Blue Tarps in a Park

The homeless at [Tokyo’s] Ueno Park were up early Monday, with hundreds of the park dwellers quietly disassembling their tents and packing their belongings onto carts soon after dawn.Pushing carts laden with their possessions, they plodded toward a small empty plot hidden by bushes and trees.Around 9:40 a.m., about two hours after completing the evacuation,…… Continue reading Blue Tarps in a Park

Poverty and Homelessness in Japan

This afternoon I was a couch potato devouring a new novel, in translation: “Tokyo Ueno Station.” It depicts poverty and homelessness in Japan and deepened my understanding of scenes I’ve glimpsed in Japan. As I expected, the ending was not happy.

Evensong in St. George’s Chapel

Attended an intimate Evensong in the Quire (Choir) of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The actual choir consisted of boy trebles and professionals (countertenor, tenor, and bass). Her Majesty was not in attendance.

London Waterloo

Took a train from London Waterloo to Fleet to see friends. More than a quarter million people pass through these ticket barriers every day in the busiest train station in the UK.