Trip through Japan 1919

The 1919 YWCA Japan documentary Trip through Japan at http://tinyurl.com/2bals4w has an agenda, but provides an invaluable look at Ainu and village life, architecture and construction: earth compaction, dry-stack monumental stone, entirely breathable tiered-thatch roofing. Tip for Asleep at the Wheel: when drinking sake out of large cups, dip the end of your moustache-board first for a ceremonial flourish. The film also features a really Big Tuna.

kaomoji

I've noticed more and more cool new emoticons showing up in my emails lately, so went looking for Japanese kaomoji, which seem to all be horizontal, and may be just a little more "kawaii" than the ones with which I'm familiar (which themselves are a bit too cute for everyday use, I fear). Anyway, here are a few I like: smile (^_^) blush (#^_^#) lost (*_*) and, of course kiss (^3^). found these at www.japanstyle.info which has a few tweetable Japanese food posts as well.
^_-

Old Partner

Recently shown as part of The Gene Siskel Film Center's Korean Cinema on the Fast Track the film "Old Partner" (2008, see Links for the Han Cinema posting) by Lee Chung-ryoul offers insights into the life of traditional hard-working East Asian rice farm culture, such as the simple satisfactions of "seeing water going in dried up rice paddies, and seeing food go in your kids' mouths."

Best online guide - preparing for Japan

See a new link at the left for Stanford's guide - including links to a number of cell phone rental companies. Remember, not just any international cell phone will work there, so be sure you get one that is specifically set up for Japan.

Japanese Easter Egg

Buddhism and Shinto don't get into Easter, but this weekend Cocoro Restaurant on Wells Street offers some themed appetizers, including a thin "Japanese hamburger" wrapped around a hard-boiled egg, something like a Scotch (sukoshi in the phonetic transliteration) Egg. It's rapidly deep-fried for a crispy outside texture. mmmm

Getting from the Osaka Airport to Kyoto

A number of us are scheduled to arrive at about 6:00 pm on Monday April 26th. If you are flying into Itami Airport (ITM), a bus for Kyoto Station departs from the airport at approximately 20-minute intervals through the evening with the last bus leaving at 9:10 pm. Travel time is estimated at 55 minutes. Our hotel, the New Miyako, is a short walk from Kyoto Station. The cost is listed on their website at 1,280 yen (about $15). If you are flying into Kansai, there are also regular bus departures for Kyoto Station. The fare from Kansai is listed as 2,500 yen (about $30), and the trip is shown as one hour and 45 minutes. See Osaka Airport Limousine’s website in the links at the left under Travel Information.

Japan Fashion Week

We'll miss the runway shows (March 22 - 26) but read the Japan Fashion Week link under Trends Nihon on the left for places we may want to visit: Takashimaya Shinjuku (just across from our Tokyo Hotel), Tokyo Midtown (definitely high end), Cat Street and more in Shibuya-ku.