Young Adult–Movie Review
In this holiday season, when the theaters are filled with crowds taking the kids to upbeat and uplifting movies, maybe there’s room for a dark but insightful feel-bad comedy like… Read more »
Kyoto–Nijo Castle
October 27, 2011 Nijou-jou (“Second Street Castle”) was built by Ieyasu the first Tokugawa Shogun after he established himself as the supreme ruler of Japan in 1601. It was intended… Read more »
Kyoto–The Golden Pavilion
October 27, 2011 Kinkaku-ji, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, was originally the retirement villa of Yoshimitsu Ashikaga (1358-1408) the third Ashikaga Shogun. Yoshimitsu was one of the more successful… Read more »
Kyoto–Ryoanji
October 27, 2011 The Ryoanji (ryou an ji, Peaceful Dragon Temple) was originally a country villa belonging to members of the powerful Fujiwara clan, which dominated the government during the… Read more »
Kyoto–Kiyomizudera Temple and Jishu Shrine
October 26, 2011 I am making a single post for the Kiyomizudera Temple and Jishu Shrine since these popular sites are located right next to each other and anyone who… Read more »
Kyoto–Fushimi Inari Shrine
October 26, 2011 I don’t know how many shrines to Inari the fox god I have seen. It sometimes seems that every Japanese town worthy of the name has one…. Read more »
Hugo–Movie Review
What should we expect to get if Martin Scorsese made a heartwarming family film? As it turns out, Hugo is mostly a love poem to the early pioneers of film… Read more »
Yoshinogari Site
October 24, 2011 Yoshinogari is located in an isolated farming area in northwestern Kyushu, but it was once an important center of early Japanese culture. This was the site of… Read more »
Nagasaki
October 23, 2011 I don’t have a coherent narrative for this post. Just some photographs of Nagasaki landmarks.
Nagasaki–Dejima Trading Post
October 23, 2011 Nagasaki is located on the southwestern tip of Kyushu which stretches relatively close to the mainland. Beginning in the 16th century the port developed rapidly as the… Read more »