Ahhh, Girls' Day. The older my daughter gets, the more I love this holiday. And truth be told, the longer she's in school, the more cultural tidbits I get to pick up as well. In last year's post, I wrote mostly about the tradition of putting up Hina Dolls in one's house (but only if... Continue Reading →
5 Faves: Spots for Plum Blossoms
It's spring! It's spring! Alright, I'm exaggerating a tad. Even here in the southern reaches of mainland Japan, the cold weather is still lingering. But the other day, as I was running errands, I caught the first few cream and red buds on our city's plum trees. Call me sacreligious but I actually prefer plum... Continue Reading →
Manhole Monday: Dazaifu
It snowed today in Kumamoto. Not hard, mind you, and not enough to stick, but enough to make my visit to Kumamoto Castle with a friend a wee bit on the chilly side. But February is right around the corner, and with it come the first signs of spring - the arrival of my favorite... Continue Reading →