Hakei, Chichiue-Sama / Dear Father
TV Series broadcast on Fuji-TV from January 11 to March 22, 2007
now available on an All Regions DVD – 3 Discs – 11 Episodes

Kagurazaka is an intriguing word. I mean it has 4 A’s, a K, and a Z. It is made up with 5 vowels and 5 consonants. A word like this would be great on a Scrabble board except for the fact that it has 10 letters and in Scrabble you only get 7 letter tiles. So forget that. As for saying this word, it is not as hard to say as it looks if you break it into syllables. Ka-gu-ra-za-ka. Easy.

Megumi Kagurazaka

For those of you who have read my columns either regularly or infrequently; you should recognize the name Megumi Kagurazaka. Back in 2003 she was discovered while working in a department store by a sharp-eyed talent agent who signed her up for gravure modeling. She had the looks, and the body to delight both serious collectors of the gravure genre, like me, and most of you, as well as many otaku or fan-boys whose interest in something, even bikini idols, could edge into an obsession. In any event, her Idol career did take off and Megumi-chan became quite popular. Between 2004 and October 2007 she appeared in at least 18 DVD’s, most of which were reviewed by yours truly. You can find some of the more recent reviews on my pages by using the search feature on the homepage.

Recently, in fact, very recently, I became aware that Kagurazaka was not only a model’s name but also a real place. I wondered if the fair Megumi was from Kagurazaka, and if she had adopted it as her stage name. That idea turned out to be incorrect. She’s actually from Okayama which is midway between Hiroshima and Osaka.  Maybe she decided to live in Kagurazaka to be based in Tokyo to pursue her dreams. But the reality is that I don’t know for a fact, or even for a wild guess, whether her real name is Kagurazaka or not.

Anyway, after achieving success in the IV (Idol Video) world, her true desires surfaced. Megumi aspired to do more than be a model for photo-books and travel to various Asian beach resorts where, accompanied by film crews and staff of assorted DVD production houses, she would appear in a plethora of bikini bathing suits, and sometimes less than that, in front of digital video cameras. Her real desire was to become an actress in the lucrative world of TV Drama Series or movies. And to that end, in 2007, she would abandon the world of gravure modeling.

Her last Idol DVD was called Undress, was released in October of 2007. Unfortunately this DVD was more hype than anything else. Her producers, knowing this was to be her last Idol DVD, leaked out the word that Megumi would appear completely nude in this DVD. This news spread to otakus all over Japan, and following that, in the natural progression of things, this news hit the Internet, even reaching me in the USA.

Expectations were high, and this led to high sales figures for the DVD upon its release. But most of us who bought it or watched it were quite disappointed. Our hopes of seeing Megumi Kagurazaka totally nude were almost completely dashed. She did in fact appear totally naked, but all we saw were a few brief seconds, and a rear view at that. Blink and you might have missed it. So Megumi’s departure from the world of Gravure Idols left a sour taste in those of us who had supported her career by buying her DVDs.

Megumi has gotten work acting in feature films, like Spy Girls (above) but I’ve not seen any of them. But if you’re so inclined, you can have a peek at her acting career by checking her page on the AsiaMediawiki.com website .

And that brings us back to Kagurazaka itself. As recently as early November of this year, only a few weeks ago, when I was in Tokyo, I was still unaware that Kagurazaka was an actual neighborhood in Tokyo. This was unfortunate because Kagurazaka is a very popular area for foreign tourists like me. What’s more, I might have gotten there in a just a few minutes from Shinjuku, where my hotel was, via the JR (Japan Rail) Sobu Line.

Okay, I can see the question forming in your heads. If I hadn’t heard of Kagurazaka when I was in Tokyo, and only minutes away from it, how do I know of it now?

The answer to that is the Japanese TV Drama Series, Hakei Chichiue-Sama which translates to Dear Father. This TV series was shot on location almost entirely in Kagurazaka. As I watch many of Japan’s best TV series by means of subtitled DVD’s, you know I was going to buy this one immediately once I discovered it and read about Kagurazaka as the location in the Plot Summary. In short, by discussing this DVD, you will see and learn about Kagurazaka, the place, as well as something about this TV Series.

Kagurazaka is a popular neighborhood. It has many cafes and restaurants. There’s a decidedly French presence in the area due to the proximity of a major school, the Lycee Franco-Japonaise de Tokyo located in Kagurazaka. In fact, the theme song of Hakei, Chichiue-Sama is a very French styled song called Paper. Edith Piaf, the French chanteuse will certainly come to mind but this song is sung in Japanese by a Japanese singer.

Kagurazaka is also home to some of the finest Japanese restaurants, not only in all of Tokyo, but in the Kanto region as well. These elegant restaurants must be booked in advance, referrals are often needed to secure a booking, and they do not accept walk-ins from the street, nor do they accept solo diners. Some are located on small side streets, or alleys, often accessible only on foot. And one more thing, there are still some geisha houses in Kagurazaka.

And there you have the nexus of Hakei, Chichiue-Sama and Kagurazaka. This series is about the struggles both for and against the transition of Kagurazaka from being a small neighborhood that maintained its aura by means of its history and old world charm.  Its lovely narrow side streets, with geishas still working there, and the fine traditional restaurants found there are only a part of it’s uniqueness and quaintness. As Kagurazaka struggles to both stay as it has been while becoming a community of high rise buildings that would add little charm and mostly block the sun, real life and this fictional story may overlap. These events are told through the story of one family owned restaurant called Sakashita, that was being sold-off to a construction company in order to be torn down and the land used to build a high-rise business/apartment complex.

