Tariq's Adventure

What Nintendo Has Done in the Past Five Years

2010-06-23T02:11:00.001+09:00

http://kotaku.com/5569301/

Kotaku does a great job of discussing what Nintendo has done at this year's E3 that makes up for what most serious gamers would call a pretty lackluster attempt on Nintendo's part in keeping its core fanbase happy. Read it if you so desire. But what I want to talk about is the effect of Nintendo's strategy, and how in the end, everyone wins because of it. You win, I win, and Nintendo wins.

Back five years ago Nintendo had announced the Wii, known as the 'Revolution' at the time, during its reappearance at the Tokyo Game Show. The console was built to be able to use a unique control system to make it easier and more intuitive for new or rusty game players to jump right in to playing games. Nintendo invested the vast majority of their resources into making games that supported their new mantra of easy access, simple to use software from that point, and practically released a handful of the games from the series it is traditionally known for.

Ultimately, those people who were die-hard fans wanted more. Nintendo seemed to be ignoring them, making games at its own pace and making the Wii look like a GameCube with waggle (a term gamers use to describe the new Wii Remote control functionality). Third party support was much better than it was with its predecessor, but the Wii was still a fairly dusty system in 2008 and 2009, aside from a few blockbusters like Smash Bros Brawl and Super Mario Galaxy from Nintendo and a boatload of 'shovelware' games from third parties.

But was Nintendo really ditching its faithfuls in exchange for a new family appeal? I didn't care. I'm here in Bothell for a reason, and its to be able to work for them, and I had no idea what was to become of them until last week, when E3 happened.

Nintendo unveiled to us so many titles that we longed for, all on either the Wii or on their super-hot, new handheld system, the Nintendo 3DS. And boom, just like Kotaku said, in one hour the poor little booths held by Sony and Microsoft, vying to show off their answers to Nintendo's motion control success, were emptied as Nintendo set off a call heard around the world: they were back in business to steal the hearts of their faithful followers once again. Kid Icarus, Zelda, Kirby, and even the support of over 20 world-renowned developers.

I feel a bit sorry for Sony, having been destroyed by Nintendo in the handheld market with the announcement of the 3DS, while the PSPgo eats dust and falters as a platform. And Sony's approach to 3D on their PS3 is a joke.

I feel a bit sorry for Microsoft, because they as a company have no reason to exist anymore aside from their computer programming and video game development sectors. It's the Xbox brand I am most excited about, because they will be the only true way for future indie developers to get their hands in console game design. And the new Kinect looks cool!

But Nintendo has, moreso than anyone, struck the jackpot with this announcement at E3. They truly are leaders in innovation. Others follow them, and it's hilarious to watch.

Lucky as I am, I was in college and abroad in Asia while Nintendo was experimenting with their Blue Ocean strategy (collecting as many new followers as they could), so I didn't have time to play games anyway. And during my senior year, Sony gave me enough reason to buy their George Foreman-esque PS3 for its awesome Blu-Ray player, ability to give me access to Japanese content, and handful of great games that I had time to play.

Making sure not to miss out on Microsoft's game library, it's as simple as getting a new Mac Mini, installing the Windows 7 software that my school gave me, and downloading my favorite games from Steam. Most of the games I want to play on the 360 are or will soon be playable on PC, such as Mass Effect and Fable 3.

Getting ready for Nintendo's triumphant return to the hardcore market, I already have a Japanese Wii with the absolutely amazing Wiiの間, a free television broadcast and movie rental service for Japanese Wii owners. When the games actually come out within the next year or so, I'll be back in Japan buying them up in May or June, translating their manuals in my free time.

You'll notice that I'm in a good position right now. Banking on this company as a major success was the greatest thing I could have ever done, and the timing was just right. All I need to do is work there to help them usher in a new fanbase, and in turn, another thirty years of uninhibited success.

My Thoughts on Game Stories

2010-06-21T15:58:00.000+09:00

Released back in 2004, Collateral was one of the first movies to make me feel that caring for characters in films actually enhances my movie-watching experience. It's a little odd to admit, but a person like myself, so used to the simplicity and shallow nature of video game stories, takes a bit longer to really appreciate the power and value of a good story.

I feel moved to say that it's still a bit silly to compare game stories with those in movies and books. And I hate to admit this, but when it comes to games, narrative tends to always play second fiddle to gameplay - and one has to wonder if it really has to be that way.

