Aikawarazu Life in Japan

Corner View--Light, Castle Park Night

2012-02-01T22:11:00.008+09:00

The other night there was a candle light night at the Castle Park. One funny thing about living in Oita is there are some wonderful events that must have been planned for a while, but which just seem to happen and we just stumble upon them...the candle light night was one of them.

School children made paper lanterns that wrapped around special candles that burn for a long time. The papers had messages for Japan in light of the March 11th earthquake about togetherness and a bright future. Must have been over hundreds of lanterns lining the park for a night walk...and one almost half moon shone just above the castle.

I was glad Ikuko was free to take a walk with me after she finished work at her Life Gallery Hana just by the Castle Park. Our walk became like a meditation as we followed the lights around the castle and the moat. Her smile illuminated the night as well:)) And maybe mine too?!

Happy Light filled days to you. Lots of light around the world at this weeks Corner View.

ai♡ kawarazu

JGY

January Corner View--Yellow Plum Blossoms

2012-01-26T23:16:00.007+09:00

O-bai Jam

(Yellow Plum Jam)

She welcomes the

flower who

welcomes the

spring

simmering

1 kilo of yellow

blessing 500 g sugar

50% of the petals

wait.

ah, yes. There

Is the

Fruit.

黄梅ジャム

彼女　迎

花

迎

春

煮

１キロ　黄

恵　５００　グラム　糖

５０パーセント　花片

待

鳴

呼

果実

♡

kawarazu

jgy

poem by JGY (English) and KW (Chinese Characters)

more "January" around the world on this week's Corner View!

Corner View--(Harmony) in Black and White

2012-01-20T21:16:00.006+09:00

Wa =和
= harmony

ai =愛=love

♡
kawarazu

JGY

Find Black and White around the world at Jane's Corner View,

hosted by Francesca. Happy Week!

2012-01-20T13:35:00.007+09:00

There's the water
feel it's flow
I followed it tonight
to Aikido.
Though I thought I was going to
Butoh
(dance)

Corner View, Ring in The NewーーJingle Bell Rock - Shake Your Soul Kripalu Yoga Dance in Oita

2012-01-12T09:49:00.009+09:00

This week's Corner View ーーa weekly appointment with bloggers from around the world, hosted by Francesca in Italy, founded by Jane in Spain, and themed this week by Renee ーーis
"Ring in the New".

I couldn't resist but share this video from our Shake Your Soul in Oita performance in December. Dancing to Jingle Bells in a Santa skirt is something new for me, and it was great fun. I hope this year you will do many new things and let them feel like the most natural thing in the world!

Shake your Soul in Oita Heart of Christmas performance

Happy Week, Happy Corner View, Happy doing something New.

ai ♡
kawarazu
jgy

Towards a New Year

2011-12-31T09:30:00.003+09:00

indra jala mayam visvam vyastam va chitra karmavat
bhrama va dhyayatah sarvam pashyata sukha udgamah

Contemplate the entire universe as a magic show
On the greatest scale imaginable.
Fabulous art, an immense painting in motion.

God is a magician whirling galaxies of fire
Juggling atoms, planets, and us.
Everything, everything is fleeting.

Meditating in this way,
Great happiness rises in the heart.

---Lorin Roche
The Radiance Sutras, #79

Happy New Year!

ai
♡
kawarazu
jgy

Dear Moon,

2011-12-28T21:15:00.003+09:00

There's a pink ribbon
on my diary
Did you put it
there for me?

ai ♡kawarazu

jgy

A Tomare Christmas

2011-12-25T01:45:00.009+09:00

HO
HO
TO!
T0-Ma...re CHRISTMAS!!

Tomare plus Shake your Soul in Oita for "The Heart of Christmas"
Thank you to the newly formed Shake your Soul in Oita team all the angels and elves and christmas spirits who danced and to all who helped* and made it happen, and of course thank you Santa

ai♡ kawarazu
jgy

*thank you radiant Natsumi for the radiant heart tomare t-shirts

Cookies for Santa

2011-12-25T01:34:00.004+09:00

Christmas Eve

This year Y made the dinner, and the cake.

And the cookies for Santa. In her note she said if he's full, to please take the cookies in the bag she left for him and give them to the reindeer.

And now not a creature is stirring in all of our house, well maybe just one ...you know...the mouse...

shhh...sweet dreams of sugar plums to all....

ai♡kawarazu
jgy

Birthday with Klee

2011-12-25T01:25:00.003+09:00

Every year on my birthday I go to find Paul Klee and wish him a happy birthday, we are both born on 12/18. This year for the first time I had a party and he was one of the guests, right in the center of table.

Would you believe if I said I wished for a Tomare Christmas?

xo♡ai kawarazu jgy

SMAP 世界に一つだけの花, for corner view

2011-12-12T10:48:00.002+09:00

posting late for corner view,only one you,

see other "only one truer than true you" on Corner View、founded by Jane (hi!) hosted by Francesca (hi!) , themed this week by Susana, hi to all, sorry to all I've not been around that much. I suppose I've been off tending to my only one...becoming whoever it is I am here to be....

Otli, this songs for you:))

Happy december days

ai♡ kawarazu

jgy

How does the moon eat a marshmallow?

2011-12-08T17:54:00.006+09:00

He dissolves into her
one bite by soft bite

Form merges to form
as white touches light

A campfire burning
deep into the night

Moon's marshmallow murmurs
in squishy
delight

ai ♡kawarazu
jgy

Meditation tonight at Hana

BYOM

notes from today

2011-12-04T23:42:00.005+09:00

I got to Hikari machi.

There was only a blind man

to ask my way.

I smiled and walked in the direction of

the light.

Yuki (1)

I'd paint the sky blue
and give it to you

All light teach lines

Beneath the half moon,
sharing a blueberry
chocolate
with her.

(Beppu, 12/4)

Yuki (2)

Moonlight bounces down

Onto asphalt ground.

Yuki-white clouds

clear the sky

Yes I can' write

this bouncy fluffy moving light

The sun and moon are dancing before my eyes

and you are a laugh

in my heart

Beppu, 12/4

Yuki (3)
I'm sorry
now I cry
as I kneel beneath this sky
The view is everything I see
and I this tear
a taste
of me.

Beppu 12/4

Two black birds and one half moon,

If I don't get to the onsen soon

I'll be late for my little

big girl.

I completely see
the moon dust
snow.

17:17

Looking out over the sea

Feeling life's

a mystery

Watch a boat who passes by

1/2 way between sea and sky

1/2 moon

called me to the bath

1/2 moon

half moon

Half

Passing Sails

Sugoi, moon
It's all
sugoi

Passing Waves

Danger

is always the way

to safe shores

(still, I miss you)

Y0u-me town (1)

Molasses and
marshmallow
then
the bus
home

You-me town (2)

They didn't have molasses

got a daikon instead

and a local fresh

green brocolli head

The marshmallows white and perfectly fluffy

bring me back to yuki and the clouds.

