Japan: Ise: Ise Grand Shrine

[Myself with my friend's wife, outside of the Outer Shrine of the Ise Grand Shrine] One of the great things that came out of attending the Toyota Troop was that a fellow trooper, who lives in Mie Prefecture, invited me to come visit Ise and see the Ise Grand Shrine.  (Tragically, I lost a series of photos, and only have those he sent me…but on the bright side, at least I have some instead of none.) The Ise Grand Shrine is divided into two main parts: the Outer Shrine and the Inner Shrine.  The actual buildings, while sparkling new, are identical to those originally constructed in the late 7th century.  But why are they new? Every 20 years, the Inner and …Read the Rest

Trooping: Toyota Festival 2011

February 28, 2012
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Trooping: Toyota Festival 2011

I still remember asking my first group of Japanese students where they were from.  I remember this because one girl responded: “I’m from Toyota.”  “Toyota…like the car?” I asked.  Yes.  Toyota like the car.  It seems silly now, but, at …Read the Rest

Japan: Tokyo: Studio Ghibli Museum

In the summer of 2011, my fellow instructors and I decided to make a trip to the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo.  We all enjoy Miyazaki’s films, so it seemed like it would be worth a trip. [Myself, near the front …Read the Rest

Halloween 2011: Kenshin

February 15, 2012
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Halloween 2011: Kenshin

[Myself as Kenshin, in Nagoya] In the Fall of 2011, I really struggled to think about what I should be for Halloween.  It’s not that I don’t have costumes, but I hadn’t brought any with me to Japan. [Myself as …Read the Rest

Anti-Bullying: Wear Star Wars, Share Star Wars 2011

[Myself with my plush Wampa Ice Creature at Nagoya Castle on 2011.12.16] Last year I heard news of a young girl – Katie Goldman – who got teased at school because she liked Star Wars, which was only for boys. …Read the Rest

Japan: Nagoya: Cesari Pizzeria

November 14, 2011
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Japan: Nagoya: Cesari Pizzeria

Typically when overseas, I try to eat mainly the local food.  Not only are imported foods and foreign restaurants incredibly expensive, but it usually pales in comparison to what I know.  And I’m enough of a food snob that it …Read the Rest

Japan: Nagoya: My Neighborhood (Looking Up)

Usually when I head out, I take a residential back street to my local subway station.  It’s about 15 or 20 minutes by foot, 8 to 10 minutes by Japanese businessperson pace.  Really, the locals zoom right by at an …Read the Rest

Japan: Takayama: Jinya

November 12, 2011
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Japan: Takayama: Jinya

[Myself, in front of the Takayama Jinya] The Takayama Jinya was a delightful surprise that we found during our visit.  I had assumed it was a temple – which is always interesting – but this was much better.  An immaculately-preserved government …Read the Rest

Japan: Takayama

October 16, 2011
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Japan: Takayama

As Nagoya seeming to be the starting point for any trip to Takayama, my friend and I decided to make the trip out while living in Nagoya.  By chance, we picked a major festival weekend to visit; if you want …Read the Rest

Japan: Takayama: Autumn Festival Floats

I just so happened that I visited Takayama on the weekend of the local Autumn Festival.  One of the big things for this festival is a parade through town with a bunch of, for a lack of a more sophisticated …Read the Rest

Japan: Takayama: Hida Folk Village

On a recent weekend trip to Takayama, my friend and I made a trip to the Hida no Sato, or Hida Folk Village, which is about a 30-minute walk from downtown Takayama.  It had received strong recommendations from multiple people, …Read the Rest

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