Long Time Expat In Japan
Maybe you’ve heard of strange things you can buy in vending machines in Japan. I’m here to tell you that maybe most of the stories are true. I personally have seen horse meat, alcohol, underwear, umbrellas, and socks. Today, I was in Osaka (more on why in in a later post) and I saw the … Continue reading Japan is Awesome – Vending Machines
Japan is awesome. I've written a couple of posts about my adopted home. While there are more than a few examples of great innovations, I've also written about how Japan has mangled the English language. Maybe I shouldn't say "mangle.” In the end, words are imported. And when they are imported, they transform and take … Continue reading Japan Is Awesome – Usually
里とほき八声の鳥の初声に花の香送る春の山風 satohotoki, yagoeno torino, hatsukoe ni, hananoka okuru, haruno yamakaze In my home town, everywhere you can hear, the first calls of birds, the fragrance of flowers, carried on the mountain winds. The imagery of this one hit me on the heartstrings. I don't live in mountains, admittedly. But I do, or did, live in … Continue reading carried on the mountain winds
Hello kitty is the epitome of marketing. As far as I can tell, Hello kitty has never been a comic book character, a TV show, a movie, or anything. It only exists as a marketing vehicle. According to wikipedia, "she is a perpetual 3rd-grade student who lives outside of London," has a twin sister, Mimi, … Continue reading Japan is Awesome – Hello Kitty
I went to Meiji shrine the other day, taking a guest from out of town. I paid some yen to pray. You choose how much to throw, like tossing coins into fountains. They say that it's better to throw a 5 yen coin because it’s better luck. So 5 yen is better than 1, 50 … Continue reading Japan is Awesome – Fortunes
It was in my second year of college that I learned the meaning of the word sophomoric, conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature. It kind of hit hard. And it was kind of true. It was a time when I learned enough to know I didn’t really know anything. The below … Continue reading 3rd-Dan
... to have a highball or two at the end of a long day at work. It’s my grandfather’s drink, but I don’t mind; I’m self actualized. It’s usually just one. Maybe two. Just a night cap till “once more into the breach.” Tonight was different, I bought a canned highball, labelled “strong.” And so … Continue reading It’s My habit
A little background. I got a new job (same company, new place). I needed a small apartment for M-F because it’s so far away. For my move I asked for the service where they pack and unpack your stuff. Mostly it’s just the dishes I didn’t want to wrap, and the books I didn’t want … Continue reading On Why I’m a Jerk
I’m not usually one to crow. I learned humility well and early, often with good reason. Tooting your own horn is unseemly. I am from a different age, I suppose. But I am disproportionately proud of this one bit of calligraphy that I did for a level up test recently. So enamored of it, in … Continue reading Proud – and a Little Ashamed of Being So
Ancient Chinese wisdom shows up in my calligraphy all the time. That’s kind of the idea. This week’s pulled on my heart strings a s being particularly true. 翰逸神飛 When the pen flows, the spirit flies.
B.S. Donovan 