Category: Japan – 日本

Posts from or about Japan. I lived in Saitama and Tokyo from 2001 – 2003.

A rice field haiku

The ancient rice fieldSaturated by gray cloudsOf US warplanes aboveMateo de Colón Just walked through this beautiful landscape and was struck by the contrast of its timeless serenity and the roaring of the ceaseless American warplanes flying overhead towards Yokosuka. It is a melancholy feeling indeed and brought forth an unsolicited haiku. Update 9.25.2015 I…… Continue reading A rice field haiku

Rainy morning

Doutor is one of my special places in Mejiro.  Every time I visit I like to drink a cafe latte, read the Japan Times and watch people come and go early in the morning. On this particular morning Japan was getting hammered by Typhoon Etau.  The rain wasn’t too heavy in Tokyo but I was…… Continue reading Rainy morning

Beer in Asahi Sky Room

Drinking beer while looking over Tokyo. Not having too many deep thoughts as the Asahi Super Dry Black Extra Cold has gone to my head! Asahi Sky Room

Princess Shikishi Poem – 式子内親王の詩

今日はこの詩を見つかりました。本当に本当にきれいだと思いました。そしてこのブログで付けて、忘れないようにしました。 Winter Becoming Spring 1In spring toowhat first stands out —Mount Otowa —from the snow at its peakthe rays of the sun appear. 2Here deep in the hills,my pine door would never knowthat springtime had come —but for a broken trickleof jewels of melted snow. 3Though warblers have not called,in the sound of cascadespouring down…… Continue reading Princess Shikishi Poem – 式子内親王の詩

Memory of Space Lab Yellow

Just heard this tonight; LOVE IT as it takes me back to clubbing days at Space Lab Yellow in Tokyo. I looked up Space Lab to see if it was still around and to my COMPLETE SHOCK the Guardian says, “Ageing party-goers still remember it as Space Lab Yellow