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Ask The Right Question for Happiness
“What can I contribute,” not “What’s in it for me” After living for more than 60 years, I’m finally beginning to prefer asking myself “what can I do to contribute?” rather than “what’s in it for me?” I was requested to conduct an ikebana demonstration for a group of 25 or so people. The duration…
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A Weaver’s Challenge
Restoring traditional silk fabric making Katsuyama-san: The Silk Magician The obi fabric that Katsuyama-san (Katsuyama Takeshi 勝山健史) makes is nothing like I’ve ever seen. Obi is a sash worn with kimono, traditional Japanese clothing. Its original function was to simply keep the kimono closed, since kimino doesn’t have buttons or fasteners. As kimono became more…
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Thank you very much, Daisosho
“Peacefulness through a bowl of tea” will always be with us I was shocked by the news that came from Japan late last night. It said that Sen Genshitsu, the 15th-generation grand master of Urasenke School of Japanese Tea Ceremony, had passed away. News earlier this year was reporting that he was still visiting overseas…
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Sharing The Joy of Learning Ikebana
There is no end to it I began teaching Ikebana at Fran’s Chocolates 8 years ago. My first class was filled with my dear friends. They were interested in Ikebana, wanted to test the water, but they took my class mainly to show their support for me. I’m so grateful for their generosity. When I…
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The Restaurant My Father Used to Love
I visited it 47 years later by chance Although I don’t remember exactly when, it must be on a spring or early summer night in 1979. I was a junior in high school, got accepted to spend a whole year in the US as an exchange student through an organization called AFS, then called American…