Miyamoto will tell you that yes, gameplay is ultimately more important; it's just the story's job to give reason to the various gameplay elements. The puzzles, the weapons, the various dungeon themes - these are all elements that need a reason to exist in a Zelda game. So Aonuma and the band work on a story at about the same time they work on the game's music (probably the latter half), and end up nixing only a few of the gameplay elements to make it all come together.

With games, and only with games, the developer has to manage how much of his own story he can tell while still allowing the player to have a unique game experience. It's got to be interactive. But a movie watcher gives up her agency and submits it to the director of a movie. The job of telling a cohesive story is far easier for a movie director because he doesn't have to worry about his audience screwing up the experience he was trying to convey.

Game developers focus on gameplay because they are constantly thinking of ways to wow the player, and giving them incentive to proceed, over and over again. Whether that be by rewarding them with points, a heart piece, access to a locked room, a weapon upgrade, new character outfits, or an advanced difficulty mode, developers have more immediate problems to solve when pushing to engage the player. This is why I believe story ultimately takes the backseat when it comes to video games.

But does it have to? Do you have an example of a game whose creator has masterfully integrated a narrative with unique gameplay elements? Tell me what you think!

Amazon Vs. Apple Be Damned: Publishers Pine For A Universal E-Book Format - Wired.com

2010-06-01T15:43:00.000+09:00

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/05/universal-e-books-format/all/1

I understand to some extent why e-books are gaining more and more attention as the months go by, but come on – what's better than actually having a book?

A physical book or magazine actually gets the attention of your guests as they take a seat on your couch. People learn more about you just by looking at the covers of the periodicals and novels on your ottoman, in your shelves, and on the coffee table where they might set down their hot drink.

"You read Wired magazine? Hey, you must've read that new article about Zuckerburg and Gates..." and boom! A conversation starter, and some great coffee to top it off. But you can't do that with a Kindle!

No one in the world would be daring enough to turn on someone's e-reader and go through their collection of books. Doing this would be equivalent to searching someone's Web-browsing history – it's invasive, and our morals would stop us from doing it.

But a magazine (depending on what you're willing to put out in public) is a beautiful piece of work; it's beautiful. I love flipping through the pages of a new issue each month to see what the editors and writers have come up with.

Knowing what your friends are into leads to great ideas. If you find out they're into movies, find out which ones; traveling magazines? Ask them where they've been. Subscribers to photography magazines? Ask to see some of their shots.

Whether they're into cooking, interior design, gardening, fine wines, pet grooming, sports, video games, or fashion, you've learned something about the person next to you, holding the other mug, without even saying a word to them. Without that magazine laying there to broadcast their interests, you'd still be sitting there, sipping that latte, probably concerned about other trifles, like how your hair looks.

Books are just as powerful as icebreakers, and for goodness' sake, why do we need another device if all we're going to do is read on it?

The only excuses I have considered are that devices such as the iPad, Kindle, and Nook are lightweight and portable, which is less true of books. Well I have a solution: stick with one book at a time. Spending $350-$550 for minimal reading convenience doesn't sound like the best use of your money, unless you plan to use an iPad for much more than just reading.

The other reason I consider an advantage of e-readers over books is that you don't have to flip the pages when you're laying down; holding it above your face while in a bed has to be an easier task because of the one-page style.

Okay, and it saves paper... and the iPad is back-lit for night-time reading.

But...

With a book, you own the property, not just the rights to read it.

With a book, you can hand over that story you've been raving about for someone else to read.

With a book, you can have some security – I'm willing to bet that getting your Dan Brown stolen while you take a respite in the boy's room at Caribou Coffee will be less painful than, say, if your new expensive electronic device were snatched. Sophisticated people read, don't you know that?

So I'm still into books. They've been around for some 2000 years, and you guys are going around trying to change it? Let me know your thoughts!

Nintendo Investigating Factory Suicides - Kotaku

2010-05-29T01:46:00.000+09:00

Alright, before I start, I should begin by explaining what I'll be doing mostly from now on using this blog. If I'm willing to comment on sites, I'm just going to do it here, because people are pretty much more likely to respect what I have to say on my own blog.

Read the linked article if you like, then give me some insight as to how you feel about the situation. I'm tired of not knowing who is commenting when I read the responses from websites like Kotaku and Gizmodo – those guys/girls are starting to piss me off. So here goes (this one's juicy too):

Nintendo Investigating Factory Suicides - Kotaku

China's going to eventually be the strongest economic force in the world – this is obvious. And as long as they can improve their HR, I'm fine with it.

