyo is like New York City on steroids, it is sensory overload, people everywhere you look, buildings all around, yet has this calming aura to it. The biggest culture shock for me was everyone’s respect for the peace and tranquility in the air, literally it is offensive to be loud here. I find myself riding the train here mesmerized by how quiet everyone is, it can be a train full of people and you will not hear much of anything other than the actual train noises. Most people are on their phone, reading, or just staring into space, it is a no no to talk on the phone while on the train. That was something I found very interesting and can see how the general respect for quietness will have a positive impact on your psyche.
My approach to viewing what this trip is has changed since I landed, i’m starting to view it more of a retreat and have been taking the time to reflect on life and practice being more present. Obviously I am still going to explore and wander around with my camera like I do every new place but I really am going to do it more mindfully. Since I don’t speak Japanese and English is spoken few and far between here, it makes for a great time for solitude and inner reflection. Life as of late has been really interesting from backpacking Thailand for 2 months late last year to literally just leaving Hawaii to come to Japan, a lot has happened in such short time, this is marking a new chapter in my life and it’s been nice to sit at a park in Japan reflecting on it all. I think of our lives like books and you are the author, writing every word, how is your story going to unfold?
Why Japan?
Well to be honest since I was in Hawaii I was already halfway to Japan so it only made sense to make the leap fully and full send to Japan. I’m the type of traveler who doesn’t do any research on a place, I literally just show up and figure it out as I go, this trip here is no different. I find it very adventurous to only book where you will stay for a few nights and discover the new map around you. I booked just under a week here in Tokyo and will be going to Fuji next in Japan. The timing of this all couldn’t have been better, with it being early spring here, the Japanese Cherry Blossoms are in full force right now, it is truly a sight to behold.
Japan is Tranquil
With the culture in Japan heavily centered around respecting quietness and not disturbing the peace I have found a great deal of time to sit with my thoughts and just reflect on how I even got here in the first place. I’m beyond grateful for this life I live and grateful to live in an age where I can share my perspective and thoughts with others, we live in the Information Age and having the right information can truly change your life. There are two sides to every coin as the platitude goes, with great information comes garbage information you must be able to sift through. Looking into the future of the unknown I believe having a strong filter for finding the signal amongst the noise will be immensely valuable and already is valuable today. As the world marches forward and more information is uploaded to the world town center (internet) you will have to curate a mind that can discern what is true or false, what is right or wrong, and what to keep or what to discard. I guess the saying garbage in garbage out rings even louder in today’s information age.
Japan is just somehow teaching me how grateful I am to be alive today in this present moment we live in, literally this is the best time to be a human in my humble opinion. The world is now connected, even though I am in Japan, you can experience parts of it through my lens and words at unfathomable speeds, that wasn’t possible just 100 years ago. It’s kind of an interesting thought and since I really have just been slowing down here, it’s been on my mind.
Japan is a Photographers Playground
Japan and photography are a match made in heaven, there is something interesting around every corner out here. If you are into photography, it is a very photo centric place, from the people, cars, buildings, food, nature-it creates a unique playground for photographers like myself. Coupling that with the fact this is my first time here, i’m just out capturing everything, snapping away. My aim with photography is to capture scenes in the most authentic, true to life way, meaning I try not to stage much, I capture a window of time preserving it in the purest way possible. Photography is a combination of a lot of things, skill, luck, art, science, and sheerly being at the right place at the right time. It also makes for a great excuse to travel however it is not the only reason I travel but it pairs greatly with traveling.
With my photography lately i’ve been just using one lens and one camera, the Leica M11-P and 35mm APO Summicron, i’ve been using this combination since the beginning of 2025 and I feel it was specifically made for me. It’s definitely been a fun journey getting to this set up over the years and i’ve had my fair share of cameras and lenses but limiting yourself can help you tremendously creatively. Just using one tool and knowing that tool like the back of your hand is so liberating, that is what I have been doing with my Leica but don’t get me wrong, strolling into Japan’s camera stores and leaving with a new lens is tempting however for now I want to limit myself to just one intentionally and really get to know it. I find i’m really starting to better understand my camera, its limits and its strengths.
