Treated a few folks to Teppanyaki

Then & Now: ”Sunshine after Snow at the Kannon Temple, Asakusa”,Tokyo Then 1926 - by Hasui, Kawase. One of my most treasured works coloured using “Temple Red” Now - The time I took this, it was more “Rain after Cloud at the Kannon Temple” (Sensoji), but the 2 figures were well timed

Then & Now: Stacking firewood on Oshima Island 🇯🇵 Then 1930 - by Hironobu showing “Anko” women, then primary laborers and cultural icons of the island Now - Me in the Oshima triathalon, years back. Yes a bit contrived😉just to say - have a great Golden Week all! かんぱい!

Then & Now : The Giant Lantern of the Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo Then 1934 - by Kasamatsu, Shiro Now - This is an example where I took the photo first and then aquired the art later, so the angles don't quite match, but does show that some scenes just catch the eye

My answer to the question (that no one ever asked)… “You are stuck on a desert island with only one vegetable, which do you choose?”

Then & Now: Great Buddha at Kamakura 🇯🇵 Then 1916 - Charles W. Bartlett. A🇬🇧artist who travelled to 🇯🇵and around the world, creating 21 great #shinhanga works Now - For me, a favourite piece of a favourite place The Buddha was originally inside a hall, it washed away in a 15c tsunami

Then & Now: Inside Kameido Tenjin Shrine, Tokyo #2 Then 1856 - by Utagawa, Hiroshige Now - Was a bright day when I was there, lucky enough to capture that “Full moon” reflection that Hiroshige didn’t. #Japan #Art

Hot Spring, occasionally…

Then & Now: Kameido Tenjin Shrine, Tokyo Then 1871 - by #ukiyoe artist Ikkei Now - Shrine famous for wisteria, which is blooming right now if you can catch it. I have never managed to visit during the bloom, but hope to next year. #Japan #Art

For me the 🇯🇵 concept of Wa (和) is not just an ideal, nor just a way of acting, but actually feels like a physical, enveloping, “field” Some never get it, walk into a room and to “put things right” break the field & any chance of moving forward The most fundamental concept

Then & Now: Shiba Great Gate, Tokyo Then 1926 - by Hasui, Kawase after the original had been destroyed by the 1923 earthquake Now - Worked as a consultant in the building behind this gate, which I think now is a post office. Those days it was a UBS office #ShinHanga #新版画

Now I am missing jolly old Blighty…

Then & Now: Ueno Kiyomizu Temple, Tokyo Then 1871 - by #ukiyoe artist Ikkei Now - Difficult to get the same angle as Ikkei, a lot of barriers these days, but at least I managed to also get the blossom. #Japan

St George and the Dragon (in the #ukiyoe style of Hiroshige)

Then & Now: Kaminari Gate at Kinryuzan / Sensoji Temple in Tokyo Then 1870 - by #ukiyoe artist Hasegawa “Konobu” Now - Was convinced to go to Sensoji on New Years Day for good luck, it was packed, and we shuffled along for an hour or so, as they obviously did 150 years earlier

Celebrating the upcoming Children’s Day, Kodomo no Hi (こどもの日), on 5th May in 🇯🇵

Then & Now: Kasumigaseki (霞が関) (Misty barrier) Then 1871 - by #ukiyoe artist Ikkei Now - Currently the main Japanese government hub, somewhat nondescript, but never has a place been more aptly named. And if I squint, I can imagine the people of old…

Then & Now: Hie Shrine, Akasaka, Tokyo Then 1884 - by artist Yasui, Tankei Now - Used to work as a consultant in Akasaka, at Pepsi Cola and Phillip Morris. Was there when the Kobe earthquake happened and sadly PM lost some warehouse staff🙏

Then & Now: Japan Diet (Parliament) Building in Tokyo Then 1941 - by artist Okuyama Gihachiro Now - When looking for an extra office in Tokyo, some overlooked the Diet, and we were told that no photos could be taken from those office windows. ”Move along now…” #Japan #Art

Taiwanese temples are a total sensory overload : sights, sounds, smells all turned up to maximum. Just visited Ciyou Temple.

Oh no, earthquake and tsunami 🇯🇵 Stay safe everyone🙏

Then & Now: View of Kagurazaka Then 1926 - by artist Tsuchiya, Koitsu Now - When I first came to Japan, I got offered 2 jobs, one at Goldmans, and the other at startup. I chose the startup in Kagurazaka, our tiny office was this top floor, above a coffee shop, right decision

Then & Now: Tokyo Station Then 1928 - by Ishii, Tsuruzo (pre-war) Now - For the years I passed thru, it was under repair from a WWII bombing which left it as a 2-story bldg. It took 67 years, until 2012, when it was finally restored to 3 floors. Compare this to the previous 1980 post

Just a couple of photos from my Mum. “Guess where I am son?” “Are you at the f’n Matterhorn Mum, I thought you were at home?” Well good for her. Live life while you can.

Then & Now: View of Tokyo Station - South Marunouchi Entrance - In the snow Then 1980 - by artist Yamauchi, Atsuko Now - When I took this photo, I was alone in central Tokyo (most workers had left early) and the snow muffled all sounds, quiet, a very surreal experience #Japan #Art

Then & Now: #Panorama of the Imperial Palace Gardens in Tokyo Then - Showing the position of the previous art on a single image of the palace gardens, taken from a office window Now - From now on, will show images from wider #Tokyo, Kyoto etc. and #ukiyoe artists abroad

With just 2 mins to spare, picked up my new 3 year Taiwan residence card. All good. An old american gent was stuck as he had used the wrong address, sorry cannot help mate. Good luck. Ok off to dinner…

Then & Now: Shogun viewing martial arts & Hundred-Man Guardhouse Imperial Palace Tokyo Then 1897 - by Chikanobu a retrospective. Shogun was removed in 1867, and the artist actually fought (and lost) for the Shogun Now - Thought the Kendo scene invoked the old guardhouse #Japan

To paraphrase Heraclitus: "A man never tweets in the same Twitter twice, For it is not the same Twitter, And he is not the same man" (And nice alliteration😉)

True words then, true words now...

