Not long ago, we were driving in north-central Oita on the island of Kyushu when we spotted a mountain with a hole it. Needless to say, such a phenomenon must be explored! So we did. We learned that the top of this mountain was historically a hermitage for the practice Buddhist asceticism--reputed to have been … Continue reading Rakan-ji: Buddhist ascetism amid dramatic scenery, yet a sort-of hole in the wall
Earlier this week I was privileged to attend a Tokyo preview screening of Silence, Martin Scorsese's film adaptation of Shusaku Endo's 1966 novel. I had read the novel more than 30 years ago and it was interesting to see it brought to life relatively faithfully. The story centers on a fictitious 17th century Jesuit priest, … Continue reading Silence: On the trail of Japan’s Hidden Christians
As a volcanic island chain, Japan is blessed with innumerable hot springs, making it inevitable that the people who live here love a good soak. Perhaps the queen of all of Japan's hot springs (onsen) areas is the city of Beppu, in Oita Prefecture. Situated on a bay on the northeast coast of the island … Continue reading Beppu: fun promotions for hot springs
