Posts from — August 2004

Typhoon No. 16 blew things around a lot, but didn’t exert nearly its full force when it went out to the Japan Sea far west of us.

Kyoto style cooking. More vegetarian, with dried and salted fish and river fish, as Kyoto is far from the sea; Less seasoned than Tokyo style, and emphasis on seasonal foods so that featured vegetables change almost monthly. Typhoon No. 16 is mercifully going out to sea and not aiming at Kyoto, but it is so powerful that it is still very windy and raining in sheets here.

I have no doubt that Yasaka will win again, against super Typhoon 16 that is about to hit Kyushu and perhaps veer toward us. Most recently rebuilt in 1440, Yasaka-no-to and other 5-story pagodas like this, despite looking unstable, actually have exceptional strength and rigidity from the central pillar, and can withstand calamities like earthquakes and typhoons admirably. I’ve been inside up to the second level. (It doesn’t have “floors” to speak of, just mostly structural elements inside.)

I love this view looking toward Higashiyama from the Gion area, this view which must have been quite similar and breathtaking 400 years ago.

Up to 1280 X 968 background (300k) of genkan (entryway) in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. This view reminds me of what I read in Marc Keane’s book about flat elements and elements that project upward from the flatness.

Because you asked for it, I humbly present more older-issue uncancelled Japanese postage stamps.

We met Yoshiko’s ex-coworkers for dinner and drinks tonight at Shogetsu-an restaurant on Ponto-cho overlooking the Kamo River. I like the double barstools with cushions. Good food, surprisingly affordable. Go back to the root level of their needlessly frame-based site and dig around to find the prices and their other locations.