Okayama–Korakuen Garden
Okayama, located near the southwestern tip of Honshu, is home to the famous Korakuen Garden, which is apparently included in some classic list of the “The Three Most Beautiful Gardens… Read more »
Kotohira–Konpira Shrine
19 October 2011 Not far from Takamatsu, also on the island of Shikoku, is the town of Kotohira which is best known as the location of the huge Konpira Shrine… Read more »
Takamatsu–Ritsurin Garden
17 October 2011 The city of Takamatsu on the island of Shikoku is the location of Ritsurin Koen, one of Japan’s largest and most impressive formal gardens. It was begun… Read more »
Osaka–Sumiyoshi Shrine
17 October 2011 The Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine in Osaka is one of Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines. Exactly how old is uncertain. Its origins are lost in the mists of prehistory,… Read more »
Osaka–Shitennouji Temple
17 October 2011 The Shitennouji (Temple of the Four Heavenly Kings) is Japan’s oldest surviving Buddhist temple. It was built by Prince Shoutoku (574-622), one of the country’s earliest and… Read more »
Osaka Castle
17 October 2011 Osaka Castle was built beginning in 1583 as the headquarters of Hideyori Toyotomi, one of the leading figures of the Warring States Period. It has been carefully… Read more »
I’m Back..,
OK, I haven’t posted for longer than I intended, but do I have a story to tell… First I spent 2 weeks in Japan. Then I came home just in… Read more »
The Ides of March–Movie Review
The Ides of March is a competent political thriller. It is well-written and well-acted but it suffers a bit from the Hollywood Cocoon effect. In a time and place much… Read more »
Shakugan no Shana III Final–Anime First Impressions
Shakugan no Shana III Final is obviously yet another sequel. Given the title, this one had better wrap up the story or the fans will be awfully annoyed. I’ve watched… Read more »
Squid Girl Season II–Anime Early Impressions
The Fall 2011 anime season seems to have an unusual number of sequels, and of course it is not at all unusual for a good show to have a disappointing… Read more »