This happens all over the world. Some call it gentrification. Some describe it as out with old, and in with the new. Whatever you call it, the net result is usually that the face of the community changes as older businesses close, rents go through the roof, and as younger people move in, older people are displaced. When the Starbucks, and other international retail chains arrive, they would replace the Ma and Pa small businesses. Therefore as these changes occur, you can be sure that this ‘progress’ aka gentrification which goes hand in hand with making a profit at the expense of the locals, comes only after great struggles. And this was the case in this drama too.

 Let’s now have a look at some of the characters in the story and a look at Kagurazaka itself. The lead character is the 23 year old Ippei.

He’s an apprentice chef at Sakashita. He’s worked at the restaurant for 6 years. He lives in a small flat that’s barely big enough for one person, but he has been asked to share his room with the new trainee just hired by the restaurant. His name is Tokio.

Tokio is a big strapping 16 year old. He’s eager to learn and please his masters at the restaurant. But as Ippei’s roommate, we discover that he is prone to listening to the couple next door making love by holding a glass to the wall, and that he is obsessed by women’s breasts.

Ippei’s Mom is called Yukino She is now the owner of a bar, but before that, she was a geisha herself. She gave birth to Ippei as an out-of-wedlock baby, and as the story begins, Ippei still has no idea as to his father’s identity. He will pursue this as the story unwinds. Yukino is also privy to much information that is passed to her via her network of geisha friends who entertain big shots and their guests at elegant restaurants like Sakashita.

The Okami or head and owner of the restaurant is Yumeko Sakashita. She’s 79 years old, but she insists she’s ‘just’ 77. In her younger days, she too was a geisha. Long ago she became a mistress to one of Kagurazaka’s biggest politicians. We aren’t told this specifically, but you get the impression that this politician couldn’t divorce his wife to marry a geisha, so instead, he set her up with the restaurant.

Yumeko’s daughter is Ritsuko Sakashita, who is married to Tomatsu who is the second chef in the kitchen. Ritsuko is in fact the de-facto manager of the restaurant. It is she who has been secretly working to sell the restaurant to the construction company so it could be demolished. She plans to re-open a smaller Sakashita restaurant in the high-rise later on. Even her husband, as well as her mother Yumeko, were kept in the dark about these dealings.

Eri Sakashita is the beautiful daughter of Ritsuko and Tomatsu. She’s still in High School but she helps out in the restaurant. She has a beautiful figure and there are at least 3 or 4 instances in the series where mention is made of her large boobs.

The Head Chef of Sakashita is Ryuji. Not only is he the Head Chef, but he is also a confidante of the old lady Yumeko, who everyone calls Landlady which is a translation of the word okami. Ryuji is also the most centered or solid of all the characters of the drama, and is idolized by Ippei.

The last main character is the gorgeous Naomi. Naomi will serve as Ippei’s love interest despite the fact that the Sakashita family is doing it’s best to pair off Eri with Ippei. He however, only has eyes for Naomi.

She’s a bit of character herself. She works at a French Bakery in Kagurazaka and is studying to become a French Pastry Chef. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, she speaks only French. While on the other days of the week, she speaks Japanese. Her dream is to go to Paris to complete her studies.

Ippei’s dream is to go to Paris with her, and with her, he can do the only thing he hasn’t done yet to become a man. As he puts it, “With Naomi, I can conclude my youth.”

There you have it. These are the main people whose personal stories are blended in to be a part of the story of the Sakashita restaurant located in the heart of Kagurazaka. The title, Dear Father, refers to letters Ippei writes in his head to his unknown father. In reality, these un-written letters are voice overs spoken by Ippei as a technique to recap the prior episode or as the introduction to the new episode, to offer explanations as to what is going on, and to express his feelings to the viewers.

Though Ryuji is the one rock-solid character of the drama, the story is not told through him. Instead it is Ippei who is at the center of the story. We suffer with him, find our spirits soaring with him when he is with Naomi, and he is the one we are rooting for as he finds that choices involving life, love, and career are never easy, and may not work out exactly as planned.

Summary: There is one more star to this drama and that is the streets and sights of Kagurazaka itself. I’ve set this 11 episode, 3 Discs DVD drama in motion for you. I’ve given you a look at Kagurazaka and the characters in this story, and have not given you any  real ‘spoilers’. I loved this series and gave it a 4.75 rating as it is a lengthy investment of your time. But I believe it is well worth your time. Next time I am in Japan, I will surely spend time in Kagurazaka. And yes, I do miss the sexy Megumi Kagurazaka whose photos also make up a part of this article.

As for the luscious Naomi, let’s have another look at her to close out this article. The actress who played this role is Meisa Kuroki, and we hope to see more of her in the future.

If you don’t speak Japanese, you can buy this DVD at the Japanese Drama DVD Store out of California which sells Japanese language Drama DVD’s with English, Chinese and Malay subtitles.

Vendor:
Jpdorama – The Japanese Drama DVD Store

The flight in from Hong Kong is rather long – five hours and change plus a one hour difference in time zones. I landed at Narita. Last time I went to Japan, I thought the immigration part was extremely long in the amount of time it took to get my visa. But things have brightened up considerably. I got my passport stamped and my visa in no time at all. They’ve updated the hardware and now they take a picture of you while you stand in front of the immigration officer. Some travelers have older passports – this gives them an up-to-date picture of you.

