This Sunday, Obuse held it’s semiannual Free Market where local residents could sell their unwanted items rather than dump them on the already overburdened refuse system.  I think Recycling is a “good” way to reduce the waste stream, but Repurposing through such markets is a “great” way.  A friend and I agreed to set up […]

   Masako Harada, Japanese artist, philanthropist, and long term friend, welcomed a packed room of fans and friends to the opening ceremony of her landscape exhibition now showing at the Obuse Museum until May 26th.      After the opening ceremony, guests were treated to a concert in which Ms. Harada demonstrated her talents on […]

The town of Obuse’s only elementary school, called Kurigaoka Shogakko in Japanese, will hold it’s annual sports festival on May 30th.   As part of activities leading up to the event, my sixth-grade son drew this picture to capture the fighting spirit between rival “red” and “white” team runners as they cross the finish line. […]

  My son wanted to go bouldering over Golden Week in #Nagano, #Japan so I took him to Artwall.  Amazingly, he had the place entirely to himself.  All the regular climbers must be out fighting the crowds at some Buddhist temple or amusement park.  Hey, no complaints here!  I would be on the wall too […]

  The Zenkoji Temple in #Nagano, #Japan is holding its once-in-seven-years Gokaicho celebration.  It is the only time a sacred statue of Buddha can be viewed by the public.  People have travelled from all over Japan to experience this rare event.  You had better hurry if you want to see it.  Gokaicho wraps up the […]

   The Nagano Rugby School is practicing rugby tag this evening.  The kids are really enjoying the opportunity to stretch their legs after a long spell of cold rainy weather.  It’s a great sport for getting exercise, and building teamwork skills so valuable in the adult world.

Now that I’ve got your attention I guess I’d better explain before you are tempted to go out and start guzzling cooking oil…or worse…motor oil.      My daughter recently learned that one of her favorite models consumes copious amounts of  coconut oil in her foods and drinks in order to stay trim.  Apparently, some […]

The cherry blossoms were beautify while they lasted although the cold, rainy weather made it difficult to stay outside very long to enjoy them.  Here is a photo taken at Garyu Park in Suzaka, Nagano prefecture, last weekend when cherry trees were at full bloom.

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