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Lasik in Japan – 1 month check

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A quick follow-up post about LASIK in Japan. Last weekend I flew back up to Tokyo for my 1-month checkup at the Kobe Kanagawa Clinic in Shinjuku.

Trying out for the role of Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody

New eyes, same silly faces.

As with my previous visits things went very smoothly. I filled out another questionnaire in English asking if I’d have any problems at all. I then met with an examiner who tested my vision.  I could read the bottom line of the chart with both eyes open (2.0) and when using just one eye I could make out most of the tiniest symbols.

Final eye checks

Final eye checks

After that Dr. Takahashi checked the health of my eyes and gave me the all clear. I can now start scuba diving again. I have some drops to use if my eyes feel dry at any point, but this was my final obligatory check.

Eye check by Dr Takahashi

Eye check by Dr Takahashi

Finally Ogata-san gave me a quick interview about my experience at the clinic. Richard Masuda, the international relations staff member, was there to help translate, answer any questions, and in this case take photos.

Final interview with Ogata-san

Final interview with Ogata-san

I have been really pleased with the experience, and now recommend the procedure to friends and family.  Lasik isn’t cheap, but it definitely feels like you are making a good investment in your health and quality of life. Of course there are many different procedures available and I’ve only had experience of iDesign iLasik, so if you’ve got general questions check out the website and send Richard an email.

Kobe Kanagawa Website – http://www.kobe-kanagawa.jp/english/

Richard Masuda Email – richard.masuda@kobe-kanagawa.jp

If you decide to get surgery, tell them my referral code Chris Willson 483-960 and you’ll get up to 30,000 yen off.

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Intelligent Design & Evolution

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Apple earbuds 1st gen iconic white earphones

Apple earbuds 1st gen  earphones

Sometimes intelligent design results in the evolution of a product.

Apple earbuds 2nd gen iconic white earphones

Apple earbuds 2nd gen  earphones

The changes are gradual, some may not even notice they are happening. But they’re right before your eyes, or in this case, inside your ears.

Apple EarPods ( new earbuds) iconic white earphones

Apple EarPods ( new earbuds)  earphones

Photography Fundamentals Workshop – February 1 & 2

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Photography Fundamentals Workshop

Progress beyond the camera’s green automatic mode. Take better photographs of your friends and family rather than point, shoot, and hope for the best.

This is a fun workshop rather than a lecture. As we cover new topics we will be taking photographs, reviewing the images, and discussing the results.  You’ll be learning by practicing each new skill. Don’t be the person with all the gear, and no idea.

February 1 & 2, 2014 9AM to 5PM

Class Size: Max 6

Location: Ishikawa, Uruma City, Okinawa

Instructor: Chris Willson

Price: US$250  Get in touch via email or Facebook to reserve your place.

Photography Fundamentals

Photography Fundamentals

Class outline:

Equipment – The anatomy of cameras, lenses, memory cards, filters and tripods. Learn what gear you need, and what will help you improve.

Exposure – Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO, Camera Modes, Metering. Take control of image brightness and depth of field, to create the images you want.

Composition – Angles, Repetition, Balance, Lines, Simplicity. Whether you’re a sculptor, a painter or a photographer, there are some artistic rules that work.

Data Management – Sorting, storing and protecting your images. Make sure those memories are safe for a lifetime.

Pentax film SLR cameras in different film formats. 67II medium format, K1000 35mm, Auto110 110 film

Pentax film SLR cameras in different film formats. 67II medium format, K1000 35mm, Auto110 110 film

Pop quiz hotshot…

The above photograph shows 3 manual focus film cameras with 3 different film sizes. How does film or sensor size effect the choices a photographer might make?

Not sure of the answer? Come join the workshop!

The Cable Guy

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6-conductor FireWire 400 IEEE 1394-1995 cable

6-conductor FireWire 400 IEEE 1394-1995 cable

Is this the nerdiest selection of photographs you’ve ever seen? Are you fascinated by the variations in the way our gadgets are connected, or are you disappointed that this post did not include images of a beautiful location, a beautiful woman, or a beautiful woman in a beautiful location.

4-conductor FireWire 400 IEEE 1394-1995 cable

4-conductor FireWire 400 IEEE 1394-1995 cable

Apple Thunderbolt Cable

Apple Thunderbolt Cable

Apple lightning connector eight-pin cable

Apple lightning connector eight-pin cable

Apple white USB connector

Apple white USB connector

Apple 30-pin dock connector

Apple 30-pin dock connector

HDMI connector cable

HDMI connector cable

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

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Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

If you can’t make it all the way to the snow monkeys at Jigokudani in Nagano prefecture, you can have a similar experience at the monkey park in Arashiyama, Kyoto.

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

As with Jigokuani, the monkeys here are wild and come to the park for the food supplied by the wardens. Monkeys that don’t want to be sociable can live out in the forest, but those who don’t mind a bit of human interaction will get a regular supply of grains.

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

The most remarkable thing was that when you see the monkeys pressed up again the wire of a cage it is the humans on the inside. If you go into the rest area hut, you can buy nuts or seeds to feed the macaques. The monkeys then put their hands through gaps in the wire, and you give them the treats.

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

Adults and kids, both monkey and human, were having great fun.

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

I got a few good shots although it’s tough to beat the images of monkeys in the hot springs.

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

Some of the monkeys however did their best to pose for the paparazzi.

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama , Arashiyama , Kyoto

Toy Stories – Paddington Bear

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Gabrielle Designs Paddington Bear Iconic British Children's Toy

Gabrielle Designs Paddington Bear Iconic British Children’s Toy

Paddington Bear emigrated from darkest Peru to London. He was found at Paddington Train Station by the Brown family and had numerous adventures. The Paddington Bear stuffed toy was first created by Gabrielle Designs in 1972. Shirley Clarkson made the toy for her children Joanna and Jeremy. Jeremy grew up to be a car obsessed journalist, and remarkably a British icon almost as famous as Paddington.

Gabrielle Designs Paddington Bear Iconic British Children's Toy

Gabrielle Designs Paddington Bear Iconic British Children’s Toy

Pokemon Mania Still Going Strong

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Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

Pokemon may have been a brief fad in other countries, but in Japan, love for the strange battling creatures continues to this day.

Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

While exiting Osaka Station, I saw numerous brightly colored signs for the Pokemon Center, so I set off camera in hand to check out what was going on.

Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

The Pokemon Center turned out to be a section of a department store dedicated to selling Pokemon toys. Shelves were packed with keychains, glove puppets and action figures.

Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

Cleverly there were shopping baskets positioned at the entrance so kids could get all the items they desperately needed.

Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

Customers taking a break from shopping were playing Pokemon computer games.

Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

So there you go, Pokemon culture is alive and well. In the words of Pikachu. “Pika, Pika!”

Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

Pokemon Center Osaka, Japan

Wakasa – Traditional Japanese Umbrella

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Wakasa - traditional Japanese umbrella. Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan

Wakasa – traditional Japanese umbrella. Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan

A wakasa ( traditional Japanese umbrella ) in Arashiyama, Kyoto. This was a new umbrella which meant the colors were so saturated. After a few months or years of use outdoors they look a bit more like this.

Sun bleached wakasa - traditional Japanese umbrella. Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan

Sun bleached wakasa – traditional Japanese umbrella. Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan