Chef as Origami Expert

We ate at a restaurant called Kikaku. The chef there is so skilled with a kitchen knife that he is called Ita-mae ("Ita" means cutting-board/"ma-e" means in front of); it is a complimentary nickname for an accomplished Japanese chef. He is also accomplished at making origami. He made the 4 cranes he is holding out of one sheet of paper while keeping them connected as seen in the photo.

Futon photo for Ginger

Ginger asked about futon bedding, and the practice of hanging the futons out in the sunshine, every day or so. Here is a good example.

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum=Vermeer Exhibit

Friend Michiko and I went by train to Ueno Park where the Metropolitan Art Museum was hosting an exhibition of Vermeer and the Delft Style. In the same building was a special annual exhibit of Japanese artists which included a piece by my painting sensei; he gave his students 2 free tickets for that exhibit. He is 82 years old and lived and studied in Paris for 20 years. Alas, Al had to work.

Oze National Park--Gunma Prefecture

Hiking

Today we took a hike starting from a temple on the east side of Ashikaga. This is a photo of the small waterfall garden at the start of the trail. Click on the photo to enlarge it.

We've been pre-occupied since August--

WE VISITED AMERICA FOR A FEW WEEKS, MOSTLY IN NC. WE VISITED OUR PRECIOUS GRANDDAUGHTER, ALSO. INDULGE US AS WE BRING YOU UP TO DATE WITH HER, PICTORIALLY. WITH LOVE.

Fireworks Festival (Hanabi) in Ashikaga

Shinji and I had a very traditional Japanese evening. We went to an eel restaurant (unagiya) for grilled eel over rice and then spent 2 hr watching the summer fireworks festival on the banks of the Watarase River.