Then, they inspect your luggage. I don’t think it was random, as every visitor seems to have to go through this. I had two bags plus a camera bag. They only opened one. He didn’t really go through it item by item – he just sort of felt around. Looking for drugs or weapons I guess. I had neither.

Then you change some of your currency for Japanese Yen. I had landed in Japan when the US dollar was bottoming out. I think I got only about 91 yen per dollar. I should have cashed in my Hong Kong dollars. I might have gotten a better rate. Then I was helped by a nice young lady who worked for Japan Rail. She was handily placed by the ticket machine for the NEX (Narita Express). Most people go into Tokyo by this train (NEX) – it’s faster than the bus, way cheaper than a taxi, and I could go right to Shinjuku Station which is on the west side of Tokyo. My hotel was just a few blocks from the station.

My hotel, the Century Southern Tower, had it’s lobby on the 20th floor of a skyscraper. I approached the check-in counter and said, “Tadaima”, to the lovely woman. She replied, “Okari”. What I had said was, I’m home, and what she said was Welcome home. I then said, I guess I’ve been watching too many Japanese TV dramas. What about you? Well this bit of bantering got me an excellent room on the 35th floor with a great view.

Next morning I checked out and headed for Myanoshita. This would be the first use of my Japan Rail Pass. I took the train cross town to Tokyo station and then boarded the Kodama Shinkansen (Bullet train) for Odawara, about an hour away. Odawara is the gateway to the Mt. Fuji area. I switched trains and lines and headed for Hakone-Yumato where I would have to switch trains again. I needed to head towards Gora and would do so via a small train that made its way high into the hills. The train made two switchbacks (pull ino a dead-end, then the engineer would exit the train from what was now the back of the train to go to the other end which was now the front of the train) to proceed higher before reaching a small hill town called Myanoshita.

I got out at Myanoshita, and walked down a steep hill to the town. The Hotel, called the Fujiya, was about a five minute walk heading back up another hill. The Hotel was celebrating it’s 130th anniversary. Many heads of state, kings, and other assorted notables have stayed there. And now me. The gardens and trails were very picturesque.

Next day it was back down out of the hills as I was scheduled to go to Kyoto via the Hikari Shinkansen. This time the Fujiya Hotel drove me to the rail station at Myanoshita saving me a walk up that steep hill. In Kyoto, I would be staying at the Hotel Granvia which was directly above the Kyoto rail station.

It was a marvelous hotel – the nicest room I had in Japan. The room had its own expresso machine. Wonderful views from the room too. The next day I visited a famous temple in Kyoto and walked the Path of Philosophy. The pictures I took can only suggest how beautiful this area was, including an impromptu shot of a possible future gravure idol.

My next destination was Hiroshima. There I would stay at another Granvia Hotel; again right next to the railroad station rather than above it. I checked in and headed back to railroad where I would ride the JR Sanyo line to Miyajima-guchi about a half-hour away on the coast. There I would board the JR Ferry for the 10 minutes ride to the island of Miyajima, which is one of Japan’s three most treasured and revered places.

The attraction here is the famous huge red torii gate set in the sea. There’s also a shrine, a pagoda dating back to the 13th century, as well as many tame deer that literally walk the same paths that we the sight-seers do. Many of the Japanese women who visit this island, are dressed in the traditional kimonos.

The next day I rode the train to another of Japan’s main islands. This was Shikoku, the smallest of the main islands. I crossed the Inland Sea on the train via a lengthy bridge. I was headed for Matsuyama and the train hugged the shoreline for many miles. Matsuyama was a fairly big city, but the train station wasn’t near anything of interest, so I had lunch and returned backed to Hiroshima.

The next day I had to make the nearly six hour train ride back to Tokyo. I had to change trains at Shin-Osaka. Ultimately I got back to Shinjuku, and again checked into the same Century Southern Hotel. This time I was greeted by the same woman who said, Okari, to me before I even recognized her.

I was leaving for Hong Kong the next evening. I planned to check out, ask the hotel to hold onto my luggage until about three thirty PM when I would reclaim it. So I spent that late morning and afternoon taking pictures in a fabulous park in Shinjuku that was the home to the Meiji Shrine. The day was overcast and threatened rain, but I was still able to get some excellent pictures in the park of families, of the park’s trees, and some gorgeous flowers.

So this was a small view of some of Japan’s attractions. I am happy to share these pictures with you. I enjoyed my time in Japan (this was my 3rd visit), and will definitely go again.

Then this hawker’s musical sales pitch reached my ears. Over and above the Brazilian dance party sounds I was listening to. The delicious tempos of Mas Que Nada and Desifinado, and other dreamy melodies sung by the likes of Astrud Gilberto or Sandra de Sa that flowed through the headphones had been disturbed.

Yes, this is the down side of going to the Copacabana Beach, or Ipanema Beach (above) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Some one is always walking by selling something. Anything. Everything. Or you can find what you need at a kiosk at the edge of the beach.

“Nao obrigado!” was my softly spoken reply. No thanks. These vendors sell everything from iced beer, iced tea, coca-colas, fresh fruit juices (sucas), hats, tee shirts, futeball jerseys, micro-bikinis, dozens of sun-tan oils, towels, beach cloths, sandwiches, sunglasses, hammocks, rugs, and there’s even a few people who come by carrying a small lit charcoal fire in case you want some kind of grilled food. Check out these rather modest bikinis for sale.

