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
Koma Shrine 高麗神社
Koma Shrine http://goo.gl/maps/qw0V1 I learned that this was a Korean shrine but nobody could explain the history behind it. Yes, ok, it is a Korean shrine but what is a Korean shrine doing in Japan? Is there a large Korean community nearby? To find the answer I had to do a simple Google search and…… Continue reading Koma Shrine 高麗神社
Sunrise in Saitama
おはようございます！ The beautiful, ancient rice field is now in harvest season. I felt grateful to be able to catch this sunrise as the only sliver of clear sky is just on the horizon and the space between the hill and tree only amounts to about a month of visibility. To think that my wife’s family…… Continue reading Sunrise in Saitama
A rice field haiku
The ancient rice fieldSaturated by gray cloudsOf US warplanes aboveMateo de Colón Just walked through this beautiful landscape and was struck by the contrast of its timeless serenity and the roaring of the ceaseless American warplanes flying overhead towards Yokosuka. It is a melancholy feeling indeed and brought forth an unsolicited haiku. Update 9.25.2015 I…… Continue reading A rice field haiku
Hikawa Shrine 氷川神社
Hikawa Shrine 氷川神社 http://goo.gl/maps/W2tnW
Rainy morning
Doutor is one of my special places in Mejiro. Every time I visit I like to drink a cafe latte, read the Japan Times and watch people come and go early in the morning. On this particular morning Japan was getting hammered by Typhoon Etau. The rain wasn’t too heavy in Tokyo but I was…… Continue reading Rainy morning
Beer in Asahi Sky Room
Drinking beer while looking over Tokyo. Not having too many deep thoughts as the Asahi Super Dry Black Extra Cold has gone to my head! Asahi Sky Room
