-
Painting Yatsufusa
This beagle is the key to our new animal hospital. Fujii-san and Yatsufusa met Dr. Aoyama at a dog park in Tokyo many years ago. Because of that encounter and the friendship that developed, Aoyama-sensei and her family moved to Kamogawa to build a house with an attached veterinary office. So I thought that a…
-
Yoga in the rice fields
This morning you will find me goofing around in the Bonichi Shimbun again. This time I’m not at my desk, but doing yoga in the rice terraces in my work apron and boots. The article announces an event that I am co-hosting at Oyama Senmaida. For International Yoga Day, on June 21st, I’ll be teaching…
-
AI Gaslighting, frog-deer edition
At 1 am the other morning I was awakened by a sound that I thought might be prey in distress in the living room – maybe a mouse or a rabbit trying to get away from one of the cats? Even in my sleepy state I knew I didn’t want to let that continue, so…
-
Double Taiken
Fresh off the planting season, we are roaring into school experiences (体験 taiken) at Oyama Senmaida. Today I attended two programs as an observer in order to make notes to write up into English instructions. One hundred and twenty six 4th graders from Tokyo came to participate in nature observation and indigo dying. In the morning,…
-
Last planting session
This morning was the last planting session of the season at Oyama Senmaida. This time we hosted 134 middle school kids from Yokohama. I got my own section again, with more students this time. Unfortunately, I reinjured my foot last night by leaping out of bed at 1 am to investigate a loud squeaking noise…
-
Leading into Rainy Season
Rainy season is on its way. Okinawa’s 梅雨入り(start of rainy season) was declared yesterday. From there it will proceed east and north until it comes here. Tsuyu isn’t officially declared until the rainy season front (梅雨前線 tsuyu-zensen) has settled in. Here in the Kanto region, it generally starts at the end of the first week…
-
Resisting Growth – a Meditation
On Sundays in my yoga class we focus on meditation. Every week we do a different form of meditation, because people find their way to inner stillness from many vectors. Today we practiced my own system, Drawing Meditations, where we use art to find insights, inner peace, and connection. And it was a remarkable session…
-
My own group
Either they forgot I am new or I’ve graduated from assistant because when I showed up to the staff meeting today before the junior high students arrived, my initial was next to one of the planting areas. Not me and Kawasaki-san as usual. Just me. Oooooh! Exciting. A bit scary, too. Fortunately, my mentor was…
-
Rainy planting
We had an epic rainstorm yesterday. Two schools had scheduled rice planting sessions at Oyama Senmaida. The morning group cancelled their visit. The afternoon group of 124 second year middle schoolers (7th grade) came anyway. I was on planting duty, and I dressed for “I will get soaked no matter what I wear.” I opted…
-
A Fine Evening in May
This is one of the loveliest seasons in Japan: Rikka, the beginning of summer. Days are warm, nights still cool, and humidity low. Not too many biting insects. Perfect for outdoor activities; good weather is motivating. Here is a vignette of May 11th at 555. On this fine afternoon, Tod re-mowed paths around the property…
Archives