Oh, those clever Cariocas! You can even get cooked shrimp on skewers! And you can take a fresh water shower while on the beach. Aside from the showers, everything else can be brought right to you. You needn’t do anything else but whistle, then fork over a few Brazilian Reals, which are pronounced he-als.

But I just wanted to watch the endless parade of babes wearing those mini-bikinis. Dental floss and a few small swatches of material and the whole thing can be hidden in your fist. A girl can carry more than a few of these microscopic marvels in a simple fanny pack. Talk about letting it all hang out.

You don’t see too many big-busted babes on the beach. To see those kinds of bodies, you have to take a seat at a sidewalk café, like the Terraco Atlantico, or the Havana Club, on the Avenieda Atlantica in Copacabana on any evening. The passing movable feast offered massive amounts of cleavage up above and tight taut curvy tail ends on those working girl’s bodies as they strolled by winking and tossing gleaming, inviting smiles at me and hundreds of other men.

Yes, being on the beaches down in Rio, watching those undulating and curvy bodies for ten days was a tough assignment. Just kidding. How about the guys that play two-man teams, no hands volley ball. Just heads, chest, and feet. Now that’s a tough game. But the gals play v-ball too.

No, I didn’t forget about you Norte Americanos up there North of the equator, or our European friends shivering in Copenhagen, Berlin, and in the UK. Yes, I brought you something. My very own photos of what had captured my attention before that ulla-ulla guy wandered into the image! (See further up on the page).
Just like the song says —

Tall and Tan and Young and Lovely
The Girl from Ipanema Goes Walking
And when she passes
Each one she passes
Goes aahh!

That unforgettable music was written by A C Jobim and the lyrics by V. de Morais. Jobim has the airport named after him, and de Morais has an avenue in Ipanema named after him. And so ends our brief Brazil travelogue.

I had some thought of giving you a look at some A-R-T. You know, Cezanne, Fragonard, and Casper David Friedrich and their impressions of women bathing. Then I decided to save the art for another month.

So, may I suggest that instead of looking at some classical art, you can stop by our website frequently and look at some impressively undulating women, who really do let it all hang out, classically or otherwise. Ulla-ulla!

You know the drill. Save us or bookmark us in your favorites and we can say Ate Logo to Rio and its beautiful Cariocas and Bom Dia (Good Day!) to some wonderous women from almost anywhere on the planet.

This column was originally published, after my visit to Rio, in April 2000 in Also On Video has been updated for JustMeMike’s New Also on Video for March 2008.

Here was the playground of the richest people on the planet more than one hundred years ago. Yes, those were the days.

The names of these magnificent mansions, like The Breakers (above), Belcourt Castle (next two below),

…Rough Point, and Rosecliff may conjure images of elegant soirées, grand ballrooms, and sit-down, black-tie dinners for nearly 200 people. Here is a 2nd picture of The Breakers.

For most of us, me included, events on this grand scale are nearly unimaginable. Yet, to the people that lived in these homes before they were given outright, or sold to the Preservation Society of Newport for mere pennies on the dollars, they were ‘summer cottages’.

Just to give you an idea, The Breakers was built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II. You may have heard of this family. They owned a huge international shipping company before forming the New York Central Railroad.

This opulent summer shack, consisting of 70 rooms, was only half the size of their home in Manhattan, at 1, West 57th Street. The Breakers will take your breath away, but the city home was destroyed by fire many decades ago.

Doris Duke inherited Rough Point (above) when she was only 13 years old. Her father, James Buchanan Duke, amassed a fortune beyond belief by founding The American Tobacco Company, which later became The British Tobacco Company, which later became the parent company of Brown & Williamson, the manufacturer of such American cigarette brands as Kool, Pall Mall, Lucky Strike, and Tareyton.

Here are a couple of images of a pair of the ‘lesser’ homes. First is The Elms. This might be a side-door. And following that is a longer shot so you can see all of it.

Next is the Ochre Court (below) which is now a part of Regina Salve College. Just think of the how much the electric bill might be.

Rosecliff (above) was modeled after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat of French kings at Versailles. This stunning mansion was commissioned by Theresa Fair Oelrichs, the heir to the Nevada Comstock silver lode, one of the richest silver finds in history.

Rosecliff is now preserved through the generosity of its last private owners, Mr And Mrs J Edgar Monroe, of New Orleans. They gave the house, its furnishings, and an endowment to the Preservation Society in 1971.

If you can’t get to Newport, then you might want to check out Rosecliff in the movies. Scenes from several films have been shot on location at Rosecliff, including High Society and The Great Gatsby.

Or we can dream about voluptuous women with their own kind of opulence, the kind of ‘trophy’ women that no doubt had the good fortune to find themselves in Newport, Rhode Island, for a July 4th weekend on the arms of various captains of industry, robber barons, or other assorted millionaires, and the hangers-on that hobnobbed with the real life Vanderbilts and Dukes, or their fictional counterparts like Jay Gatsby.

Song writer Cole Porter penned these memorable lyrics for a duet in High Society between Frank Sinatra & Celeste Holm called Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Who wants to be a millionaire? I don’t. Have flashy flunkeys everywhere? I don’t.
Who wants the bother of a country estate? A country estate is something I’d hate!
Who wants to wallow in champagne? I don’t. Who wants a supersonic plane? I don’t.
Who wants a marble swimming pool too? I don’t. And I don’t `cause all I want is you.

