Here is the latest installment from Edward J. Taylor's ongoing exploration of Kyoto’s streets. A funny thing, serendipity. It’s as if life is springing a pop quiz, to see how well you’re paying attention. I was watching a new box set containing Akio Jissoji’s controversial Buddhist Trilogy, which included as a bonus his beautiful period film, It was a Faint Dream. The … [Read more...]
Writers in Kyoto Heritage and Tourism Symposium, November 8th 2019
The big event from Writers in Kyoto (WiK) this autumn will be a Heritage and Tourism Symposium held at Ryukoku University's Omiya Campus. This event includes individual presentations and a panel discussion. The featured speakers include the authors Alex Kerr, Amy Chavez and John Dougill together with Akie Hoshino (from the Agency for Cultural Affairs). This event will take … [Read more...]
Twilight Garden Party & Autumn Foliage Illuminations at Murin-an
Many thanks to Mayumi Sasaki of Ueyakato Landscape for contacting us about the following event. The celebrated garden of Murin-an will be having a special evening opening this fall for a twilight garden party. While admiring the illuminated autumn foliage guests can listen to a talk by the garden concierge and enjoy drinks from a special bar counter serving both soft … [Read more...]
Joshua Breakstone & Roni Ben-Hur at Bonds Rosary, Kyoto – September 6th 2019
Here's the latest news direct from our friend Joshua Breakstone about his next big gig at Bonds Rosary: "On September 6 it's going to be a really special night at Bonds Rosary, "First Fridays" for 2 reasons: 1) The special guest coming to play with my trio that night is the great NY guitarist, Roni Ben-Hur who, believe it or not, will be making his first Japan tour. … [Read more...]
Walking with the Dead Along Matsubara-dori
Here is the latest installment from Edward J. Taylor's ongoing exploration of Kyoto’s streets. The Okuribi fires have cooled, the ancestors have departed, the aubergine and the cucumbers have been eaten. August is the month of ghosts, and Kyoto in particular feels thick with them, due both to the city’s long and oft-violent history and its heavy, muggy summer air. It … [Read more...]
Brocade & Octopi: From Nishikikoji to Takoyakushi
Here is the latest installment from Edward J. Taylor's ongoing exploration of Kyoto’s streets. The air rings with the chimey clang of the ubiquitous ‘theme song’ for the Gion festival, supplanting the rains that had taken center stage for the previous six weeks. At least, that’s how it usually works. Rainy season this year continues to linger, and a peek at the weather … [Read more...]
A Rainy Season Stroll on Kyoto’s Gokomachi
Here is the latest installment from Edward J. Taylor's ongoing exploration of Kyoto’s streets. Rainy season and the living is claggy. It usually arrives in June, and while it doesn't rain all day every day, the humidity tends to build and build so that when the rain does fall it brings with it great relief. The clouds do tend to linger, which can create a feeling of … [Read more...]
Encounters with Kyoto (Writers in Kyoto Anthology 3) Now Available
Here's a short announcement from the good folks at Writers in Kyoto (WiK): Encounters with Kyoto (Writers in Kyoto Anthology 3) On sale now from amazon.com and amazon.co.jp Edited by Jann Williams and Ian Josh Yates Foreword by Juliet Winters Carpenter Inside the covers lies the third collection of enticing works by Writers in Kyoto. From gardens to gangsters, … [Read more...]
Walking into the Light on Manjuji-dōri
Here is the latest installment from Edward J. Taylor's ongoing exploration of Kyoto’s streets. The weather over the weekend had proven a surprise, with the blemish-free bluebird skies of May bringing with it temperatures of 29°C. (It’s going to be a hot summer.) So I decided to set off early, which isn't terribly ideal as things in Kyoto don't begin to open until 10 am. … [Read more...]
Finding Old Magic on Kyoto’s Tominokōji
Here is the latest installment from Edward J. Taylor's ongoing exploration of Kyoto’s streets. History is written by the victors. A well-known expression of course, but I’d go one step further and say that history is also rewritten by the victors. (Quotes too are attributed to victors, but nowhere is there evidence that Winston Churchill actually said this.) Likewise, … [Read more...]