Then & Now: New Diet Building in Tokyo 昭和大東京百図絵 新議事堂の影 Then 1934 - by artist Koizumi, Kishio. The print captures the building while it was still under construction, opened in 1936 Now - Waited for a matching yellow sunset view from the office window #Japan #Art

Then & Now: Kusunoki Masashige, 🇯🇵 Warrior Then 1294–1336: Hero & strategist who obeyed his Emperor and sacrificed his life on a fateful mission Then 1879: Immortalized by ukiyo-e artist Kobayashi, “Kiyochika” Now: Statue at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace #Samurai #Japan #Ukiyoe

Then & Now: Ginza, Tokyo Then 1884 - by #ukiyoe artist Yasui, Tankei. Coach and horse trams in Tokyo Now - Held a few company year-end parties (忘年会) over the years in the Bvulgari Ginza Bar. Still email me every year For those of us that love Ginza😉

Then & Now: View of Nijubashimae in the Imperial Palace Gardens in Tokyo #2 Then 1923 - by artist Hasui, Kawase, contrast with the previous one by artist Tsuchiya, Koitsu Now - The clouds were cooperating with me that day, but the water, and the markets, were not

Then & Now: View of Sakuradamon gate in the Imperial Palace Gardens in Tokyo Then 1928 - by ukiyoe artist Hasui, Kawase Now - Confession, this is actually Ote gate, across from Sakura gate, but they share the same design, and ironically, the sakura blossomed next to Otemon

Then & Now: View of “Otemon in the evening of Spring” - in the Imperial Palace Gardens in Tokyo Then 1952 - by Hasui, Kawase. A masterclass in "Hasui Blue" used for atmospheric twilight Now - Took some time for me to find the angle, a comparable tree, and a comparable twilight

Brothers and Sisters, Splashdown! 👏👏👏

Then & Now: View of Nijubashimae in the Imperial Palace Gardens in Tokyo Then 1929 - by artist Tsuchiya, Koitsu, commissioned during wartime by the 🇯🇵 government to “raise moral” Now - Photo taken during my lunchtime 😉on a walk to raise my moral after a market downturn😬

Then & Now: Marunouchi naka-dori, next to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Then 1939 - Oldest street image I could find Then 1969 - By artist Okuyama, Gihachiro Now 2019 - The entrance to our office, on the right

Then : I moved to Japan, in 1990 for 5 years, I admit I got my ass kicked. Best friends betrayed me, boss reneged on giving me equity (his wife🚫). Left as poor as I arrived Now: When I came back, for 20 years, totally different, dominated the Equity and F&O markets, did well Point is, don’t quit💪

Then & Now: View of Soto-Sakuradamon gate in the Imperial Palace Gardens in Tokyo Then 1871 - by ukiyoe artist Ikkei Now - I thought Sakura gate had been moved in the 20th century as the angles seem off, but its just artistic licence. Also serendipitous swan was just luck

Then & Now: View of Babasakimon in the Imperial Palace Gardens in Tokyo Then 1936 - by french ukiyoe artist Noel Nouet Now 2011 - On 3/11 I told staff to gather here after the earthquake. We watched the 🇯🇵skyline sway, and the tall streetlights prang like tuning forks...

Then & Now: “Inside Sujikai Gate“ Imperial Palace Gardens in Tokyo Then 1871 - by Ikkei - everyday people 155 years ago Now - This is the photo that started my Then & Now. I took this basic photo first, then coincidentally came across this matching Ikkei piece later🤯

Then & Now: General MacArthur's HQ - Tokyo in Spring/Dai-ichi Life building - facing Palace Then 1946 - by artist Hokuto,Tamamura, an example of his work during the occupation era Now - In Dai-ichi, MacArthur’s office is still maintained as a museum, but not open to the public

Then & Now: View of Kikyomon in the Imperial Palace Gardens in Tokyo In 2022 - My 🇯🇵sales director: “Nice, where is that?” Me: “Eh, look out your window!”🤣 In 1929 - by Hasui, Kawase. This, my original version has “European style clouds”, later version has “Japanese Clouds”

Then & Now: View of Sakuradamon in the Imperial Palace Gardens in Tokyo In 2022 - when I looked at the image later, realised I could see my office window thru the gate In 1936 - by french ukiyoe artist Noel Nouet, living in Tokyo during the WW2 bombing, his house destroyed

From my art & photo collection : Then & Now. View of Imperial Palace Gardens from Marunouchi in Tokyo. In 2022 - from my office desk in 1931 - by artist Jokata, Kaiseki Aspect so similar, we must have sat in the same place.

I was wondering why professional dipshit, and unaware-piece-of-hair(c), Hegseth, is so fixated on blocking any diverse promotions Then I realised he was in the military and may put the fact he never ascended beyond Major down to that, and not the fact that he is, you know clearly…a dipshit.

Checking my live cameras. Oh, it’s gloomy and rainy here in Taipei🇹🇼 right now. London🇬🇧 looking calm after midnight. Seems like a nice day in Tokyo🇯🇵today though. Found myself idly watching 🇯🇵 street cams last night, better than the news these days.

So when they renamed the department of defense to the department of war, what did anyone think they were going to do?