You and I will never experience waking up at The Breakers on the 4th of July, or dancing under the stars at Rosecliff or Rough Point. We won’t be donning our tennis whites before breakfasting, or meeting for cocktails on the verandah of one of these fabulous mansions overlooking the ocean, but we can dream about that kind of life.

So for inspiration, or to pad out your dreams, until you do become a millionaire, you may visit my website free of charge anytime you like. There are no tour guides whatsoever, and our doors are always open.

Originally published in Also on Video in July 2004, this column has been updated for publication in JustMeMike’s New Also On Video on July 25, 2007.

Less than a month ago, I was an American in Paris, and my agenda was a tad different than Gene Kelly’s Jerry Mulligan. Now the only ones talking about it now are Mastercard and American Express, and hopefully, the Air France stewardess who took my card and said she would call.

We’ll hold that thought for a while and instead, take you back about three weekends. My annual 4-day 3 nights Parisian Weekend was something I always look forward to, and upon arrival, the local forecast was for some fine weather. Back home, my fellow New Yorkers would flock to the movies, the race track, Central Park, the museums, or, they would just shop till they dropped when not visiting any of the other myriad locations of interest that make New York a mecca for tourists.

For me the price was right, and the timing was magnificent, so instead of standing on line at my local Cineplex at some point over the long weekend, I flew out of JFK in New York on the night of Thursday, the 5th, and on Friday morning I was checking into the Hotel Relais-Bosquet on the Rue de Champs du Mar in Paris.

“Bonjour! Parlez-vous Anglais?”
“Oui, Monsieur? ‘Ow can I help you?”

“Je vais au Musée d’Orsay. Um, I’m going to the d’Orsay Museum. And the Louvre after that. Can you call a taxi for us?”

A few days of wandering around these world class museums, a spot of coffee at a sidewalk café on the Left Bank, and the sheer elegance of Paris,

…was just the ticket. Being able to see with my own eyes some of the art from some of my columns truly pleased me. But Paris, and travel in general, is not just museums, or sidewalk cafés.

Take a look at these vintage travel posters, and see if you can sense and feel the excitement of travel, and then maybe you will understand why I travel so often.

By the way, then take a second look at the posters and consider that as works of art, they have additonal value. Just because certain Tourism Groups, ad agencies, or State Ministries of Travel commissioned unknown artists to create these works doesn’t mean they can’t be admired in their own right.

But life isn’t just about travel and art, is it? Of course not. Well, maybe it might get to be, someday, if I can manage it. Yet, after necessities like job and family, get their moments, again and again, and between trips, we return back to videos that feature beautiful femmes and other ladies. That’s why we are here, right?

I’ve already said my au revoir to Paris, at least until the next time. You, however, may indeed say bonjour and ça va to another series of columns here at JustMeMike’s New Also On Video. So set aside your baguettes, croissants, and brioches and click on this link to my index of columns for more articles. Merci.

Hiroko Sato In Shanghai
Enterbrain Productions

The Skinny: Imagine then what it would be like to accompany one of the most gorgeous of all of Japan’s Gravure Idols – Hiroko Sato – on a trip to Shanghai, the most lively, and trendy of any city in the P.R.C. There are no beaches or bikinis in this DVD. You’ll even see Hiroko in a winter coat.

What you do get in place of the usual hot weather DVD fare is a cool jazzy soundtrack, a sensational model, and some intriguing looks at Shanghai.

Definitely, this is a fun trip even though you’re traveling through the medium of a DVD rather than on the proverbial slow boat to China..

Hmmm, I’m gonna get you
on a slow boat to China,
All to myself alone;
Get you and keep you in my arms evermore;
Leave all the others
waitin’ on a faraway shore.

Those lyrics are by Frank Loesser who wrote the song “On A Slow Boat to China” way back in 1948. Thanks Frank. Fast forwarding to the present, our DVD begins with Hiroko on the river walkway above the Huangpo River. Across the water is the impressive Shanghai-Pudong skyline. Less than impressive is that Hiroko has to deal with an annoying CGI panda who chases her around.

Quickly we abandon this setting, and we join Hiroko in her room in the Peace Hotel where she’s reading up on the delights of Shanghai on her laptop computer. She’s fresh from the shower and wears only one of those plush terry-cloth robes.

We next watch an artsy scene. Hiroko wears a red checkered dress with a push-up bra. She’s on a staircase and it is all ‘fashion-magazine-esque’ posing. Nothing overly positive to report; however on the negative side there were some gimmicky in and out of focus segments of this scene that I found distracting.

Following is another stairway/hallway segment. Only this time this scene is bright with light. There’s even a double bonus as Hiroko and her mirror image share space. This scene ends with Hiroko on the hotel’s roof with more of the Shanghai architectural wonders that make up the skyline as background.

Hiroko looks smashing in a sexy cocktail dress as we meet her next. Only this is a tease. She will meet us and then immediately head down a hallway. And the scene becomes a massage. Two ladies work on Hiroko. They each wear medical looking tunics with big bows on the back and surgical masks. Their technique is fascinating to watch as a round piece of jade is placed on her back and what does it do? I can’t tell you that but jade is considered a cool gem.

After the massage, Hiroko takes a soak in a rose petal strewn bathtub. Unfortunately the director chose this scene to employ some editing gimmicks so the scene was a waste. There’s a brief interlude with Hiroko and her laptop sitting in a small park on Nanjing Lu Road. The pesky panda has more screen time in this stanza.

