VIDEOS: Dennis A. Amith’s Random Musings (February 2017 – May 2017)
The following are my Random Musing videos (February 2017 – May 2017): The following are my Random Musing videos (February 2017 – 2017):
The One about Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins’ “West Side Story”
“West Side Story”, a musical classic that has entertained and awed generation after generation. What began as a 1957 Broadway musical directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins and is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, because the storyline dealt with urban street gangs, Read More …
U.S. Embassy Tokyo Security Message: Safe Night in Tokyo June 30, 2017
As peak travel season approaches, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo is offering the following security tips to help visitors stay safe while enjoying Tokyo’s world-famous nightlife. The general crime rate in Japan is well below the U.S. national average, and Tokyo, like all of Read More …
The One about SHIPS in Harajuku
Located in Cat Street in Harajuku is the store, SHIPS. With a history that goes as far back as 1970, SHIPS began as “MIURA” which sold imported casual clothing. In 1975, MIURA & SONS opened their Shibuya store which was followed by the SHIPS Ginza Read More …
The One about Marc Jacobs’ Bookmarc
In 2013, located in Cat Street in Harajuku is fashion designer, Marc Jacobs’ “BOOKMARC”. Designed by Stephan Jaklitsch, BOOKMARC sells books specializing in art, music culture and photography. And the concept of the store happened when bookstores began to disappear from the global landscape. Marc Read More …
The One about Rainbow Pancake in Harajuku
In America, we think of pancakes as breakfast food and food we make at home early in the morning or go to a place like IHOP or Denny’s breakfast. Typically, we are used to the thin pancakes that we put butter and syrup. But in Read More …
The One about Graffiti in Japan
I’m often asked about how safe Japan is but also get asked a few times if there is graffiti and if it’s as bad as how things are in the US? Well, graffiti does exist, but not in the same manner in the US that Read More …
The One about the Visalia Obon Festival 2017
It’s Obon Festival time!!! I have blogged in the past about what an Obon Festival is and covered various events. And now the first Obon festival that I attended in the Central Valley for 2017 took place in the city of Visalia, California in Tulare Read More …
The One about High Heat and Dead Vegetable Plants
Vegetable garden update – June 24th. WTF!!! With the intense heat…my zucchini, bell pepper, kale and cauliflower plants which looked fantastic last weekend did not make it. With the temperatures reach between 105-110 degrees…they didn’t make it. According to this website: http://www.plantanswers.com/garden_column/june03/4.htm High temperatures speed Read More …
The One about Andrzej Wajda’s “Korczak”
“Korczak” is a powerful film that highlights one of the well-known humanitarians of the holocaust. Where monuments of Dr. Janusz Korczak is seen in Warsaw, of him holding the hands of children. He has left a legacy showcasing one man’s refusal to adapt to the Read More …
The One about the Tomb of Kano Hogai in Yanaka
In yesterday’s post, I discussed the Okakura Tenshin Memorial Site in Yanaka and how he started the Japan Art Institute (Nihon Bijutsuin). But not far from the Memorial Site is the Tomb of Kano Hogai, a famouse Japanese painter of the early Meiji era. A Read More …
The One about the Okakura Tenshin Memorial Park Site of Okakura Tenshin’s Residence in Yanaka
Okakura Kakuzo (a.k.a. Okakura Tenshin) was a Japanese scholar who is known for the development of arts in Japan. Best known for his book “The Book of Tea”, Okakura was a scholar who learned English while attending a school which was operated by a Christian Read More …
My Organic Container-based Vegetable Garden – June 19, 2017 Update
So far the cherry tomatoes are kicking in…primarily the normal cherry tomatoes, chocolate cherry and the super snow white. I will have to say the snow white cherry tomatoes are absolutely sweet and delicious and definitely will continue to plant those. Costata Romanesco and Striata Read More …
The One about the Village Dioramas near the Otorii at Meiji Shrine
When I was a college student, I surprised everyone in my class when I built a makeshift island. It was a lot of work, took a lot of time but I wanted to create something unique and different. Needless to say, it was heavy and Read More …
The One about the Flower Exhibition near the Otorii at Meiji Shrine
For those who are visiting the Meiji Shrine, sometimes you may find flower arrangements to village dioramas that were beautifully decorated. While I don’t know too much on the history of the actual dioramas, I do know that the chrysanthemum exhibition is often held in Read More …
Travel Guide: The One about Basic Economy
You booked a flight and got it very cheap and you are now excited. But many travelers are learning that the cheap flight they paid for was “basic economy” and not regular “economy”. And for those who have read about the confusion, frustration or the Read More …
The One about Crayonhouse in Tokyo and Osaka
Located in Omotesando (Tokyo) and in Osaka is a specialty shop known as Crayonhouse. Created with children and also the disabled in mind, Keiko Ochiai wanted to create a company that was not male or adult-centered. She wanted a place where children can enjoy and Read More …