Seeking Adventure in Japan's Newest National Park

 

Another piece born out of last summer's trip to Hokkaido. Thank you to Outdoor Japan and Gear Junkie for putting it together.  

https://gearjunkie.com/travel/adventure-newest-national-park-japan

 

On the turntable: Louis Jordan, "Jivin' with Jordan"

 

Sunday Papers: Albert Camus

 

"Note that our age marks the end of ideologies.  The atom bomb prohibits ideologies."

 

On the turntable: Desparacidos, "Anonymous/Left is Right"

 

Tracking the Unseen in the Old Capital

 

 

A nice treat to see my latest article live on The Japan Times...

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2024/10/26/travel/kyoto-haunted-ghosts-halloween/

 

On the turntable:  Phish, "1995-12-07, Niagara Convention Center"

 

Sunday Papers: Kyle Frost

 

"I feel like most travel writing and promotion in 2024 has one flavor – “Hey, visit here, it’s great”. Influencer culture has narrowed the scope of storytelling, minimizing meaningful reflections and stories in favor of nicely packaged Instagram posts, snappily edited TikToks, and SEO-optimized blogs that are more about appealing to every possible Google search."

 

On the turntable:  Phish, "1994-12-01, Salem Armory"

October 14 Elegy

 

 

Sunday Papers: William Carlos Williams

 

"Memory is a kind of accomplishment." 

 

On the turntable:  Neil Young, "Journey to the Past"

 

Venturing into the Garden of the Gods

 

Thank you to the iconic Outdoor Japan magazine for sending me out on a fun and educational journey...

https://www.outdoorjapan.com/activities/travel/venturing-into-the-garden-of-the-gods/ 

 

On the turntable:  Phish, 1993-08-07, Darien center, NY

 

Set-jetting with the Shogun

 

 

Thank you to The Japan Times for publishing my latest piece, on a rather timely subject. The print version is expected to appear on Saturday.

 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2024/09/17/travel/shogun-osaka-castle-travel-historical-sites/ 

 

On the turntable: The New Pornographers, "Brill Bruisers"

Sunday Papers: Simone de Beauvoir

 

"In America, the individual is nothing. He is made into an abstract object of worship; by persuading him of his individual value. One stifles the awakening of a collective spirit in him. But reduced to himself in this way, he is robbed of any concrete power. Without collective hope or personal audacity, what can the individual do? Submit or, if by some rare chance this submission is too odious, leave the country."

 

On the turntable:  Neil Young, "Mixed Pages of Storytone"

 

Sunday Papers: Bob Copper

 

"The consequent invasion has taken its toll and, sadly but incontrovertibly, many of our most cherished heritages have suffered the fate of becoming tourist attractions. And you don't have to be madly misanthropic to recognize that the presence of people means pollution. When commercialism comes barging in through the front door, romance and beauty tiptoe hand-in-hand out at the back." 

 

On the turntable:  Spoon, "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"

 

Sunday Papers; Michel-Rolph Trouillot

 

"Human beings participate in history both as actors and narrators" 

On the turntable: Santana, "Santana III"

Cycling through Asuka

 

 

After 10 years away, I'm quite pleased to have an article in The Japan Times again.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2024/07/06/travel/asuka-tour-cycling-temples/ 

 

On the turntable:  Neil Young, "Live in San Francisco 1986 , Part One"

 

Sunday Papers: Hunter S. Thompson

 

"Life has improved immeasurably since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously." 

On the turntable: The Smashing Pumpkins, "Pisces Iscariot"

 

 

Sunday Papers: Gary Shteyngart

 

"Our country does not provide the education and upbringing that allow its citizens an interior life."

 

 On the turntable: Snooks Eaglin, "New Orleans Street Singer"

 

Tracing the Shimanto

 

 

Thank you to Perceptive Travel Magazine for publishing the third article in my recent "Kochi trilogy."

https://www.perceptivetravel.com/issues/0424/japan.html

 

On the turntable:  "Letter to Brezhnev" (Sdtk)

Reminiscing Ryoma

 

 

"In a new article, free on KJ’s website (link in bio), Edward J. Taylor follows the historical figure Sakamoto Ryoma through the city of his birth."

https://www.kyotojournal.org/asian-encounters/reminiscing-ryoma/

On the turntable:  Stockholm Syndrome, "Holy Happy Hour"

Muroto, High and Low

 

 

"Writers in Kyoto member Edward J. Taylor is well-known for documenting his explorations on foot. Now up on the website is a recent account of wanderings through the unique and picturesque landscape of Cape Muroto, Shikoku Island."

https://www.writersinkyoto.com/2024/03/05/wik-members/muroto-high-and-low-edward-j-taylor/ 

On the turntable:  Screaming Trees, "Ocean of Confusion"

Sunday Papers: H.G. Wells

 

 “Science is a match that man has just got alight.”

On the turntable: Sneaker Pimps, "Uncover the Fans Project"

Driving through the Breadbasket

 

 

Finally journaling last summer's Italian road trip...

 http://viewsfromaprovincialperch.blogspot.com/2023/12/driving-through-breadbasket.html

 

On the turntable: The Beatles, "The Beatles 1967 - 1970"

 

Happy New Year!