Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Nov 21, 2009, 8:16 pm
The smell of lemon grass and jasmine; sitting on the porch in his favorite chair and strumming along on his guitar some ancient tune; man’s best friend near his feet.  Looking from his porch he can...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Nov 14, 2009, 8:45 pm
( Depth of Knowledge Strength of Knowledge and the Pillars of Truth ) Philosophy is the science of wisdom, if you can classify it as such. Actually, the literal meaning of philosophy is love of wis...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Nov 13, 2009, 6:17 pm
This week’s nihonshu hails from Yamagata, a prefecture in northern Japan  known for its good sake, an excellent rice grain called Hainuki, and gorgeous onsen, especially during winter.   Oth...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Nov 9, 2009, 10:32 pm
My job covers my transportation by enabling me to purchase a bus pass that I can use to go to work everyday.  It costs about 9,000 yen per month and it’s unlimited use for all Yokohama and Kanagawa...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Nov 4, 2009, 8:03 pm
Sitting in silence on a very quiet weekday afternoon, not even one sound from a neighbor.  There’s a distance hum of a washing machine, the smell of outside air still lingering from her purse and h...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Nov 2, 2009, 10:05 am
Another very nice and well-rounded sake from West Japan. This is a Junmai Ginjo, Nama Genshu. Junmai Ginjo means it falls into the premium class of labor intensive sake with rice that’s mill...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Nov 1, 2009, 9:48 pm
Greetings & Salutations,   I was confronted the other day by a student over the question of "Freedom."   So, I had asked her to ask herself that same question instead of asking me.  She...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 28, 2009, 12:37 pm
Descartes once said that “I think, therefore I am!”  And with that one phrase he became the father of modern philosophy.  “I drink good sake, therefore I am” is what I say, and boy, did I ch...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 26, 2009, 10:57 pm
Towering at 186cm/or 6’2, Erika Araki is one of my favorite volleyball players.  She’s also a favorite type of mine.  Her dominance on the floor is only second to Oyama Kana’s, I thin...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 26, 2009, 6:44 pm
With the departure of Taro Aso, the 59th Prime Minister of Japan, who had only proven to be just a "flash in the pan" and a major let down for many including his staunchest supporters, Yukio Hatoyama ...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 25, 2009, 2:43 pm
On the way home the other day I stopped over at this neighborhood liquor store just to poke my head in the door to see what kind of stuff they had. Within seconds I was greeted by throngs of...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 25, 2009, 8:29 am
A lot of things were happening all over the world in 1971. The President of the United States at that time was Richard Nixon, Republican, who was the first U.S. president in history to resign from of...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 23, 2009, 9:05 am
Shinjuku is literally flooded with porn shops that sell and rent porn flicks 24 hours a day.  I remember stopping by one particular shop that was selling Jukujo DVDs for 1000 円, the guy behind the ...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 22, 2009, 6:56 pm
The U.S. of A.  It's difficult to understand America.  The law of contradiction is what governs America.  It was the slave owners who declared " We hold these truths self evident that all m...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 22, 2009, 10:31 am
This is a picture of Mount Fujii from start to twist. I think it’s lovely, don’t you?.  I think so much of the human  body goes under-appreciated.  Smooth tofu complexioned   skin, a full hea...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 21, 2009, 10:57 pm
Back in the day when I was traveling all over Japan, I remember seeing old Japanese men drinking either beer or nihonshu for breakfast.  In fact I recall a time when I was staying at an onsen ryoukan...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 16, 2009, 2:21 am
This is exactly how it came in the mail this morning, in bubble wrap. 1000ml of a rare “doburoku” type sake from Miyazaki  prefecture.  As you can see it looks half full, which is by des...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 13, 2009, 8:00 am
  Just around these giant sake containers I entered into another of Japan’s prefectures.  Shimane prefecture to be exact, a place with a long history of culture, great sake, and home of the po...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 11, 2009, 10:29 pm
Today's Song Furusato 1. 兎（うさぎ）追いし　かの山 I hunted rabbits on that mountain. 小鮒（こぶな）釣りし　かの川 I fished for minnows in that stream. 夢はいま�...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 10, 2009, 3:51 am
高橋酒造 長岡市 大吟醸（酒米：山田錦） 精米40％ ２００９年春は、残念ながら入賞するも、金賞を逃しました。 そのお酒を無ろ過で６０本�...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 10, 2009, 3:41 am
  Junmai Daiginjo: Green apple; rice; Senshuraku rice; complex taste; 使用米：千秋楽４０％精米 使用酵母：協会１４号酵母 日本酒度：＋２ 酸度：�...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Oct 7, 2009, 4:23 pm
Ok, so maybe that's a bit of a stretch since I'm not young anymore, at least not young enough to be victimized by a female teacher. I mean, I was always a ' teacher's pet' all thr...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Sep 30, 2009, 10:55 pm
Whispered Into Afternoon Sun of autumn, thin and shy And fruit drops off the trees, Blue silence fills the peace Of a tardy afternoon's sky. Death knells forged of metal,...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Sep 29, 2009, 10:25 pm
When Japanese think of the big names in fishery products they think of places like Tsukijii, Kushiro, and Hachinohe.  Very little, however, is ever mentioned about Choushi fisheries, which is located...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Sep 29, 2009, 10:05 pm
