Lost In Translation

Half-Life In Fukushima

Half-Life In Fukushima (2016) is a documentary from Swiss film-makers Mark Olexa and Francesca Scsalisi about a man who decided to live in the radiated zone of Fukushima after the earthquake and tsunami. It popped up on my list at the movie streaming site MUBI on the 8th anniversary of the tragedy (March 11th 2019) and I had not seen it. It is a fly on the wall sort of documentary that is only 61 minutes long and captures the scene well, but I wonder if it would have been more interesting if there was some sort of interview conducted or if there was some context given-it is a moving look at one man's response to a disaster and his refusal to give up given the fact that he is no longer a young man.

Marugame & Takamatsu

The gate to Marugame castle the last of four original-castles in Shikoku and third of this particular journey. It was an hour and half bus ride and 5 minute taxi from the bus stop near the expressway to this castle.

The city from the castle vantage point.

Marugame's answer to Hachiko? Kinako?

This modern art museum next to the station felt very in congruous and makes me wonder how much was spent on it. I can't imagine it has brought in the tourists as imagined.

Takamatsu station, I stayed the night in Takamatsu since it's one of the biggest cities on Shikoku and I was flying out of the airport in the morning.

The old castle grounds from the street car station near Takamatsu station.

My hotel was a bit isolated, but Takamatsu is not such a big town.

Another shotengai in Takamatsu.

It was the location for Craft Beer Diner Hopheads, the only craft beer bar I came across on my journey. And a well-stocked one with 20 taps, but no customers on a rainy Wednesday evening. the master told me it is popular among foreigners but the locals haven't bought into it yet.

Good portions this is a Cesar salad with a half-pint-I also got some fried chicken. I'll have some udon (a local specialty) at the airport before I fly the next day at 12:50.

Udon and tenpura as promised.

Kochi, Kochi

The main goal for the trip was to visit Kochi, Koichi and check off my 45th of 47 prefectures, but also visit the castle-one of the original 12. This is the station where homage is being paid to heroes of the Meiji Restoration-in the past Tosa domani was an influential area in Japan.

Shikoku is a subtropical climate, but still a little cold at the moment.

There's some relationship between this cartoon character and Kochi...

I may have to enjoy later.

It seems the area is also famous for poultry, the "Tosa jiro", in particular. this temple near the castle had statues and live chickens in it. It makes me wonder if these are the messengers for the gods of this shrine.

On the Kochi castle  grounds, another of the 4 of the 12 original castles in Japan that are in Shikoku.

Some old fellas playing shoji (a Japanese game similar to chess).

The castle crest.

A roof ornament.

The view from the castle.

I found some recommendations for local places to eat n Kochi, first up was Kojiya. The star of the menu was Tosa "Jiro" chicken-here grilled over charcoal.

Next up, Yatai Yasube, a food stall known for their gyoza and ramen.

You can always find these shotengais (covered shopping streets), Obiyamachi here, in regional Japan.

I went to Hirome Ichiba thinking it was a morning market, only to see that it is is more of a night time eating-drinking establishment, but I was still able to get a morning bowl of udon.

Shikoku

I've been planning to visit all 47 prefectures in Japan (I have visited 44 so far) and one of the few prefectures left is Kochi. But I have also started a secondary quest to visit all of the 12 original-construction castles in Japan (I have visited 7 so far). There are four in Shikoku (However, I have already been to Matsyama castle), and the three I haven't been to are Uwajima castle, Kochi castle, and Marugame castle. So I will fly into Matsuyama in Ehime prefecture and go to Uwajima for the night, then go on to Kochi and Marugame and eventually fly back to Tokyo from Takamatsu. Along the way I will be visiting points of interest, eat local food, and drink local liquor (sake and shochu). So it will be a total of four days and three nights and I'm flying via Jet Star, so the flights are very reasonable. Hopefully Shikoku is warmer than Tokyo.

Fukui, Fukui

As usual I have some dead time in between my last class and my last test date (9 days), so I decided to go on a short trip in Japan to one of the prefectures I haven't been to yet (this is my 44th out of 47)-Fukui on the Japan Sea side of Honshu near Kyoto and Ishikawa. I also decided to save some money so I took a ¥5000 night bus for the first time in 20 some years.

The first thing I did was eat a hearty breakfast of Sauce katsudon, a local specialty, since I was planning to do some major sightseeing before checking into my hotel later in the afternoon.

At first i had planned to go to Fukui's famous Dinosaur Museum, but the kindly staff at the station informed me it was closed on the 23rd of each month-today!

I decided to visit a famous temple instead and this was photo of an old brick building with mountains in the background taken en-route.

The monk residence at Eiheiji temple ("The Temple of Eternal Peace").

The approach.

The overgrown moss was exceptional.

Back at Fukui station to go north to visit a castle.

First some Fukui soba-it's know for their soba that comes from fresh clean water from the yearly snows of winter.

Maruoka castle is one of twelve original castles that still remain in Japan.

More dinosaurs at Fukui station, time to check into the hotel.

The Fukui castle ruins.

Old style European house in Fukui.

Pre-dinner beer and appetizers.

Another interesting looking restaurant in Fukui.

I found a gem in Fukui, Rice Bar.

Getting into the nihomshu.

Appetizer set.

