Category Archives: Life in Japan
And the World’s Champion Queuers Are ………..
On Saturday I went to the Hyogo Performing Arts Centre in Nishinomiya with my wife to meet her sister and niece who had attended a performance of the State Ballet of Georgia. There was a queue of many hundreds of mainly women … Continue reading
For the Birds
Before moving to Japan, while living in the south of England, I always seemed to have plenty of time to indulge in my many passions: music, photography, reading, walking, visiting galleries, going to the movies, eating regularly in restaurants etc. … Continue reading
The Annular Eclipse May 2012
This morning I set my alarm for 6.30. Twice before I had been in a place where a solar eclipse was due, once in South Africa, and once in England. The South African event had been a complete washout, and … Continue reading
Golden Week: and Two Certainties. Part 2
So, to the second certainty (after a break): Souvenirs. At tourist attractions, transport terminals, motorway service areas, hotels, department stores, in fact almost anywhere a tourist may be, he or she will be faced with a temptation to partake in … Continue reading
Golden Week: and Two Certainties. Part 1
Golden Week, Obon and New Year are three holiday periods in Japan when two certainties persist: millions of Japanese people stuck in their cars in huge traffic jams, and millions of Japanese people flocking to souvenir stores to buy traditional … Continue reading
Cherry Blossoms 2012: a Postscript
They say that the Japanese people love Sakura (cherry blossoms) so much because their life, like that of the Samurai, is transient. Unfortunately, this year in Kansai, the cherry blossom season was more transient than usual. Cold weather and then heavy rain … Continue reading
Cherry Blossoms in Kyoto 2012
Very beautiful old cherry tree in Kyoto Viewing cherry blossoms, called Hanami 花見 in Japan, is usually one of the highlights of the Japanese year. Millions of people gather on blue plastic tarpaulins under the blossoms to picnic and drink … Continue reading
Our Local God
One of the aspects of Japanese culture that has long fascinated me is how my friends seem to have a God for every occasion. Whether they want to find the right partner, or to pray for a good birth and a healthy baby, there … Continue reading
White Day ホワイトデー
This morning I saw on CNN that today, March14, or 3.14, is Pi Day. This is because the mathematical value Pi, to 2 decimal places, is 3.14. In fact the value of Pi, as far as anyone knows, goes on … Continue reading
Japan - a Foreigner's View 