この世界の片隅にIn This Corner of the WorldWikipedia- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_This_Corner_of_the_World_(film) This is a very powerful movie. It is the story of a simple countryside girl who goes through life in wartime Japan. Usually when we hear of war stories there is a good side and a bad side, reasons are justified and perhaps some heroes are thrown in. …… Continue reading この世界の片隅に
Category: History
Montaillou – Life in a Medieval Village
I just finished Montaillou by Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie. This took me over half a year to finish not because it wasn’t great, but because I have two young boys and thus free time is non-existent. I learned of this book in a Reddit post and quickly bought it as it is right up my…… Continue reading Montaillou – Life in a Medieval Village
Artificial Intelligence, Data Protection and other things
The time is 4:58 on Sunday May 27th, 2018. I had a few thoughts running through my mind and wanted to get them down. I am worried about Artificial Intelligence. To say it outright like that might make one seem like a paranoid conspiracy theorist to the mainstream public. What I’ve come to understand however…… Continue reading Artificial Intelligence, Data Protection and other things
The Third School Reader
This evening I was inspecting the various books on my bookshelf and came across some very old volumes I had picked up from somewhere and somewhen. The first book was in Latin; I skimmed a few paragraphs and then put it back since I currently do not read Latin. The next book I picked up…… Continue reading The Third School Reader
Urge to travel, need for a change
Today an old acquaintance from my days as an English teacher in Japan put up some pictures of Packwood House in Warwickshire, England. One great thing about teaching in Japan is I made a lot of friends; the English teachers came from many English speaking countries and many Japanese staff members married them. From this…… Continue reading Urge to travel, need for a change
An ancient homeland
“Here is our long-forgotten family home.And, having heard now and then the voice of ancestors calling,Like a grey little forest bird, from far-away centuries,I fly to you, Belovezhskaya Pushcha.”Aleksandra Pakhmutova – Russian ballad by Aleksandra Pakhmutova, 1975 which celebrates the Białowieża Primeval Forest. Bialowieza Primeval Forest I came across this quote in my Lapham’s Quarterly -…… Continue reading An ancient homeland
Journal Entry – 9.1.2016 – Current Society, Ancient Rome and Business Speak
It is 5:56 AM. I haven’t been to the gym in the while as my body is just tired: it is tired from karate, from endless appointments, from visitors and from stress at work and tired from two young children of mine. Instead of waking up at 4:00 AM as I usually do I just…… Continue reading Journal Entry – 9.1.2016 – Current Society, Ancient Rome and Business Speak
Graves of the 47 Ronin
I visited Sengakuji after a late night and too many bottles of Shochu in Nishiogikubo. I went drinking with a Japanese friend and it was a great experience although I do not remember much of it. He was dressed in traditional Japanese clothing and the street he took me to was lined with small, seemingly Edo-era restaurants.…… Continue reading Graves of the 47 Ronin