It's colder here than Tokyo-so atuskan (heated nishonshu).

More appetizers.

Another nihonshu stop.

Service oden.

One last attraction, Yokokan Garden.

Nothing like ramen on a cold snowy day, it is significantly colder in Fukui than Tokyio.

Ise, Mie

The Kii peninsula that contains Mie and Wakayama prefectures are two places I've passed on visiitng since it requires a special trip south from a westward destination (i.e. Nagoya or Oasaka). On this long November weekend (TWCU cultural festival) I decided to visit Ise, Mie taking a fiend's advice that Koyasan in Wakayama would be better visited in the summer (cool mountain escape) or winter (lovely snow filled landscape).

This is a sculpture outside Iseshi station near where my hotel was. The cannon under a shinto gate is a curious reminder of the Shinto religion that saw the Emperor as a god and led Japan in a militarized war of aggression in the 19302 and 40s.

Another distinctive manhole cover in Ise.

This is the torii gate  to the Outer Shrine (Geku).

One of the most impressive features of the grounds for me were the massive tress in the shrine.

Isekadoya brewery is based in the city and has a small branch outside the Outer Shrine.

Isekadoya Comfort Ale & Ise Pilsner with Matsuzaka beef nikuman.

After a 20-30 minute bus ride I arrived at the Inner Shrine (Naiku), entrance is always through torii gates.

Ise shrine's ancient massive trees are said to be "power spots." "Power spots" are places believed to endow visitors with refreshing or healing energy. In Japan, the concept generally centers around feng shui principles and sites where the Earth's energy is said to well up—meaning many power spots are tied to ancient shrines, creation myths and Shugendo mountain worship.

There's a massive shopping street near the Inner Shri (Naiku), Okage Yokocho.

Another Isekadoya location near the Inner Shrine (Naiku), White Sands IPA and tartar oysters.

The Geku (Outer Shrine) teishoku (dinner set) with mini Ise udon (noodles), mini Tekone zushi (bonito with vinegar rice), mixed tempura with two prawns! pickles, and miso soup with local nihonshu.

Kyoto: Kanjiro Kawai House

I recently learned about the Kanjiro Kawai House in Higashiyama Gojo not far from Kiyomizudera temple in Kyoto. Kanjior Kawai (1890-1966) was a key potter and artist. It is a nice mixture of modern and traditional elements.

Kyoto: Daitokuji, October 2018

This weekend, Friday November 9th to Monday November 12th is a long weekend for me due to the school festival at TWCU. Thus, I decided to visit Ise, Mie, which is one of five prefectures in Japan that I have not visited and has the holiest shrine in Japan. My fiend Ted in Kyoto just happens to be in town, so I decided to stop in Kyoto first and catch up with him. he was busy during the day today so I took the time to visit Daitokuji since it is nearby and had some seasonally opened temples and exhibitions going on.

Shinju-an had an exhibition with modern paintings on the fusama (sliding doors). This temple is commentated after the famously hedonistic priest Ikkyu Sojun.

Koto-in closed for maintenance.

Oda Nobunaga’s grace at Soken-in.

Aomori, Aomori

It didn't seem like there was much to see or do in Aomori, Aomori, so I decided to stay in Hirosaki instead. I suppose I could have stayed here instead of Mutsu, but the weather was so bad it hardly mattered. The Aomori Bay Bridge next to the station.

 

Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse was closed for re-modelling, unfortunate, but makes sense since this is after the Nebuta Matsuri. However, not much to do in Aomori city proper. I guess a half day would be enough.

In the basement of Aomori AUGUA Building, sake shop with local nihonshu.

Inside Ringo Bako, a restaurant in the AUGUA building with Neputa decorations.

My sake selection for lunch-I suppose I could have spent more time on choosing, but saw the kanji (Chinese character) for dry and choose this-very smooth and easy to drink.

There was a free Tsugaru jamisen during lunch.

So many choices-but went with grilled salmon with rice and miso soup.

Aomori Prefecture Museum Of Art

Yoshitoro Nara's famous Aomori Ken, free of charge, but about 5 km from Aomori station. I had some time to kill before my flight, and if I had timed it better I could have seen the museum exhibitions.

Hirosaki, Aomori

In the station Neputa art, I just missed the Neputa Festival by one day-oh well, some day I'll experience it in person.

Old Aomori Bank

Former Hirosaki Library

Another olds renovated Starbuck's near the castle park.

Fujita Memorial Garden

Sannomaru Ōtemon Gate

Hirosakijo Botanical Gardens

Ninomaru Tatsumi Yagura

Hirosaki castle

Mount Iwaki in the background.

Kitanokuruwa North Gate

Former Ishida residence

More samurai homes

Neputa Mura

After today's sightseeing I dropped by Be Easy Brewing's taproom before dinner.

Rakuten Ballpark IPA.

I found a cheap and cheerful izakaya-my favorite kind-at Tsugaru Izakaya Wai Wai.

Some local delicacies-keno jiru (minced meat and vegetable soup), mizuitame (stir fry vegetables-served cold), and hotate to ika menchi (scallops and squid minced and deep fried). I also tried some local nihonshu (sake).

In the Hirosaki station, the region is known for apples. maybe there's still time to try an apple pie. Next stop, Amori, Amori to catch my flight back to Tokyo.