Long Time Expat In Japan
In February I was really pleased to say that I was, again, not last. As you can see below, I'm plugging along well enough. The first is kanji. https://bsdonovan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/janfebkanji.jpg Then here is my pen submission. I must admit, I'm kind of struggling here, but still not last. https://bsdonovan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/janfebpen.jpg But below is the really exciting part. … Continue reading Level up!
This week, my kanji submission for shodo is onko chishin. See below for a picture. Roughly translated, it means "know history's mistakes." https://bsdonovan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/img_0464.jpg The kanji we need to submit is often a four word idiom, what they call a Yoji Jukugo. Yoji = four word. Jukugo = idiom. So there's no real mystery there. But … Continue reading 温故知新 – Know History’s Mistakes
So in the last edition of Shodo Geijutsu, the monthly magazine only for official Shodo students, my name finally showed up. Two months ago, I submitted my first "work", if you can call it that. In fact, I feel way too uncomfortable with using the term. Instead, I'll call it my "submission." Seems appropriately neutral … Continue reading Not Last!
https://bsdonovan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/courthouse.jpg OK, so it was a bit strange, but I have to say, I had a good customer experience at the courtroom today. See my post yesterday about getting Nabbed by the Keisatsu. The parking violation cost me 40,000 JPY, about $340 USD. There’s no way that’s going to feel good. I have problems with … Continue reading A Good Experience with Police? Yes, Expensive but, Yes
It started one Friday evening. It was a pretty good day; I was home before 7 pm. You need to understand that this is Japan. The work day starts late, but for so many, that work day never seems to end. In a former life in this country, I had a job that nearly did … Continue reading Nabbed by the Keisatsu
It's not just me, or so my sensei tells me. Most of her students dread the kana part of the monthly submission for calligraphy. It's the hardest, it's the most abstract, and has the most exceptions. Way back in the early days of the mid-90's, eons ago in dog years, I read a book by … Continue reading Hiragana – and Hard Fun
It's a tradition to go to the local shrine. We went to the Sengen Jinja nearby. I used to think ours was THE Sengen Jinja, but apparently they are everywhere. The one in Shizuoka is near Mt. Fuji. and is probably the most famous. When we were there, we got a couple of charms (mamori) … Continue reading アケオメコトヨロ- or – Happy New Year!
When I made the official application to be a calligraphy student, which means actually gaining ranks, I had to pick a name. My name in Japanese is usually written in katakana - most borrowed words and foreign words are. I thought I was just signing my name, but Sensei told me, If you're going to … Continue reading Pen Name
I started to learn Japanese calligraphy 2 months ago. My youngest was struggling a little bit in school; 2nd grade Kanji starts to get a little complicated and they need to learn a hundred or so. I thought it would be good to go with her, get some Dad-Daughter time and learn a thing or … Continue reading Learning Japanese Calligraphy
B.S. Donovan 
