Jun 09 2003
(beech trees along the ridge of the Hakone Mountains, 1993)
Today definitely has the feel of the oncoming monsoon here. Cool and grey, the air is laden with potential precipitation. While most Japanese dislike this season, since everything gets covered in white mold and clothing is impossible to hang out to dry, I actually love it. [...]
Jun 09 2003
Out in the garden this afternoon I was clearing away some wild strawberry and dokudami (also referred to as “jyuuyaku”, meaning “Ten Medicines”, or chamelon plant: Dokudami ) when I nearly upset a young queen paper hornet minding her yet newly built paper nest. Since the nest was located right behind the storm shutter [...]
Jun 07 2003
Taken in the summer of 1984, the first time I climbed Kitadake (North Peak), the second highest mountain in Japan. I was clambering down the south slope of the mountain after a dawn ascent of the summit when I came across this classic view of Mt. Fuji floating serenely to the east above a lavender [...]
Jun 06 2003
I finally managed to import my entries from Blogger. A lot of what I have written until now is not exactly what I’d like to do do with Laughing Knees, but at least it is a record of the past two months.
It’s mainly nature that I want to focus on here. The place I [...]
A German/ Filipino/ African-American who grew up in Japan, it's not really my genes that matter to me, but the timbre of place and kinship. If there is anything I would rather be doing, that would be a long walk in the hills, be it alone with my camera and sketchbook, or with a good, like-minded friend.
