Tag Archives: Japan

Sounds like Japan

The Sound of Japan transported me directly to my happy place. Captured in the mountains and cities of Japan, this film blends immersive visuals with an original soundtrack, composed of sounds recorded on location by musician Jackson Fester. An audio-visual exploration … Continue reading

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sentimental souvenirs of the past

“I remembered once, in Japan, having been to see the Gold Pavilion Temple in Kyoto and being mildly surprised at quite how well it had weathered the passage of time since it was first built in the fourteenth century. I … Continue reading

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Definitely not, but actually maybe

It has been suggested to me that the frequency of my posts about Japan is somehow indicative of a recently identified syndrome called 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗣𝗝𝗗). To be honest, I’ve had a history of similar responses over the years to … Continue reading

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Train Etiquette

They take train etiquette very seriously in Japan. Seibu Railway Company operations are concentrated in northwest Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture; the name “Seibu” is an abbreviation of “west Musashi”. The railway recently published a new series of travel etiquette and safety posters that are … Continue reading

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Travel is the only way we have of feeling that we are somewhere.

“Travel was once a means of being elsewhere, or of being nowhere. Today it is the only way we have of feeling that we are somewhere. At home, surrounded by information, by screens, I am no longer anywhere, but rather … Continue reading

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Either you get the bear, or the bear gets you

In a surprise move, the U.S. State Department has issued a safety warning for parts of Japan, a country that has long been considered one of the safest in the world to visit, because of an increase in bear attacks in the … Continue reading

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Monks Month Madness

Like many countries, Japan uses a 12-month calendar. The names are very simple. January is literally “Month one” 一月, February is “Month two” 二月, etc. However, before the Meiji Restoration (mid-1800s) it was common to use an older 12-month system. … Continue reading

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Autumn in Japan

へたっぴ写真家                    

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A sad farewell

Anyone who has visited Japan over the last 25 years has likely used the very helpful and convenient Suica transit card. Like most things in contemporary Japan, the Suica comes with a cute mascot. The epitome of kawaii culture, JR East’s cuddly … Continue reading

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Book Hero

Over the years I have found myself doing minor repairs and restorations on books in my own collection and occasionally on books that I have sold. None of the projects compares to the amazing work of Japanese artisan and book … Continue reading

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