Anyway it's now now and

they're nicely on top of my towel in the onsen wicker bag.

Dark sky and a no smoking sign

passing Beppu Bay.

Tamago sails and

tiny lights

I'll end these poems

as it turns night

ai♡
kawarazu
jgy

Now and then

2011-11-18T08:45:00.004+09:00

"Where have I been?",
I ask myself.

Y says "you've been trying too hard to be
in the present".

I suppose she's right, she usually is. As much as I practice living in the "now" there is also the "then".

Puns welcome!

How have you been?

ai♡kawarazu
jgy

Corner View--Whatever tickles your fancy

2011-10-19T16:35:00.006+09:00

Wagashi and Chai.

Do-zo!

どうぞ！

Fancy ticklers around the world this week at Corner View...Jane (founder), 　Francesca( host),　Ninja(theme thanks) ...

ai♡ kawarazu

jgy

Like a Buddha

2011-10-19T16:09:00.003+09:00

Matisse said draw branches
and I did but today
I wanna sit and draw
the quiet in.

A woman dressed in yellow
with a lemon parasol
reflected dapples
from the leaves.

In the midst of meditation
I come across a poem.
A woman dressed in yellow
with a lemon parasol
said sayonara
attatakai kyou wa
nee.

Joanne Gover Yoshida

The balloon man, rabbit in the moon

2011-10-12T21:18:00.005+09:00

ai ♡kawarazu

jgy

Tito Puente - Oye Como Va

2011-10-04T17:05:00.017+09:00

post edited, 10/7

The other night in my dream,
April started dancing.

At first, I was a little hesitant but then I began to join her and moved, or rather
was being moved as if by a gust of energy and started spinning and being carried by a gentle wave
(now I remember April, the wave!)...then everyone started to join in and there was a big group
in a kind of swirling line dance, and from my hands waves of energy were released and you could all feel it.

Here is the music that accompanied the dream:

Leaving this post unfinished for the moment.
Feeling that we are all
somehow in this beautiful and rhythmic dance together..
ai ♡　kawarazu
jgy

2011-10-03T23:02:00.015+09:00

one challenge: to accept "this is me" and go fully into it

Thank you to all who came to First "Shake Your Soul/Kripalu Yoga Dance" evening in Oita, Japan and with gratitude around the world.

ai ♡kawarazu
jgy

The Morning After

2011-10-03T22:49:00.003+09:00

I haven't done this in a long time.

Sitting down on the grass by the castle.

The smell of ginko nuts. Ripples on the moat.

Writing, breathing, like I was re-awakened by the dance last night.

An evening I created and at the same time it was given to me.

"Dai-seiko-desu'ne", said the man who runs the ko-min-kan (community center)

with his wife. they'd seen the full parking lot on their way home last night.

Ripples, water

Shake Your Soul is about moving the body's fluids and in turn moving your soul.

Iku's face was radiant when I stopped by her shop to say thank you for coming.

Whereas a drinking hangover makes you weary and laggard (is that a word, something like thあt),

a Shake your Soul hangover makes you radiant.

I apologized to the man in the sake shop who keeps watch over the ko-min-kan. We went two hours over our scheduled time, and I need to communicate better about time. On my morning rounds I paid the 2 hour over time charge and apologized. Then rode my bike thru the castle park on the way to my day with 20 minutes to spare.

I just saw a "sun bow", a rainbow on a clear blue sky connecting cloud to cloud

Here I am

Looking into water

feeling my fluidity

realizing it takes time to come closer to

appreciation of who we are and why

we are

Ripples ripples

ripples...

sparkling radiant

ripples.

Someone rang the shrine bell

Clapped 3 times.

ai♡

kawarazu jgy

Spaghetti Chair

2011-10-03T22:17:00.004+09:00

Ever wonder what to do with the leftover

spaghetti?!

from The Italian Festival,

Tokiwa Department Store,

Oita, Japan

ai ♡kawarazu

jgy

coming of the new moon

2011-09-30T09:04:00.001+09:00

Little moon

do you have

a Letter

for me

Joanne Gover Yoshida

corner view--music--Sunday dance party

2011-09-28T23:10:00.008+09:00

There's pages of playlists in front of me.
It's hard to make a selection for everyone, and not just to put in my tastes.
Though some are easy, like this one, already on top of my list.

What kind of music do you like to dance to?

Tune in to music around the world this week at Corner View.

ai♡ kawarazu
jgy

Corner View-Silly--Who remembers Knock knock jokes?

2011-09-21T20:46:00.006+09:00

Knock knock

Who's there?

Havana.

Havana who?

Havan-a great time, hope you are too!

Knock knock!

Who's there?

Amusing.

Amusing who?

Am-using my new joke book!*

Knock knock!

Who's there?

Tank.

Tank who?

Tank goodness you answered the door!

Knock knock!

Who's there?

Silly.

Silly who?

Silly YOU on Corner View!

It gets way sillier than this, start with Francesca for some silly corner Views this week...!

ai ♡kawarazu jgy

*Thank you Tzivia for the Knock-knock joke books !

**Photos taken at Cafe Kolnカフエ　ケルン、大分, a great new cafe in Oita

55 copies

2011-09-20T10:58:00.002+09:00

It's typhoon number 15.

I was only going to print 5 copies of my "Shake Your Soul/Kripalu Yoga Dance", Trial Lesson Poster, not even sure that it was done but to show a few people. My computer took the matter in it's own hands and is now printing 55 copies. Sometimes the word gets out even if we don't know if we're ready.

Now to go out in this rain...

Happy week to all!

ai ♡kawarazu jgy

Fluid Movement

2011-09-16T09:04:00.003+09:00

My lungs

afloat

like clouds

no longer caged

(listening to this:

)

Look at you

cloud

you're

incredible

I could just sit and

listen to you

all day.

Corner View--Iconic Drums

2011-09-14T20:55:00.004+09:00

Who's iconic

what's ionic

I don't know's

on third

If you worship a taiko

your wish may well

be heard

ai♡ kawarazu

jgy

ton-ta-ta-ton-ta-ta to iconic corner views around the world

Shining Knight

2011-09-11T10:50:00.005+09:00

十三夜

What do you do
when the full moon's at your door?

The heavenly guest
you've been waiting for
'lined his chair at the head
of your table.

Go outside.
On axis with his light.
Step up three metal stairs
Face front
(pause) meet
his gaze.

--Joanne Gover Yoshida

C.V.--Indispensable

2011-09-07T16:16:00.010+09:00

LOVE.

In the form of a bread.

Baked especially for

the half moon.

ai♡kawarazu

jgy

for indispensables around the world visit Francesca

and corner view( list on sidebar), with gratitude to indispensable Jane for bringing all our corners together, hi there!

PS. Lately music has also been an indispensable, as I prepare to teach Kripalu Yoga Dance classes here in Oita in the fall! Stay tuned..xo

entering autumn

2011-09-04T20:16:00.004+09:00

my hands are filled with energy

my photos aren't in season, they are already past

though they were taken just a few weeks ago

if there's such a thing as time,

where does it go

better to just take each moment slow...

