Author Archives: d4vid

Quincy

Posted on October 4, 2015 by d4vid

I can’t help but notice that a not insignificant number of Japanese women look like Rashida Jones.

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Afoot

Posted on October 3, 2015 by d4vid
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Parody

Posted on October 3, 2015 by d4vid

See, this is why being in Japan melts my brain.  We’ve already established that I treat foreign languages like cryptanalysis.  So I see this bus go by with a sign on it that reads 市バス. 市 is easy.  I know … Continue reading →

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Racist

Posted on October 3, 2015 by d4vid

Lots of people give up on figuring out change when visiting a foreign country — I’m looking at you, Eli — but I make it a practice to true to get rid of as much small change as I can, … Continue reading →

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Lynchian

Posted on October 3, 2015 by d4vid

Just watched a beauty cream ad on Japanese television which used the Julee Cruise vocal version of the Twin Peaks theme song. I can only assume their slogan is “Maybe she’s born with it.  Maybe she’s dead, wrapped in plastic.”

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Inexplicable

Posted on October 3, 2015 by d4vid

To me on a cursory evaluation, at least.   I see no evidence of a bushy hair epidemic here.  Unless the clinic is just that good.   A working brick aqueduct high on a hill by a Zen temple.  Because water.  And … Continue reading →

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Wood

Posted on October 2, 2015 by d4vid

“All the shrines and temples are wood!  It’s like one of the primary differences between China and Japan.  Here they opted for wood whenever possible.  Because they could!  Wood, wood, wood,” I was thinking, as I slammed my forehead into … Continue reading →

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Tradition

Posted on October 2, 2015 by d4vid

Kyoto was the capital of Imperial Japan for over a thousand years until Emperor Meiji moved it to Edo and renamed it Tokyo.  (Try reading that in an Alec Guinness voice.  It sounds awesome.) It’s the general consensus that where … Continue reading →

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Cyberpunk

Posted on October 2, 2015 by d4vid

Fulfilling a lifelong cyberpunk dream of mine here in Kyoto:  staying in a Japanese pillbox hotel room.  Yes, that’s my tshirt on a hanger for scale.  My hair brushes against the bathroom ceiling.  Again, tshirt for scale.  The place is … Continue reading →

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Bullet II

Posted on October 2, 2015 by d4vid

Flew from Hongqiao to Haneda and then took a bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto.  The trip was a blur of graveyards.  So many. Which reminds me that if you haven’t seen Grave of the Fireflies then you should.  It’s … Continue reading →

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Mom

Posted on September 25, 2015 by d4vid

When I think of my mother I think of a woman overflowing with both love and fear.  I like to think — whether by nature or nurture, mitochondrial DNA or hearing her “awww” at every baby she ever saw — … Continue reading →

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Comfort

Posted on September 24, 2015 by d4vid

In the hierarchy of maraschino cherries, Baskin-Robbins is the ne plus ultra.  Perfect comfort food. I kept finding myself singing this Deb Talon song to myself all day: When everyone has gone to sleep And you are wide awake. Theres … Continue reading →

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Security

Posted on September 23, 2015 by d4vid

Over fifteen years ago, I had set up a personal wiki to centralize notetaking, to do lists, story ideas, etc.  One of the things I had jotted down were my mother’s last wishes. I haven’t visited my wiki in a … Continue reading →

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Visitor

Posted on September 22, 2015 by d4vid

The Amarano is a boutique hotel a few blocks away from my parents’ townhouse.  DWA used to put up visiting PDIers here.  Back when the hotel was named The Graciela.  Back when there was a PDI. My room was decorated with … Continue reading →

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Serenity

Posted on September 19, 2015 by d4vid

 Like the Battle of Serenity Valley, things are truly over.  My mother passed away after her long fight with Alzheimer’s and has crossed over the River Lethe.

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