I am not a beer or liquor connoisseur by any means. I can barely distinguish a dark beer from a non-dark, know little about brewing techniques, and care little about where a particular beer comes from. Mostly, I’ll occasionally drink a beer to take the edge off, usually with a meal. So I am not […]
I wasn’t always a Sumo fan. It took me many years to warm up to this traditional Japanese sport, and I am still warming up to it. Last September, I was hooked on the Autumn Basho (one of six annual tournaments) held in Tokyo. That particular tournament culminated in the promotion of a new Yokozuna(highest […]
Today, in Japan, is known as Coming of Age day or Seijin no hi (成人の日). A day when all those who have turned twenty in the previous year dress in traditional kimono and attend events at their local city hall. Unfortunately for them, the Tokyo region was hit with a relatively large snow storm, rather […]
Shogun: A Novel of Japan by James Clavell My rating: 2 of 5 stars Picking up this book seemed like a natural choice. I have an acute interest in Japanese History and have lived in the country for the past three years. It is consistently the first book recommended when you search for historical fiction […]
Lafcadio Hearn’s Japan: An Anthology of his Writings on the Country and it’s People by Lafcadio Hearn My rating: 4 of 5 stars Hearn often receives a bad rap in in the realm of Asia Studies, which was initially what drew me to this compilation. The reasons for his disregard in academic circles are varied. […]
One of the most intriguing things to witness in the Tokyo metroplex is just how little residents utilize balcony space. Most are simply relegated as spaces for hanging laundry, which admittedly, is all there seems to be room for. But laundry isn’t always drying, and it is in those instances when residents should look to […]
Lies, Inc. by Philip K. Dick My rating: 1 of 5 stars For fans of Philip K. Dick, this posthumously compiled novel, works with many of the themes common to most of Dick’s work. Reality, para-worlds, paranoia, and government conspiracy all manifest themselves in the final published novel, but unlike other more recognized titles, fails […]
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe My rating: 3 of 5 stars It’s always good to reread “classic” novels. Achebe’s most renown work, originally assigned during a freshman World Literature class, certainly reads better the second time around without the lens of academia and political correctness to distort reactions. Things Fall Apart keeps a fairly […]
The Rise and Fall of Communism. Archie Brown by Archie Brown My rating: 3 of 5 stars Simon Heffer’s cover quote on this title was “SUPERB… A hugely readable book”, and although I can’t quite get behind this lengthy history with as much enthusiasm, this book does provide you with insights from the earliest days […]
Sakura season came and went in rather delayed fashion in the Tokyo Region this past year. Several weeks behind schedule, the blossoms finally came out around the second week in April and managed to hold on strong for about 10 days. The tree lined road between Musashi-Kosugi and Motosumiyoshi (Nakahara Ward, Kanagawa Prefecture) offered some […]