Relocating is less about changing addresses, more about changing mindsets — This past weekend, I moved to a new part of the city, where life feels slower and more peaceful, and where warblers chirp me awake. The wait was painfully long but my recent relocation was worth it. And I’m pleased to say my new abode is not a tiny studio…

Tribute to music legend Ryuichi Sakamoto (17/1/1952 – 28/3/2023) — E, C, B, D, G… These are the opening notes of Energy Flow from Ryuichi Sakamoto’s album BTTB (1998). …

An Open Letter-Poem To Ms Mighthavebeen — I thank Owen W’s timely article on starting and mending relationships. I thought I could navigate through either scenario but now know I fail at both. So, I need self-compassion. Otherwise, neither starting nor mending relationships has a chance. It’s time to forgive and heal. Dare I restart or try…

Hating My Beloved Hometown Kyoto Japan — Life in a famous, touristy hometown is like a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. It is the quintessential comfort food, warm and satisfying until overindulgence causes bloating and lethargy. Its over-familiarity and mundanity become cause for heartburn as growing numbers of folks rave about this dish. Kyoto, Japan is my…

Bouncing off the words of Haruki Murakami — Spend your money on the things money can buy. Spend your time on the things money can’t buy. ― Haruki Murakami, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle I have enjoyed reading a few of Japanese author Haruki Murakami’s novels. I cannot claim that I am a fan — which is not to…

October Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Site or Sight” — Imagine the sight of Buddhist monks and followers practicing nenbutsu (nen-boo-tsu), a ritual recitation, a form of prayer for one’s rebirth in paradise — which this site may be trying to emulate. Adashino Nenbutsuji is an ancient temple located in the mountains of Okusaga, near my home in Saga-Arashiyama in…

Tomato root-associated bacterial genes detoxify soil environment Regardless of how one says ‘tomato,’ they all contain tomatine, a toxin in the plant’s green fruit, leaves, and roots. Tomatoes produce the bitter-tasting compound — a major plant-specialized metabolite secreted from the roots — to defend against pathogens and foragers. Such metabolites…

Changes in post-Fukushima risk perception show regional differences — Over time, reason strengthens, memories fade, and fear subsides. The food contamination that followed the Fukushima nuclear plant incident in 2011 caused widespread fear, both within Japan and internationally. …

KyotoU discovers how toxic fungi target specific host plants — While infectious fungal plant diseases relentlessly wreak havoc on many crops, they are also picky when choosing their hosts. Each fungus generally exhibits a specific host range, but the mechanism of this specificity has not been well understood. Kyoto University researchers have now identified and categorized four fungal proteins called…