I've been there, and to me it's not too bad as far as the cities and stores go. But the conditions of those poor people... their dead, un-amputated limbs, their workers' compensation packages... China's got some obligation to its people, and should make working conditions and rational treatment one of its number one priorities for its workforce.

I'm perfectly willing to see a $60-$100 increase in the price of my $1000 device to see that money go directly into the hands of these workers. They work their butts off like this one girl I met in Beijing, ironically named "Dream", who sells ties in a marketplace. I asked her how often she worked, and she told me that she did so everyday, all day, except for holidays. I then proceeded to ask why, and she responded by saying she had to support her grandmother, and the best way to do so is to keep the family stable financially.

She says she has always dreamed of going to America, where she feels the government supports its workers more effectively than the Chinese government.

I pray for you, Dream, and hope that your financial struggles will have ended by now (I met her in 2007, before the Beijing Olympics). I wore that tie you sold me during my last day of classes at Miami University, and received the Senior Service Leadership Award that day from our president. I am glad to have met you, and still think of your struggle to this day. It makes me a more humble individual, and keeps me going when I think I've got it hard over here in the States.

Anyway, that was really personal. Enjoy the article and let me know your thoughts here!

Final Impressions

2009-05-13T11:00:00.001+09:00

Japan's got everything you'd need to live your entire life, and not find it to be a wasted one... From snowy mountainsides to clearwater beaches, ancient rituals in the deepest enclaves to the most pristine office windows glistening in the cityscape.

I've been on Japan's highways, in its caves, walked its mountaintops, touched its shores, had warm conversations at dinner tables, heated arguments with host families, slept in the strangest hotels, eaten at 'themed restaurants', played pachinko, sang karaoke, been to a hostess club, skied, rowed, pedaled, climbed, and have basically done everything one man could possibly do in one year's time. I even got a girlfriend, so I'm taking something back with me. :)

Except, I could have done better with studying. It's hard balancing this 'work' and 'play' idea; at my school in America, it's seriously just all 'work', no 'play', aside some good

conversations with some close friends.

In Japan, though, the friends you make will likely have part-time jobs, and don't live near you. They live far away, so it's hard to hang out often with them. You eventually come to realize the best way to get in good relationships with your colleagues is to join a club, period.

Albeit, I have felt a vast improvement in my Japanese ability, but I feel that I'm typically only practicing the same basic introductions to a constantly changing group of faces. "My name is *****" "I am from *******" "Is this your first semester studying here?" That's how the conversations usually end up, with one group of three or so foreign students and another group of three or so Japanese students. The conversation usually breaks up into two, one in English, and one into Japanese, then no one's learning anything.

But at least we're making friends! I just find it a little irritating, and it's not something I feel is a problem for everybody.

As for my changing impressions, I feel I've undergone a transformation in my opinion about myself and about my ideas of this country. I believe I've seen the real Japan, and there's a

whole lot more to discover when I find myself back here again in about three years.

The Politics of Matsuri

2009-04-22T11:46:00.002+09:00

I went to a special indoor festival about five months ago. This one was special because, for some odd reason, every ten years the festival is held indoors instead of out on the street and on storefronts.

What sorts of politics could I find in such an event as this? Well, in the little world where Tengu defends the people from the veracious Shishi Lion, politics enshrouds the celebration in many forms.

The synchronization of the wooden lutes and the Shishi's wagging tail

, and the strum of the samisen to the

bellowing voice of the kabuki actor... these are all political processes which are constantly adjusted and tweaked to creat a truly engaging and

continually changing process.

And the amount of time put into practicing these rituals is astounding to me. No member of the group will leave until the leader says it's time to go. In the workplace, it has been said that the office workers will not leave until the department head puts down his newspaper and leaves his office.

I feel that the dedication to work as a team. Just look at that guy up there on the ladder. Do you think he'd stand a chance if his buddies weren't helping him out?

Yeah right!

I don't know why they do it, and I have a feeling they don't either, but it's not about asking questions here in this country, it's about doing it for kicks, just because you can do it, and it's a challenge to the human body.

