New: notes-tatamimatsAll contenthive-129948hive-196917krhive-166405zzanhive-183959hive-185836hive-150122hive-180932steemphotographyhive-144064hive-101145hive-183397uncommonlabhive-184714hive-188619hive-145157bitcoinhive-103599hive-193637hive-193186krsuccesshive-179660hive-180106TrendingNewHotLikersmajes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoNotes from Under the Tatami Mats – My Adventures in Japan … (Part 2, with links to Notes 51~87)“Few countries are that civilized when it comes to holding a beer in your hands." Below is an index to Part Two of my “Notes from Under the Tatami Mats.” (It comprises 37 individual posts…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoNotes from Under the Tatami Mats – My Adventures in Japan … (Part 1, with links to Notes 1~ 50)During my final months there, I kept thinking ... “Wow! I’m in Japan. This is so cool.” And that was after I had already spent 17 years in the country. Indeed ... “Wow.” Below is an index…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 4 Reasons for Leaving Japan (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–87 … My Adventures in Japan)In a sense, “tatemae” allows certain psychopaths to get away with murder. As I had mentioned way back in Note from Under the Tatami Mat #1, I did not have any real reason for staying in…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years ago5 Destinations After Leaving Japan (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–86 … My Adventures in Japan)The best laid plans of mice and men . . . As the old adage goes, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” In other words, I never made it to those top 2 destinations.…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 3 Ways to See Japan (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–85 … My Adventures in Japan)Cycling along the coast and through the countryside, we saw much more of Japan than most people ever see – more even than many Japanese see. Through a blinding, alcohol-induced haze…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 5 Odd or Interesting Japanese Family Names, with Mini-CONTEST (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–84 … My Adventures in Japan)Hey, Mr DogKeeper! … or … Hey, Mr Second-Floor Hall! Kurosawa, 黒澤, translates to “Black Swamp.” Nikaido, 二階堂, translates to “2nd-Floor Hall.” Inukai, 犬飼, translates to “Dog…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 3 Weird and Wimpy-Sounding Boy’s Names (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–83 … My Adventures in Japan)Suddenly, her name took on an agreeable ring. And it still sounds wonderful. All those “U’s” As with many strange aspects of Japanese life and culture, these kinds of names seemed weird…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 2 Cool-Sounding Girl’s Names (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–82 … My Adventures in Japan)The sound of the tide. ... Ooh, la la! Urara What you hear is what you get. ‘Nuff said. Shione (The Sound of the Tide) I can still hear a faint echo of that wonderful and soothing…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 3 Meanings of “Koorin” When Written in Kanji (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–81 … My Adventures in Japan)The name “Mr. Rear Tire” sounded suitably absurd. And most people smiled in approval when they heard it. Mr Rear Tire In Japanese, my last name is pronounced “Koorin.” If I were to…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 6 Nicknames for Yours Truly (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–80 … My Adventures in Japan)She came up with this appropriate nickname by blending my real name with the Japanese word meaning “old man.” For some reason, various people in Japan tried to peg me with a number…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 2 Misspellings of My Name by Japanese People (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–79 … My Adventures in Japan)Spelling words or names in a foreign language is a lot tougher than you might think. Those above misspellings are weird. Very weird. Mistakes are inevitable But taken in…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 4 Sento, aka Public Baths (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–78 … My Adventures in Japan)The Japanese have taken the art of bathing to a whole new level; transcendence. Years ago, most Japanese homes did not have any bathing facilities, let alone a bathtub or a shower. When…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 3 Onsen (Hot Springs) (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–77 … My Adventures in Japan)A truly delightful and agreeable aspect of Japanese life. The art of bathing … naked, outdoors, in the snow Check out my previous post, re The Art of Bathing ("Top 3 Fields in Which the…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 5 Camps, featuring a Bonfire of Insanity (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–76 … My Adventures in Japan)Even in parks where our camping was illegal, people smiled and waved, and made us feel welcome. Set up camp … anywhere In Japan, you can set up camp almost anywhere, without being…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 2 Great Weather Days (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–75 … My Adventures in Japan)The quiet rain was pleasant, indescribably restful, and becalming. Golden tunnels Each fall, the leaves of the zelkova trees lining my walk into town would turn a flaming yellow…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 3 Stormy Days (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–74 … My Adventures in Japan)I had to walk through raging rainstorms, blinding blizzards, or screaming typhoons. Generally speaking, if you’re riding in a car, it will take much more than a thunderstorm or a…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoMy Adventures in Japan – Notes from Under the Tatami Mats #74–#87“More adventures during my wrong strange trip into the heart of crepuscular gloom in Japan.” This post comprises #74–#87 of my “Notes From Under the Tatami Mats.” It will be followed by…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 3 Unbearably Dull Tourist Attractions (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–73 … My Adventures in Japan)Stuck in the middle of nowhere, these so-called “tourist attractions” were sterile, unattractive, and excruciatingly dull. Wow. Sheep. Sheep on a hill. Hitsuji-ga-oka Observation…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop Guitarist (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–72 … My Adventures in Japan)He was concerned only with playing great music. Jo, a friend of mine, was just one of the many talented and creative guitarists that I met in Japan. But whenever I heard him play, I was…majes.tytyty (78)in japan • 6 years agoTop 3 Musicians Who Appreciate the Support of Their Japanese Fan Base (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–71 … My Adventures in Japan)These great artists deserve all the dollars, yen, and ka-chings they can get. The Stones Rock on, guys. Ka-ching. (Image source) Michael Jackson In his heyday, Michael…