A Japan-in-New-York Diary from our summer, which includes remedies for Y's Homesickness (she misses Japan while we are away) can be found on
Japan Visitor
It includes the photo above of one of her remedies--- the homemade sushi that she made for us in New York.

♡

愛

かわらず

jgy

summer poems

2011-08-28T23:19:00.005+09:00

As a storm is passing up the east coast of the US tonite, I am thinking of family and friends and hope all are keeping safe and dry.

These are a few short poems from my summer notebook, chosing a few with a calming feel. To all who stop by, hope you enjoy them...this first one I wrote in the morning when I woke up outside after sleeping at night under the stars on the backyard deck at my father's house in Quogue, Long Island...

Believe

Believe in this day
said the first morning light
As a clear blue flowed out
from the curtain of night

Splash

A frog

jumped in

he made

me laugh

Reflection

The sun beneath
green lily pads
right on the tip
of my nose.

Oh deer

Oh deer
You stopped
for me.
Trust me enough.
Next time let me
run with you.

ai♡
kawarazu
jgy

Quogue Tomare

2011-08-27T22:57:00.007+09:00

When we were in Long Island,
Y drew me a Tomare on the ground on our first day.
She made me feel at home.

how are you?

ai♡ kawarazu

jgy

returning

2011-08-24T21:25:00.010+09:00

Travel: going there, as if walking through a picture

Returning:
Now we're back.
We didn't see the way to return through the picture, so we ended up coming back on an airplane!

Happy travels, happy returns, happy being where you are.

ai♡ kawarazu
jgy

2011-07-27T22:59:00.005+09:00

Tea Green (Variations w/Heron)

2011-07-27T22:59:00.004+09:00

On the way to America

Tea green roofs and

a white

heron

a white

tea green roofs and

on the way to America

white

heron, tea green

roofs and on the way

to America

white tea

green roofs

and a heron on the way

to America

ai ♡kawarazu
jgy

Posting Local, Hana Summer Meditation

2011-07-22T23:54:00.010+09:00

I love evening meditation, going outside around 7PM or now a little later as the sun goes down later, and sitting and gazing at the sky...this time of year, feels easiest not to think of anything, just to feel the softest breezes like gentle waves lapping up to me, and then to exhale as they recede back into the ripples of the moat...
Above photos courtesy of Hana, from this week`s Meditation at Hana. If you are in Oita, please stay tuned on Hana`s blog for details of next tomare meditation series (from September).... Thank you Hana for hosting and posting about it and thank you to those who were a part of this years series of Meditation Evenings at Hana. This summer I plan to do some movement training at Kripalu while in the US and look forward to see where it moves us in the meditations...

Happy summer/winter days/nights...

ai ♡kawarazu
jgy

Corner View--from the eyes of a child

2011-07-20T16:07:00.006+09:00

This is not America. It's Japan.
And it's not your childhood.

This was a quote from Y, my daughter. She always snaps me into the truth of a moment. It's one of the hundred-thousand-infinity reasons why I love her.

She said it when she was baking muffins and she asked me for the hard flour (or was it the soft flour) that she needed for the recipe. I said we didn't have the hard (or was it soft) but we had the other, and I recommended she could just use the one we have, and added that in America and when I was growing up we only had one kind of flour, All-Purpose flour. That's when she said the above quote, and that she needed the hard flour (or was it soft, I still can't get it straight which is for what).
I guess she was telling me it's time I grow up?!

For views from the eyes of children around the world,
visit this week's Corner View.

ai♡kawarazu
jgy

typhoon, tomare, m and m's, and balance

2011-07-19T21:32:00.009+09:00

.(the cloths before the suns)

Today there was a typhoon which came through the South of Japan, and the schools were cancelled so Y. was home.

The typhoon was very strong, but in our area we didn't get it very strong.

I hope all areas up the coast will be fine.

meanwhile,

Here, everyone cancelled appointments and plans and yet after all we could have gone out.

So we found things to do inside,

Y. made banana cake with M&M's and then okara (a kind of powder made from tofu) cookies also with M&M's. They were in harmony, she used no sugar but just the sweetness of natural fruits and M&M's.

(the view from a child's eyes)

(the production line before the suns)

I printed Tomare's on eco-bags.

I also printed some Tomare's on long white cloths that I got from the Festival the other day, they are cloths that come from ceremonial dances, so they are like 'sacred' cloths, and I was happy how the Tomare's looked on them. But then I did something to loose the balance on the long cloths. The artistic balance really went off, I could see it so clearly and I almost knew it before I changed it. I had them in just the right way and then I added the suns, and in this particular compositional case, they worked better without the suns.

But as for the eco-bags, they work with the suns.

I realized that lately sometimes I am in my center, and then sometimes I am not. The times I am centered I can feel it, and the times I am not centered I am aware of it too. But the thing that is changed for me from a year or so ago is that I know there is a center, and I know I've touched on how it feels and so the times I get off it I feel awful in the moment but knowing there is that center makes me feel stronger. Y. saw me loosing it, and this time I could explain it to her, about the balance and that I know it's there but that I've lost it temporarily because I went too far with what I was doing on the cloths...

This is one thing I am learning from Tomare, that center line...is real...but still sometimes I don't know when...to stop

*notes: Tomare means "stop"

**Natsumi gave me a silk screen last summer as a wonderful gift, and I finally am using it now to make Eco-bags. Thank you Natsumi!

Peace love Tomare,

ai♡

kawarazu

JGY

Summer Postcards

2011-07-17T18:09:00.004+09:00

Natsu Matsuri (Summer Festivals) and Summer Clouds.

We take a boat...to another festival.

Greetings, happy summer days!

Postcards from around the world at Corner View,

ai♡ kawarazu
jgy

Postcard to Miyuki

2011-07-13T21:25:00.007+09:00

Hi Miyuki,
Thank you for coming with us to the Festival.
So glad to share in the day with you.
The clouds really stopped moving once the drums stopped,
I guess they were dancing with the excitement of the day as we thought.
We watched the fireworks after you left, they went as high as the moon.
Hope you can stay till the last boat with us next year!

ai ♡kawarazu
Joanne

PS I saw the island deer!

2011-07-06T22:06:00.012+09:00

Before the matsuri (festival):

The excitement on the way to the festival, taking a "puri-cura", Print Club photos, in a photo both as a memento,

girls walking in the streets in yukatta and jin-bei.

After the festival:

In Japanese, "ato no matsuri" means literally "after the festival".

It is an expression that means "too late", like "after the fact".

I am late for corner view this week, "after the festival".

