The Soul of Japan

Morioka

2012-01-27T07:35:00.000-08:00

So what about Iwate...? A place I've been through a few times already. This time around I spent a week up there taking in the surrounding areas, and seeing the prefecture from a slower pace. Here's a brief write up on a previous trip through here via the Akita Komachi express bound for Iwate.

Morioka, the capital city of Iwate, is very conservative, unlike its rural towns where people are a bit warmer. You can sense the conviviality in the air more in the rural areas than in Morioka city. It's not a bad thing though. Just takes a little getting used to. The capital itself is rudimentary with no unique skyline other than when you're standing on the 14th floor of the Route Inn Hotel where you command the best view of Mount Iwaki and the JR Morioka Station. It's quite gorgeous at dusk actually. In comparison, North American cities, especially capitals, are livelier and people tend to be more open and less conservative whereas in the country people are less open to outsiders, yet are warm on the outside and suspicious of people they don't know which cannot be concealed with the least bit of feigness. In other words, they are hospitable in a suspicious way and you can sense it. The exact opposite in Iwate where the country folk are very warm and inviting and the city folk are strange and indifferent.

As I was sitting in a Starbucks in the heart of Morioka at around noon I quickly noticed that Moriokans are definitely more conservative and plain looking, like a dry glass of water without the ice. In Japanese the expression that would best describe Moriokan women in particular would be seisokirei, a term loosely used in Japanese to imply a woman that's plain, clean and simply beautiful. Faces are all lightly made up. Modest wear. Overall pleasant. I never notice the men. At least the people here greet unlike in Tokyo, especially the milque-toast young types.

Morioka is a thoughtfully planned out city. There're elevators and pedestrian strips at just about every major crosswalk. Plenty of maps and easy to read street signs that are in English and Japanese. Wide sidewalks, plenty of ATMs and convenience stores, and efficient mass transit network. It's an alarmingly quiet city to be a capital. The police are incredibly either overweight or over aged and probably have nothing to do all day long. There is a charm here that can definitely be felt and appreciated if you take some time and soak it all in, but not so much in Morioka, which is a lot like what Tokyo used to be 60 years ago I think; austere. Morioka does not reflect the soul of Iwate. It's a city made for elderly with a few very nice little parks and sake shops.

In my next post I will leave Morioka to re-explore the countryside.

Links for 2012-01-21 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-22T00:00:00-08:00

ユナイテッド　アスレ United　Athle 【公式サイト】
Military

Links for 2012-01-18 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-19T00:00:00-08:00

Install iOS 5 On Your iPhone 2G/3G Or Old iPod Touch Using WhiteD00r, No Jailbreak Required

Kokukido

2012-01-18T02:40:00.000-08:00

After sumo, refreshments in a traditional setting is definitely in the works. コクキドウ or ko-ku-ki-do is a traditional Japanese style tea house next door to the sumo arena. After six beers and yakitori I needed to refresh my palate with sesame cream soft ice cream, fruit, and some hot barley tea.

The dessert is called Anmitsu, and has been around for decades. It's got red azuki beans, jelly, fruit, and sometimes ice cream. You pour black sesame sugar over it to give it texture. Enjoy. When finished wash it all down with hot barley tea.

If you need a little more, then order the coffee. Japan's coffee culture is on the same level as Europe now and is no longer playing catch up. Trust me. Not to include espresso, though. Still have a ways to go.

Directions are really simple. Right near the Ryogoku Station near the main street. Lovely Jukujo are there to assist you.

Links for 2012-01-17 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-18T00:00:00-08:00

Sumo Excitement...!

2012-01-15T08:41:00.000-08:00

PDF on sumo. The file can be enlarged for easier reading. Lots of commentary and pictures. Enjoy. Retweet if you find it interesting. Thanks again. Also, I recommend reading another entry post here.

Tokyo is....?

2012-01-14T08:08:00.001-08:00

PDF on downtown Tokyo and the urbanization of northeastern Sumida Ward's park and gardens.

Links for 2012-01-13 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-14T00:00:00-08:00

Travel photography: beginner’s guide to using digital SLRs

Links for 2012-01-10 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-11T00:00:00-08:00

Tokyo Memorial Hall

2012-01-09T18:51:00.000-08:00

An essay written in PDF form about the historic significance of Tokyo's Memorial Hall and the aftermath of destruction caused by U.S. Forces.

