journeyinsidejapan.com - BLOG: "HITORI DE"

REMEMBERING 3-11-11 FUKUSHIMA

4/3/2019

Time passes and the pain of loss is mercifully softened.
Still, though, for many of the 80+thousand people displaced by the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster on the 11th of March, 2011, life has never been quite the same.

My heart aches for all who lost loved ones and I yearn to hear better news about survivors who are still awaiting proper compensation for lost property, or enduring exile from treasured homelands now contaminated.

It was an honor to have served refugees temporarily housed in Aizu Wakamatsu in 2012 and 2013. We brought our humanitarian mission to those fortunate ones who survived the triple disaster and who had somehow found the inner courage to carry on. I am remembering you in these anniversary days.

May all continue to live, and may all thrive.
HERE IS A LINK TO OUR HEALING STORY: http://www.journeyinsidejapan.com/tohoku-wasurenai.html

A PLACE FOR MUSLIMS TO PRAY IS PROVIDED IN THE ELEGANT TOKYO MIDTOWN GALLERIA

1/16/2018

On the B1 level of Tokyo Midtown Galleria, near the women's restrooms, is a room set aside for women who wish to pray in private and in peace.
There is also one for men.

ASALAM ALAIKUM

A PLACE TO PRAY 9 Chome-7-1 Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo

TATTOO MASTER, HORIYOSHI 3rd in Yokohama

1/13/2018

Master Horiyoshi 3rd in Yokohama

Famous tattoo master Horiyoshi III (sandaime) uses electric needle to outline a design on a California client in his apartment in a quiet Yokohama neighborhood.

A visit to his tattoo museum is a must
Admission fee ¥ 1000

3-123 Isecho Nishi-ku,
Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa ken

Master Horiyoshi 3rd sketches irezumi/tattoo design for Bay Area client

Horiyoshi's wife, Mayume at their tattoo museum in Yokohama

Above library of books a photo of Horiyoshi 2nd, the Master's Master

Photograph of Horiyoshi san daime in his tattoo museum, Yokohama

TREASURED JAPANESE TEA AND TRADITIONAL TEXTILES

1/12/2018

3 FUKUOKA CULTURAL HERITAGE TREASURES, carried on by eldest sons

TRADITIONAL CRAFT WITH A MODERN FEEL--Koishiwara Pottery of Fukuoka, Kyushu

1/4/2018

Toho Village, Fukuoka Prefecture.

GRAND SUMO Tokyo September 2017 (Begins Again in FUKUOKA day after tomorrow)

11/6/2017

It was hard to believe that I was actually seeing the Entering Ceremony of the Makanouchi, the top division sumo wrestlers wearing their heavy, ornate ceremonial aprons. But, there I was, October 20, 2017, in Tokyo, at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan stadium sitting in a box seat on a tatami mat close to the action, thanks to the connections of a generous Japanese friend who escorted me and his lovely daughter there.
3,000 sumo fans filled the stadium and cheered for their favorites as each top-division rikishi (wrestler) was announced, ascended and circled the dohyo, the ring.

I have been a true fan of Sumo for only a couple of years. Thanks to NHK World T.V. coverage, I am able to watch and learn, and enthusiastically choose my favorite wrestlers: Harumafuji, the top level Yokozuna from Mongolia (who will go on after this day #12 to win the Grand Tournament championship in an exciting tie-breaking match with Goeido. I will see another fave, Takayasu, and Ura and Ishiura, younger smaller wrestlers with speed and incredible skill, and Kotoshogiku, whose signature pre-match back bend elicits a lot of delight from the crowd.

At the beginning of my becoming a fan, I kept a written record of the matches and noted the winning kimarite, the technique. I am still learning to spot and name them. Matches last but a few seconds, and my eye is not trained to take in all that is played out. Generally, though, it is just plain entertaining to watch two 350+ men crash into each other with the force of 2 Gs, and try to outmaneuver the other with intelligence, speed, open hand slaps, grappling belly bumps, thrusting and belt throws, whether I can remember the correct names in Japanese or not.

Japan’s National Sport was begun as entertainment during the fall festivals of thanksgiving for the rice harvest at Shinto shrines 1500 years ago. Eventually it became so popular that it rose to be the central event. The wrestlers are naked, save for a thick woven silk belt called a mawashi wrapped around their waist and up between their legs. The tournament is considered a sacred event with many rituals carried over from ancient times in order to connect with the gods, offer thanksgiving, to purify the fighting space, and demonstrate that there are no weapons involved.

The skill required, and the fame and fortune a top challenger earns, has attracted men from other countries to come to Japan. Mongolia and Hawaii, have produced some legendary competitors. The winner of this particular tournament, Harumafuji, is a 33 year old from Mongolia. He was the 70th Yokuzuna, at the top of the top division. I will see him compete on this day, as the only Yokuzuna who was well enough to be able to compete. The other 3—two of whom were born in Mongolia, and the first Japanese Yokuzuna in years, Kisenosato, were out injured.

The next Grand Tournament begins tomorrow in Fukuoka.
I will be watching the 15 days of matches, continuing to learn, continuing to enjoy, and be warmed by the memories of actually being there, in person.

