Author Archives: Lynda Philippsen

Departure Bound

Posted on April 5, 2020 by Lynda Philippsen

After their brief moment of glory, once the leaves burst green among the pale sakura blossoms, the combined colours often appear dusty and unremarkable against late winter’s brown hillsides.  The magical phenomenon so long awaited is all but past. The … Continue reading →

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Happiness and a Sign

Posted on April 2, 2020 by Lynda Philippsen

Some years ago I worked through the “Proust Questionnaire.” I keep the questionnaire on my desktop and revisit it sometimes to see what might have changed. I did so tonight because the computer threw the draft of this post on … Continue reading →

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Letting Go. Returning to Canada.

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Lynda Philippsen

The potential of a Tokyo lock down increases as the numbers of C-19 cases escalate. On my arrival 4 weeks ago Japan was an outlier compared to the rest of the world. Or that was the party line while the … Continue reading →

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Spring. Sakura. Snow.

Posted on March 28, 2020 by Lynda Philippsen

Yesterday my website dashboard went rogue and inexplicably shut down before I was able to publish the previous post. Instead of fuming I decided to enjoy an evening walk under the sakura next door in Aoyama Cemetery. A light mist, … Continue reading →

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Distancing & Preparing for Lockdown

Posted on March 28, 2020 by Lynda Philippsen

An opinion column in the Japan Times described Japan as a corona virus-outlier. That was a week ago. Things change fast. Last weekend many residents of Tokyo ignored the government’s requests not to hold parties this year and took to … Continue reading →

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An Afternoon in Meguro

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Lynda Philippsen

It’s been six days since my last post and much has changed in that interval. Last Friday following the first day of spring in Kamakura, I received an email informing me that my 27 April flight to Vancouver had been … Continue reading →

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Hokokuji, Kamakura Bamboo Garden

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Lynda Philippsen

Accompanied by a lovely wind speaking from the canopy, late in the afternoon on the first day of spring I wandered through Hokokuji. A Zen Buddhist Temple in Kamakura renowned for its small garden of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis). Established … Continue reading →

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Keeping Busy and Staying Bright

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Lynda Philippsen

I’ve been busy–considering that many venues I would enjoy have shut down–but things also take longer here. Everything from negotiating basic communication with Google Translate to preparing simplest food in my tiny kitchen (thought it’s the best of the ones … Continue reading →

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The Call to Come Home

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Lynda Philippsen

Trudeau’s call for citizens abroad to return to Canada probably makes sense for people who are on short-term business trips or vacations.  Though it’s more complicated than usual, that’s easier if you are among the snow birds driving back from … Continue reading →

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Rain. Snow. Chores. A Day in Tokyo

Posted on March 14, 2020 by Lynda Philippsen

Yesterday Tokyo temperatures hovered around two degrees and the pelting rain was laced with snow. Last weekend I braved the nasty weather to check out the new Shibuya Square. However, nothing could entice me into the frigid downpour. Though I … Continue reading →

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