This is followed by a great segment. Hiroko is done up in black slacks with a faint chalk-stripe, a white shirt, a beautiful black and red scarf, suspenders, and a fedora. She’s not quite a Michael Jackson clone but she will remind you of the MJ of a different era. The scene is first set right there on a public street.

You can watch the Shanghainese walk by or pass on their bicycles. Some oblivious and some not sure of what they’re seeing. Then they move her to a clubby room – leather chairs, dark woods, Tiffany lamps, where Hiroko continues to charm us.

Next a playful Hiroko scampers about one of the upper floors in an atrium. She looks great but the soundtrack is cluttered with a conversation between Hiroko and the…panda!

The finale has Hiroko clad in a beige bra and panties set. They’ve again gone for the artsy-stylized look for this scene. But I am somewhat indifferent to this by now.

The rest of the DVD has Hiroko on a river cruise at night, and in the making of segments we see more of Shanghai, such as the sparkling Xintiandi, a neighborhood of electric cafes, shops, boutiques, and fine restaurants (picture of Xintiandi is below).

By the way I thought this DVD was a lot of fun, and as I watched Hiroko in Shanghai, I was able to see that she and I went to a lot of the same places in this city. Plus there were even more glamor poses to be found in the making of segments, only these were without the arty look.

I always enjoy Hiroko’s DVD’s. And despite the stylization of some of the scenes, and despite the annoying panda who wasn’t really necessary, I find the gorgeous Hiroko Sato to be a mesmerizing model. While it is true that there more than a few factors that I didn’t like about the DVD, I am still happy to reward the model as well as the producers a very fine four point zero rating as we say farewell to Shanghai.

We will be presenting another Hiroko DVD review before month’s end. The title is the lengthy Kanbai Gekijo Presents Hiroko Sato / Togenkyo which is a lot to remember. Here’s a look at the cover of this DVD which was shot in Okinawa.

It is now a week later and I find myself in a different place and a much warmer temperature. About Door County, oh, it wasn’t all bad. We occupied a huge corner room with a fireplace and a Jacuzzi bathtub, a 50-inch High Def plasma TV, and a deluxe king-size bed in an elegant B & B. Yeah, could’ve been a lot worse.

Let’s see — ice skating, sleigh-riding and tobogganing, building snowmen and snowball tossing highlighted the outdoors activities. Ice-fishing was on the list of available activities but we gave it a pass.

Of course, indoors, there were romantic candlelight dinners, a snifter or two of Courvoisier VSOP, and the days ended and the nights began with snuggling under the bedcovers. Nice work if you can get it. But it takes two of you to make it work.

And that’s the subject of this month’s introduction — Teamwork. Out of the gate first will be The Great Escape. This film, released in 1963, tells the story of how several hundred Allied prisoners of war attempt an escape from a German PoW Camp called Stalag Luft III.

Featuring an international cast which includes Steve McQueen, James Garner, James Coburn, Charles Bronson and Richard Attenborough, the film is considered a classic of hardship, courage, and teamwork.

Check out this conversation between McQueen’s Hilts, the Cooler King, and Attenborough’s Bartlett, the Big X.

Hilts: How many you taking out?
Bartlett: Two hundred and fifty.
Hilts: Two hundred and fifty?
Bartlett: Yeah.
Hilts: You’re crazy. You oughta be locked up. You, too? Two hundred and fifty guys just walkin’ down the road, just like that?

Continuing our tour of WWII films, next is The Guns of Navarone (1961). This isn’t about an escape or breaking out, this is about breaking in.

A British team is sent to make its way through occupied Greece to take out a heavily guarded, massive German gun emplacement that commands an important sea channel. Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn, and David Niven head up the incursion team.

What are they up against? Richard Harris as Squadron Leader Barnsby of the RAF describes the target:

First, you’ve got that bloody old fortress on top of that bloody cliff. Then you’ve got the bloody cliff overhang. You can’t even see the bloody cave, let alone the bloody guns.

And finally — we haven’t got a bloody bomb big enough to smash that bloody rock. And that’s the bloody truth, sir.

In 1965, Frank Sinatra played an American Air Force Captain who attempted to lead a band of British prisoners to a safe haven in Switzerland during WWII.

The film was called Von Ryan’s Express. Ryan and his band of British soldiers, from the 9th Fusiliers, have to overcome many obstacles, including hi-jacking the very train that they were originally riding as captives.

Major Eric Fincham, played by Trevor Howard, has a memorable line:

I once told you, Ryan, if only one gets out, it’s a victory.

One of the best films that portrays teamwork is the 1957 classic, The Bridge On The River Kwai. This film walked away with seven Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director (David Lean), and Best Actor.

The cast was headed by William Holden, Sir Alec Guinness, and the Japanese actor, Sessue Hayakawa, who garnered the Oscar for Best Performance By a Supporting Actor.

The British PoWs, led by the uncompromising Colonel Nicholson (Guinness) are building a military bridge for the Japanese. Why? Simply, to show to the Japanese that, despite their captivity, the British troops and officers could still maintain their pride, ability, and superiority.

Maj Shears: You mean you intend to uphold the letter of the law, no matter what it costs?
Col Nicholson: Without law there is no civilization.
Maj Shears: That’s just my point. Here, there is no civilization.
Col Nicholson: Then we have the opportunity to introduce it.