HARUMAFUJI (R), became the Grand Champion in the Septembet Basho

FASHION, PHOTOS, and FORECASTS

10/20/2017

Japan fashion has had a strong influence on Western style. In 2009 the fedora hat came on the scene.
This amorous couple sitting on the bank of the Kamo River in Kyoto caught my eye. It was fall of 2012.
Returning the next year, I saw that hat was the rage. It is still popular in the U.S.
This year (2017-18) the beret appears to be the next hat trend on the horizon.

Window displays--especially for fashion--have always fascinated. These photos from 2005, 2009 and 2017 represent mod-traditional and retro-contemporary trends of their times.

TAKASHIMAYA DEPARTMENT STORE KYOTO MAY 2005

Advertising summer yukatas (kimonos)

H & M SHIBUYA FALL 2009

Layers, Leg Warmers and Leggings

TAKASHIMAYA DEPARTMENT STORE KYOTO FALL 2017

These manikins reminded me of the robot I met in a WHG hotel reception area in Kyoto.

Takashimaya's fashion is a bit more conservative on the whole than, say Isetan's, but you cannot help but appreciate their clever window design reflecting the influence of cutting-edge technology on everyday life.

ファッション、写真、および予測
日本のファッションは西洋スタイルに強い影響を与えています。 2009年、フェドラの帽子が現れました。
   京都の鴨川に座っているこの恋人が私の目を引く。それは2012年秋でした。
    翌年に戻って、私は帽子が激怒しているのを見ました。それはまだ米国で普及している
   今年（2017-18）ベレーは地平線の次の帽子のように見えます。
特にファッションのためのウィンドウディスプレイは常に魅力的です。 2005年、2009年および2017年の写真は、時代のモダン・トラディショナルおよびレトロ・コンテンポラリー・トレンドを表しています。
Takashimayaのファッションは、伊勢丹のものよりも全体的に少し保守的ですが、最先端の技術が日々の生活に与える影響を賢明に反映することはできません。

SHARING AN AFTERNOON WITH COMPOSER "YOTA" TANAKA

10/19/2017

   So happy to spend another afternoon with my gentle composer and pianist friend, "Yota" Tanaka.
   We met on Maui in 2002, connected instantly, and from that time we make it a point to have lunch and catch up with each other whenever I am in Tokyo.
   It was lightly raining when Yota arrived at my hotel. Umbrellas hoisted, we walked along Gaien Dori to Tsurutontan, an upscale Udon restaurant near Roppongi Crossing I'd discovered in 2009. I highly recommend their tempura udon with their special wide noodles.
   We'd exchanged family information on the walk, and over our bowls of delicious udon we resumed our dialogue on mujo (the transience of everything), the preciousness of NOW, of Goodness, Trump, Kim Jong Un
(he shuddered telling me that Kim's army band has same name as his orchestra: The Milky Way), nuclear weapons, the purpose of life. Yota, an optimist and dreamer, wistfully said it was too late to get on a space ship and leave if things get really bad.
   It was another precious time punctuated by lots of laughs, sips of beer, and a gift of his latest CD. His group, the Eiken trio, gives performances all over Japan. Yota has created a sound and level of feeling in his music that is at once nostalgic, open-hearted, and optimistic (just like the man). Below is a sample of Yota's composition Iwaka Eiken playing panflute:

MUSICIAN-COMPOSER, "YOTA" TANAKA in Roppongi, Tokyo

詳しくはFacebookページまで https://www.facebook.com/eikentrio

COMPOSER "YOTA" TANAKAで午後を共有する
私の穏やかな作曲家でピアノの友人である "Yota" Tanakaと別の午後を過ごすことができてとてもうれしいです。
   私たちは2002年にマウイで瞬時に出会い、その時から私は東京にいるときはいつもお昼を食べてお互いに追いつくことがポイントになります。
   ヨータが私のホテルに到着したとき、それは軽く雨でした。傘が上がり、2009年に発見された六本木交差点付近の高級なうどんレストランTsurutontanへ、外苑通りを歩いていきました。特別なワイドラーメンで天ぷらうどんをお勧めします。
   私たちは歩き回って家族の情報を交換しました。美味しいうどんの上に私たちはムジョ（すべての過渡期）、今の貴重さ、グッドネス、トランプ、金ジョンウンの対話を再開しました
（彼は、金の軍隊が彼のオーケストラと同じ名前をしていることを私に伝えました：The Milky Way）、核兵器、人生の目的。楽観主義者であり、夢見ているヨータ氏は、宇宙船に乗って物事が本当に悪くなるのでは、残念だと言った。
   笑い、ビールの詰め合わせ、最新のCDのプレゼントなど、貴重な時を過ごしました。彼のグループ、エイケントリオは、日本全土で公演を行う。ヨーータは、懐かしく心が開いて楽観的である（彼と同じように）彼の音楽の音と感情のレベルを作り出しました。以下はYotaの構成のサンプルです。

