Eat strawberries until you explode!
Strawberry Season in Japan
The Emperor and Empress of Japan
My friend Kelli and I met up one day last spring to walk from our neighborhood along the boardwalk up a hill to a viewing platform where Mt. Fuji peeks up over Tokyo Bay and Yokosuka on clear days. So we’re walking along and we see these guys dressed casually but identically, and all with…
This Place, This Time
Isaac was six or seven in Hawaii when he told me he’d trusted Jesus and prayed with Pastor Perry at Kailua Community Church. I asked if he wanted to get baptized and he said no, he’d get baptized when he was 12. This seemed like an inarguable way to punt this issue to a later…
Koganei Sake Brewery
Cool spring water flows forth in the Tanazawa Mountains in Atsugi, where bamboo and azaleas dot the hillsides and a clear stream runs alongside Koganei Brewery. For over 200 years, this brewery has produced sake (rice wine) made from rice grown across Japan. Rice from different parts of the country lends itself to different drinks…
Tea Ceremony at the NAF Atsugi Spring Festival
My friend and tea ceremony sensei, Sumie, asked two months ago whether I would like to help out with the NAF Atsugi Base 2023 Spring Festival, the first since Covid. I thanked her very much and said yes, absolutely, and with great delight! Practicing as winter turns to spring Since then, every week or two…
Easter 2023
Life Chapel International celebrated Easter together this year for the first time in four years. So let’s party! Many church members get lunch at 711 at eat together on Sundays, but Easter Sunday the church hosted. How could we help? Bring dessert! Eloise volunteered to make cupcakes. For hours Friday evening, we refilled our nine-cupcake-pan…
Jogashima Island
If you drive south south south south south on the Miura Peninsula to its southernmost point, and cross the bridge to the Jogashima Island, then cross the island to the jagged coast on the far side, you can stare out at the Pacific Ocean, where there is nothing but blowing waves, typhoons and the odd…