And after spending three nights at the festival, here are some tips I have gained to share with you if you plan on going to some summer festivals:

1. Go on an empty stomach

2. Hang around at the festival with kids. They know how to enjoy the moment.

3. Try the "Jaga-Bata" (jagaimo potato with butter)

4. Go, even if it rains. It's fun to watch the Kagura (festival dances) from under your umbrella the sound of rain adding to the sounds of the drums. Also the lines at the stalls are shorter as not as many people come out in the rain.

5. Look up at the sky, magic displays and stunning movements of clouds, like a performance, that seem tailor made for the festival.

Enjoy the skies whereever you are. Last night was Tanabata in Japan, the Festival
of the Stars.

ai♡ kawarazu
jgy

Corner View--Box of Tricks, a Rose on a Tightrope

2011-06-29T22:23:00.014+09:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, step right up, see what this little rose is about to do,

watch her walk the tightrope,

yes,

and in the rain yet!

There she goes, along the thin wire, suspended high above the streets,

see her pink,

see her blush,

and now,

poof,

she's gone!

See what's in box of tricks around the world at this weeks Corner View!

ai ♡kawarazu
jgy

ps sorry if I haven't visited or am late to write back, these flower friends have been calling me away from the computer and my hands seem to need to touch the air. I will be back to the keyboard and to visit soon! ---With Love, JGY

sunflower in the city

2011-06-28T15:56:00.005+09:00

I stop

my bike

get off

to see

a sunflower

as tall

as me!

♡

kawarazu

jgy

Love

2011-06-28T13:05:00.007+09:00

I believe in You
like I believe
in God and in
the moon.
You know they are there
even though they're far away.

Those you cannot see
may be closer than
you think.

Find a touch that's gentle,
still,
a touch that's meant
for them.

ai ♡kawarazu
jgy

borscht and tomare

2011-06-26T11:09:00.007+09:00

I`ll have a borscht with beets,
and a tomare with the sun.

*in Oita we found borscht in two places but no beets in the borscht,

On the ground there are tomares but they don`t yet have the suns.

One of my tomare dreams is to paint radiant suns on the tomares on the ground.

For the beets, will have to wait till I get to NY. (the soup was good though, even though it had no beets:)

What`ll you have?

*view from the window above of a "tomare" from the table at "Nakhodka" a Russian Restaurant in Oita

if you look into the middle picture, that is the "tomare" graphic painted all over the streets, I picture this on the ”止”:

ai☆kawarazu
JGY

A Song and a Smile

2011-06-24T08:44:00.004+09:00

This song is called "Yozora no mukou" .
夜空の向こう
It is by Suga Shikao, the artists here in the video are Suga Shikao and YUI.
Beyond the night sky...tomorrow waits.
Ibb, this song's for you, a PS to Corner View.
Still the rainy season here, but we're having beautiful clear skies today, sun pouring into an opening of blue before the rains give way to official summer in Oita.
Have a great weekend to all.

ai♡kawarazu
jgy

Corner View--Positive Words for Down Moments

2011-06-22T21:31:00.005+09:00

The theme for this week is from Ibb, it's Positive Words for Down Moments.

I had some words about rainbows and love, I showed them to Y,

and she said if someone said those words to her when she was down, she would hate it.

She said when she's down, there is nothing anyone could say or do that would make her feel better. That she has to come out of it at her own time. And words about Love and Rainbows just make the bad seem worse.

And if she is in an up mood, than it doesn't matter what words someone says either, it's all great.

I thought, wow, I see what she means.

And so I don't know what to say.

So I will leave this picture for now.

And will come back later. And maybe you will feel better then already. Now I have to get a bath with Y. And then I will post the links to Corner View.

ai♡kawarazu
jgy

Bagels + Tenugui = Epiphany

2011-06-19T20:31:00.012+09:00

For some people, an epiphany comes in reading a line from a book,

in a dream, when watching a beautiful sunset, or in writing a poem.

Today I had one from a combination of a bagel and a te-nugui.

My daughter said she'd make me a surprise for Sunday breakfast, and that I shouldn't come into the room. She said I should do yoga or meditate or something.

Two hours later she called me in to the kitchen.

She’d made bagels!

I am from NY, most of you may know, and never made a bagel in my life, so that my daughter effortlessly (seemingly) had this spread ready for me was pretty amazing. We ate the bagels.

They were amazing, like NY bagels, chewy in the middle and "pari pari" (Japanese way to say hard and crunchy) on the outside. Here on our table in Japan.

After we ate I ran to get the camera and a te-nugui cloth. What can I say, I just had the urge to wrap a bagel. When I began to wrap the bagel in my original te-nugui I saw my whole life in front of me.

There it was.

The bagel my daughter made for me wrapped in my Tomare Tenugui.*

New York and Japan; The pink lines, the sun, the "STOP", wrapped in

to one.

Tomare Tenugui now available at my Tomare Shop. If you try one, please share with me any unique ways you find to use them. And if you find an epiphany, please share that too!

ai ♡kawarazu
JGY

Lines from the Rainy Season

2011-06-19T20:27:00.002+09:00

Today

How many days does it have to rain before I see
rain too
is a miracle

ai♡ kawarazu
jgy

Corner View--On my Wall

2011-06-15T20:31:00.008+09:00

see more on the walls, around the world starting atFrancesca's

愛

♡

kawarazu

jgy

Introducing Tomare Tenugui (1)--Thanks & a brief history of Tenugui

2011-06-13T11:06:00.023+09:00

I'm happy to share my latest Tomare news-- the Tomare Tenugui is fresh off the press (and there it is on top of the pita bread, above :)

Tenugui (手ぬぐい） are long and light rectangular cloths, usually cotton, with a long history in Japan. They began to be used in the 8th C. during the Nara period, and became more widespread in the Heian period (ninth thru twelfth centuries). The word comes from "hand" and "to wipe" . They were first used mainly to purify the body in Shinto or Buddhist worship. They came to be used in many practical ways, from hand towels to wraps and simple containers for small items. In the Edo period (1600-1868) they became widely used, and were printed in popular patterns of the day. Tenugui can be seen in woodblock prints from that time, in various patterns and in various uses in everyday life--as headbands, to wipe sweat by travellers and laborers, as a way to wrap small bundles. Today they are still popular as souvenirs, as decorative cloths, and for use at on-sen (hot baths) as towels or wash cloths.

Tomare Tenugui （トマレ手ぬぐい)--can be used in all the traditional ways, plus it is a tenugui with meditation, yoga, and relaxation incorporated in the design. You can put a few drops of your favorite aroma or essential oil in the center for relaxation, use it in stretches, or center your attention on the radiant sun for a focus in meditation. It came in handy when I made pita bread, as a cloth to cover the bread while it rises.

Thank you all for the support with my first Tomare product, you helped make my Yoga Mat Dream come True!! (still a few mats left:) Simply by being here and reading my process, for spurring me on with your positive wishes and belief, and to those who are using the mats, thank you so much and　hope you are enjoying it. I love mine and it is teaching me about 'Tomare' every day---one lesson being to keep going.

I'd love to send Tomare's around the world, and in a lightweight cotton cloth it's getting more possible:))

They are available at my Tomare Shop.