Memorial Hall

Links for 2012-01-07 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-08T00:00:00-08:00

Links for 2012-01-05 [del.icio.us]

2012-01-06T00:00:00-08:00

The Ultimate Guide to Using iTunes Match

Drinking Winter: Saké Prose

2011-12-29T13:33:00.000-08:00

A PDF on the joys of drinking winter the Japanese way. How it's done and how to appreciate its many beautiful aspects.

Mood Cafes

2011-12-29T09:26:00.000-08:00

PDF on a late-night coffee spot in Yokohama. When it's time to burn the midnight oil what do you do, stay home? No. You go to a mood cafe. Coffee Shops

Ethnocentric Ideals

2011-12-14T20:48:00.000-08:00

PDF on truly ethnocentric ideals. Why Japan fails at this most basic thing. It's important to know yourself first.Ethnocentric

Wine & Dogs

2011-11-26T05:07:00.000-08:00

Short PDF for the wine and dog lovers inside all of us. With pairings and recommendations. On those cold autumn nights when it's just you and that special someone curled up and enjoying nicely chilled wines and cheeses, or maybe even a dog for good measure. Here's to you. Wine & Dogs

From the Desk of SofJ: 2011 November

2011-11-18T06:26:00.000-08:00

An inflammatory piece on Japan, the Japanese, and the current state of affairs of the nation and what is on the horizon. What to expect and why.

BBQ in Japan!

2011-11-13T18:21:00.000-08:00

PDF on the best BBQ eats in Yokohama and Tokyo, and more. Google maps are not provided, just the links.

Flavor of the Month: Roots

2011-10-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

PDF on the flavor of the month and the exploration of higher stimulation through the liquid essence of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. Flavor of the Month

Interstate 101 Ooiwa Beach

2011-10-20T07:07:00.000-07:00

PDF on my journey to Aomori down interstate 101 Ooiwa, Fukaura,sea of Japan, sea scallops and my impressions of the area.

The Landscape of Shirakami

2011-10-19T05:11:00.000-07:00

A very short on going series in PDF on Shirakami's Landscape with some additional tidbits of information about hiking.

Shirakami 2: Lake Juniko

2011-10-18T19:40:00.000-07:00

A PDF of my journey to Lake Juniko in the Shirakami Unesco World Heritage in Aomori Prefecture, home to the largest Seibold Beech forest in Japan. juniko

Michinoku Onsen Route 101 Part 2

2011-10-15T22:56:00.000-07:00

Sea of Japan's 101 coastal road is replete with numerous spas and beautiful vistas. I took a drive down that way and enjoyed an incredible onsen.

2011 Shirakami Fall Foliage Part 1

2011-10-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to the host of the this month's matsuri NAture's splendor AUtumn Trees Tangible goodness Unspoiled nature Mother nature November Matsuri 2011 Fall foliage hike in Aomori Prefecture's Shirakami Sanchi, a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE, home to the last great virgin beech forest.

Travel Update in Shirakami

2011-10-11T02:30:00.001-07:00

No WiFi in the sticks! I am using a 3G network I hot jacked to transfer this poorly processed PDF from my notebook PC. You'll need to zoom from your own browser to read this.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Femi-Nazi Agenda

2011-10-09T19:01:00.000-07:00

PDF file. The rise of the new femi-christian movement in Japan and the negative impact on the country. femi-nazi

Hope on the Net

2011-09-29T07:55:00.001-07:00

PDF on Western Junkies and the harmful effects of too much Westernization. What's next Internet Diary

Niigata: Minami Uonuma

2011-09-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

Essay in PDF form of my recent trip to Niigata with lots of pictures and commentary. This post is also a part of this months Japan Blog Matsuri. niigata

Anatomy of Jukujo

2011-08-29T06:41:00.000-07:00

Essay in PDF on the Anatomy of Jukujo. All photos are Safe For Work. A good broad look at Japan's finestAngel Apron

2011 Summer Sake

2011-08-26T20:27:00.000-07:00

Short piece on ジョウゼンsummer sake for 2011. One of the charms of living in Japan is that there are so many seasonal specialties, like sake, and food stuffs all year round. Jozen Mizuno Gotoshi truly has ... Summer Sake

Dr. Thug M.D.

2011-08-21T03:29:00.000-07:00

The PDF below is a brief essay on Bill Clinton and his latest diet craze, and how sometimes healthy dieting trends breed unhealthy lifestyles. The file below can be zoomed in and scrolled from the side bar.

Asama Onsen: Higashi Ishikawa Ryoukan

2011-08-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

PDF file that you can enlarge near the bottom. This is a very short essay about an onsen ryokan I stayed at and enjoyed very much. Higashi Hotel