japan

June 30

i like japanese things. i like that sometimes japanese products are adorable for no other reason than to just be adorable.

i went to the daiso japan store (japan’s equivalent to the 99cent store) in mountain view recently and picked up a few adorable things.

each little knick knack holds an inordinate amount of sentiment for me, because each item reminds me of the sweet year i spent in tokyo, japan after i graduated from UCLA in 2006.

i am reminded of the constant surprises and joys of new things in a strange and wonderful place.

i am reminded of the lifelong friends i made while working with college students there.

i am reminded of Aaron’s surprise proposal at the end of my year there, after many hard months of long distance calls, and i remember crying on that bridge, in the rain.

i cherish all those things.

they start to feel like a lifetime away, until i find a little japanese joy in the form of a sponge with a face:

xoxo

Em

Posted in personal, travel
  • Aaron

    I love all the sentiment but I just can’t help thinking this is a secret plan to get me to approve more of those impractical knick knacks… Oh well, at least it’s an addiction to cute rather than something much more expensive, haha.

    • Lisa

      You might be right there – I mean she did place the picture of the mini sponges between the pictures of you guys. Strategic? I think so.

  • http://loraayersphotography.com Lora Ayers

    awww, I loved getting to know more about you! I didn’t know that you were a singer! I would love to hear you sing sometime. :) Lora

    ps* I want some of those smiley sponges!

  • http://www.j-annephotography.com jodi

    this is a super cute blog entry. loved getting a little glimpse into your world. :o )

    my husband is half-japanese, thus my son is 1/4… we’d love to visit japan someday. someday.