Special thank you to Natsumi Nishizumi, who worked to collaborate with me, from my sketches to make the design in graphic format on both the Yoga Mat and the Tenugui.

Stop and Find your Center. Let your Energy Radiate out from the Heart.

ai♡kawarazu
JGY

Umbrellas in Oita

2011-06-12T19:19:00.008+09:00

It's the rainy season in most of Japan. Strong rains just cleared up for the first time this weekend and there is a luminous glow over the mountains, with a line of clouds hovering, I can hear the swish of cars on wet pavement from my window.

happy（） end of the Weekend,
ai♡kawarazu
jgy

Happy Birthday, Natsumi

2011-06-09T20:41:00.011+09:00

Happy Birthday Natsumi,

Wish we could do something special with you today,

to share

a bento

and

a cake!

let's dig in!!!!!

xo Hope it's a terrific year! Thank you for everything お誕生日おめでとうございます！

ai♡ kawarazu

jgy

a gesture, a workshop, a poem

2011-06-09T20:01:00.006+09:00

Open your legs!
Spread them out wide.
When did the gate we're birthed through
become something to hide?
"Banish your shame"
said the voice
of a crane.
As she unfolded lines
to a victory sign.

Unfolding lines

echoing

mine.

ai♡kawarazu
jgy

photo courtesy of Sasamuta Schule

2011-06-09T19:59:00.001+09:00

photo courtesy of Sasamuta Schule

Corner View---Destination, Tomare at Sasamuta Schule

2011-06-08T18:59:00.017+09:00

Date: a Saturday in June

Time: Suspended, when the light is making everything green and footsteps are soft from room to room

Place: Just up the road from Sasamuta Shrine, in an old Japanese house that belongs to a professor of Aesthetics that is being used as an Art School. Where the rooms leave space for folded cranes to rest in handmade twiggy woodsy nests. Where there are books and plums and hydrangeas and one room leads to the next, and the ladybugs outside join in our dance. Where my dreams of Japan merge with a childlike feeling that I've been here before.

Photos by やまふじ, courtesy of Sasamuta Schule

from To-ma-re at ささむたシューレ: an original mix of meditation and art

ai ♡kawarazu JGY

Find your way to Destinations around the world at this week's Corner View:

Francesca, our host , Jane (creator of Corner View) Ian, Don, Anna,Dana, Otli, La ninja, Theresa, CherryB,Joyce, Natsumi, Lumetta, Kari,Bonnie, Cate, Dort e, Skylar, April, Lollipop, Janis, ibb, jgy,Ida Nielsen,Liza,this weeks theme byLikeschocolate, Isabelle, Lucylaine, Allegria, Pienduzz, Elisabelle,Rosa Maria, Elizabeth, Bichos da matos, Juniper, Victoria, Annabel,Angie, Emily, Kamana,Tikjewit, Tanïa, Barbara, Moetjatja, Dorit,Flowtops, Valérie, Juliette, Castor, Wanderchow,Lou et Tom, Lise,Fashion campagne, Tzivia, Cole, Juanita, Li + Belle, Sophie, Menthe blanche, Leslie...

2011-06-03T13:24:00.006+09:00

Sneak Preview: Tomare Te-nugui

on tomarejgy.blogspot.com

By the Window

2011-06-03T11:33:00.006+09:00

Little Cheerful Cafe

Oita, Japan

Window by Steven Watt

Everchanging views by

nature herself

ai♡kawarazu

JGY

Corner View--Message in a Mug

2011-06-01T20:12:00.015+09:00

This week's CV theme is "M".

I would write millions of

moments from my week, from

a miracle with our medaka (a small fish that maybe is like a minnow)

to a most marvelous mado ("window", 窓、ma-do,まど) that was once

a wall.

I was going to do M is for Mail at one point; then Men at Work caught my eye.

But at the last minute, I narrowed down to an MVP of M's, a moment from today.

The story of a Mug...

I'm sitting at Tully's with a mug of Ginger Milk Tea,

reading a book called "A Flower Does Not Talk".

It's about Zen.

I read a line which mentioned the Four Great Buddhist Vows*.

The asterix (*) led me to the footnote which explained the Four Great Vows:

1. However innumerable beings are, I vow to save them.

2. However inexhaustible the passions are, I vow to extinguish them.

Just as I read the word "passions" in vow 2, I took a sip of Ginger Milk Tea. The sip I took revealed a tiny line of print that was on the inside of the mug:

"Coffee is our Passion",

it said.
The line of tiny print was now hovering over the tea's milky soy foam, as though it somehow materialized as a mirror of the line from the page I was reading.

I read the next vow in the book:

3. However immeasurable the Dharmas are, I vow to master them.

I took another sip, and another line inside the mug appeared:

"Taste the difference",
it said.

This time the line of text was dotted in milky soy foam.

I read the last vow in the footnote:

4. However incomparable the Buddha truth is, I vow to attain it.

I slowly sip the Ginger Milk Tea,
smiling at whatever kind of synchronicity this is, reading lines emerging
out of the foaM.

aiMkawarazu
JGY

More on Corner View:
Francesca, our host , Jane (creator of Corner View) Ian, Don, Anna, Dana, Otli, La ninja, Theresa, CherryB,Joyce, Natsumi, Lumetta, Kari, Bonnie, Cate, Dort e, Skylar, April, Lollipop, Janis, ibb, jgy,Ida Nielsen, Liza, Likeschocolate, Isabelle, Lucylaine, Allegria, Pienduzz, Elisabelle, Rosa Maria, Elizabeth, Bichos da matos, Juniper, Victoria, Annabel, Angie, Emily, Kamana,Tikjewit, Tanïa, Barbara, Moetjatja, Dorit, Flowtops, Valérie, Juliette, Castor, Wanderchow,Lou et Tom, Lise, Fashion campagne, Tzivia, Cole, Juanita, Li + Belle, Sophie, Menthe blanche, Leslie...

Expectant Drums

2011-05-28T12:55:00.008+09:00

Saturday, May 28. It's raining today, and the Un-do-kai (Sports Day) at Y's school was postponed. The drum and the red and white flags wait out the rains, as do we. A typhoon is passing up the coast.

Looks like the Sports Day will be Tuesday.

PS If you would like a glimpse at the sports day tradition in Japan, I wrote an article/diary entry about last years on Japan Visitor here.

Happy weekend--wet or dry?!

ai♡ kawarazu
jgy

Whoopie for Satsanga

2011-05-26T15:38:00.018+09:00

Q: What do you say when someone hands you a whoopie pie?

A: "Whoopie!" of course.

Have a whoopie-filled day!

ai♡kawarazu
jgy

P.s. Sorry I skipped this weeks Corner View,
...See you next week for "M..."

