Over New Years this last year, the other Dave and I spent the holidays, as we often do, traveling around Japan together. This year’s main target was the stunningly beautiful village of Shirakawa-go in northern Gifu. Along the way,…
The Japanese Home Front I: Learning About the Sasebo Air Raid at the Sasebo Peace Museum (Air Raid Reference Room)
This series is about the Japanese home front in and around Sasebo, Japan, during World War II. It is not a condemnation or critique of actions taken by either side during the war but rather a look at the civilian…
The Fall of Kamakura
In my last article, we talked about the rise of the Genpei wars and the rise of the first true military government of Japan, the Shogunate, or Bafuku. This week, I want to fast forward and look at the…
David’s Top Five Tanks at the Bovington Tank Museum
Inspired by the recent Tank Museum Top 5 Tanks videos from the Mighty Jingles and Lindybeige, I’ve decided to pick my own favorite five tanks from that museum. The Tank Museum in Bovington, England, possess one the largest collections…
Genpei – Rise of the Shoguns
The court is in turmoil. The child Emperor has died, leaving no heirs. The two most powerful noble families each have their favorite successor. The head of one family serves has served as chancellor for the last twenty years after…
JMSDF Omura Air Show
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Omura Air Base held it’s annual air show May 21, 2017. The event featured aerial demonstrations by local air rescue and anti-submarine warfare squadrons as well as static displays and marching bands. JMSDF Omura’s aircraft are…
Walking a Mile in Another’s Boots: Reenacting World War II in Japan
Living in Japan participating in a World War II reenactment was one of the last things I’d expect to do, least of all participating in one with a group of dedicated Japanese portraying American Soldiers. But, next month that’s exactly…
An Adventure in the Retelling.
I read or heard a quote a while back. I don’t recall where I saw it or where it originally came from, but it has been knocking around my head a lot lately. The saying, as I recall it,…
Wedding Bells
We were hoping to get a story out this week, but we’re going to have to put it off until later this week because I am getting married and Dave is here as well. For now I’ll just leave you…
Consecrated in the Blood of Two Peoples: Mariveles, Corregidor and the Capas National Shrine (Part II)
Our next destination was supposed to be Corregidor, but we got side tracked in Mariveles on the way down. We were heading south to see about renting a banca, the traditional Filipino outrigger boat, which could take us out to…