For those of us who have been striving for sustainability for over half a century, it's a delight to see how, finally, our new generation understands how vital this is. We can rest knowing our planet is in good hands. Sustainability has been mainstreamed, in the jargon of aid agencies to developing nations. Sustainable actions, … Continue reading 2 Words that Must Go With “Sustainability”
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Sayonara, Kamikaze, Harakiri – 3 Words that Japanese Seldom Use
Sayonara, Kamikaze, Harakiri - 3 Words that Japanese themselves seldom use
Americas Cup Roots at Heda
Americas Cup Heda (photo: expansive views over Suruga Bay from the roof top hot spring bath at Isaba Ryokan, Heda. Views of Fuji in the distance on a clear day) 1851. A precocious American schooner by the appropriate name of America thrashes the British fleet in a race on their home seas. The world's eldest … Continue reading Americas Cup Roots at Heda
Hamamatsu Castle
Hamamatsu Castle Japan's most famous Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, was Lord of Hamamatsu Castle for 17 years, from age 29 to 45. Here he is said to have matured as a samurai leader, and lessons he learnt protecting this local realm no doubt helped him in his eventual quest to unify Japan after two centuries of … Continue reading Hamamatsu Castle
Arai Checkpoint
Arai is Japan's only surviving feudal era checkpoint. Nestled on the west bank of Lake Hamana in modern day Shizuoka Prefecture, in feudal times access eastwards (to and from the capital Edo, modern Tokyo) was only by boat. Bridges were prohibited by the Shogun to make it difficult for any would-be upstart from the provinces … Continue reading Arai Checkpoint