Bill’s Tokyo Blog ( 28th July to 2nd August)

I am writing this at 5.35 am in an almost deserted Charles de Gaulle airport by gate 32 waiting for a plane to Manchester. It is just a rambling sketch of my impressions after a sleep deprived flight from Tokyo to Manchester.

Tokyo from a novices’ eyes (me) seems like this massive melting pot of old, new, traditional and ultra-modern where nothing is off limits in vending machines and the gaudy embraces the gracious. Whatever the object on display it always carries with it a definite Japanese aesthetic.

First up Haneda Airport which without doubt is the most charming big city airport I have ever been in. Elegant and stress free. Cool!

First gig was at a place called the Mamemie Kitchen . The owner and chef at the place by the way was a magician (in the culinary sense of course)!

Seiichi who organised the trip wonderfully has worked out all the guitar parts and sounds to perfection for some of the set. I was transported to a time when I recorded ‘Jolie’ one of my albums. His playing simply improved with each gig.

I must mention the other member of this group Tomoka who in my eyes did Francoise Hardy, my daughter and the BJ Scott proud . A great talent in her own right. A photo of her and me in downtown Tokyo after last gig.