Entrance Rear After that extravagant lunch at Akemi's restaurant I headed back to Choushi Station to catch the Dentetsu, a small one car local private train, which has been popularized ...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Sep 28, 2009, 10:16 pm
Before saying goodbye to Mr. Hidenori, he introduced me to his favorite restaurant called "Hitachi," which is ran by a lovely jukujo ' momma class' woman who was born and homegrown right in Ch...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Sep 28, 2009, 3:24 am
Most junior high school students in Japan, who actually pay attention in class, can recognize names of places around their own homeland; places like the name's of major fishing ports, temples and ...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Sep 23, 2009, 11:43 pm
A co-worker once told me that the best marriages are the ones where both husband and wife run a business together.  Trust is key in any business, and what better business partner to have than you...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Sep 21, 2009, 2:41 am
October is fast approaching, so if you have an article or blog/website posting of a favorite sake submit it before September 30th before midnight. For this 2nd edition try to pay attention to Autumn...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Sep 15, 2009, 10:11 pm
I am Tokugetsu, a highly refined nihonshu.   I was born on September in the  year of our god Heisei 21.    Most sake of my class use rice that’s milled away at 50%, but my masters had a ...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Sep 14, 2009, 11:29 pm
I love the long stretch of highway that connects Minami - Uonuma to Nagaoka City, Niigata.  After exiting  the Kanestsu Tunnel, one of the longest land tunnels in the world, and the central gateway ...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Sep 13, 2009, 10:54 am
子どものころから、”酒とめんと肴“のある暮らしを堪能しています（笑） Not many foreigners have an opportunity to hear about real stories from real Japanese women lik...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Sep 5, 2009, 11:04 am
Carnivals are a great way to spread useful information around the blogosphere.  Like minded people who share similar interest can exchange links together through posting or hosting article on each ot...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Sep 3, 2009, 8:47 am
Disclaimer This is a short premise of a graduation thesis written by a Caucasian New Zealander woman several years ago who asked me to critique it. There is a slight difference in the spelling of ...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 31, 2009, 7:42 am
Society & Culture Disclaimer:   I've been sitting on this interview for almost a year and a half now pondering when and whether or not I should post it.   The accounts of the interview ...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 30, 2009, 9:37 pm
Discourse on language & violence Disclaimer:   I've been sitting on this interview for almost a year and a half now pondering when and whether or not I should post it.   The accounts of the...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 30, 2009, 2:09 am
Having a car can be really convenient. Who likes having to eye their watch all the time worrying whether or not they’ll miss the last train home. I don’t, and since the car has been sitting in t...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 29, 2009, 7:34 pm
Disclaimer:   I've been sitting on this interview for almost a year and a half now pondering when and whether or not I should post it.   The accounts of the interview are accurate and not fabr...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 27, 2009, 12:06 pm
Tonight's summer type sake is made by blending two rice grains; Yamadanishiki at 50% and Matsuyama Mitsui at 60%( a type of sake rice currently grown exclusively in Ehime Prefecture).  The water ...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 26, 2009, 12:02 am
Toshio Tamogami ( legitimate Japanese ) Tobias Harris ( enemy of the State residing in Japan) How is the legality of the European empires any different than the legality of Japan's colonies ...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 24, 2009, 2:33 pm
Hakudake Sen; Ginjo Nama; Gohyakumangoku(premium brewers rice); harvested in Fukui prefecture; 55% rice; alc 15 to 16. I would like to emphasis that this is a summer type sake, meaning it’s only...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 24, 2009, 3:06 am
Takao is an area in Tokyo famous for good hiking and nature.  But for those like me who’d rather just stroll around languidly while soaking in the surrounding areas, then  Takao may be the right p...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 22, 2009, 5:37 pm
Some may call this type of sake the pino colada of the sake world.  Nigori sake is unfiltered, hence the milky color.  In this picture you can see the limited summer edition of this delicious milky ...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 21, 2009, 11:06 am
I love her. Green apple, green apple! I can taste it. She’s young and she’s fresh. The label on the back says 8/2009! This is as fresh as it gets ladies and gentleman. Here she is: Ya...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 20, 2009, 9:19 pm
Hailing from Niigata, the mother lode of sake, is Asahiyama 300, which in actuality is brewed by the same makers(Asahi Shuzo) of Kubota, a nationally recognized nihonshu that’s not only enjoyed here...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 18, 2009, 6:58 am
The title in English would be Emperor Showa. And his Majesty's Mausoleum is named the Musashino no Misasagi, thus the long title: ( しょうわてんのう むさしののみささぎ）。 ...
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 17, 2009, 11:11 am
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Tony A. posted an article on The Soul of Japan - Aug 15, 2009, 1:42 pm
The future.  What is this urgency that people have within themselves to worry about the future?   If I ask myself this question, then I'd probably retort by saying " the future is now."  My gi...
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