Snapshots: 1,000 Miles by Train to Tokyo

September 2018. I had spent the previous week exploring the three national parks in eastern Hokkaido. It was now time to figure out how to chunk a journey to Tokyo over the next 10 days. I had flown to eastern Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island. The journey back to Tokyo would be slower. Armed with…… Continue reading Snapshots: 1,000 Miles by Train to Tokyo

Open Books

Slowed down for breakfast at Open Book’s cafe. Hundreds of miniature open books hang from the ceiling.

Ramen At United Noodles

Satisfied my craving for an authentic ramen bowl at United Noodles, an Asian supermarket.

Categorized as Living

Good Day to Read

It’s a perfect day to be a couch potato: rain all day, and a novel just released in the US today.

Categorized as Read

Mono no aware: the Pathos of Things

Mono no aware, Japanese.Roughly pronounced: moh-noh noh ah-wah-ray.  Roughly translated:  A wistful awareness of the impermanence or transience of things. [Source] Kumamoto, April 2014. Cherry blossoms exemplify the Japanese mono no aware sensibility. The intense beauty lasts just a few days before disappearing. The short time blossoms are in season is a time for celebration. Kyushu, southern…… Continue reading Mono no aware: the Pathos of Things

Suica Balance

Used NFC (near-field communication) to read the outstanding balance on my Japanese Suica stored-value card: ¥421, almost four US dollars. The balance expires in 2028, but I plan to spend it much sooner than that.