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Japan Gensuikyo
Japan Gensuikyo is a national anti-atom bomb, anti-nuclear organization that was founded in 1944. They do grassroots awareness and fundraising for vicitms of nuclear war, nuclear testing, and disasters like Chernobyl. They call these people hibakusha. Yesterday, they began their annual march from Tokyo to Hiroshima. They take a rather long route–curving around the country…
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Japan’s international affairs
Japan’s international political affairs seem quite parochial. North Korea, South Korea and China get into snits about various slights in ways they would never fuss with othercountries. As some examples, everyone complains when Koizumi visits Yasukuni Shrine, where the war dead are entombed. Diplomatic letters fly across the sea from the neighbors and complaints are…
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Advance summer
Today the weather is forecast to reach 28 degrees (82 F). It seems like a good day to break open the box of summer clothes. Although it’s too early in the season for shorts, there are a few favorites that I’m looking forward to unearthing. But it’s also time to shop for there are two…
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Today is Tod’s birthday
Today is Tod’s birthday (his 33rd, though he swears he’s only 31) and we have many festivities planned–mainly involving food. First up, an American breakfast with eggs, bacon and toast to celebrate and to fortify for the day ahead. Then a cake to be decorated and other birthday surprises to be taken care of. Perhaps…
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Taste testing sweets
Taste testing two new sweets may not be the healthiest way to begin a new day, but it is entertaining. This “sugar milk” flavored Petit Toast (118 yen for a 40 g cup) has the identity of a breakfast food but I’m not fooled. The toast nuggets are about an inch square and lightly coated…
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Yoshi meets Shinzou
This is Yoshi. He’s a 22 year old musician who recently married my wild friend, MJ. He also spent yesterday afternoon building me a bookcase while she and I chatted and made dinner. What a great guy. Yoshi is balancing his wedding gift on his head. Aren’t they cute?
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Good god, time flies.
Good god, time flies. Is it really the first of May already? Seems like yesterday was oshogatsu. Lately start of every month has been creating a bit of a panic in me. What have I done with my time? Did I accomplish anything last month? What am I going to do this month? What are…
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All around the Yamanote
All around the Yamanote line, alert riders will notice old-fashioned metal signs advertising Nozaki’s Corned Beef. The ads look like they’ve been there a long, long time. Despite the ads, I’d never seen the product anywhere. I expected to find it near the packaged sliced hams and sausages in the grocery cooler, but it wasn’t…
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Today is Greenery Day,
Today is Greenery Day, the first of the official Golden Week holidays. We got a jump on it by strolling through Koishikawa Korakuen this weekend. This is the oldest park in Tokyo and was laid out by a Chinese landscaper for the Tokugawa clan in 1629. It’s full of water and bridges, minature mountains, shrines…
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Karaoke
I have a shameful admission. I’ve just lost my karaoke cherry. I’ve lived in Japan for nearly four years and escaped the painful embarrassment of singing in a karaoke room until tonight. MJ & Yoshi, who are completely undeniable, suggested it at the end of dinner and we said yes. It turned out to be…
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