Cambridge River Festival — Running into Japan

On Saturday, June 7, 2014 the Cambridge River Festival was held. It was a hot day with many people streaming past booths representing cultural aspects of Japan. Crafts, vintage kimonos, charitable activities and more were represented there. Many of these Japanese organizations are related to JREX, the Japanese Resource Exchange. Tewassa (related story),  (Tewassa Website),  an organization raising money towards aiding earthquake and tsunami victims…

Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival in Brookline, Massachusetts

Not too long ago I had the chance to visit a Japanese style cherry blossom festival in Brookline, near Boston. It was held at the local high school. What really stood out was that the audience, as well as the performers were all participating. It was a dancing, drumming, very happy matsuri community. I also would like to point out that Tewassa, an organization raising…

Tohoku, Japan – 3 years after

First I was not sure if I should publish this post. I realize that it is a sensitive matter for many of my friends and readers. The photos here are silent witnesses of a time only a few months after the 3-11-11 disaster in Tohoku, Japan. This is how I was able to witness this place thanks to the kind help of a local friend. As…

Loving Hands Quilting for Tohoku

Tohoku Thoughts – Three Years after the Earthquake and Tsunami — Tohoku People — Kind and welcoming. Happy, cheerful, no-nonsense attitude. Hardworking, honest and good-hearted, shy at first then opening the world for you.  More than anything else: Resilient and Tough. — Memories — Forests and the summer rain. Mountains, a glass of sake, Cicadas, fishing boats and oyster farms.  Hot Springs, Herbs, Food from Sea and Land, Snow, Stories, Inspirations. Friends….