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Santa letters, sparkly lights, Christmas carols; the holiday season is here! Then with a Ho-Ho-Ho, the festivities disappear as quickly as Rudolph, Dasher and Dancer. However, as a thoughtful hostess / mother / fill in the blank, you’ve got a surplus of Christmas goodies on hand. Packages of forgotten cranberries tumble from the freezer. Chocolate chips cascade from the cabinet. And that extra package of brown sugar stares at you from... Read More |
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When you go to sushi you expect an offering of miso soup, right? Taken for granted miso was once on par with a gift of silk. Miso was a precious seasoning reserved for royals.
Two schools of thought prevail on the history of Japanese miso. One thought is that a form of miso was used to preserve food as early as the Iron Age. Another touts the idea that miso trailed in on the tails of Buddhism texts from China.
Regardless of origin, it... Read More |
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Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother knew or thing or two about finance. “The Chinese believe the pumpkin symbolizes prosperity, abundance, descendant's luck, illustrious children and enchantment,” says Feng Shui expert, Bette Steflik.
The princess-to-be’s godmother must have chosen the pumpkin coach on purpose. Bette says, “This supreme [pumpkin] fruit draws up earth energy to manifest gold. Make magic at your... Read More |
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Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy fame has elevated the FOX TV lineup to greater heights. In 2017 he launched The Orville. The TV show is an updated Star Trek with moments that tickle the funny bone. Although Seth is known for comedy, content of The Orville contains heart-stirring stories and commentary on society. (See The Orville Season 1 About a Girl and Majority Rule.)
My darling husband David Watkinson was nabbed to handle graphics for the... Read More |
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Japanese Health and Sports Day commemorates the opening of the Olympics in 1964. And celebrates the benefits of healthy living every year every 2nd Monday in October. So, today, Monday, October 8, 2018 schools, companies are setting up Sports Day events. Races and tug-o-wars are but a few of the events.
Exercise has always been important in Japan. On the rooftop of the Ricoh factory down the hill from our Tokyo home, 8 a.m. would bring... Read More |
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Godzilla captured the attention of an eight-year-old English lad named Rob Dyer. “A history buff like Dad,” from a young age Rob was an avid reader of books about Asia.
A business trip brought Rob as a young man to Tokyo in 2000. He enjoyed the tourist sights. Still, he desired to learn about the Japan beyond the clichés of Japanese manga, geisha and Godzilla. In 2015 after countless trips, Rob established The Real... Read More |
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Nestled within the Mount Rokko range, angels abide at the Arima hot springs. The divine assignation is not unique to yours truly. The oldest chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shoki) tell of Shinto gods who witnessed the healing of three crows bathing in the golden Arima springs. Legend also says Arima is protected by the Medicine Buddha. Emperors, Kabuki actors1 and other celebs have visited Arima hot springs. It’s one of Japan’s top three... Read More |
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Do you like…
1. cat tchotchke?
2. Japanese crafts?
3. cute candy?
4. Japanese architecture from yesteryear?
If you answered yes to any of the above, Yanaka is for you. Easily accessible by train, Yanaka is a curious glimpse into old Tokyo. Traditional tiled roofs and temples abound. Shops boast centuries old wood beams. Once upon a time, cats congregated in Yanaka. Ironically, hordes of cat-loving tourists have replaced them... Read More |
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Bonsai are the Hobbits’ version of trees. The potted forests are shaped in proportion to Mother Nature’s original version. Only smaller. When viewing a bonsai:
1. Look at the overall composition of the plant
2. See if you can recognize the front from the back of the bonsai.
3. Crouch down; pretend your Hobbit size and see if you’re getting a forest vibe.
You get bonus points for picking up a message conveying the... Read More |
