I suppose I've hit my productive stride here, posting about once per month/ month and a half. Or say, like three. I'd like to completely catch up, but honestly, I really can't say I think there's that much worth posting. Ok, so here's the really cool stuff ( Read more... )

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That posts here have become much fewer and less frequent I don't suppose surprises anyone. Honestly it is time consuming, embarrassing and clearly doesn't improve my Japanese, which is really the only thing I'm willing to spend that kind of time on these days. Further, just before I came home to America, I broke my camera, after having been so ( Read more... )

Back in November, almost two months ago, Yuko and I went to Kyoto. I took a bunch of pictures, but, as usual, I've been bad about posting them. Sorry.


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I had intended to do more with my summer vacation, but even though I cut my trip short, I still feel like I accomplished something unequaled in my past. Initially I intended to end my trip in a city called Enzan (someplace near/in Kofu), the birthplace and former hometown of one of my Japanese history heroes, Takeda Shingen. Completely exhausted ( Read more... )

Summer Festival. Couldn't stay too late, was off to Kendo practice, but took some video of Jude's Taiko (drum) group playing as the evening got started...


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These are pictures from my trip to the center of Japan's first Bakufu (tent-government), known as the Kamakura Bakufu, which ruled Japan (at least in part, see _my plan_ for more info) from 1185 to 1330. Didn't do much by way of history-seeing, which was too bad, but did lots of temple-seeing, which was beautiful.


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Alright everyone, it's time to put the cards on the table: I'm not coming home until I've received 1st kyu ranking in Japanese, the highest ranking awarded. That isn't going to happen this year; it could happen as early as the next, if I can maintain the current pace of Kanji and Grammar memorization, but that might turn out to be a stretch as it ( Read more... )

Rather than trying to catch myself up on all the time that's passed since I posted something of substance, I'm just going to put up pics and explain them.


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