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Ulysses Grant and Emperor Meiji
In the summer of 1879, Ulysses Grant visited Japan. The former U.S. president and Civil War general spent two months in Tokyo, where he had several meetings with…
A tiny speck of immortality
Earlier this year, at my local public library, I was looking for the novel “Ancillary Justice” by Ann Leckie. Unfortunately, they didn’t have it. But there on the…
Around Japan in 47 curries: Fukushima fire curry
This is Part 17 of a 47-part series of occasional blog posts looking at curries from each of Japan’s 47 prefectures. Fukushima Prefecture has a long history of recovering from…
Pool review: Amusing art near the Shinjuku Sports Center
Getting off the subway at Nishi Waseda Station on the Fukutoshin Line last month, I intended to go directly to the Shinjuku Sports Center for a swim. But…
Two new curry snacks
At the convenience store the other day, I found two new curry-flavored products on the snack shelves. On the left, there is curry-flavored kaki-pi, which is light on…
Swim like Kermit and feast on bagels in Setagaya
If you’re a swimmer who likes bagels, you should pay a visit to the Setagaya Chitose All-Season Swimming Pool in Tokyo. What are quite likely the best bagels…
You shouldn’t swim in the Meguro River
But there is a great place to swim right next to it. The photo above shows a view of the river from a bridge that you can find…
Pool review: Swim like a hero in Taito Ward
On July 21, one of my favorite Tokyo pools opened for the summer. The Taito Riverside Sports Center’s outdoor pool – barely visible through the trees in this…
On the ingenuity of Japanese crows
A pair of architects recently built and moved into a new home just a few blocks from my apartment. The high-rise residence uses traditional building methods to re-purpose…
I love oysters
I love oysters. I love the pleasure of eating them. I love their succulent mouthfeel and their umami flavor. I love the fact that they are considered a…
I swim like a samurai (and didn’t even know it)
Not long ago, a member of my sports club noticed that I was swimming sidestroke in the pool. He was curious enough to ask how it was that…