Today is the birthday of Mutsuhito, Emperor Meiji, who was born this day in 1852. As emperor he and his government would oversee Japan’s transformation from a feudal to a modern state. His birthplace was this unassuming little house on…
A Soldier of Kumamoto Castle: Tanimura Keisuke
If you ever visit Kumamoto Castle you’ll notice this statue inside without much explanation. The soldier’s name is Tanimura Keisuke and he served at the castle when it was besieged by Saigo Takamori’s rebels during the Satsuma Rebellion / Seinan…
Wayfarer Daves 2020 Year in Review
It’s hard to believe, but this December marks five years since Wayfarer Daves began posting on that date which will live in infamy, Dec. 7, 2015. Our first post was actually a story I’d written that had been published in…
Take a Virtual Tour of Old Tokyo!
Since the late unpleasantness has created barriers to travel for service members, virtual travel and tours of dream destinations have become increasingly popular. Using the internet we can watch videos and live vicariously thanks to those living where we want…
Riding in Meiji-style: The Imperial Carriages of Emperor Meiji
When the first train line opened between Tokyo and Yokohama on Oct. 14, 1872, one of the first passengers on the inaugural ride was Emperor Meiji (1852-1912). While it may have been one of his first train rides*, it was…
Hoichi the Earless and Lafcadio Hearn
Centuries ago in Akamagaseki on Honshu’s southern shore, lived a blind biwa (lute) player named Hoichi at Amidaji Temple. A skilled musician, it was said his musical rendition of the tragic tale of the Battle of Dan-no-ura could move even…
Railway Day and Japan’s First Railway
Japan’s favorite way to travel has its own special day on October 14. Railway Day, or Tetsudo no Hi, is a celebration of the railroads and is also the anniversary of the opening of the country’s first railroad. Linking Tokyo…
Nanja Koriya?! Meiji Tokyo Renka (2019 Anime) Review
Thanks to COVID 19 I’ve been perusing the archives and came across this unpublished anime review from last year when I saw one of the oddest things I’ve seen since, well, the last odd thing I saw. Also, it was…
Woodpecker Detective’s Office Review and Real History
One of the lower profile shows to come out this season was Woodpecker Detective’s Office, a murder mystery series that uses real life literary figures as consulting detectives in late Meiji-era (1868-1912) Tokyo. If it sounds like Sherlock Holmes, that’s…
Lit Up on Electric Brandy in Asakusa
(This article was written based on a visit to the bar in early January 2020 and concludes our Meiji and Taisho-era drinking trilogy. Please read responsibly.) One of my favorite Japanese drinks is neither a beer, nor traditional sake or…