When we arrived in Japan in 2015, the kids started their schooling at St. Maur International School that autumn. In addition to educating the young'uns, St. Maur gives parents all kinds of learning opportunities through its Adult Enrichment program. Loyal martayaki readers may recall past blog posts about tea ceremonies in yukata and kimono, and visiting the Kiyoken shu mai …
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The Wisteria Tunnel of Kawachi Fuji-en
At long last, the wisteria tunnel! During our visit to Kitakyushu last weekend, Tessa and I stopped by the absolutely incredible wisteria gardens of Kawachi Fuji-en. The light rain showers became fairly steady rain during our brief visit--not so good as personal comfort goes, but pretty amazing for photographic purposes with diffused light and misty backgrounds. …
A Japanese Museum Without a Mascot? Or, our Visit to the Toto Museum
Shortly after we moved to Japan two years ago, Toto Corporation opened the Toto Museum adjacent to its corporate headquarters. Roughly 112% of my Facebook friends sent me links to news stories covering the blessed event--you know who you are--and Tessa in particular seized on the idea of visiting. Sure, I thought. I'm game. Then I …
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“So Have You Written About the Toilets Yet?”
Japan is famous for so many things: Sumo. Sushi. Manga and Anime. And yes, fancy, high-tech toilets. My friend Kristi posed the question above over a year ago, so at long last--let's talk toilets! Tessa and I are heading on a girls' road (rail?) trip to the Toto Toilet Museum in Kitakyushu this weekend, so …
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Dots and Petals: Art and O-Hanami on a Rainy Tokyo Sunday
A few months ago I started hearing about a phenomenal art exhibit coming to the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC: Infinity Mirrors by the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. I eagerly checked the dates for the show, hoping to to catch it during our DC visit this summer. But the show ends at the Hirshhorn in …
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Taipei, Day Two: Temples and Toilets
This morning we got a leisurely start out the door and headed for Bao'an Temple, a Taoist temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site. We wandered and snapped photos, then Mark and Cy sat for several minutes and sketched. Then we headed for Dihua Street, a main shopping street. We haggled for dried mangoes and grabbed a …
The Taipei Eating Tour Begins
We arrived in Taipei today for spring break. Before arriving we heard about the fabulous street food, so after checking in to our hotel we stepped out for a bite. We didn't make it very far. The fried chicken with lots of toppings caught Mark and Cy's attention, so we stopped for our first course. Yes, …
It’s Dress Up Time! Kimono and Tea on a Friday Morning
Last Friday I headed to the kids' school for the chance to get dressed in a kimono by the pros: the members of the Futaba Girls' School Tea Ceremony Club. Loyal martayaki readers may recall that last spring I attended a class where these same girls taught kimono dressing using a fellow Futaba student as …
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Visiting the Shu Mai Factory
The children attend St. Maur International School, which organizes all kinds of events and outings for parents through its Adult Enrichment program. I decided to join some fellow mothers on one such outing. Last Friday was St. Patrick's Day. As a Polish American married into an Irish American family, I decided to celebrate the day by …
Happy Patrick’s Day! Or, Irish Dancing Really Is Everywhere
This past Sunday the kids and I headed down to Motomachi, the fancy shopping street of Yokohama, to check out the local St. Patrick's Day parade. We staked out our spots on the street and waited for the parade to start, led by St. Patrick himself! The kids recognized St. Pat as their religion teacher. …
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