Category Archives: Uncategorized

Taking Golden Week off to entertain a friend from home and celebrate my birthday. But, I post my toy-camera and iPhone photos from Japan at least once a day over at The Birdwatcher’s Report. You can also check out some … Continue reading →

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Eryk Salvaggio | 2 Comments

On Japanese Funerals

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Eryk Salvaggio

My first conversation about the earthquake was a week and three days after it struck. In the office, we talked about the peripheries of disaster: Blood donations, fundraisers, TV coverage. We didn’t talk about victims. When the media focused on … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquake, Photography, Shinto, Shrines, Temples and Ruins, Thinking, Tradition, Uncategorized, Zen | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

On Watching the News in Japan

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Eryk Salvaggio

Watching the Western media explain Japan can feel like watching a caveman explain the future.

Posted in Earthquake, Tradition, Uncategorized | 21 Comments

After Disaster, Laundry.

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Eryk Salvaggio

I went to work today. Normally that wouldn’t merit a blog post, but in a country with nuclear emergencies, multiple earthquakes, rolling power outages and an active volcano, the normal stuff starts to get noteworthy. As I write this, rescue … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquake, Tradition, Uncategorized | 31 Comments

On Drinking Canned Coffee in Japan | 缶コーヒ

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Eryk Salvaggio

Coffee in Japan is more of a vague allusion to coffee. Just like Japanese conversations. You don’t really say anything too straightforward. You hedge a lot. You tease out the meanings. Perhaps it’s coffee. It’s probably coffee.

Posted in Food, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

On the Ephemeral Nature of the Starbucks Sakura Latte

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Eryk Salvaggio

Maybe a Sakura Latte is not weird. It’s getting hard to tell. After months of figuring out Japanese culture, my go-to instinct is still bewilderment. Starbucks had primed me for the Sakura Latte since Feb. 10 with a small sign … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Shinto, Thinking, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments