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Category Archives: Japan, Travel & Culture
Finding Beauty in a Flaw
One afternoon as I worked in Tokyo, I was increasingly exasperated. First, there was a limited choice of branches, none of which I particularly liked. Then once I got started with the branches recommended to me by a teaching assistant, … Continue reading
Waking from the Tokyo Dream
After landing in Vancouver I picked up an email from Vivian saying that she was in Gaienmae shortly after I left and experiencing pangs of sadness in my neighbourhood. Ah, Gaienmae. Why did that seem part of a distant past? … Continue reading
Snow Falls in Tokyo before Leaving
According to Japan Today, the Monday, January 22nd snowfall in Tokyo was the heaviest since 2014. Because I walk and the snow started sticking after International Class, I escaped rather unscathed. Unfortunately, I had to cancel an evening with a … Continue reading
Posted in Japan, Travel & Culture, This & That
Tagged Heavy snow in Tokyo 2018, Snow in Tokyo
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Winter Colours
Walking along the shaded avenues, looking across the expanses and views of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden on a crisp afternoon, I suddenly longed to paint rooms. I imagined a serene home designed in the varied and wondrous winter tones spread … Continue reading
Getting Back to Sogetsu Ikebana School
Getting back into ikebana after a 20-day hiatus wasn’t easy. Like any skill-development abandoned for a significant period of time—exercise, music practice, that golf swing, whatever—there’s a certain muscle tone and mindset which deteriorates in the interval.
Serendipity and a Haircut at Gold Salon Tokyo
How serendipity strikes: After a party of three left the restaurant where I was waiting at the counter to place my order, one of them turned around and dashed back in to give me his card. “In case you might … Continue reading
Afternoon Interlude at Alain Ducasse Beige, Tokyo
Beige, the Alain Ducasse restaurant in the top floor of the Chanel building in Ginza is where I spent most of yesterday afternoon. I’ve never enjoyed a Michelin star restaurant before and prefer to supply a link the Beige website … Continue reading
Posted in Food, Wine & Restaurants, Japan, Travel & Culture, This & That
Tagged Alain Ducasse, Beige
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Fashion Duds
Though it wasn’t on the trip “To Do List” I was open to being tempted by Tokyo fashion. I’ve bought beloved and timeless clothing in Japan that is still going strong more than a decade later. However, on some previous … Continue reading
Posted in Japan, Travel & Culture, Reviews, This & That
Tagged current trends in Tokyo fashion
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Happy New Year from Tokyo: Welcome 2018
Today I picked up my order of Osechi-ryori, boxes of celebratory New Year’s foods. These are freighted with auspicious symbolism and beautifully packaged inside boxes called jūbako.