I like this idea, but to not ask questions is typically a remedy for preserving traditions, but less helpful when invoking change in a set system. ね？

Sports in Japan

2009-04-15T10:32:00.005+09:00

The concept of group-based activities has always, always, always been a strong trait of Japanese society. I feel that the Japanese find operating in groups to be more productive and healthy to the progression of a project than handling a task individually and coming together to mend the project's weak points, which might be considered a Western way of handling business.

The Japanese as a whole could be considered independent before it started relying heavily on foreign trade. After Japan's market opened up, the traditional way of doing things in Japan only changed when their society considered using foreign products, trends, and lifestyles in order to benefit their already existent lifestyle.

Why does this matter to sports? Because the rules change. For example, in Sumo, which has for

hundreds of years carried the same rules of male-only competitions and practices, along with a strictly no-foreigner policy, enough people have petitioned to change the rules and allow both foreign and female competitors to enter the ring.

I think that change is difficult to do in such a country so deeply-seeded in its traditions as Japan. But is change necessary, or is it important to have senpai/kohai relationships?

It's important, for sure. It helps prevent the kohai (subordinate) from trying to do the senpai's (superior's) job, which I think is good for focusing on the game. For example, in baseball, a lot is stressed to fulfill one's duty as a member of the team, not necessarily to fill a position of superstar or to try to chase a dream. Success is accomplished in group sports only by listening to your team members, and I think that the senpai/kohai relationship is a great way to remain

aware of one's team members.

Gender in Japan

2009-04-08T22:49:00.002+09:00

I can't talk to you about gender in Japan, because I know jack squat about the subject of gender regardless of the culture that is being represented.

I do know about Japan that relates to gender is the role of the individual in a group or group activity such as baseball.

Baseball's more popular here in Japan than it is in America. Is that a sad thing? Well I'm not sure. It's the same story with Jazz, and that came from America too.

I believe the Japanese do a 'better' job of supporting healthy teamwork-based habits than America. Also, the Japanese don't seem to be as notorious as America for steroids and corked bats. I just feel that the Japanese preserve the true essence of the sport, as America's old ways just crumble.

What does this have to do with gender? Well I feel that gender is typically based on how the individual views his or her persona; if a certain individual is a team member of the baseball team, I'm sure it changes how he/she feels about him/herself. And I believe persona and gender go hand in hand. If this person is the team captain, or if he/she's the waterboy (girl?), how does that affect their public image? And do they actually care? Who is the image limited to?

For this, I added this other photograph of a punk rocker guy. He obviously cares about his

public image, just look at his hair! This person knows that how he looks affects how people people perceive him. And he, just like every other person in this world, is trying to make it easier for people to categorize him into a group, like I did when I started this paragraph.

Personally, I don't like the idea of gender. A person shouldn't be categorized at all. And what are the limits to grouping people into you are labeled as a racist/sexist/homophobe/band nerd?

Comments, please.

Religion in Japan

2009-03-31T22:53:00.002+09:00

Japan's National Religion is Shinto. You should know that. You should also know that the average Japanese is born into Shinto, marries under the Christian faith, but in the end everyone dies as a Buddhist.

What does this say about Japanese society? Does it prove that the ones who follow this pattern don't fully understand the teachings of these faiths? Well, I believe that can be a factor, but even more close to the answer lies the possibility that maybe the average modern Japanese person doesn't dedicate his or herself to just one belief; it's much more about the blending of these religions that makes their beliefs about life, death, and morality so different from other cultures.

But does religion even matter? Most westerners don't find themselves to be religious, but still believe in ideas such as divine intervention, the existence of God, spiritual connections with nature, and an afterlife that follows death.

Following a religion, according to me, is to follow a teaching from a group of people who aren't God, but have some sort of authority close to Him/Her/It. Therefore, following a religion essentially means following doctrine, something governed and altered by a human. No wonder why Atheists exist; we can't trust each other.

Japan is no different. For the average working person, there's no time to go to church, nor is there time to read a Bible. There's no time for anything besides eat, sleep, #2, and work. And every New Year, there's a little time to see the local Shinto Shrine.

Globalization/The Japanese Version

2009-03-25T14:12:00.013+09:00

To say that the world is undergoing globalization is a bit of a misstatement, in my opinion. The eastern world is clearly being influenced by the west. Let's not talk about the myriad fast food joints that litter the streets of South Korea, China, Thailand, and Japan, all of which I've seen with my own eyes. I really just want to speak about the influences of western culture to our Asian brethren.

