Some more of them analog pictures, from a really good day.

On tuesday i got tattooed (yes, i will get to those pictures too, promise!) and after the session was done, we went back to Shige and Chisato’s place for a Yokohama sleepover.
We usually go home to Tokyo every night, so it was kind of a nice change to not have to be on the train for an hour and a half after a session like that.
And it was of course nice to hang out outside of the shop too.

My session went really well, in the sense that i am still alive and my tattoo is finished.
I am not particularly strong, and i definitely squirm WAY too much, but i will say that going for big sessions like this one has become much easier for me since i learned to co-exist with my anxiety.*
Not having to worry and “what-if” in the days, hell, sometimes weeks, leading up to a session has made this part of my life so much easier and more enjoyable.
The pain still sucks as much as ever, maybe a little more each time, but not fearing it is pretty wonderful.
I still get nervous, though, but that’s only normal, cause, hey, getting tattooed sucks!

We stayed up way too late that night, but slept in too.
Shige had a day off, so we decided to take a day trip to Kamakura (why do i always go hiking after long tattoo sessions?) which turned into an even better day trip to Enoshima.

Again with the violently happy Amalie.
I don’t think anything could have spoiled my mood that day.
It was like Japan just decided to bombard me with magical shit, and i was more than happy to accept it.
Like, those dogs?
A whole gang of dogs, even more than in the picture, dressed as bees! You bet your ass i squealed! And it’s possible i did a little dance too!

Even on relatively short trips like this one, when we don’t even have a rail pass, we always end up having the best time ever.
Our reasons for going twice a year may not exist anymore, but i will never stop coming to Japan.

There was a super tall lighthouse on top is the island, with an elevator leading up to a viewing deck.
Yeah, i hate heights, but we all went up there anyway, and had the most amazing view of a misty Mount Fuji, Yokohama in the distance, and hawks flying all around us.
There were cats on the island too, of course, a candle light festival that we actually got to enjoy cause we stayed there so late, a cute little French Toast cafe where we ate our unhealthy lunch… and yeah, tons of other awesomeness.
And if you’re wondering if i got one of those sweet shell dream catchers? No, but pretty close. I did get an awesome shell souvenir that will go in my new bathroom in Berlin.
Total score!

*I try never to say stuff like “control my anxiety” or “conquer it” or whatever.
Without getting into a whole rant about anxiety, the point is to learn to live with your heightened sensitivities, or whatever we wanna call it, and accept it as a part of your life and personality, instead of trying to deny or beat it.
I don’t know if that makes any sense, but maybe i’ll try to explain it better some other time!