Obon Festival: When the Dead and the Living Celebrate
Every summer in Japan, the spirits of dead ancestors come home. In mid-August, as the sweltering humid winds blow in, Obon Festival or...
In the Tunnels: The Last Days of Admiral Ota in the Battle of Okinawa
Rear Admiral Minoru Ota as a child no doubt had heard the story of how the Mongolian Armada tried to conquer Japan in 1274. But from the...
The British “Dog” and the Chinese “Liar”: How Name Calling Started a War
In January 1834, while Chief George of the Makah tribe took possession of the Japanese castaway Otokichi and his ship the Hojunmaru on...
Orozco and the Man of Fire
“Art is Knowledge at the service of emotion.” – Jose Clemente Orozco Long before discovering the story of Otokichi in Japan, I was in...
How a "Barbarian" Missionary Met "Heathen" Japanese Castaways
In August 1825, Cyrus Shepard had a dream. In it, he was on a ship sailing towards the African coast, the hot wind blowing his hair back....
Late Edo-Period Ships: When Innovation Was Forbidden
When we think of Japan now, we think of it as the land of the latest technology, cutting-edge design and innovation, but when Japan...
The Arrival of Mrs. King, One of the First American Woman to Land in Japan
In the photo that reportedly shows Amelia Earhart squatting by the docks with her back towards the camera supposedly “in custody,” it’s...
Looking For Uchiko
The obstacle is the path. -Zen Proverb Here there are no scenic photo opportunities of ancient castles or crumbling Shinto shrines. No...
She Says Dance, He Says Fish (Part 3 of 3)
When Monica and Keitaro started going out, they did all the obligatory things couples do in Tokyo: shopping trips to Shibuya, long...
He Says Fish, She Says Dance (Part 2 of 3)
After deciding to go against the wishes of her father, Monica flew to Japan. In the cabin, she had all the time to think whether her...
