The One about Darn Tough Socks
As I prepare for my trip next month back to Japan, one thing I want to nip on the bud is the socks I will be bringing. Each time I travel, I learn more about what socks to bring and not bring and last year, Read More …

As I prepare for my trip next month back to Japan, one thing I want to nip on the bud is the socks I will be bringing. Each time I travel, I learn more about what socks to bring and not bring and last year, Read More …
I have to admit that “Memory for Max, Claire, Ida and Company” was a difficult actuality film to watch. As impressed as I am with Allan King’s “Cinéma vérité”, this one hits my family pretty hard as my grandfather is now at the final stage Read More …
Located in Arkawa, Tokyo is “Minami-Senju Station” (which means South Senju Station). Opened back in 2008, the station is operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), Tokyo Metro and the Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. The primary lines is JR East Joban Line, Tokyo Metro Read More …
And here we are with the final part of Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame at Tokyo Dome. With the viewing rooms in the next hall, once you past it, it’s when you get to see the actual members of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame Read More …
I wrote about the entry portions and the first two rooms of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame at Tokyo Dome. In this part 2 post of the Japanese Ball Hall of Fame, the area focuses on the history of baseball with really awesome artifacts Read More …
I’ve been looking for a lightweight hiking shoe to bring with me when I travel overseas and although I would like another waterproof boot, I have one already and the reason why I’m not bringing it along is that it’s quite heavy and wasn’t the Read More …
When it comes to antique handbooks and price guides, Judith Miller’s “Antique Handbook & Price Guide” are one of the best out there. With that being said, it’s not perfect nor will it please everyone, including long time Antique Handbook & Price Guide readers. The Read More …
With Jean-Luc Godard spearheading the French New Wave after many of his other contemporaries have been forgotten, Italian film producer Carlo Ponti and Jean-Luc Godard began work on the film “Le Mepris” (Contempt) in 1963. A film that would be an adaptation of Alberto Moravia’s Read More …
Back in early 18th century Japan, it is said that shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune had many cherry trees planted in an area in the Kita area for the citizens of Tokyo (a.k.a. “Edokko” and back then, the term referred to people who were assertive, straightforward, cheerful Read More …
I was passing by Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California and stopped by a market/restaurant, Carniceria Panaderia y Taqueria. I have been told that this place sells massive burritos for a great price and the burritos are delicious. So, I had to give this Read More …
When going to Japan, it’s easy to confuse temples and shrines. But they are quite different. Temples are Buddhist sites, while shrines are Shinto sites. It’s even more confusing by the fact that there are some areas that meld the two religions together. And that Read More …
You often hear about novels that are not possible for a film adaptation. And for author Raymond Queneau’s successful 1959 novel “Zazie dans le métro”, who can portray a novel about a young girl who knows way too much for her age and is so Read More …
When it comes to American industrialists, we are familiar with Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, Howard Hughes to name a few. In Japan, one name that is quite well-known is Shibusawa Eiichi (Shibusawa is his family name). Known as the father of Japanese capitalism, he spearheaded Read More …
Originally featured in J!-ENT Feb. 2013: In Japan, AKB48 member Yuki “Yukirin” Kashiwagi is one of the more popular and highly ranked members of the group. A member of AKB48 and the side-group French Kiss, Kashiwagi has had solo songs featured on the French Kiss Read More …
As a traveler who loves to visit locations in different seasons and as a photographer who loves to capture city life, one thing that I have not yet experienced is snow in New York or the East Coast. Often wanting to experience it through the Read More …
Vegetable Garden Update Sept. 30, 2017: For those who have been following my vegetable update since January 2017. A short-recap, I started with a container garden, seedlings on growlights in the winter, transplanting outdoors and they were producing by March-June. 110+ degree temperatures killed 95% Read More …
Located at Asakuyama Park in Kita Ward is the Kita City Asakuyama Museum. Established in 1998, the museum is one of the three museums located at the park. The second floor being the entrance, reception room and auditorium, the third floor is the learning room, Read More …