Simple Japanese Cooking--tonite's dinner

2011-05-23T18:55:00.008+09:00

Vishy-soisse

Ume Daikon Salad

Aji no Hiraki

Daikon Oroshi

Hijiki

Gen-mai

Itadakimasu!

ai♡ kawarazu
jgy

Meditaition at Hana

2011-05-20T13:49:00.016+09:00

At last nights meditation we went outside to listen to the night and let it take us, without a plan of where or what we would do.

It was a movement meditation. The night took us from the second floor of the cafe, outside to see some carp streamers blowing in the wind on top of the building, and then across the bridge and into the Castle Park where we...well, we pretty much danced with the cherry trees, lay on the earth, looked out on the ripples in the moat, peeked at each others smiles through the branches, and breathed in the night.　The evening ended with Hana's organic blackberry tea, and naturally delicious muffins.

My fantasy is to do more in the Castle Park with meditation and movement, to see it like a living natural laboratory, to learn from the trees and the herons and the night sky; to let the spaces and the natural places be the choreographers for our movements. The next Tomare meditation will be in June (see Hana's blog for details). Please join om. (I'll leave that "typo" for please join in , it came out as please join om)

ai♡ kawarazu

jgy

Photos above courtesy of Hana.

Added thanks to Natsumi for working with me on the Tomare graphic and announcement.

Happy Weekend!

Corner View--room

2011-05-18T19:30:00.011+09:00

the word Room makes me think about space. Room to breathe,

place to wander.

Space in a Japanese house, connecting inside and out.

a story about room:

(to tell the truth, I couldn't get it right.

After a lot of fiddling, I took out the story and just left

the room:)

Room around the world at this weeks Corner View, hosted by Francesca, themed by Cole, and started by Jane.

ai♡kawarazu
jgy

she list

2011-05-12T11:32:00.001+09:00

I was talking to myself one day

in the merry merry month of may

Let me just
make the rice
and then
I'll do 2 hours
of yoga

Todays rice:

玄米　genmai (brown rice)
＋
はとむぎHato mugi (not sure how it translates)　＋
小豆azuki beans (Japanese red beans)　

Todays yoga:
sun salutation
standing poses
head stand
wheel
etc

あい♡かわらずJGY

Corner View--Movement

2011-05-11T20:23:00.005+09:00

The trees were completely still, it was me who was moving.

I wonder if they wondered why I did so much effort to reach the mountain top, and didn't just stand still, like them at the entrance to the mountain.

Meanwhile it was my first time mountain climbing, so my own movements were new even for me. I benefited from meditation and yoga, keeping in pace with my breath, and raising a foot and knee up as I breathe in, and then putting a foot down and breathed out. Making up ways to move with the energy around me, at some points moving my arms too like swimming through the mountain fresh air. Everyone said going down is harder, but going down I felt like I could fly, and liked the sensation of gaining speed.

That's my adventure in movement, written stream of consciously, for this weeks Corner View--theme chosen by Cole, hosted by Francesca started by Jane. Visit corners around the world to see what moves who and who is moved by what...

Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle,Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky,RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia,Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine

Happy Week, ai ♡kawarazu JGY

Green Chai and Purple Nan

2011-05-10T21:23:00.003+09:00

Lately I've been turning everything into Chai.

Chai tea first. Then Chai Coffee.

Chai muffins,

chai in a sautee, chai rice.

I transformed part of the miso soup by adding chai spices and some blended greens.

Y looked at my miso soup bowl.

"That became like chai too?!"

Tonight, another story. The nan we made deliberately purple, by adding some "imo powder" which is made from the purple (murasaki) potato that grows locally.

How are you spicing up your days?
Happy week!
ai ♡　kawarazu
jgy

Noticing Things (bus to Sasamuta)

2011-05-10T21:08:00.005+09:00

some words leftover from a bus ride, which don't necessarily go with the photo, which is the wisteria at Sasamuta shrine

The busdrivers face in the rear view mirror, mauve spirals and a lime green railing, sign for "nashika" ramen,

emerald green cushiony chairs from the back

Azaelias, the politicians age, Joyful, Lawson Station, a kiss behind a hat on a billboard,

the convenience store where we used to meet,

A stone mermaid

in a twisted prayer

the Indian restaurant I've wanted to go to

Clouds

Cranes

The sun on my page

though it's supposed to rain

Words lead

to words

Analog, Concrete, Kiyota Beef

The mark of a hot spring

A sign to Book-Off

2 glasses clink

Lapis Lazuli

Service in Black

Nashika! After all,

it is ramen

The rest of the busdriver

On the way back:

the bus driver is the same but

the cushiony seats are a different color.

(periwinkle with a light blue monkey pattern)

ai♡kawarazu
jgy

smooth sailing (a true poem to myself)

2011-05-06T21:57:00.004+09:00

Hey Joanne Diddle
did you see
a heron flew over
the moon

Happy Weekend!
ai♡kawarazu
jgy

Corner View--By the Sea

2011-05-04T20:42:00.006+09:00

We gathered to watch
the Royal Wedding
but really its the sea
we came to see.

ai♡ kawarazu
jgy

more Sea at this weeks Corner View
Hosted by Francesca, themed by Lise, started by Jane.

By the Sea (2)

2011-05-04T20:33:00.005+09:00

a private bath
overlooking the sea
is just the way
it ought to be.

ai♡ kawarazu
jgy

Dialogue over Kid's Lunch

2011-05-03T16:47:00.006+09:00

J: You wanna hear a good line from Kafka while you're finishing your last bite?

Y: No, I'm finished.

(perhaps you had to be there:)
ai♡kawarazu
JGY

Happy Golden Week

2011-04-27T20:45:00.010+09:00

コンサート映像　遊助「たんぽぽ」

We started off our Golden Week with attending a concert of Kamiji Yuusuke.

He is a top of the charts pop singer and talent. His tour came to a theatre just a few minutes walk from us in Oita.

On stage he is vibrant and alive. He likes for his fans to wear yellow and bring sunflowers.

We wore yellow and brought sunflowers.

His energy and positive spirit are contagious. He made everyone promise at the beginning of the show to share in one wish---To Enjoy the time together for the whole duration of the concert.

His movement and dancers are great, and his songs are filled with bright lyrics like arigatoo (thank you) and kagayaku (shining) and of course, ai (love) and himawari (sunflower).

The song above is called Tanpopo (dandelion) and he also has a famous song called Himawari (sunflower).

It is Golden Week in Japan. Happy Golden Days to You!

ai♡ kawarazu
jgy

This simple philosophy has stayed with me. To have a good time. Just that.

12! & Lunch

2011-04-27T15:28:00.014+09:00

To..
All girls born in the Year of the Rabbit...
You are invited to a No-time-limit Brunch.
Starting at 10:57
Of course, there will be carrots. The brunch will be followed by Easter Egg coloring and Karaoke.

----text on the invitation to Y's birthday brunch

This week we celebrated Y's birthday.

She is 12!

This year also marks my twelfth year of living in Japan-- I came to Japan with her in my belly.

We've both lived in Japan through one complete cycle on the Japanese zodiac.

