As one would expect from the name, “Teramachi” (temple + town), there are indeed many temples in the area – probably about 70. This grouping of temples is rare in Japan. On a beautiful day, it’s exhilarating to climb up the well-known “W Hill” from Sakurabashi and the River Sai to the temples at the・・・
The Kazue-machi area of Higashiyama has become a popular tourist destination, and it’s crowded on weekends. Canny Kanazawans have already noticed, and new cafes and guesthouse B&B’s have opened one after another. But even amid the latest money-making scramble, a few places go about their regular business, ignoring the first-time, last-time customers. It’s like the・・・
Iwashigumi is a special kind of restaurant. The owner and the staff have been successful here in Katamachi for over 30 years, but they don’t make a big deal about it. Instead they focus on choosing the best ingredients and properly preparing them. Iwashigumi is also one of my favorite places for drinking alone. Others・・・
Shinjuku’s Golden-gai has preserved for us the history of the Showa era. Over 270 shops and establishments are crowded together in structures reminiscent of Edo long houses. But one shop, Hananoki, which witnessed the heyday of the Showa era has now lost its guiding light. Hananoki was long known as a late night watering hole・・・
能登半島の珠洲市で開催されている奥能登国際芸術祭（2017年9月3日〜10月22日）に行ってきた。当初の目標来場者数を早々と達成し、最果ての地で開催した最先端の芸術祭は大成功のようだった。 三十数点の作品の中では古来からの様々な漁具を白い幕に投影機で陰影を映し出した台湾人アーティストの作品が秀逸だった。現代アートは人を啓発するので、いつも目にしている物が違って見えてくるから不思議だ。 本州で一番人口の少ない市である珠洲市は、人口のピークは1950 年で4万人弱だったそうだが、今日ではその半分以下の15000人を下回っており、今なお人口減少は続いている。10年以上前に廃線になったのと鉄道の廃列車。長年にわたって野原に放置されてきた錆だらけのその姿はアート以上にアートだと思った。作品ではないのに、廃列車が一番の作品に思えてならなかったのも、この芸術祭のおかげなのかも知れない。この廃列車は文字通り過疎化の象徴なのだ。 堤防に無造作に置かれた使い古された漁網の山までもが何かを語りかけてくるような気がしてならなかった。 なじみの喫茶店や宿泊業者や飲食店からはどこもかしこも遠来の客で溢れかえり嬉しい悲鳴が上がっていた。ランチはレストラン浜中、小休止は二三味珈琲だったが、どこに行っても芸術祭の関係者で一杯だった。
Even the yakuza toughs and the gay bar denizens get hungry. Also, the OL who made a big mistake at the office and the slightly lonely single salaryman who usually goes straight home after work. But tonight, the all too human mosaic meets up for a late night meal at Kishimen Futaba in Shinjuku’s Golden-gai・・・
I buy something on impulse once a year or so, but I eat something on impulse almost every day. It’s embarrassing, but I’ll admit to it. In fact, impulse eating is now part of our lifestyle, part of our daily routine. I went out for a walk today, just going shopping near the Musashigatsuji intersection,・・・
It’s a busy lunch time on a weekday. There’s cup noodle and microwave curry in the office kitchen, but what I really want is a decent lunch. There’s no time to go anywhere at lunch. Suddenly, I remember a cafe close to the office. For sure I can get a decent meal at Usagi. Usagi・・・
When I ask at Cafe Merutsubau, which is more popular, the famous curry rice or the famous hayashi rice, the answer is, “Both.” So I say, “If both are popular, I’d like to try both.” When I say that, the recommendation is to try the famous “curry on the right.” Well, well – half &・・・
Shinjuku’s Golden-gai area in Tokyo is where the social and academic elite used to hang out late at night to discuss and debate the issues of the day. The customer base has changed considerably, but the Futaba Bar was there during post-war Japan’s devastation and black markets, and it’s still there substantially unchanged. Let’s just・・・
