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When Life looks like a random romp through Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights; and foggy feelings arise like mist on English moors, what do you do? I reach for poetry. Japanese haiku poets I find are the most poignant. There’s an acceptance that joy and grief are intertwined.
The Japanese cherry blossom is a pretty popular topic in poetry. (Sakura – the Japanese word for cherry blossom – is also more frequently seen... Read More |
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You could be on your way to Orlando, Florida! A step or two away from Disney World, the 2017 Food and Wine Conference (#FWCon) is taking place May 19 to 21. The revered food writing guru and author Dianne Jacob is scheduled to speak. Other speakers will address important issues such as time management, social media and marketing. Presenters and participants can also hob-nob whilst sampling scrumptious food and wine. Sounds fantabulous, right... Read More |
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Is it a sweet or savory that brings you back to your childhood supper table? Who was there? What details make your memory extra special?
Japanese food and language were all I knew until age 5. Tokyo was my hometown until age 18. I still read, write and speak Japanese. Tamagoyaki, Japanese egg omelet, a childhood go-to also remains a favorite. Thanks to my nanny and surrogate mother, Kawaji-san. (I regret she wasn’t in my life... Read More |
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Since samurai times Boy’s Day (now Japanese Children’s Day) is celebrated on May 5 in Japan. After vanquishing the French in 1862, Mexican warriors started the tradition of a great big party on May 5, Cinco de Mayo. Although the reasons for the festivities are different, both holidays honor courage. The French word for heart is coeur. All great warriors know that to engage in battle takes great heart. Festivals are fun. But whilst... Read More |
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The truth about Japanese animal cafés depends on your philosophy about life. The well being of café critters is a debatable subject. (Employees’ love of their birds, cats, dogs and hedgehogs, however, is uncontested.) Your perception of a café will probably depend on your sensitivity to seeing caged bunnies and clipped-wings birds.
Another truth about Japanese animal cafés: If you’re teaching English... Read More |
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“Life is meant to be sweet,” says The Sprinkles Baking Book author, Candace Nelson. With her coast-to-coast Sprinkles cupcakes franchise, Candace has sweetened the lives of countless customers. Including Disney fans who are familiar with the Sprinkles Cupcakes sold at The Happiest Place on Earth.
Sprinkles Cupcakes opened its doors for the first time in 2005 in Beverly Hills, CA. Sprinkles Ice Cream came along in 2012. Both stores... Read More |
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Power Hitter RICE Dishes & Desserts
一発屋ライス・レストラン
Fate has a funny way of dancing us in directions unimagined in childhood. Hiroyuki Igarashi, owner of the popular Manhattan Beach RICE, is an avid baseball fan. From childhood through college he played baseball. A career in sports seemed to be in the cards. However, adult realities and responsibilities appeared during his college years.
In both Tokyo and LA, when he was... Read More |
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CourseHorse has galloped into LA! Click on the site. Look up almost any subject and CourseHorse will connect you to a class. It’s a great way to lean into a dream. Say you want to switch careers. Maybe visions of creating masterpiece cakes keep appearing while analyzing data. Wouldn’t it be nice to throw on an apron over pajamas instead of a 3-piece suit? Still, you suspect stenciling on fondant should be mastered before... Read More |
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When Japanese TV weather reporters start their cherry blossom forecasts, you know it’s spring. Due to the diversity of temperatures in Japan, the pretty pink petals are spotted at different times. Follow the Parade of Cherry Blossom Festivals and Parties, you’ll see picnics! Who wouldn’t want to enjoy yummy treats under branches laden with pink? Truly it is like fairyland. Parks in Japan turn into magical places.
You want to... Read More |
