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Category Archives: This & That
Getting Back to Ikebana in Victoria
I’ve been adrift since returning from Tokyo. Hence, no posts. My mind has refused to settle on anything to say. Many times I thought to get back to the untold stories from my time away, but there was never a … Continue reading
Posted in Ikebana, Japan, Travel & Culture, This & That
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Anything Particularly Missing?
Three weeks after my return to Canada the question is tucked into the middle of an email. Anything you find yourself particularly missing about Japan? Oh yes, yes and yes. I choose a bullet format and fire back a list. … Continue reading
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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