Japan
Yamanashi Museum Of Art
SaturdayMay01 2010
Beautiful day today so I went to the Yamanashi Museum
Of Art and had a little picnic. There is an
impressive sculpture by Maasaki Sato who is from
Yamanashi called Big Apple. 
There are 365 holes for 365 days in a year, Mr. Sato has said that they represent everyday communication.
It really stands out in the landscape, Mt. Fuji is in the background.
There are 365 holes for 365 days in a year, Mr. Sato has said that they represent everyday communication.
It really stands out in the landscape, Mt. Fuji is in the background.
April 2010
SundayApril04 2010
April in Japan, what a beautiful time to be here.
These pictures are the remains of a castle of a
famous shogun where I live.
I love cherry blossom flavored treats. My afternoon snack, cherry blossom cakes.
I love cherry blossom flavored treats. My afternoon snack, cherry blossom cakes.
Cherry Blossom Time
MondayMarch29 2010
This is cherry blossom week. The cherry blossoms are
blooming about 6 days earlier this year because of
the mild winter but as is often the case
unfortunately, the weather is cold and windy this
week so it's difficult to do cherry blossom viewing.
People traditionally like to have picnics, when the
weather is nice, under the trees and another
tradition is to get roaring drunk. We usually have a
couple of cases of alcohol poisoning at this time.
Something they fail to mention in the travel guides.
Took my dog Emma with me to view the cherry blossoms.
Took my dog Emma with me to view the cherry blossoms.
Plum Blossoms
WednesdayFebruary24 2010
February 24th, It's the beginning of spring in Japan
when the Plum Blossoms bloom.
Emma and I go to view the Plum Blossom trees.
Emma and I go to view the Plum Blossom trees.
Yokohama
TuesdayDecember29 2009
I went on a little trip to the very modern port city
of Yokohama next to Tokyo during the holidays.
Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge
Autumn Fuji
SundayDecember06 2009
It's December and I'm still in Japan, we're still
having some very nice autumn weather. Mt. Fuji on a
sunny day.
Autumn In Kyoto
TuesdayNovember24 2009
I have returned to Japan this month and decided to
visit the old capitol of Kyoto. I went to Kyoto once
17 years ago, it's always been a place I've wanted to
return to. The last time I went there I was pushing a
baby cart. Kyoto has many National Treasures and
World Heritage Sites. It's the place everyone must
visit if they come to Japan. It's such a beautiful
city, especially in autumn and spring with its many
gardens.
Kiyomizu Temple
Yasaka Shrine
One thing I don't like about the modern world are all these wires.
Scary booby monsters asking for money.
Ryoanji Temple. This is my favorite place, it's a very famous rock garden. Unfortunately the temple was under reconstruction.
Giant Tori in front of the MOMAK (Museum Of Modern Art, Kyoto)
If you saw the movie "Memoirs Of A Geisha" you might remember the little girl running through this pathway of gates.
How not to use a squat toilet.
The bamboo forest.
We stopped to have tea and this cat next to me never moved the whole time I was there.
Nijo Castle. The art work was amazing in this castle, over 3000 painting on the walls, doors and ceilings. No cameras allowed.
In Kyoto station there were some beautiful Christmas decorations.
Kiyomizu Temple
Yasaka Shrine
One thing I don't like about the modern world are all these wires.
Scary booby monsters asking for money.
Ryoanji Temple. This is my favorite place, it's a very famous rock garden. Unfortunately the temple was under reconstruction.
Giant Tori in front of the MOMAK (Museum Of Modern Art, Kyoto)
If you saw the movie "Memoirs Of A Geisha" you might remember the little girl running through this pathway of gates.
How not to use a squat toilet.
The bamboo forest.
We stopped to have tea and this cat next to me never moved the whole time I was there.
Nijo Castle. The art work was amazing in this castle, over 3000 painting on the walls, doors and ceilings. No cameras allowed.
In Kyoto station there were some beautiful Christmas decorations.
House In Japan
SaturdayJuly11 2009
I spent most of my time relaxing at home. Here are a
few pictures of the house.
This is the tatami room so named after the flooring. Not everyone has a tatami room in their house but we're old fashioned. I painted the sliding doors myself using leaves from my garden, the whole room opens up. This is where I would give English lessons. The picture on my wall was painted by my father and given to my daughter.
Relaxing in my living room.
The front entrance room where we take off our shoes.
I couldn't resist doing a little gardening and potting some flowers.
I miss these simple things. Soon I will return to America.
This is the tatami room so named after the flooring. Not everyone has a tatami room in their house but we're old fashioned. I painted the sliding doors myself using leaves from my garden, the whole room opens up. This is where I would give English lessons. The picture on my wall was painted by my father and given to my daughter.
Relaxing in my living room.
The front entrance room where we take off our shoes.
I couldn't resist doing a little gardening and potting some flowers.
I miss these simple things. Soon I will return to America.
