Discoveries from around the archipelago
It's been a few days since we arrived back in Japan and settling into life in Tokyo once more is like slipping back into your favorite pajamas - familiar and comfortable. With cheek numbingly brisk weather this week, it seemed a good time to head out and reacquaint myself with some of the city's (well-heated)... Continue Reading →
Over three centuries ago, a seminal event occurred in the corridors of Edo Castle. Young Lord Asano from Ako Province (in present day Hyogo Prefecture) drew his sword and attacked the shogun's master of ceremonies, Lord Kira. Kira escaped essentially unharmed but Asano, having broken the code of never drawing a weapon in the shogun's... Continue Reading →
Some cities have neighborhoods on "the other side of the tracks". Tokyo has neighborhoods on "the other side of the river". These aren't neighborhoods to be avoided though - rather, most of them have storied pasts and fascinating sights. One of my favorites to explore is the sumo neighborhood of Ryogoku. Ryogoku today is known... Continue Reading →
There’s nothing like a sumo match. Salt throwing, knee slapping behemoths in a sandy ring, waiting for some unspoken cue to attempt to topple each other over. I saw my first sumo tournament from the cheap seats of the Tokyo Kokugikan (sumo stadium) and something in me became thoroughly captivated by this sweaty sport with... Continue Reading →