From rabbit to dragon, snake horse, sheep monkey , rooster, dog, wild boar, mouse, ox, and tiger, and now back to rabbit...

So what else for lunch, but some things to do with carrots , and with twelves !

What's for lunch in your Corner? Feast on gorgeous photos and foods from around the world. Francesca's hosting, Dorte's theming. Never to forget Jane, Happy Birthday to you , thanks for bringing us together through Corner View (next year I'll have to remember to send you the hat!). And while it's still April, Happy Birthday April, Cate (welcome Genevieve!!!), and Ibb, Happy Birthday to You!

ai♡ kawarazu
jgy

PS if you'd like to try a good recipe for a Japanese Tofu-ish Dish (if you can find the ingredient called okara) that we served, Here's a link to Unohana,

Cherry Blossom

2011-04-25T20:56:00.002+09:00

Drop

your pink

against the night.

Invite

me to sit

beneath your canopy.

Bow

before

I do.

2011-04-24T12:10:00.020+09:00

Happy Spring, or whatever season you are in.
Enjoy the bounty of your creations!

moon

2011-04-20T20:52:00.003+09:00

I am the luckiest person in the world.

I slide open the glass door and

there you are.

Radiant.

Just rising out

from a cloud.

moon (2)

2011-04-20T20:51:00.002+09:00

It's so easy

to write poems

about the moon.

of Patanjali and Albers

2011-04-19T14:49:00.007+09:00

Arthavatra (Purposefulness):
The entire material world is for the sake of the soul.

--from The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

I sat on a gray cushioned bench in the middle of one of the galleries at a Josef Albers exhibition.

The gray cushioned benches were in a square configuration.

All around on the walls were squares of color.

The one image that reached me most was a circle of white

emanating light.

It was funny in a show about colors in squares, that I was stopped in front of this one circle

of white.

Just like last night.

Standing on the veranda, looking at the moon,

I stood still.

Albers made a circle

for the moon to come through.

When people started to enter into the gallery where I stood with the circle,

I moved into the next gallery with the squares.

I took out the paperback Patanjali book that my yoga teacher leant me yesterday, and I read:

"The entire material world is for the sake of the soul".

Pens are not allowed in the gallery so I borrowed this pencil

to jot these thoughts down.

The Mom Egg

2011-04-18T10:29:00.011+09:00

Break a Leg is a show biz expression.

What about Break an Egg. Could it be a publishing equivalent!?

Y broke an egg, purely by 'accident' and it cracked open into a heart.

I share the happening here to tell you about The Mom Egg, Issue 9 which is just out in time for Mothers Day.

The Mom Egg is a collection of poems, prose, and art by and about mothers.

I am honored to have had my photograph chosen as the cover of this issue (as well as a few other photos and a poem inside).

Since we all come from mothers, everyone is a potential contributor. Every year there is a call for submissions--- if you are inspired to submit something for the next issue, check out the submission link as well.

Thank you Ibb for your playful inspiration--there's a photo you'll know, inspired by your fun postcard post ---in the issue. Wishing you a very happy birthday, and well, break an egg!!!

ai♡ kawarazu
jgy

(my heart returned thank you nadine, ai)

Kay's Postcards and Cherry Blossoms

2011-04-14T21:00:00.008+09:00

Kay sent me some of her beautiful postcards for Japan that she made to support the Japan Tohoku Earthquake Relief. Thank you Kay! They arrived here in Japan from Holland.

I shared them at my yoga class yesterday, during our cherry blossoms viewing picnic (hanami).

The cards, which picture hands holding a folded origami crane, were passed from hand to hand, as the petals blowing in the wind were beginning to make a pink carpet on the ground.

In the bright green envelope people put in contributions and received your postcards. Y and I brought the contribution to put in a collection box in the city. I put one of your cards, Kay, into the collection box too...Sending on your wishes of Hope, Peace and Love.

xo

Ai(heart)kawarazu JGY

Corner View---Home is where the...Om is

2011-04-13T14:22:00.012+09:00

When I salute the sun
I become one...

I kept a Tomare mat in NY last summer, the black one, and when I was there last week I took it with me and walked to the East River on our last morning there. I unrolled the mat beneath a flag pole in a cul de sac that looked out onto the river and began a series of sun salutations as the sky was turning pink. Little by little the sun came up from over the Triborough bridge. As I was chanting the series of mantras that go along with each movement, the 'ohmmmm' of the universe joined in with me.

It was this tugboat, going slowly as I was. The reverberations of it's voice and mine joined as one. I was in a centered moment. I'm not always able to find my center, but it's my search and my journey. I believe when we are centered in ourselves, and connect with the rhythms around us, that this is home. Lately I have said that Home is where the Mat is.

Thank you magical April for the surprise gift from your home. I felt that one-ness as I sipped the yogi tea and listened to your CD (there it is playing above on the pink player). I remember your meditation spot that you posted recently, and it made me so happy and at home to see how similar mine is to yours! I hung the colorful streamer outside the door. I love the little Angel, and the Paul Klee connections.

This is a word I like in sanskrit:*(though I'm not sure if its spelled right)

bhairava

bhairavat

meaning: state of starting to feel at home in the universe.

For Home Sweet Homes around the world, visit Corner View, starting with Francesca at her loving and creative home...

ai (heart) kawarazu jgy

Inter-continental Rabbit

2011-04-12T19:36:00.006+09:00

She likes to put on her rabbit ears sometimes...

Maybe because it's near Easter, no one seemed to think anything unusual as she hopped down the avenues.

Happy Spring Days, or whichever season you are in,

ai (heart) kawarazu
JGY

interlude: New wall paper in our rooms

2011-04-08T15:14:00.003+09:00

All my life I struggled day in and day out to get it right.

Now suddenly the walls of my room are all white.

As if in the middle of one night some men came in and changed the cloth on the walls.

They tore down the old and put up white (vinyl-coated paper) that can be cleaned

if it yellows.

They brought their own drinks--- canned coffee and tea---and worked steadily.

When I wolke up in the morning I smiled at the fresh, bright white and thanked them. Everything was in place, just the things I need remained.

Just before they left one man scribbled a note with the name of the cleaning product I could use to keep the walls clean if I need something stronger than

water.

ai (heart) kawarazu
jgy

i love japan (and new york!)

2011-04-06T19:45:00.009+09:00

Between time zones, ______________ is just
a heartbeat away

This weeks Corner View is Time. I just commented to host Francesca that I didn't think I'd get around to do it, but I just fit these fotos into the theme. Fill in the blank if you have the time,

and i'll tell you the story of the man who asked for a dime.

My mother gave him a dollar bill.

then at the next corner a man asked for a hundred dollar bill,

and she gave him

the time.

It may not make sense, but it managed to rhyme!

