Tag Archives: Japan

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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Japan’s coffee jones

During a recent trip to Japan I was pleasantly surprised by many things. As a coffee geek, I was happy to discover that vending machine canned coffee is actually good throughout the country. But what I didn’t expect to find … Continue reading

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Ghosts, Goblins and Samurai

Here he goes again blathering on about Japan. Anyway, I ran across this marvelous title that is resplendent with a series of wonderful illustrations by the British artist Evelyn Paul . The impressive  Myths & Legends of Japan, a guide … Continue reading

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Inspired by Miyazaki

In case you were wondering, yes I’m still captivated by all things Japan. The marvelously atmospheric video below was inspired by Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved film Princess Mononoke. Last year, director Steve Atkins took a hike through Yakushima’s forest, which is known … Continue reading

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How it’s done

The 90-minute video below demonstrates the making of a batch of woodblock prints “from blank paper to finished print” from the printer’s POV. It is a fascinating look at the complex process. In the video below, Tokyo-based printmaker Dave Bull … Continue reading

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