Summer Vacation In Japan
MondayJune15 2009
I returned to Japan for summer vacation with my
daughter.
Full moon above my house takes on a ghostly quality and....
look at this picture of my daughter and her friend doing fireworks on the same night. Totally ghostly... Boo!
What did I do in Japan? Mostly eat great Japanese food. Like this dessert
I had this at the Yamanashi Museum Of Art. This is a favorite of mine it's vanilla ice cream with a sauce made from black sugar (kuromitsu) and kinako powder. Kinako powder is a soybean flour that has a peanut butter like taste. Simple, healthy and delicious.
The Yamanashi Art Museum has quit a large garden that surrounds it with many statues. This silver statue is actually a large apple, you can't see this until you look at it from the other side.
Can you see it?
Lunch... Tamago (egg) sushi and Tempura O Bento (lunchbox). Delicious!
Dessert is a macha (green tea) parfait made with mochi ( rice pounded into a paste and formed into balls), green tea jelly, anko (sweet beans), candied slices of sweet potato and whipped cream. I love it!
Of course I did a little shopping and was handed a face bag when I went in to try on clothes. I didn't know what it was at first and felt a little insulted I was thinking foreigner with swine flu but I guess it's a new thing to keep makeup off the clothes.
I couldn't resist taking a picture of myself. I don't think anyone actually wears it but I could be wrong.
On the bus to the airport we cross the Rainbow Bridge which has a great view of the city. There have been accidents on the bridge blamed on people looking at the view.
Full moon above my house takes on a ghostly quality and....
look at this picture of my daughter and her friend doing fireworks on the same night. Totally ghostly... Boo!
What did I do in Japan? Mostly eat great Japanese food. Like this dessert
I had this at the Yamanashi Museum Of Art. This is a favorite of mine it's vanilla ice cream with a sauce made from black sugar (kuromitsu) and kinako powder. Kinako powder is a soybean flour that has a peanut butter like taste. Simple, healthy and delicious.
The Yamanashi Art Museum has quit a large garden that surrounds it with many statues. This silver statue is actually a large apple, you can't see this until you look at it from the other side.
Can you see it?
Lunch... Tamago (egg) sushi and Tempura O Bento (lunchbox). Delicious!
Dessert is a macha (green tea) parfait made with mochi ( rice pounded into a paste and formed into balls), green tea jelly, anko (sweet beans), candied slices of sweet potato and whipped cream. I love it!
Of course I did a little shopping and was handed a face bag when I went in to try on clothes. I didn't know what it was at first and felt a little insulted I was thinking foreigner with swine flu but I guess it's a new thing to keep makeup off the clothes.
I couldn't resist taking a picture of myself. I don't think anyone actually wears it but I could be wrong.
On the bus to the airport we cross the Rainbow Bridge which has a great view of the city. There have been accidents on the bridge blamed on people looking at the view.
Obama and Japan
TuesdayJanuary27 2009
This month Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th
President of the United States. I found a few clips
about President Obama and Japan. Obama is also a name
is Japan. In the first clip a man named Obama who has
become famous in Japan as the Japanese Obama travels
to the USA with very little command of the English
language to meet Obama. His never give up attitude
comes from Obama's words "Yes We Can". I think this
video shows how people in other countries have also
been inspired by Obama. Nothing much going on with me
this month because the weather has been horrific this
winter in Iowa. Every week snow, ice and dangerously
cold weather. I’m definitely suffering from cabin
fever this month. In Japan I usually feel like this
during the long hot humid summer when we have rainy
season and then typhoon season.
In this next clip CNN reports about the city of Obama in Japan.
And in the last clip the Obama song. I've never seen the Japanese get this excited about their own elections.
In this next clip CNN reports about the city of Obama in Japan.
And in the last clip the Obama song. I've never seen the Japanese get this excited about their own elections.
Picnic By The Lake
SundaySeptember07 2008
September 7th
Picnic by the lake
Went to Lake Kawaguchi again today, one of the five lakes of Mt. Fuji and I think my favorite. Too cloudy to see Fuji but lots of autumn ornamental grass even though it is still very hot and humid.
I ate lunch by the lake, an onigiri ( rice ball wrapped in dried seaweed ).
I use to hate nori ( dried seaweed ) but I grew to appreciate it. I've been told that onigiri are the "Japanese hamburger" and that nori will give you glossy black hair, so far it hasn't. It's been too hot to do much of anything and I haven't been painting or preparing for my trip to America. My onigiri looks like Mt. Fuji.
Picnic by the lake
Went to Lake Kawaguchi again today, one of the five lakes of Mt. Fuji and I think my favorite. Too cloudy to see Fuji but lots of autumn ornamental grass even though it is still very hot and humid.
I ate lunch by the lake, an onigiri ( rice ball wrapped in dried seaweed ).
I use to hate nori ( dried seaweed ) but I grew to appreciate it. I've been told that onigiri are the "Japanese hamburger" and that nori will give you glossy black hair, so far it hasn't. It's been too hot to do much of anything and I haven't been painting or preparing for my trip to America. My onigiri looks like Mt. Fuji.
