The Trip To Tokyo & Sabae Part 1.

5 min read

Tokyo 2024 was undoubtedly a life-changing trip, although it was intended as a leisure tour, I turned it into a business opportunity.

As an enthusiast and aficionado of sunglasses and frames, I had already conducted research on manufacturers and factories producing sunglasses around the world.

Being a huge fan of Jean Paul Gaultier's vintage sunglasses, I discovered that most of the frames produced in the 90's were crafted by Japanese artisans.

While at home in Tel Aviv, I conducted in-depth research with the help of a friend who is launching his own clothing brand in Japan.

He linked me to a primary website for Japanese manufacturers, and I started emailing them.

I sent out numerous emails, but only a handful replied, giving me the opportunity to visit and closely observe their sunglasses production process, along with understanding their production costs.

While researching manufacturers and factories to produce my sketches, I also began searching for a local collaborators for a photo shoot for my trademark.

After advertising my pop-up event in Tokyo, I gained a large number of followers from the city, including @123nazzy.

I messaged her, and we started discussing where and how we should proceed.

We also looked for a local photographer willing to take great photos, and @123nazzy immediately recommended her friend @powerfuruya, who turned out to be an amazing and fun partner for the job.

Gradually, I have begun to gather all the necessary information to develop a master plan for organizing my days there and achieving maximum productivity.

Simultaneously, I celebrated my birthday and was looking for new natural spots to enjoy, as I adore scenic views and landscapes.

I've booked a trip to see Mount Fuji and many other wonderful sights along the way.

Fortunately, I completed all my trip arrangements within a week of research and received enough emails from Japanese manufacturers to be satisfied with my efforts.

When I arrived at the airport, I had a bewildering experience trying to figure out my location.

Thanks to Google Maps, my life became easier, as every sign I looked for regarding where to catch the train confused me because they were all written in Japanese.

After using the Google Maps app and finding my train, everything started to flow smoothly.

I took the train to the hotel after being stuck on an airplane for 11 and a half hours, which was my longest flight ever.

When I arrived at my station, Shibuya Station, I was completely shocked by how many people were crossing the streets.

It felt like I was in a 90's movie.

I started to feel very excited because this was a unique and different experience from anything I had ever had before.

I glanced in every direction, and all I could see were crowds of people, towering skyscrapers, and massive TV screens on the buildings displaying various commercials.

I was truly amazed by the futuristic style that Tokyo embodies.

As I walked to the hotel, I noticed the prevalent machine culture there.

You can essentially purchase almost anything from a machine, and there are numerous game machines, which I found myself becoming quite addicted to.

Upon arriving at the hotel, the staff greeted me warmly.

After heading to the shower, I discovered the love of my life—the Japanese toilet.

Wow, this is undoubtedly the most comfortable experience my behind has ever had :)

I am definitely considering getting a tattoo of a toilet on my skin with the word "Japan" next to it.

I don't want to give away the surprise or reveal the number of options these toilets have.

Visit, and you'll see what I mean.

I tried to take a nap, but the jet lag from the flight kept me awake, since I'm arriving from a country with a substantial time difference.

I decided to go for a walk, and I must say, Tokyo is incredibly beautiful, clean, and polite, with very strict rules.

I discovered a nice restaurant and enjoyed an incredibly delicious dish, their kitchen culture is definitely one of the best I've ever experienced.

Despite being extremely tired upon returning to the hotel, I still had trouble sleeping due to jet lag and the excitement my body was experiencing.

My birthday trip to Mount Fuji was an unforgettable experience.

I visited numerous temples and attractions, receiving excellent explanations about each location from our enthusiastic tour guide.

I even experienced a minor earthquake while observing Mount Fuji, which felt incredibly special to me.

The ground shook on my birthday, making me feel as though the Japanese gods were greeting me.

That same night, I met with @123nazzy for sushi and a brief discussion about the photo shoot we had scheduled for the following day with our talented photographer @powerfuruya.

I was a bit nervous because I didn't know her and wanted to make a good impression.

However, once we started talking, I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I felt comfortable and open with her.

There was no need to impress or pretend, and our conversation felt like a family chat.

She is incredibly genuine and down-to-earth, and I felt blessed to have a lifelong friend.

The sushi was incredible, and we departed with smiles, exchanged polite farewells, and reconvened the next morning, this time with our photographer @powerfuruya, who has an amazing, positive, and fun personality.

We began with a warm-up at a charming café in downtown Tokyo, renowned for its iconic status and vintage décor and interior style.

There, we took this memorable photo of Rena (Rena is the real name of @123nazzy), dressed in the iconic 527 by Gianni Versace, which turned out to be my favorite photo of the entire session.

Then we continued to explore the streets of Tokyo for an outdoor photo shoot at various locations.

We started at the enigmatic red octopus, recommended by the skilled @powerfuruya.

There, we saw Rena wearing Gucci 2195.

Observing how perfectly these glasses fit her, I couldn't resist the temptation to gift them to her.

We continued moving to numerous locations, and the girls truly excelled.

With each spot we visited, they improved more and more.

I was speechless from the satisfaction of having such a fantastic team and such wonderful, loving, and positive collaborators with me.

After taking a break to enjoy another delicious Japanese dish and some amusing conversations, we continued exploring numerous pedestrian streets.

Just before the sunlight began to fade, we hurried to the Shibuya crossing to capture Rena standing amidst the bustling crowd with the iconic Chanel 01944.

We took a low shutter photo by @powerfuruya, which turned out to be an excellent shot, considering the photography equipment we had available.