I have been back in Japan for just over a week and have done very little. This post is just to jog my memory in 10 years time, being that I am still alive of course.

The foundation for my inactivity has been meteorogical. At first, it was unbearably hot and humid, making it impossible to do anything more strenuous than lift chopsticks to lips. Then a typhoon blasts in; https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/25/taiwan-typhoon-gaemi-landfall-death-toll-path-tracker-latest-today. It is well South of us but it is very windy and tons of rain. Not good conditions for activity.

Notwithstanding, here is what happened.

The moon is full.

Breakfast with Ichiro san and Tomomi san.

Ichiro san and I went on an epic trip to Hokkaido last year. We saw the very rare Blackiston’s Fish Owl. https://thequietripple.com/2023/02/11/more-eagles-than-sparrows/

Immediately after we had seen the owl for the first time, Ichiro san starts to sketch in the darkness of the shed we were sleeping in. It is 2 o clock in the morning. I was astounded. How could he make any kind of representation of a bird he had see for less than a minute, working in the pitch dark?

Anyway, he gave me the sketch, beautifully framed. I am touched.

Tomomi san has designed a new fold out pamphlet about Ichiro san’s art. She is very talented. If you want one, I will get you one.

Change of subject.

We go eat.

Not much happening but a groundswell of happiness.