Miyazaki landscapes

He (and obviously the vastly talented artists with him), can see the art in real life and make it come to life on screen.

Fishing boats on Nishiki River

I took this shot near the beginning of my time in Japan, and it remained one of my favourites all year.

Japan, as seen through train windows

All trains provide a seat and a window. I provide the camera.

Other things you can do in Nagasaki

Spectacles Bridge was built by Zen master Mokusu Nyojo, and is the oldest stone bridge in Japan.

After the bomb

I wonder how many Americans knew about this after the bomb: we hadn’t vaporized alien beings, but Christians, and sacred Catholic churches and artifacts.

Yumihari Observatory above Sasebo

When we were done taking advantage of our hosts’ incredible balcony, they told us there was an observatory at the top of the mountain. Observatory turns out to mean, in Japan, a viewpoint.

American Town Festival at Sasebo

And just like that, I got to step onto the USS Bonhomme Richard, the gigantic amphibious assault ship I had been in awe of during every visit to Sasebo.

Full moon and fireworks

We were perfectly content not to extend ourselves outside our fuzzy dark night bubbles of serenity.

Heat and goodbyes in Hiroshima

600 meters above ground, the bomb flattened nearly every structure within a 2 kilometer radius, and killed thousands of people instantly. Thousands more died soon after, flesh dripping off them, with nausea, fever, diarrhea, loss of hair, and internal bleeding. And then many more died after that, due to sudden bouts of cancer.

The deer are starving at Miyajima

As cool as the sights were, as impressive the shrines, as fun as the ferry rides were, the deer made it depressing. Tara and I didn’t really talk about it, but it was the elephant in the room.