With death, displacement and continued worries about radiation the horrible consequences of the Tohoku earthquake and Tepco’s incompetence, it’s hard to imagine there could be even more suffering. Yet these ‘looking for a new home’ posters, detailing the personalities and approximate ages of dogs also caught up in the disaster, prove that the suffering wasn’t (and isn’t) just felt by humans, but their former best friends as well.
Archives for January 2013
The very obvious joy of an outdoor, back-to-basics, Japanese bath
Bath time is hugely important in Japan, and arguably even more so when it’s of the public and natural variety — the soothing volcanic water and communal element making it a key feature of tourism as well as everyday life.
But while many hotels boast beautifully designed baths with absolutely stunning views, the back-to-basics approach of a tub and some companions clearly takes some beating.
Les Misérables, Tokyo style
No singing. No dancing. Just sitting — in silence.
An outdoor, considerably low-tech, Japanese kitchen
Much is made of Japan’s high-tech cities and the nation’s love of gadgets, but an awful lot of day-to-day life remains stuck very much in the past. And nowhere is this more apparent than in the home. A place where very often even basics along the lines of insulation and double glazing are inventions to be merely marvelled at, than actually made use of.
Such uncomfortable omissions, particularly in older houses and apartments, making the whole experience somewhat akin to camping — only colder. And yet even such inadequacies don’t come close to a lack of roofing or walls.
Although to be fair, there is running water. Lots of it too.
Zen and the art of Kyoto contemplation
In a welcome sun spot. On a bitterly cold day. Kyoto’s Nanzen-ji provided the perfect place to ponder the year that had almost passed, and make plans for the one quickly approaching.