Here's a quick message from our friends in Writers in Kyoto: Writers in Kyoto is delighted to present author and commentator, Jeff Kingston, as our main speaker for 2020. Due to the Corona crisis, this will be a Zoom event starting at 4.00 on Saturday May 23. Jeff will be interviewed by Japan Times columnist Amy Chavez, following which the floor will be open for participants … [Read more...]
First Fridays with the Joshua Breakstone Trio at Bond’s Rosary, Kyoto
Good news for Jazz fans! Renowned American jazz guitarist, Joshua Breakstone has moved to Kyoto and will be playing here regularly in a special series of "First Fridays" starting this July. The venue is a great new jazz club in Gion called Bond's Rosary. Says Joshua, "On the first Friday of every month I’ll be there with my trio and we’ll invite a special guest to play with … [Read more...]
A Day Trip to Ohara on Inside Kyoto
My article, A Day Trip to Ohara, is now up on Inside Kyoto... Ohara is many things: a rural retreat, a tourist hotspot, an ancient training ground of spiritual music, and the last refuge and resting place of those who were bested by history. Once, Ohara was considered by the people of Kyoto as a remote outpost in its north-eastern hills. Today, you can get there by bus … [Read more...]
Sword Dancing at Samurai Kembu Theater on Inside Kyoto
In case you missed it, my article about the Samurai Kembu Theater is now up on Inside Kyoto... Kembu is a Japanese martial art that combines sword play with dance. At the Samurai Kembu Theater in Kyoto you can watch a performance of this traditional dance and enter the world of the samurai warrior. Our flashing blade, Michael Lambe, reports... Read more here: Sword … [Read more...]
Walking the Path of Philosophy on Inside Kyoto
My latest article for Inside Kyoto is a walk up the Path of Philosophy from the peace and tranquility of Eikan-do Temple in the south, to the popular tourist attraction, Ginkaku-ji Temple in the north. Along the way I encounter philosophical cats, colorful flowers, and sites of historical note, stopping off en route to partake of a traditional vegan tofu lunch. I also explore … [Read more...]
Bakumatsu Samurai on Inside Kyoto
My article, Kyoto Samurai, is now up on Chris Rowthorn's Inside Kyoto website. For this piece I took a tour of sites around Kyoto associated with legendary samurai of the Bakumatsu era, like Sakamoto Ryōma and the Shinsengumi. I must say, once I got into this topic I found it quite fascinating, and I even started watching that old NHK Shinsengumi! drama series! The … [Read more...]
Happy Christmas from Inari Mountain
Unfortunately, Mewby has to work on Christmas Day, so left to my own devices I spent the afternoon rambling over Inari Mountain. And what a wonderfully spooky mountain it is! Here are some pictures. Merry Christmas to you all! … [Read more...]
Deep Kyoto in The Simple Things Magazine
Turn to the "My City" section of this month's Simple Things magazine and you will find my article on Kyoto. My photographs are also used exclusively in the article. The Simple Things is a lifestyle magazine from Britain with a monthly My City feature in which "one person – clearly in love with their city" is asked "to tell us what makes it so special." Here are some … [Read more...]
Introducing Takaokaya — Handcrafted Cushions and Bedding from Kyoto
Today we have a guest post from Michael Baxter on behalf of Takaokaya: the only traditional cushion shop in Kyoto that still makes their products by hand... Takaokaya: Handcrafted Contemporary & Traditional Zabuton Cushions and Futon Bedding from Kyoto Since 1919 Brand Story Takaokaya is a producer of handmade zabuton cushions and futon bedding in the ancient … [Read more...]
Deep Kyoto: Walks ~ Release Party Cancelled
My apologies to all, but various complications have arisen that have made it impossible for me to adequately prepare and plan for the release party on June 15th. I have therefore decided to cancel. Hopefully we will be able to hold a party for the release of the print copy of the book later this year. Put this in your diary! We will have a party to celebrate the … [Read more...]
Ten Years in Kyoto
Ten years ago this morning I rolled into Kyoto in a removal van after an all night drive from Tokyo. The cherry blossom was blooming then too. Many thanks to my JET sempai, Duncan Flett, who helped me to find a new place to live and who handed me the key to my new apartment on my arrival in the early hours of the morning. He also handed me a banana - rather kindly thinking I … [Read more...]
“Tone Poems” Exhibition: Joel Stewart’s Continuing Artistic Odyssey
A special review today by our good friend Richard Donovan, Taking photos in Joel Stewart’s painting studio in North Kyoto, I struggle to contain his upcoming exhibition’s signature artwork, Odyssey, within the frame. A horizontal painting comprised of six separate 40-centimeter-square images painted on both paper and canvas, all mounted onto wooden panels and joined … [Read more...]
Joel Stewart @ Kyoten 2013, July 3rd ~ 19th
A couple of weeks ago Mewby and I went up to Kitayama to hang out for an evening at Joel Stewart's studio. We had a long chat about his life and experiences here in Japan, and about his art, and he asked us to help him choose a picture that he was going to submit for this year's 京展 (Kyoten) at Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art. It was a very nice evening and later on he introduced … [Read more...]
Extended Leave
Hello all! I have returned from my travels, but have decided to take an extended break from all internet activities for the next month or so, in order to *get things done*. To that end, there will be no further posts either here or on Facebook for the time being. I will however maintain a very limited service of Kyoto related links on Twitter. In the meantime, I will not be … [Read more...]
