Mikhail Tank
"Soul Photography"

SOUL PHOTOGRAPHY in TOKYO (2009)

Official Program, Cover Image, AD 1 (view), AD 2 

SOUL PHOTOGRAPHY in EDINBURGH (2009) 

AD 1, AD 2

BBC Interview

ALBUM AVAILABLE via AMAZON (click here)

Travel Diary



Amidst the chaos of the world - lives a magical planet, where an extremely beautiful culture is highly protected from the outside. The Japanese people do not need loud volume to express messages or acts of frustration to prove distance. My trip to Japan was simply amazing. Here are the highlights.

Day 1: Tokyo arrival, followed by sleep & one of the best breakfasts of my life

Day 2: Narita Express shinkansen (bullet train) where from the window, I observed construction workers doing Calisthenics in a circle, talk about a team-connection. With a permit, I took a tour of the Tokyo Imperial Palace grounds. Photographed here at my favorite location, the Fushimi-yagura Keep and the Seimon-tetsubashi Bridge. The Keep was moved from the Kyoto Fushimi Castle (during the reign of the third Shogun Iemitsu, early 17th century). At the Imperial gift shop, I purchased Chrysanthemum Crest souvenirs.

In the evening, walked around Shinjuku, the party district, where it was all about the hair. Saw a fire engine rush down the street, but not only did the alarm sound - the firemen kept talking to everyone on the street through the speaker system. Then upon arriving to my hotel, learned how to use the remote-control restroom while almost flooding it, was a very funny moment. In Japan toilets have different personalities, some talk, some have SOS buttons (pictured), and some can flood.

Day 3: Took Hikari Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, walking amidst crowds of business folk. Took a tour bus in Kyoto - there were three passengers & I was the only non-Japanese. The tour was in Japanese & I loved every second of it. Being an artist, to communicate through expressions & intonations is a natural high for me. Visited the phenomenally beautiful Rokuon-Ji Kinkaku Temple (Made of Gold, pictured below) as well as the highest sought temple, Kiyomizu-dera.

Checked into a Ryokan that had such a strong odor of mold, that I left and a few doors down found the most amazing 125 year-old Ryokan (old Japanese inn) with rice paper windows. I call them Trust Windows and very much appreciated the experience, as it has updated my perspective on the world. The Ryokan that I really enjoyed staying at, is called Takadaya (pictured below).

Day 4: Took the to-the-minute minute precise Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo, then the subway to Ginza (most upscale part of Tokyo). Had daily exercise by carrying my luggage on the subways & streets, prior to leaving them at hotels & going to explore.

In Ginza, I had the distinct honor to see a real Geisha show (very rare) as well as a tea ceremony, pictured below. I was taught by a leading Geisha that after drinking my tea to the last drop, I was to wipe the lip-touched part of the cup with my index and thumb fingers, a tradition. To this event, many Geishas arrived, even from Kyoto. The performance ended in the most elegant way! Instead of constant clapping & cheering, the Geishas and the audience together - clapped 3x3 & a final clap. This mesmerized me.

After this awe-inspiring event, I stopped by the Kabuki-za theatre & after went on a dessert-shopping spree at the Matsuzakaya & Mitsukoshi department stores (located near the Vertu store). Three, four floors of other-worldly desserts, breads, juices, ice creams, things I have never seen or knew existed, not even when I was in France. I was stunned & thrilled. And I thought Mochi was the only dessert (lol).

Pictured below, by the famous Nenrinya bakery with a Japanese version of a Mount Baum Kuchen.

Went back to the hotel, to rehearse for the show.

Day 5: Went to Horikiri-Shobuen, a mostly Japanese (not many tourists) part of Tokyo. Had rehearsal at Shakti studio, got a really cool In the attack jacket, met some very talented artists as well as Japanese underground fighters (pictured below with Fugofugo Bumpman Yumeji & Tushiya Kurenai). Took part in the Tokyo Fringe Festival, presented my theatrical show, SOUL PHOTOGRPAHY. Got into a natural trance and performed from a deep SOUL level. The audience was a house of thirty & comments included: Brining back Russian Intelligencia, Mind, a mysterious black box, Imaginative, Powerful & Soulful. (Photos from show, taken by Jorg)

Day 6: Went to Odaiba in Tokyo - city/island of the future, there on a Monorail, returning on a six dollar cruise ship to Hinode-pier. Made new friends & enjoyed the light rain.

Checked into Narita hotel, went for my 1st real dinner (on my last evening in Japan). I decided to go to a non-tourist restaurant and was escorted to the second floor of an AMAZING place, called Shoku. I sat Japanese style & ordered tuna Sashimi, Miso soup (with whitefish in the soup for additional flavour, YUM!), rice & green tea. The dinner was under twenty dollars!

On the rainy evening, after my supper, I went to the Naritasan Temple (click here for link) (which is over 1,000 years old). The temple grounds have four levels of height, and I will say that this place is the MOST beautiful place I have ever seen. There were gardens of stone, wooden crypts, stone passages, water ponds, such beauty that I was in inspired-AWE. My spirit was connected & uplifted!

I completed my last night in Japan by having a traditional Shiatsu massage with unspeakably machine like precision, which led to complete balance & a sleep state.

Day 7: Prior to my 5pm flight, I went to a Japanese Sento (Spa), called Hananoyu. Wow! I wish there was something like that here. Women & men of all ages go there for a supreme refreshing of the body & spirit in the multiple in & outdoor versions of Jacuzzis.
Magically, while awaiting the 2:20 bus to the airport, I met a very special girl, we clicked and had lunch together prior to my flight.
The magic of the trip can be summarized - by my going to a flower shop in Ginza and requesting to buy a leaf (leafs were indeed for sale). That leaf was extremely beautiful and not at all expensive. The care that was taken to pick the leaf, to wrap the leaf - it was given to me with heart and I said Arigato Gozai-Mas, from the heart & this is the very reason I will hold Japan in the greatest respect!

How to wash hands properly & a Japanese Taco stand: