The meeting | Koi
Ever since I started this project over a year ago, there has been one particular recurring moment which I, to date, have not been able to gain access to: the monthly general meeting.
(You’re right, I also would’ve guessed that most of the other things I’ve witnessed up till now, would be harder to gain access to than a seemingly straightforward meeting…)
But thinking deeper, obviously there must be a reason: I can just picture all ranking family members being in the same room at the same time, for one, and then I imagine the plethora of sensitive information being shared and discussed, the various briefings and debriefings, business and accounting reports, schedules and what not.
Not that i would understand a single word of it if I tried… but I kind of understand their predicament.
—
But I have persisted for over a year now, and I quietly show up every time, patiently waiting outside the door for the right moment to come. Members trickle in… Glances and greetings are exchanged, respects paid, and short conversations started… Waiting for the bosses to arrive. Then everyone goes inside, the door is closed and the meeting begins.
And I stand outside.
I know I will get in eventually and be allowed to photograph. I’m engaged in that typical subtle Japanese game of “showing that I would like to do something without openly asking for it” (because if I did, I obviously would owe the person I asked a favor, and this thing would lead to another to another to another… generally a situation desirable to avoid).
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In the mean time, I enjoy the moment of peace and quiet while watching the Koi in the hallway. These are often the moments that I look back and forward at the same time, reminiscing my place in this world and the place of this project in my life.
Outside, barely a few feet away, the ever-living city passes by.
Imants
May 11, 2010 at 09:19 //
Anton ask the koi as they may hold the key……..
anton
May 11, 2010 at 12:01 //
hey imants
the koi always whisper the key… they hold it most definitely… but they are so so hard to understand… i am still a beginner…
a
Bjarte
May 11, 2010 at 11:54 //
The door makes me curious. For instance, why the number 6? Are there more meeting rooms? If not, what are the other rooms for? Or maybe there is only meant to be 6 people at a time in the room?
This is definitely why pictures that don’t show everything is more interesting, because getting curious about something and making individual theories is simply more fun.
The fish picture works well with the first, gives me a feeling of being trapped, sort of how you might have felt while waiting outside room #6, between the past and the future…
*thumbs up*
Btw, I think the door picture could work as the first picture in your book. (Maybe not the front cover though.)
Bjarte
anton
May 11, 2010 at 12:19 //
hey Bjarte,
yes there are more meeting rooms… i have no clue how many but i think i saw at least six :-D
glad you like the Koi picture… I feel that they really do have a great symbolic meaning in Japan, and i can sit and watch and instantly become “zen”… I think the japanese understood that one well.
the door is not actually the first picture in the book, but is the first picture in a chapter! so you’ve seen that one coming :-)
the first picture in the book is the one where my brother is handing a ceremonial envelope with the agreement to photograph…. I think I’ve sent it in one of my newsletters… wait let’s look… ah yes here it is:
“Hello, and welcome to my mind”
cheers, a
katia
May 11, 2010 at 16:41 //
i just love the sheer simplicity of your accompanying text.
it says all there is to say, in a very airy way, without pretension.
is what you are writing here going to be in the book, more or less?
anton
May 11, 2010 at 17:30 //
Katia,
Yes it is…. I’m preparing the perfect way to present it as we speak. So watch this space the next couple of weeks :-)
…thanks for the words!
anton
Jean-Pierre
May 11, 2010 at 17:12 //
Anton…..patience my friend! And more patience…..eventually the door will open….try the Sesame-way :-)
Grtz & good luck…..
JP
anton
May 11, 2010 at 17:32 //
Hey hey Jean-Pierre!
Patience is something I do hold high… of all people, you well know that my friend… I just know you do
Suddenly a flashback hits me watching Ali Baba and the 40 thieves Warner Bros. cartoon as a 4 year old kid in Saudi Arabia… wow…
groet!
a
Frostfrog
May 11, 2010 at 17:39 //
Anton – Excellent!
(I wandered over from Burn).
anton
May 11, 2010 at 17:42 //
hey frostfrog! great! keep on wanderin’ once in a while :-))))
cheers,a
jonathan vdk
May 18, 2010 at 16:17 //
hope you ate some cake while waiting! (menu on the wall!!)
i spent many nights around that same area as the last image, but would never hang around too long as i didn’t want to get my gear smashed by the gaijin bouncers.
i can now more clearly visualize where you are which makes these images ever more impacting.
cheers.
anton
May 19, 2010 at 02:49 //
Hey Jonathan,
yeah i get it… In my case, the good thing is that the family controls the area… so also the bouncers. But still I always remain vigilant, things happen very quickly if you don’t pay attention
cheers,a
el waz
September 22, 2011 at 23:23 //
anton
a pesar de no saber mucho de esasmafias conosco algo ya que tengo una amistad refugiado q escapo de japon y de los yakuza creo que pertenecio a ellos pero no me a dicho bien lo descubri por sus tatuajes ya que nunca sabiamos q los teniasolo un dia q se estaba cambiando de playera entre a el baño sin tocar la puerta y el se asusto, en cierta forma se molesto aunque solo logre ver espalda y antebrazos completamente tatuados. gracias y voy a intentar conocer masdel tema.
saludos