Your Environment Matters
As you have probably have heard, your environment plays a great role in how you operate. Japan has been hitting that message home for me recently, when everyone around you respects solitude and quietness, you start to partake and get on the same wavelength. A change in your environment can be exactly what you need to see things in a new light and that is the grand beauty of traveling, you immerse yourself in a brand new realm. With that comes a connection of ideas and thoughts you previously might not have connected. I recently heard traveling is far superior to any college degree and couldn’t agree more. From the people you meet, the differences in cultures, and the experiences you make create memories that will stick with you for a lifetime. We are all a collection of beliefs and experiences, it is what makes everyone so unique, the best way to learn something is to experience it first hand. If you are trying to become a great cook, you can watch all the YouTube videos, read all the cookbooks, and listen to the worlds best chefs but if you never step foot in the kitchen, you will never learn to cook. The trial and error are what will build and compound to your great success.
Putting yourself in the right environments conducive to your growth will propel you in ways you never knew existed. This entire journey of traveling for me is about self discovery and learning new things about myself along the way, discovering my strengths and uncovering my weaknesses. In this life we are all at the end of the day trying to figure it out and everyone’s answer will look different, it is a journey you individually must go through and discover for yourself. This quest we are on is a never ending journey of self actualization, life is about the journey not the destination. My gauge is if I feel slightly uncomfortable while doing something then I know there is some signal there that i’m on the right path. Practice makes progress, honing your skill or craft takes time and effort, since i’ve been in Japan i’ve taken 600+ photos, only 22 are attached here in this writing. The first version of something you create will not be your best and that is ok, just keep going, that is all that matters.
Japan is Resetting Me
My view on reality is we all have batteries that get depleted with use, your mental battery, social battery, physical battery, emotional battery, and spiritual battery. With life being so fast paced recently it’s been nice to take a breather here in Japan and unplug and recharge, my relationship with social media is definitely still in need of fine tuning but has gotten better over the years. Social media is a great tool for what it is, ultimately connecting people but I have definitely found myself lost in the sauce at times. Out here i’m striving to be more conscious of my use with it and what it is i’m sharing with the world. We are just a bundle of our habits, having good habits and setting boundaries for yourself can set you up on the right path to where you ultimately want to go.
I am trying something new, I turned off all my social media notifications on my phone, really I want to dumb my phone down by an order of magnitude and treat it with the respect and responsibility it deserves. I found myself caught in the bad habit of getting a DM or some type of notification then seconds later aimlessly scrolling on my phone. Did I have to come to Japan to figure that out? No but i’m here and somehow or other it’s given me the time to sit and reflect on things such as that.
Live
It’s simple but just go live, live the life you dreamt of. Traveling is beautiful, you see amazing things, learn new truths about the world, experience cultures you didn’t know existed and lastly you will grow into someone better than before you set out as. Soon our clocks will run out and you will come to the end of your life, what will make the life you lived worth it in the end? For me coming to Japan so far has been a dream come true and made everything I have went thru in this life so far, worth it. My goal is to bring you all along this journey of self actualization through the Lens of Life. I encourage you to travel and while you are at it, go to Japan.
Arigatō!
I appreciate you all for reading and hopefully you enjoyed these images of Japan, I will be here for the next few weeks, if you have any great spots you’d recommend, please let me know! My travel plans are very loose and I just go with the flow, if you send me something interesting I will most likely go check it out.
Here is my latest YouTube video, if you enjoyed this read, you will enjoy this video. I go more in depth with what i’m experiencing here in Japan and show more images, enjoy.
My Instagram is where I post my latest photography work and also post some behind the scenes of my day to day life if that might be of interest to you.
Great timing on this post as I literally just dropped my adult daughters off at the airport on their way to Japan. Wonderful pictures and words. I look forward to more!