Strong coffee & flavored tea

'Shinto‘ is a folk belief since ancient times in Japan.   'Shin' refers 'God, spirits or divine' and 'to' is 'way'. I t had presented in this country before Buddhism entered.   The idea of Shinto is to worship natures, the mountains, the sea, the river, the trees and plants to stone as well as ancestor or people who passed away. They usually have a gate as the picture.  It separates the sacred area from this world. 'Ana Hachiman Gu' is one of shrines that is enshrined in the city of Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo . Now days, people go to Shrine not to worship but seek a divine favor. This shrine is famous for economic fortune. They sell an amulet to put on the wall that gives a good luck in  business . However there are some rules to use the amulet, they are sold between 22 Dec until 3 Feb and there are only three days to put on the wall, 22 Dec(winter solstice), 31 Jan(new year) and 3 Feb (traditional end of winter). Also orienta...

I was in a cafe this afternoon as usual weekends and writing something about my latest concerns on my mac. When I nearly finished writing 3000 Japanese letters, this woman who was wearing Kimono with grey hair, having black coffee,  asked if she could sit my table. I replied, 'Please' then went back on my work. She continued 'With no sugar?' I answered 'You can get them at counter'. She brought back two syrups and one sugar stick. I thought they were too much but didn't say anything and kept re-writing. Two syrups were went in the coffee and one stick sugar went thrown in the one of plastic bags placed on the floor. She asked if I was working with PC.   I replied vaguely yes and no. She looked a wealthy and elegant old lady likely often living in this neighborhood, but somehow I could feel that she wanted to talk with someone and someone would have been me at that time. She was just drinking coffee while I was facing the screen as i...

This earring appears gold but it is made from grass. Golden Grass is a herbal plant of a golden color found in a northern region of Brazil called Jalapoo. I found these crafts at Hikarie in Shibuya Tokyo first. It was sort of event shop not regularly selling. And it came to encounter again at festival   in Monaco, I bought them this time. The plant is everlasting, only the shoots are harvested to preserve the roots thus ensuring that natural reproductive and life cycle of the plant are maintained and safeguarded. These are light so it's comfortable to wear. 　 29.-EUR www.or-vegetal.com

I lhave lunch at Starbucks recently. The food are a little costly though they have atmosphere and staff are pleasant which I like. However they don't prepare food for vegetarians. All sandwich contains meat. It might be only in Japan. I'll check out in my next trip.   Steamed milk, cinnamon roll and raspberry yogurt

Just like the name implies, it is a North European style cafe. They make aero press coffee that uses the power of air. Coffee taste is strong but also very mild.   @ Gotanda They open from 7am.

The Spring came. New Haruki Murakami book is coming next month. The picture below is the Art of Ikuo Hirayama who is a Japanese artist and past away in 2009. He was influenced by Buddhism and left the beautiful and peaceful works related to Buddha's life.  This picture shows the conception of Buddha.  It was said, Maaya, the mother of Buddha dreamed of white elephant when she got pregnant.

Ho'oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness. Those simple mantra sounded out repeatedly. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you. It heals and cleanses yourself and the situation as well as karma. I like saying this while I'm relaxed in a bath since there is not much other activities. It is simple, yet powerful. Thank you is a good word. It has the best vibration. When you learn other language, it comes first to remember, isn't it. Merci-French Gracias-Spanish Shukran-Arabic Arigato-Japanese Kamsa hamnida-Korean Xie xie-Chinese etc, etc. Forgiveness is tough one, isn't it. You might think, why I have to forgive? He did this, she said that, they hurt me... It much easier to release those feelings than carrying them forever. It is as muscular training. You get loads to increase your power and energy. Those events are past and only yourself are present. Forgiveness is an essence of love. ...