Sorry for the delay, I was feeling a unwell this week. As some of you may have picked up, I watch anime. One of my favorites is Lycoris Recoil, which combined likeable and well-voiced characters in a unique world with…
Ringing in the New Year at Sasebo’s Kameyama Hachiman-gu Shrine
I was a few days late for it, but I went to Sasebo for my first takoyaki of the year! Oh, and I also made my first shrine visit of the year too. Hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the…
Evangelion and Japanese Swords Exhibition Opens in Sasebo
Bringing together two unique Japanese art forms, anime and traditional sword-making, the Evangelion and Japanese Swords exhibition opened at the Sasebo City Museum Shimanose Art Center on Apr. 13, 2019. This long-running, traveling exhibition has about 20 unique blades created…
Unzen Kanoukaen: Samurai and Sakura Blossoms by Torchlight
Hundred of burning torches moved as a river of flames advancing through the black near-moonless night. Under glowing torchlight a hundred samurai in full armor, sword at the hip, their faces and armor illuminated by only their burning fires proceeded…
The Greatest Competition Comes to Sasebo
I have achieved a dream three years in the making. On Dec. 1, 2018 I participated in a competition greater than the Olympics, Daytona 500 and Army/Navy Game combined. I of course speak of the Sasebo Goeikan (Escort Ship) Curry…
Aloha Sakura Trees Planted in Maizuru by Reenactors, Nisei Veterans and Family
World War II reenactors often recreate past battles and even the down time of soldiers, but in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, 20 Japanese reenactors came out to recreate the planting of sakura trees by Japanese American soldiers Mar. 10, 2018. Known…
JMSDF Omura Air Show
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Omura Air Base held it’s annual air show May 21, 2017. The event featured aerial demonstrations by local air rescue and anti-submarine warfare squadrons as well as static displays and marching bands. JMSDF Omura’s aircraft are…
A Recent History of Japanese Aviation: The Hamamatsu JASDF Museum
Some time ago, shortly after we started this blog, I wrote about the underwhelming castle in Hamamatsu. As I mentioned then, there is a lot more to see in Hamamatsu, and things that are more worth seeing. One of those…
Odawara Castle: The Rise and Fall of the Hojo
By: Dave Hansche I’ve written about several castles on this blog thus far, but it has occurred to me that I have overlooked a large rebuilt castle in a pleasant city about an hour away. I’ve visited Odawara…
A Candle-lit Walk in Kawatana: Katashima Taketoro Matsuri
Wandering around a candle-lit ruin in a memorial to the dead was the perfect way to spend the evening before Halloween, though it’s not as spooky or somber as it sounds. The second annual Katashima Taketoro Matsuri (Katashima Bamboo Lantern…