Where did the concept of 'youfuku' (western clothes) and 'wafuku' (Japanese 'traditional' clothing) come from, and why? The term 'wafuku' doesn't even have a meaning separate from 'traditional' anymore, meaning that there is nothing modern about wearing a kimono, geta, and obi sash.

How did this happen? Marketing from the west, targeting the eastern markets, that's how. It's

all about the miniskirts and fishnet stockings, the v-neck shirts and the purses. Hell, they even have 'manbags' in Japan now, cause pockets are so 90's over here.

Bollywood, from India, is a real entity that replicates what you'd find on MTV, from Michael Jackson-impersonated Thriller renditions to heated pursuits of a scantily-clad woman by Broadway-esque background dancers. It's hilarious to us westerners, but these people are putting their all into these things, seeing it as more than just a paying job, but as the ultimate

form of expression.

But the topic is on the Japanese version of Globalization, let's not forget. Let me just say, that Japan is penetrating the entire world through its automotive, electronics, and fashion industries. With each of these industries, I feel that Japan takes previously-conceived ideas, puts them through their rounds, and procures finely-crafted concepts and inventions to put onto the market that are comparably much better than their western counterparts.

When the West focuses so much on power and speed, I believe the Japanese, and increasingly the Koreans, focus on efficiency and productivity. But there are contradictions here: How in the world can one call the 'Japanese Way' more efficient, when the process of separating trash, the individually-wrapped foodstuffs (doubly-wrapped in larger bags), and round-about way of speaking (toumawashi) are such a waste of time, money, and resourses?!

Well whatever it is, it's not as bad as it is in America. I buy more Japanese products than I do American, by far. Before I came to Japan, the majority of my possessions were Japanese, and now that I'm here, I'm basically consumed by it.

I feel that Japan has influenced the world immensely, being the second-largest economy despite its size, which is comparable to California.

Photographing Japan

2009-03-09T14:12:00.000+09:00

I am writing this blog about Hiroshi Hamaya, who according to the Hasselblad Foundation received the Hasselblad Award from Princess Lilian of Sweden on Tuesday, October 20, 1987.

I chose this photographer for a number of reasons which I will describe here. Not only did he win this award for days after I was born, but his pictures usually depicted humans and nature. When he took photos of humans, they were almost always doing something: working, harvesting, or whatnot.

I like these photographs because there is a sense of simplicity about them that makes me think about how unnecessarily complicated our lives are these days. Everyone's got to work for 40-50 hours a week, everyone's got to make the deadlines and pay bills. But with Hamaya's shots, there is no notion of time. There is no feeling of overbearing responsibility or stress. It is simply an interesting shot of something exotic, far away from this world and impossible to

experience outside of the four sides of the photograph.

A link: http://hasselbladfoundation.org/hiroshi-hamaya/

There's also a feeling of 'wetness' that I sense when I look at his photos, as if the sun took a day off and left everything in a cold fog. The camera's presence is not felt, neither is my curiosity for what is on the other side of the lens. I'm simply content with the subject on the film.

The harvesting photo's URL is here.

This chicken photo's URL is here.

Hiroshi Hamaya focuses on the forgotten Japan; as a wildlife conservationist might take photos of endangered animals, Hamaya's focus is on the overlooked and vanishing areas where other countries' influences are erasing what was once prevalent. His style is successful, but it's almost frustratingly silent in its message, if each of his photographs contain a hidden meaning.

Japanese Pop Culture

2009-03-02T14:10:00.000+09:00

I really don't have a clue as to what the names of any of Japan's most popular pop culture symbols are, besides perhaps SMAP and KREVA. And I've never understood why all (or most) of the English letters in band names have to be all CAPITAL LETTERS. It's a little bothersome to me, like the group members didn't realize they left the keyboard in caps lock when they emailed the band name to the label.

Despite my lack of knowledge in the realm of pop music culture, I've been watching a lot more TV and listening to this one girl... Utada Hikaru... do you know her?

Apparently she's quite famous here in Japan, although she lives in New York right now, making albums for the other hemisphere... in English! This week you can download her music video, "Come Back to Me," for free. I believe it's because she's trying to get more popular in America, but to me her English albums aren't so hot. It's almost helpful not to fully understand what she sings when I hear the Japanese albums, because truthfully, her views of love, loneliness, and cheating make her come off as superficial.

Also, the interactive media industry, more commonly known as the 'video games' industry, in Japan has been losing to America nowadays; the franchises that the companies have depended on for so long are starting to lose their appeal, and rehashed versions of the same games are starting to starting to appear on store shelves.

