Bodhidharma: The Original Daruma

Daruma are an interesting tradition in Japan, and their roots in Zen Buddhism are not to be overlooked. Since my original post on the Daruma Festival, I’ve been reading more and more about the doll, its tradition, symbolism, and connection to the figure Bodhidharma and decided that another post to sort out my thoughts was […]

Yozakura: Evening Cherry Blossom Viewing

If you thought that after a fiery sunset your time viewing the cherry blossoms was over, then think again! Going to view cherry blossoms at night is a very normal and festive event during the spring, and for the first time since coming to Japan, I partook in a bit of night hanami myself.

Cherry Blossoms 2019: Meguro River and Koishikawa Botanical Garden

The peak of cherry blossom season is here, and there are some wonderful areas in Tokyo wher you can enjoy the sakura. We visited two such places: the Meguro Cherry Blossom Promenade and Koishikawa Botanical Garden.

MLB Season Opener in Tokyo, Japan

My wife is a big baseball fan, and when she learned that the season opener was going to take place at the Tokyo Dome, she worked her Internet magic and got us tickets to the first game of the season. It was decidedly a more American affair than my last baseball game, but it was […]

Christian Dior at the Denver Art Museum

While visiting the city of Denver, it was hard to ignore all the banners for the Denver Art Museum advertising the exhibit on Dior, the famous designer and fashion house that has come to define fashion in many ways. Being a total novice and way out of my element, I decided to dive into the […]

Voodoo Doughnut: Mile High

If you know anything about doughnuts or Portland, then you know Voodoo Doughnuts. Renowned for their quirky take on the delicious breakfast ring, they have doughnuts with fruity cereal bits, various cream fillings, and their titular doughnut that resembles a voodoo doll being stabbed in the heart by a pretzel. While in Colorado, I was […]

Kinkakuji: The Golden Pavilion

In Kyoto, there are many beautiful places to visit. Almost too many for the history and religion buffs to do in a single go, to be honest. One of the most splendid sites to partake in on a clear, sunny day has to be Kinkakuji, a pavilion of gold on a still lake.

Original Stitch Pokemon Shirt Review

I’m a big fan of the original 151 Pokemon back from the Gameboy era, having spent many afternoons in middle school playing while trading my friends for Machamp and Alakazam in the mornings before class. When I saw that Original Stitch was offering some nice Pokemon shirts, I was there on day one to order. […]

Bar Love Story by Netflix

Getting your name out there is a big deal for any company, and what better way to do that than with food and booze? Pop-up shops are a hallowed tradition in Japan, and the latest we were able to take part in was offered as part of a Valentine’s Day promotion by Netflix in Omotesando. […]

TeamLab: Borderless – Forest of Flowers and People and Other Exhibits

Last week, we explored the upper floors of TeamLab Borderless at the Mori Building Digital Art Museum in Odaiba, Tokyo. This week, we’ll take a gander at all the other exhibits they have hiding in the labyrinth of the first floor. Most are interactive, some are merely for spectating, but all have something visually arresting […]