Applause Encouraged
Many years ago, I traveled around northern Japan with friends, exploring the hot springs resorts. At one isolated spot in the mountains, which we called...
Music I Like – Japanese Soundtrack Composers
I know “Japanese soundtrack composers” sounds like a pretty niche interest, but hear me out. J-pop is even more manufactured and sterile than American Top...
Dust Bunny
In the original U.S. release of Studio Ghibli classic My Neighbor Totoro, makuro kurosuke were translated as “dust bunnies.” Dust bunnies, Nanny explains gather in...
Cherry Blossoms
Perhaps in Europe the rose has more cultural significance, but here in the Pacific Northwest, as in Japan, roses take a back seat to cherry...
Cartoon Demo
That time my husband’s sword school gave a demonstration at the Aki Matsuri and he turned into a cartoon character....