Gone is the time when having a brand new experience for a weekend or two consists of owning one system hooked up to a television set, with game cartridges, their boxes, their manuals, and a strategy guide. With the advent of high speed Internet, our cartridges, which have been already turned into DVDs at this point, are becoming downloadable, losing the box and any proof of its existence.

No more occasions for your friends to come over, see your Final Fantasy collection, and reminisce deeply about beating the final boss of the seventh iteration. It's all on your computer, or at least it's getting there.

This is critical to Japanese pop culture because this is telling the companies that yes, it's okay for me to spend money on something that I'll have to buy again and again if I can't have a physical copy. But maybe this is the only way to progress, since we have limited space and resources here.

For any of the commenters out there, what do you think about this? Is it better to spend money on something that's not physical (DVD movies, music CDs, video game discs, cartridges, etc.) or is it better to have these things for the sake of sentiment? Tell me why!

Here's a link: kotaku.com

Japanese People

2009-02-23T23:40:00.004+09:00

It's fun just to watch people, living and playing, eating and laughing, waiting and complaining. During a shopping trip to Kyoto for Christmas, I saw a group of high school students dancing on a stage constructed in the middle of a shopping plaza. They all seemed so happy, as if there was nothing in the wo

rld that could possibly stop them.

So I took a picture.

The dating scene is remarkably strong in Japan, despite the declining birth rate problem here. Families and couples gathered around the

entrance gate to see street performers before shopping or climbing Mount Arashi. The leaves of the trees on this mountain turn bright red and orange in the autumn season, creating a great contrast to the lower Kyoto metropolis.

I also took a walk through a small mountain range that lead to the back of the Ryoan Temple's

famous rock garden. Sitting down for a good half hour, I watched as the floods of people entered and left the rock garden, listened to them talk about the idea behind the rock arrangement, and tried to imagine what one of the little children must think of the rock garden. I couldn't imagine that it's as fun as Disney Land.

Neighborhood Hirakata

2009-02-16T22:29:00.003+09:00

I live in a city near Osaka called Hirakata City. It's

a really big place; I just found out yesterday that

I've only seen half of the city, and I've been here for six months.

I've never thought I'd truly comfortable here. To be truthful, I thought I'd be a lot more mobile,

taking weekly trips to Osaka and Kyoto to see some Japanese history, but that hasn't necessarily been the story. Hirakata is so vast that I can spend an entire day exploring new neighborhoods while riding my bike in one direction.

It's very easy to get to the downtown area; quite literally, it is

located in the lower section of the city, at the bottom of a giant and fairly hazardous cement hill. The Keihan railway system

intersects Hirakata, with one direction leading you to Kyoto and

one to Osaka. Next to the downtown area is a central park area and the Hirakata Main Bridge. A big, bright lake flows underneath it and next to the park grounds, where people ride bikes, fly kites, and play sports in the soccer field.

If you want books, movies, and fast food, Hirakata's got it. You can really get an idea of the

typical Japanese lifestyle if you stay here long enough.

First Impressions of Japan

2009-02-09T21:44:00.006+09:00

I was welcomed to Japan about six months ago, when the weather was warm and the festivals were just beginning for the autumn season. The new study abroad students were given the chance to visit a nearby Kyoto with a few Japanese schoolmates through a Kansai Gaidai University Japanese partnership program.

But let me say: I don't believe that Kyoto doesn't really represent the presentation of Japanese culture the way I expected. Sure, there are geisha and maiko walking through Kiyomizu Temple wearing traditional clothes, but they're also holding cell phones with matching colors, stopping for the occasional picture request from one of the tourists as hundreds of camera-wielding bodies flow through the temple gates.

And the temples are overrated.

Except, in my opinion, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kinkakuji.

I think my attachment to

it came from reading Yukio Mishima's book of the same name, and also the possibility that

going to see it alone probably enhances the experience.

Overall, my first impressions are a giant thumbs up, besides the fact that everything that's a national treasure or popular Japanese piece of imagery is plagued by tourists. You would think that all of the Japanese tourists have seen these sights before, but perhaps its the sheer proximity and convenience of traveling Kyoto that has allowed it to remain such an attractive tourist spot.

Personally, I wish that all of Kyoto was still an Edo-era scene, like the movies. That Memoir movie lied to me.