SUSHI SURPRISE in HAKATA, FUKUOKA

10/13/2017

   Don't kid yourself. You have never really tasted the most delicious, the freshest and greatest variety of sushi and sashimi until you have it in Japan--and it doesn' t have to break your bank.
   A visit to Izumida Sushi in the city of Hakata, Fukuoka only reinforces this bold statement. Recommended by the staff of Hotel Croom Hakata, this place is not visited by Western tourists very often, which was what I was looking for; and it was only a few blocks away.
   A nice young man I asked directions of on the street offered to escort me there.   The foreigner can always count on the Japanese to offer kind assistance.
   Once inside the small establishment, I took a seat at the sushi bar. Only other customer seated was a man in a suit, who had loosened his cuffs, opened his collar, tucked an I.D. tag into his pocket and was obviously enjoying his sake.
   I could only read a couple of the offerings, written in Hiragana and Kanji on a board on the wall, so frankly, I was at a loss. Looking into the refrigerated case, I couldn't positively identify many of the fish inside. There were fish that I had not seen before. Many were pre-sliced--hopefully an indication that they anticipated heavy volume of customers later. I had some concern about exposure to air. I needn't have.

GESSO (squid tentacles)

TAKO sushi (Octopus)

NATURAL (uncooked) ANAGO (salt water eel)

Found this photo by Trip Advisor

AJI SASHIMI

That fellow seated near me offered to have me try his aji (mackerel) sashimi. "I'll have one of those!", I giggled to the sushi chef. You can see how fresh it was, (above) and the lime juice and fresh grated wasabi along with the wakame seaweed made the dish memorable. It was all uphill from there.
I kept ordering, and piece by piece, as eating became an ecstatic experience. Lacking language skills, I found myself letting out soft screams of pleasure, most appreciated by the chef and my seat-mate, who eventually said goodbye and left the restaurant.
I took a break, and was sipping my sake, as a chef came out of the kitchen and set a special teapot containing dobin mushi, a tangy broth with seasonal mushrooms. I hadn't ordered it. It was a parting gift from the fellow with whom I'd shared this extraordinary meal!

A DELICIOUS JUNNMAI SHU, DAIGINJO

DOBIN MUSHI

Sushidokoro Izumida
Hakata Ekimae
+81.92.473.1864
2-19-17 Hakataekimae, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture

A traditional Japanese seafood broth, steamed (mushi) and served in a dobin tea pot contains shrimp, chicken, soy sauce, lime, and matsutake mushroom.

The bill for all I could eat, and the sake too? $29.

BEST TIME OUT in KYOTO: Cafe TIME DOU

10/13/2017

I confess, I never did have the aromatic, fresh-brewed coffee at Kyoto's new and beautifully architected cafe, TIME DOU (What Time is it?) built on the site of a former clock shop.
It was the end of September, and temperatures and humidity were high on the day I discovered this restorative place located on Karasuma Dori, just above Marutamachi facing the old Emperor's Palace.
Tired, thirsty, and craving a dessert, I ordered their hojicha pudding, a light-weight not-too-sweet confection I fell in love with, and glass of iced hojicha (roasted green tea). The slightly smokey taste of this tea slakes thirst and refreshes the body--without the jolt of caffeine--was just right.

Now, I could sit back and fully enjoy the mellow environment, and experience the sincerely caring and attentive service provided by Ryu Kamimura, manager and chef, and Mei Okumura, assistant to Ryu and wait-staff this first day.
I returned again and again, savoring a grilled locally grown vegetables pasta with tomato sauce, open-faced sandwiches featuring grilled veggies or salmon, several more glasses of iced hoji cha, their fresh fruit flavored water, and that addicting hojicha pudding which is served with a small glass of brown sugar syrup.
Mostly, though, I was imbibing the welcoming energy Ryu and Mei created.

HOJI CHA PUDDING, ICED HOJI CHA, BROWN SUGAR SYRUP

Featured in Good Design Cafe publication, TIME DOU was located near my hotel, THE PALACE-SIDE, so it was very convenient to stop in afternoons after being out and about, or to have a leisurely lunch, or evening dessert.
They offer a wi-fi connection, which was appreciated. The light-colored wood, glass partitions, open kitchen, use of concrete punctuated by some ancient timbers (probably from the clock shop it replaced?) comfortably filled the eye.
The people who ventured in all seemed to enjoy themselves.
Not surprising that I became a "regular". I think you will, too!

PASTA: LIGHTLY GRILLED VEGETABLES WITH A HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE

OPEN-FACE SALMON SANDWICH

SWEET SURPRISE FAREWELL GIFT: A PUMPKIN CREAM-FILLED MILLEFEUILLE PASTRY WITH A LOVING MESSAGE

Time Dou （タイム堂） wi-ri available!
located on Karasuma Dori, just above Marutamachi Dori
across from the old Emperor's Palace
426-2 Kasuga-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
京都府京都市上京区烏丸通丸太町上ル春日町426-2

*Check out the lovely design shop that occupies the 2nd floor.

Website: https://timedou.com/
https://www.facebook.com/timedoucafe/
https://www.facebook.com/RAKUKEI.koubou/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timedou_kyoto/