There are many reasons why Kyoto doesn’t need an aquarium, starting with the fact that there is already a large, well-known aquarium in neighboring Osaka, WHICH IS A PORT CITY where an aquarium makes some sense. Kyoto Prefecture’s port is far away beyond the mountains. An aquarium doesn’t fit in with Kyoto’s history as the ancient capital and heart of culture and traditions. There’s no narrative there. It cheapens the narrative, in fact.

Worst of all, perhaps, is that the project is probably doomed to have bad PR and negatively impact Kyoto’s reputation. When people think “Japan” and “dolphin” they aren’t going to think, “I wanna take my kids to this place so they can bear witness to the majesty of Japan’s special relationship with the intelligent cetaceans.”  They may, however, think, “Is this some kind of barbaric Japanese dolphin canning factory?”

Bad idea, really bad idea.

As it turns out, I could only find head-to-head results because there are only two teams in the league, which just started playing this April as knuckler (OK, Knuckle Princess) Eri Yoshida started playing minor league ball in the U.S. That was mentioned in the story, but didn’t register in my mind.  Video highlights of the first game are here.

Now I’m itching to go write a feature story and/or shoot a video feature, especially since I see tryouts for next season are being held Sept. 17 in Kyoto. Last year 30 players passed tryouts and they were divided up, 15 to a team.

Journalism pals, any advice on where I should pitch this in the U.S.?

By NAOKO KURAMOCHI, Staff writer

There’s nothing sweeter than being introduced to a foreign culture than through tea and confectionary.

And screenings of films about the beverage and traditional sweets in Kyoto next week are aimed at introducing these and other aspects of Japanese culture. In collaboration with the Kyoto City International Foundation, the Japan Foundation will screen two films with English narration on Aug. 26.

The first film, the 47-minute “The Spirit of Tea: Sen no Rikyu” (1988) portrays the life of legendary tea master Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591) and shows how his tea utensils exemplified his sense of tea ceremony aesthetics.

Another film, the 22-minute “Wagashi: The Beauty and Spirit of Japanese Confections” (1991) explains the tradition and roots of wagashi confectionary. These sweets are often served with green tea and have become popular overseas.

Kyoto International Community House

(anyone know where this is?)

Squeezed next to a centuries-old shrine in this historical city stands a slight, two-story abode that looks modern, but is meant to embody the spirit of Kyoto’s homes of the past.

The all-white structure with a dramatic glass façade is long and thin, curving slightly to the right, and is comprised of a main living area just over 6½ feet wide, with two wings on each side. In one wing is a little alcove that serves as the children’s play area; in the other is the bathroom. The back of the home holds the kitchen, while a spiral staircase leads to a second room and a loft, measuring about 6½ feet by 7½ feet at its narrowest, that serves as the shared sleeping room for the family of four.