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Lunch with the monks
An occasional student of mine has a family affiliation with Engakuji Rinzai Zen temple in Kamakura, which entitles her to the annual lunch and behind the scenes tour. All my random comments about...
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Memorial Day
Carlos has a few days left in port, and then his ship leaves for good, never to return to Japan. The USS Kitty Hawk will be decommissioned after 47 years of service. I will remain in Japan for several...
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Do the Shimane
Saturday evening, the Tokyo Sake Meetup invaded Shimane-kan, a store in Nihonbashi devoted to promoting Shimane Prefecture, or as the staff said, “the least known prefecture in Japan.” Shimane-kan...
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Kyoto: Nasty as she wanna be
Honey I got a lot of money Could you be my nasty girl And let me do that dirty dance witchu Mommy Shake that sexy body I just wanna nasty girl Now tell me is that nasty girl you? —Nitti (alternate...
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Tanabata wish
I meet my friend Eriko and her six-year-old daughter, Amy, to go to the Higashi-Zushi Tanabata festival. There are large Tanabata festivals in other Japanese cities, but this will be a modest...
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Goodnight nihonshu
Photo: Nishi no Seki Junmai, made from Hattan Nishiki rice at 60% seimai buai. Last chance at the Takara corral to unholster the six sakes John Gauntner chose for the evening. Last sips of life in...
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What I see when I close my eyes
Photo: Ginzan onsen in the evening. Photo: Adashino Nembutsuji (temple in Kyoto). Photo: Local festival in Taura, a short walk from our house. Photo: Scene in Ryogoku, Tokyo. Photo: Chikyoubin (large...
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