Fireworks and Guam
ThursdayAugust14 2008
August 14th
Fireworks and Guam
My daughter went to one of the many fireworks shows we have in Japan in the summer, this is a little bit of the video she took. She went with some friends mom wasn't invited sorry I missed it, the firework shows in Japan are the best. My daughter has returned to America and I will be joining her in September and living in a small town in Iowa, this will be a big adjustment for me even though I grew up in Iowa I haven't lived there for years and am more Japanese than Iowan, I'm sure I will suffer from culture shock for a while. I will miss Japan very much!
This summer we went to Guam for the first and probably last time. Guam was very hot and humid, my hotel room was awful it had a strong smell of mold and everything felt wet but it did have a swimming pool next to the ocean and we could watch the sunset every night which was quite beautiful. I didn't like Guam at first but after a while it started to grow on me, still I don't think I will ever go there again too many Japanese tourist!
It's unfortunate I don't have any pictures of us riding the banana boat because that would have been the funniest picture of me ever. I thought I was going to die!
Lake Kawaguchi
SundayJune15 2008
June 16th
Sunday Afternoon at Lake Kawaguchi
My daughter is home for summer vacation so I will be lucky if I can pick up a paint brush. Sunday I went to the Mt. Fuji five lakes area and took a walk around Lake Kawaguchi, even though it's rainy season in Japan we are having pretty decent weather. This scene reminded me of a George Seurat painting "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Gande Jatte".
Sunday Afternoon at Lake Kawaguchi
My daughter is home for summer vacation so I will be lucky if I can pick up a paint brush. Sunday I went to the Mt. Fuji five lakes area and took a walk around Lake Kawaguchi, even though it's rainy season in Japan we are having pretty decent weather. This scene reminded me of a George Seurat painting "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Gande Jatte".
Matsumoto Castle
MondayMay05 2008
May
7th
Magnificent Matsumoto Castle
It was golden week in Japan and I went to Matsumoto Castle yesterday. I wasn't that thrilled about going because I've been there several times before but the weather was perfect and the scent of Wisteria was in the air so I actually had a good time. I tried going to the top of the castle which involves climbing very steep stairs. I was OK until I got to the last set of stairs, which are the hardest to climb, and then I knew I couldn't do it when I watched young healthy people struggling and almost falling to their deaths.
They also have a small museum on the castle grounds with a few interesting items like this collection of large wooden penises.
I also saw a giant straw sandal which could easily pass for modern art.
To see more of my pictures of magnificent Matsumoto Castle please look on the photo page.
Magnificent Matsumoto Castle
It was golden week in Japan and I went to Matsumoto Castle yesterday. I wasn't that thrilled about going because I've been there several times before but the weather was perfect and the scent of Wisteria was in the air so I actually had a good time. I tried going to the top of the castle which involves climbing very steep stairs. I was OK until I got to the last set of stairs, which are the hardest to climb, and then I knew I couldn't do it when I watched young healthy people struggling and almost falling to their deaths.
They also have a small museum on the castle grounds with a few interesting items like this collection of large wooden penises.
I also saw a giant straw sandal which could easily pass for modern art.
To see more of my pictures of magnificent Matsumoto Castle please look on the photo page.
Dogwood
WednesdayApril16 2008
April
16th
Dogwood In Bloom
Now the dogwood tree in front of my house is blooming. There are many dogwood trees where I live in Japan, many streets are lined with dogwoods. The dogwood tree was a present from America in exchange for the cherry blossom trees that are famous in Washington D.C. The problem with Cherry Blossom trees are the annoying black flies that circle around your head if you go anywhere near them when they are in bloom.
Not so with the Dogwood, it's a beautiful tree.
Dogwood In Bloom
Now the dogwood tree in front of my house is blooming. There are many dogwood trees where I live in Japan, many streets are lined with dogwoods. The dogwood tree was a present from America in exchange for the cherry blossom trees that are famous in Washington D.C. The problem with Cherry Blossom trees are the annoying black flies that circle around your head if you go anywhere near them when they are in bloom.
Not so with the Dogwood, it's a beautiful tree.
Spring in Japan
TuesdayMarch18 2008
March 18th
Spring In Japan
The beginning of Spring in Japan.
Went to view the plum blossom trees...
devoured a strawberry parfait.
March 30th
Cherry blossom trees were in full bloom today. There beauty is short lived and will only last the week.
Cherry blossom flavored sweets can also be enjoyed only at this time of year.
Cherry blossom ice cream.
Spring In Japan
The beginning of Spring in Japan.
Went to view the plum blossom trees...
devoured a strawberry parfait.
March 30th
Cherry blossom trees were in full bloom today. There beauty is short lived and will only last the week.
Cherry blossom flavored sweets can also be enjoyed only at this time of year.
Cherry blossom ice cream.