Two years ago I stumbled upon a Kickstarter project called “Study Woodworking in Japan!” You can learn Japanese woodworking in English? Intrigued, I pitched in a small amount. The project successfully raised enough money to open a carpentry school that spring. I had a chance to visit the school in Kyoto. Takami Kawai, a founder …
If there were no lockdown, I would have visited my mother in Osaka and gone to see Bunraku this month. Well, no theater is open in Japan now. I just received email from National Bunraku Theater that they have posted one of the most famous Bunraku performance “Kanatehon Chushingura” on YouTube. At least I can …
Today is Halloween. A block from our house is one of the busiest streets in Seattle on Halloween night. In recent years I have seen so many kids and adults drive up this street from other parts of the city to enjoy “trick or treat”ing. Well, although having lived in the US over 25 years, …
If you wonder what Bunka no Hi is, I posted last year what it means, for your reference. This year it has just fell into November 3rd, the day I remember we used to celebrate in Japan. From 11am to 4pm on that day, Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington (JCCCW) will be showcasing …
Time flies so fast! The eighth Senses from Japan will start tomorrow. As always, many thanks to Fran’s Chocolates for hosting this event. This morning I installed my three Ikebana displays. And in the afternoon I set up the tea ceremony staging. (Thank you, Koh-san, for helping me set up the venue!) Everything is looking …
Several years ago, I turned our tiny front yard into a Japanese garden. I ripped off lawn, laid two layers of weed sheet, and spread gravel on top of it. Having seen Gio-ji Temple in Kyoto, I really wanted to turn mine to a moss garden also. But, facing west, our front yard was exposed …
It’s a simple bag. No zip on top. There is a small inner pocket, that’s it. I just fell in love with this basic stripe design. This was another thing I found at Japan Fair. I came home and researched a bit about Aizu Cotton and Harappa, the manufacturer of this bag. “People in Aizu …
Reverend Katsuya Kusunoki of Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple took over the responsibility of visiting this tomb stone in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery on every second Saturday of July. For the last three years, nobody accompanied him. The back of the stone lists 23 names. No first name, only an initial and the family name. Underneath it …