Culture & History
文化と歴史
Lessons in this theme
12
Ramen Museum in Shin Yokohama, Where You Can Learn and Eat Too!
Those that know me are keenly aware that I love a nice bowl of ramen. Well, I found a ramen nirvana of sorts in Shin Yokohama, where you can learn about ramen history, and taste it too!
Engaging Yokohama, The City of Harbor Lights
Yokohama's history, compared to other cities in Japan, is rather recent. It was one of the ports opened in 1877, and since has expanded to become Japan's second largest city. In this lesson we'll explore some of the history of Yokohama, and some places in the city worth a visit.
Kamakura, The Kyoto of Eastern Japan
Kamakura is often referred to as the Kyoto of Eastern Japan, and for good reason. Its historic temples are stunning examples of architecture introduced from Song Dynasty China with Zen Buddhism's influence. Kamakura was once the administrative capital of Japan. And so it has the history, sure, but that is not all it has to offer. I've visited Kamakura numerous times over the years, so it was about time I wrote something about this interesting city south of Tokyo.
The Grundy House: A lovely example of the Queen Anne Architectural Style
The Bristol, Pennsylvania historic district has a variety of archetectural styles and historic buildings, many of which are in private hands and are therefore not open for public viewing. But thanks to the Grundy family, a beautifully preserved house in Bristol is open for tours, and this Victorian gem is a must see. Have a look...
A Night at the Opera, in Sapporo
My wife's cousin Jun composed the music for an opera, and we were invited to attend - in Sapporo! A blend of Japanese history and original music greeted us with this new opera. And while we were in Sapporo, we took a quick tour of the city.
Old Town Kawagoe Is A Great Day Trip Destination
Kawagoe is an historic Japanese city in Saitama Prefecture, nicknamed "Little Edo" for its well-preserved Edo-period buildings, featuring Kurazukuri warehouses, old merchant streets, and ancient temples. It's an easy day trip from Tokyo that allows you to experience some of old Edo Japan. We recently went once for lunch, and then I did a solo encore to check it out some more.
The Fall Foliage of Tateshina, Nagano and the Majestic Matsumoto Castle
If you're in Japan during the fall months, it's always a nice idea to plan an outing outside Tokyo to see the fall colors. We made a plan to do just that, and tacked on a trip to Matsumoto to see the famous castle. Well, plans change when life gets in the way, but in our case not so much!
The Magnificent House, Gardens and Arboretum of the Nicholas Biddle Estate
Introducing Jeremy Soltroff, another old friend of mine from our time working together at the Social Security Administration office in Northeast Philadelphia. A world traveler via the Air Force with various stateside assignments and notable overseas stints in Italy, Germany and Japan, he eventually retired from the military, lived for a time as a Jersey Shore beach bum, and eventually came full circle, settling back into the Philly area. Jeremy is a bit of a historian and lover of fine architectuture, and is more knowledgable about the tri-state area than anyone I know. I asked Jeremy if he would be interested in writing about some notable estates in the area, and he graciously accepted. His first story is about Andalusia, a beautiful estate on the Delaware River. Enjoy!
Matsuyama Castle on the Hilltop
During our time in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture we were able to explore the ancient fortress on the hill, Matsuyama Castle. A cloudy and rainy day made the castle seem overly gloomy, but there were facinating historical artifacts and displays inside the castle that made up for it.
An Afternoon Stroll Through Silicon Valley's Tech History
As some of you know, I like to explore. And having an information techology background, and living not too far away from Silicon Valley, I thought it might be fun to take in some computer industry history. So I took a look at the map, and identified three places to check out if this is your thing too.
The Strentzel Muir House is the Best Place to Learn About the Real John Muir
John Muir is often referred to as the "Father of the National Park Service." If you ever wanted to learn about John Muir this is the place for you. He lived here with his family for over 20 years. Lots of info on his life in Martinez as well as his wife’s family.
Case Closed
Brian Carter has made a decision that will alter the course of the trial. Was it a wise decision? Should this case have come to trial at all?