What the British don’t know is that a team of Allied commandoes, led by Major Shears (Holden), have other plans for the bridge. As the film concludes we realize the importance of teamwork, and that honor as well as sacrifice are always components of a team’s success.

Our last film from WWII is the classic Saving Private Ryan. This is the heroic story of a small team of infantry soldiers sent into the heart of Nazi occupied France to bring out the single soldier named Private Ryan, so his family might be spared the possibility that all of their sons had been killed in the war.

Most all of us who have seen this film were moved by it. There is no denying that a movie of this caliber will always be remembered.

Tom Hanks as Captain Miller was so memorable in his role. Despite enormous odds, he focused on the mission. When his small platoon found an orphaned child amidst the rubble of a war ravaged village, we get this famous quote:

Captain Miller: Caparzo, get that kid back up there!
Private Carpazo: Captain, the decent thing to do would be take her over to the next town.
Captain Miller: We’re not here to do the decent thing, we’re here to follow fucking orders!

We’ve just seen portrayals of men who were heroic, courageous, and brave, and despite their best efforts, in every case it still took masterful teamwork to get the job done. Here at AoV we don’t think that the act of toting around a massive pair of breasts is a particularly heroic act on the part of a woman. However, there’s no denying that teamwork is not needed, and it is infinitely thrilling to watch. And watch we shall, so please visit our pages often.

Originally published in AoV in March 2006 – Updated for JustMeMike’s New Also on Video

While you toss that around in your head, what happened this month to make it so unique? Well, when I originally wrote this, Presidential hopeful Howard Dean (above) had just lost his cool and began that long, deep slide into political oblivion. The political pot still boils angrily, and now, the names include Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton (below). What’s ahead – a debate or a tempest?

Mel Gibson had interpreted the New Testament for us in his movie, The Passion of The Christ, and people carried placards in front of movie houses either protesting or lauding his efforts. What’s next — a torch-bearing procession? This year the Oscar may go to a film with the unlikely title of Babel. Just kidding – The Departed got the gold.

Alex Rodriguez had been imported to play third base for the Evil Empire, and once again, the Red Sox Nation wept. Now the talk is about will he leave next year. Howard Stern, who had been yanked off the air by the Clear Channel Radio Corporation in six separate markets, threatened that he might quit. Well he did. Now he plies his trade on satellite radio for millions a year. When you wake up you never know what you will see in the papers.

But when you travel you can make certain you like what you see. A room with a view is so important to you when you travel. Hotels charge a premium for a view or a high floor. Everyone would prefer a high floor with a river view, or a park view, or a view that opens on a famed site like a Cathedral, or a Tower, or even the harbor. Can’t afford one? You might have to stay in a lower floor, with a view of the back of a laundro-mat.

Then again, you can always read AoV. Have a look at some views from windows around the world, speaking cinematically of course.

The park view (above), alongside the Arno River is set in Florence, Italy and is from Calmi, Cuori, Apassionati. The star-crossed lovers have a reunion after 10 years apart. They meet at the top of the Duomo in Florence. Strictly speaking, that’s not a view you can get from any room in the city. This one was done with a helicopter.

Above is a view of The Duomo in Florence from a room, from the movie, coincidentally entitled, A Room with a View.

The green rolling hillsides in Tuscany are from Under The Tuscan Sun, as is the Italian coastal view. This movie starred the luscious Diane Lane.

The local church spire is in Paris, France from the film Le Divorce, with Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts.

And our last window view is of the island-drenched seacoast in Hong Kong from the film My Left Eye Sees Ghosts - that’s Hong Kong movie star Sammi Cheng in motion above, looking lovely, and adorning the movie poster below.

If flying a long way for a view is not your cup of tea, and you’d rather not hand over sums of money to some hotelier, then visit our pages often for absolutely stunning views. Our specialty is not to show you some inspiring cityscapes or the countrysides outside your window but instead, we offer wonderful views of some gorgeous and delightful women. Do drop in – reservations not required.
Originally published March 1, 2004; now updated for JustMeMike’s New Also on Video.

This is not a bad assignment. Hit the praia (beach). Watch the girls in thong bikinis. Toss down a few cold caipirinhas. Dine at a churrascaria where they keep slicing and bringing you roasted meats until you wave them off. Then I might listen to some cool jazz, do the samba, do the lambada, and maybe I’ll do the wild thing. And then, try to repeat all of the above on the next day. I’ll have to be at my best to accomplish the mission.

But before I board that Varig jet, let’s have a peek at some Brazilian art. Rio lies below the equator at a place where the mountains and the sea meet to surround an urban setting. An unbelievably gorgeous setting that is fantastic.

Artist Candida Ferreira melds fantasy with her conception of Rio. The butterfly is in danger flying over the sea. But he is watched over by Christ the Redeemer Who watches over all of Rio.

And down from the favelas, the shacks and shanties built on Rio’s hillsides, come the people to samba and party on the Praias de Copacabana et Ipanema. Check out the art of Luis Coelho who shows his on canvas versions of the Girls from Ipanema.

As is our custom here at AoV, we like to present you with a look at culture, and art, and travels to the world’s most exotic playgrounds to whet your appetite for additional excitement.

So samba your way down to our pages as often as you like to see the latest in lovely ladies, who did not accompany me to Rio, or Japan, or Thailand, or anyplace else. Instead, they have remained here for your pleasure.

Originally published in AoV March 4th, 2001 – updated for JustMeMike’s New Also on Video

To this day, George Martin, producer for The Beatles, regrets not including these songs in the Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

Let me take you down, ‘cos I’m going to…
Strawberry Fields
Nothing is real, and nothing to get hung about
Strawberry fields forever

Strawberry Fields, the original, as referenced in the song, was a real location. It was the name of an orphanage near John Lennon’s boyhood home in Liverpool, UK. Nowadays, Strawberry Fields is an often visited section of New York’s Central Park.

Unfortunately, in life, nothing is forever, including the Beatles. While George Harrison and John play in the fields of our Lord, the rest of us are still looking for what we want.

Maybe the Beatles should have called their song, Lavender Fields Forever. Yes, lavender!

So what is lavender? Well, the simplest description is that it is a flower, and a herb, as in a flowering shrub. Its flowers have a distinctive color, and fields of them are strikingly beautiful.

Lavender is used in dried flower arrangements. Or it is dried and then sealed in pouches and folks use these sachets or pouches for the fresh fragrances. You may buy them as potpourris which are mixed herbs, or fully lavender.

Lavender flowers may be blended with black teas. They yield plenty of nectar which can be made into a honey. And the plant is grown commercially for extraction of lavender oils which are used in antiseptics, or in scented soaps.

It is a very talented plant indeed. In 1951, Alec Guiness starred in a bank heist movie called The Lavender Hill Mob. I bring this in just as a factoid, about lavender, but we won’t be looking at this movie. However, we will have a look at a more recent movie from Hong Kong called Lavender (2000) which starred Asian heart throbs Kelly Chen and Takeshi Kaneshiro.

Kelly plays a despondent aromatherapist whose boyfriend had died. Takeshi plays an angel, who falls to earth and is injured. Needless to say it is a romantic story as each of them attempt to make the other better.

Fast forwarding through the movie, Kelly and Takeshi travel to the South of France for…what else, but the lavender. After all, she is an aromatherapist. When you are done with this column, you can watch Kelly in a music video from the movie. The link is found on Yahoo.com Movies. Search for Kelly Chen – Lavender after you sign in.

The Provence area of France is such a beautiful region. The names of the towns and cities in this region sound (for lack of a better word) so…French. Nimes, Arles, Grasse, Nice, St.Tropez, Antibes, Avignon, and Aix-en-Provence are the verbal dollops which are so tasteful.

Aix-en-Provence is a gorgeous town. The world famous Cours Mirabeau is a street noted for wonderful fountains and the leafy trees as a canopy. When you tire of walking, try one of the gastronomically superb terrace and sidewalk cafes or restaurants.

Artists have long gravitated to Aix for its dappled sunlit scenery. One of my favorites artists who have made this part of France his own is Jeremy Barlow.

Cafe Aix-en-Provence by Jeremy Barlow (above).

Aix-en-Provence by Jeremy Barlow (above)

Market Day Aix-en-Provence by Jeremy Barlow (above)

And one of his favorite locations for these magnificent paintings is the south of France, Aix-en-Provence in particular. Barlow paints with watercolors as well as oils. He was moved by the effects of the water-based paints washed onto a bright white canvas; yielding both freshness and looseness that you do not get with oil-based paints.

Cafe Vauvenargues by Jeremy Barlow (above)

Cafe Grillon by Jeremy Barlow (above)

A Barlow painting is atmospheric; taking advantage of the interaction of the bright light filtered through the trees to create deep and rich shadows is just part of the appeal. And the appeal is not only the beauty of the compositions themselves, but also the added aura of mystery.

La Belle Epoque Aix-en-Provence by Jeremy Barlow (above)

Cafe Cours Mirabeau Aix-en-Provence by Jeremy Barlow (above)

We, as viewers may look at the people at the Les Deux Garcones Cafe in the photo (below top) and the painting (below bottom). “Who are those people? They’ve nothing to do but while away the hours sitting in cafe under the sun…” is a thought that naturally springs to mind. The fact that we cannot answer this question should direct us to just enjoy the artas those in the paintings are just enjoying their days.

Les Deux Garcones Aix-en-Provence by Jeremy Barlow (above)

Having spent a few days in Aix-en-Provence myself, at the Hotel D’Europe, Barlow’s works struck a responsive chord within me, not to mention the memories of the fine meals I had in a few of Aix’s many cafes. I also watched men playing boule in the parks. It is an inexpensive game similar to the British lawn bowling, or more closely related to the Italian bocce.

Boules by Jeremy Barlow (above)

Cafe Aix-en-Provence by Jeremy Barlow (above)

Cafe Bastide du Cours by Jeremy Barlow (above)

The air in Provence is special, and when the sunlight is filtered through the trees, a skilled artist like Barlow is able to do his magic, and recreate this ‘dappling’ affect of the light. Check for this effect on the buildings as well as the sidewalks in his art.

Restaurant Contignac by Jeremy Barlow (above)

Lavender near Oppende-le-Vieux by Jeremy Barlow (above)

And yes, there’s no better term than ‘magical’ to describe these paintings. They are gorgeous, and yet they bring forth emotional responses in those fortunate to see them. You especially connect if you had walked the same turf as Barlow did. One more thing, Barlow really likes lavender as you can see in the last few paintings in this article.

Lavender Under Mt. Ventous by Jeremy Varlow (above)

And so our journey from Strawberry Fields to fields of lavender, with a few stops along the way, ends. Lavender Fields Forever, indeed. Googoogajoob.

http://www.bournegallery.com/artist/details.asp?artist_id=104