Category Archives: Asia

Live from around the globe

Posted on April 6, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

TVgarden is an amazing website that allows you to tune in to live television broadcasts from around the world. There have been similar sites, but this one really works. However, be prepared to loose an afternoon or evening to fascinating … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, South America, Tech, USA | Tagged | 1 Comment

Tokyo High Line

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Tokyo is planning to follow New York City’s lead and create its own version of the hugely popular High Line. The city will be shutting down a two kilometer stretch of expressway in the heart of Tokyo later this week … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Asia, Public Transport, Tech, Tourism | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Deep Fry Everything

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

As I may have mentioned 20 or 30 times, I’ve been planning a trip to Japan and keep falling down Japan related rabbit holes. Like any sane person, I love Japanese cuisine, but as a vegetarian it’s sometimes difficult to … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Europe, Restaurants, Tourism | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Mapping Monday

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Brian D. Butler
Posted in Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, Maps, Middle East, USA | Tagged | 3 Comments

You have to walk a mile in someone’s shoes

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

What a brilliant book/art project . The shoe/book by Magdalena Haras who has taken excerpts from ‘The long Walk’ by Slawomir Rawicz and made them into a book that is also a pair of shoes. Magdalena’s interpretation alludes to secrecy with the information … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Books, Europe, Writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Underground Reading

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Nestled in a copse in a corner of a verdant field in Kisaru, Japan there’s an inviting library built to serve local residents of a farming community. Designed by architect Hiroshi Nakamura, Library in the Earth occupies a space that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Asia, Books, Libraries | Tagged | 2 Comments

Travel Trash

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Lately, I’ve been reading travelers’ tales about the difficulty in locating someplace to drop-off trash and recycling while visiting Japan. So, I found this short piece by writer and long-time Japan resident Craig Mod on our cultural impulse to immediately … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Not your typical cat videos

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

National Geographic wildlife photographer and filmmaker, Iwago Mitsuaki, presents a charming collection of cat footage from diverse locations around Japan. On this unique trip he discovers the lesser-known charms and customs of regions through the eyes of cats. The selection … Continue reading →

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Sentimental Souvenirs of the Past

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

   

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Spring is in the air (somewhere)

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

The kawazu-sakura are now in full bloom 🌸 Known as Japan’s earliest cherry blossoms, roughly 850 of these trees line the Kawazu river in their native Shizuoka, signaling the first signs of spring. Depending on the weather, they should be … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Tourism | Tagged , , | 2 Comments