Happy week to all,

and let me know when I start to bore you with my NY photos. In the meantime will still post a few to follow.

ai (still can't find that heartmark) kawarazu
jgy

corner view and more on time: jane - ian - joyce - francesca - state of bliss - isabelle - janis - kari - jgy - lise- cate - otli - dorte - sophie -mcgillicutty - sunnymama - daan - ibb- kelleyn - ninja - sammi - theresa -cherry b - cole - lucylaine - skywriting- anna - conny - rosamaría - tikjewit -juniper - annabel - valerie - mlle paradis - wander chow - don -flowtops - susanna - tania - dana -tzivia - mezza - ocean girl - kristin

first, the surprise

2011-04-05T22:56:00.007+09:00

Now that our mission was accomplished, I can reveal the surprise ---

since my mom cancelled her plan to come to Japan this year during Y's spring vacation, we decided at the last minute to go to her. But she didn't know. And we didn't know either until three days before we left.

So we arrived in New York, in the dark (and cold) of spring night, got a burger (and veggie burger) at Shake Shack, shacked in an upper east side hotel, and rang my mom's door in the morning with all the ingredients to make French Toast. When we rang the buzzer, we yelled up "do you have any maple syrup?"

She almost fainted when she saw us. How fun it was to walk down her street, (not even sure she'd be in but pretty sure she'd be there!) with grocery bags filled with breakfast ingredients that we'd picked up that morning, after travelling 1/2 way around the world to surprise my mom and ring her bell.

Y's heart strings pulled us there, and it taught me something-- that it's truly wonderful to follow ones heart, and/or to be an accomplice to someone who is following theirs.

And Y kept her promise to make French Toast for Jane (my mom, Y's grandma) over her spring vacation.

It was great to see my family--including my dear sister Tzivia-- and lovely Natsumi while there. New York seemed radiant, even in the rain and gray, when there for such a brief and unexpected stay.

Rabbit in the Moon Story

2011-03-28T23:13:00.007+09:00

You know, there is a rabbit in the moon.

And you may know, my daughter Y was born in the year of the rabbit.

and you may not know, but yesterday was Y's last day of fifth grade.*

To celebrate all three of the above, we made rabbit shaped pizza last night, with carrot-instead-of-tomato sauce.

Y suggested we give a piece to the moon, who might be hungry again, being no longer full (the moon is now half, to be almost exact).

We left a piece out on the veranda.

In the middle of the night, the moon woke me up.

I went out to the veranda. The moon was directly above and in line with the pizza.

It's rays shone down in a glowing slice and he took a glorious bite. Definitely tasted the carrots.

Now I know, the moon likes carrots.

I went back in through the sliding door and kneeled down to the futon where Y was asleep. I told her the moon said thank you, and that he (she?) happily shared the pizza with the stars.

*cultural note: the new school year in Japan starts in April

ai(heartmark) kawarazu
JGY

Bo-kin

2011-03-20T15:22:00.002+09:00

As I sit at the internet cafe and type on the keyboard, I hear students voices outside shouting `Onegai shimasu`. They are holding cardboard boxes with the Japanese characters for the Tohoku EarthQuake Relief, and asking passersby for contributions through their efforts. Y. also volunteered today with her class, they stood outside of the department store with collection boxes. Just a few meters away, Boy Scouts held boxes and their calls overlapped with the elementary school children`s voices...`onegai shimasu`...please give...

There are also drop off points all over our small city for cash contributions, water, sanitary napkins, blankets, and hand warmers...the collection effort is amazing, and I am sure that your thoughts and wishes too are reaching into the boxes and the collected thoughts and wishes are sources of strength.

Sorry I haven`t responded to many comments, I have wanted to post periodically but the time goes so fast at borrowed computers, and so for now am basically just doing some posts and catching up with messages while here. Being off the computer for the most part...just to let you know too that it is extremeley peaceful in Oita. Almost like an extra calm as people continue to focus on living positively and doing what they can through keeping strong and continuing in the collection efforts...

I see the colors of umbrellas passing by the semi-translucent glass, just a parade of colors of umbrellas, and cars windshield wipers sweeping back and forth...as the students who must be getting wet as they stand outside with their boxes shouting out in strong voices `onegai shimasu...`

Full Moon

2011-03-20T15:17:00.004+09:00

Since the new moon, I`ve been making offerings---handmade cookies and muffins, and o`s, everything round, and leaving them out for the moon.

Today, I knew I didn`t need to leave anything.

The moon was full..

ai(heartmark) kawarazu
jgy

2011-03-17T13:03:00.012+09:00

I just sang some songs with my guitar teacher. As we played, his wife joined in, and tears came to my eyes as I could feel things I hadn`t been able to feel about Japan, the tragic losses of life, the preciousness of life, the blessings that grow out of each moment, and

he said

`music wa subarashii`---

music is wonderful.

One song is called Saboten no Hana, by a group called Tulip.

And one translates as ` walk with your head held high` by Kyu Sakamoto.

I post the song below, Saboten no Hana (Flower on a Cactus would be my translation), a popular song some years ago by a group called Tulip, because when I heard it today and closed my eyes it reminds me of a beautiful and positive spirit of Japan.
If you want to, just close your eyes and listen...
em>

With thoughts of calm and healing energy to Fukushima Ken and the NorthEast, with wishes for their return to homes and to recovery...with wishes of peace and love and light...

Thanks for all your heartfelt communications over this past week.

PHoto above, testing, taken at the INternet Cafe!

ai ♡kawarazu

JGY

OK from South Japan

2011-03-12T15:31:00.007+09:00

Greetings from the Internet Cafe II and thank you for your concern about us after hearing the Japan news.
We live in the south of Japan, in Kyushuu and are far from the area of the main earthquake and tsunami. We are ok.
My husband works on a boat as some may know, which travels up and down the Japan coast, and thankfully he called from his location right away that he was out of the area of danger, and was fine. I think he is very brave though to be on a boat in the Japan sea, and he calls my daughter and I to reassure us that he is fine and that we shouldn`t worry. He has always been a very calm and peaceful presence for me and I realize it most at times like these when he takes everything in great stride. Just now he called that his boat is out in the sea, and that its safer to be in the sea than near land when a tsunami is still possible to approach.
Japan too is pretty amazing the way she handles a situation like what is happening now. The news is presented in calm voices and without a sensationalist kind of coverage, but with a sense of the courage that people have and concern for those of course who are not fine. Our area has warnings to evacuate around the sea coast, but we don`t anticpate something too strong as the first quake.

I continue to peel and slicing and grating those wonderful roots from the earth, Lotus Roots, I mentioned in the last post---baking them into muffins and sauteeing as burgers....I even make some batches of my creations to put outside for the moon, who has been also a re-assuring presence in the days and nights as he shines onto my sixth floor balcony and shares the cookies with me. I wonder that we need to thank the earth more, she is only human after all and does so much all the time to keep us nourished and safe...
I hope you are all well, my thoughts and prayers are with yours, with those who are in the affected areas. I wish that the aftershocks will not make more damage.
I look forward to visiting your corners.

xoxoai(heartmark) kawarazu

JGY