Spring Break continued: My favorite izakaya
No smoking… great! No photos… disappointing! And maybe I should not have taken and then posted this photo. But in my quest to fight the funk and have…
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Kufun + Fun = CoFuFun at Tenri Station Plaza
CoFuFun is an open space for special events, gatherings and for children (and adults) to play. It was produced by Nendo, a not-for-profit arts and architectural group, to…
Spring Break continued: I returned to Tenri/Ojiba after over three years… 陽気ぐらし
The weather was beautiful and Tenri was mostly quiet… Some changes here and there, a few due to COVID… More barrier-free in the shinden, many old shops closed,…
Street Piano at Kintetsu Tenri Station!
For more info: Street piano installation location information site https://pianomitsuketa.com/9404/ Kintetsu Tenri Station Street Pianohttps://ameblo.jp/koukishoji/entry-12733266099.html When I was play…
First Day of Spring Break! Trying to be happy (amidst the sorrows of this shitty year so far…)
Cherry blossoms on two trees popping early… the rest will pop soon! Special auto-ethnographic bonus: a (renewal) haircut, yaki niku and new friends…
「Food Terrorism at Midnight: Changing Eating Patterns in Japan」@ Association for Asian Studies Annual Conference 2023 Virtual Sessions February 17/18, 2023
I am dedicating this presentation to Dr. Mark Hollstein, who passed away unexpectedly, suddenly and tragically on January 31, 2023. Mark was my friend and colleague for twenty…
This is what replaced Tenbun:「”Takoyaki/side dishes standing bar Peke x Peke”」
Tenbun closed on March 28, 2020. The space it occupied was empty for a year and a half. Then on October 10, 2021, a new shop opened, Peke…
Pilgrimage to Hozanji 1/5/2023
One of my favorite places in Japan… for the journey on the the winding mountain paths, for the natural setting, for the unlimited photo ops, for the spirituality,…
Jalan Jalan (100): A milestone in the VAoJ series that took a too long a time in coming (due to accidents, injuries, COVID-19, busy work schedule, etc.)
What is jalan jalan? Walking with my camera(s) is one of my most favorite activities. It’s a form of joyous and holistic meditation – good for the mind…
First visit to Kayashima Shrine for the New Year 2023
Kayashima Shrine is famous because there is a train station right above it. The kami-deity associated with the shrine resides in a large 700 year old Camphor tree.…
An update on the New Year’s greeting…
Updating Happy New Year 2023 from「VAoJ」 It seems some houses and businesses were just a little late with their decorations. But still, there are far fewer this year…
Happy New Year 2023 from「VAoJ」
This is only anecdotal, but I have noticed in and around my neighborhood that houses are not displaying New Years decorations like the shimekazari in the photo above…
2022 Toshikoshi Soba
The tradition here at VAOJ to document the purchase of toshikoshi soba (“end of the year soba noodles”) on New Year’s Eve continues! Click here for previous new…
大掃除！New workspace set-ups for the office and home
For the office, a new second (curved) monitor; I bought it last year to use up university research funds. After my accident it was sitting in its box…
Happy Holidays! from「VAoJ」
No product endorsements intended. Mugi-chan appears courtesy of Gonzo Anthropology Productions.
鶴橋の焼肉! It was so good I had to go back…
The last time I went: http://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.com/2022/12/recent-hisashiburi-yaki-niku-in.html
When I ordered double sausage for my pizza they seemed to think I wanted it on the side…
Authentic New York style pizza in Japan?