Happy-Go-Solo

A Tabletop Journey: Tokuwo (January 2026)

An omakase dinner plus two extra dishes at Tokuwo, a Japanese restaurant in Kyoto's Kiyamachi district. A gilded plate fit for Hideyoshi, deep-fried ebi-imo taro, and pillowy warabi mochi: a solo tabletop journey complete with the most genuine hospitality.

2026.01.17

Solo Gourmet

New Year Asakusa Kabuki: Part 1 (January 2026)

Part 1 of the New Year kabuki at Asakusa Public Hall. Hunting down actor handprints and tapestries, hearing the stage cues in Aioi-jishi from a front seat, a Maisen pocket sandwich, and a hotel three minutes away—a solo day out, traveling light.

2026.01.06

Kabuki

New Year’s Celebration at the Tokyo National Museum (January 2026)

On my way back from Asakusa, I dropped by the Tokyo National Museum on a whim. No real plan—just the New Year's "Pine Trees," and the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures designed by Yoshio Taniguchi. A solo wander, captivated by winter light and a painterly old tree.

2026.01.06

Museums

New Year Asakusa Kabuki: Part 2 (January 2026)

With time to spare before the afternoon show, I wandered around Asakusa, had the Danjuro statue all to myself for a photo spree, and caught the Otoshidama greeting — given, once again, by Sakon Onoe, who once again talked about Somegoro. A solo travelogue of New Year Asakusa Kabuki, Part 2.

2026.01.05

Kabuki

Kyoto National Museum, Pony Tales (January 2026)

A New Year visit to Kyoto National Museum to renew my annual pass, with a chance encounter with Ogata Korin's Bamboo and Tiger, the model for Torarin.

2026.01.03

Museums

Kokuho (Dir. Lee Sang-il)

Six months after its release, I finally saw "Kokuho" from a premium seat I booked through sheer persistence. The story was a little predictable, but the music and visuals had me in tears. Three hours well spent at the cinema.

2025.12.29

Others

A Tabletop Journey: Osoba Horai (December 2025)

A tiny counter-only soba shop down a Gion alley, Osoba Horai. The star is the nine-compartment appetizer treasure box. From sashimi and spring rolls to soba with plenty of condiments and an ice-cream monaka finish, this is a solo tabletop journey in the order each dish arrived.

2025.12.23

Solo Gourmet

Yoshiro and Yoshio Taniguchi Museum of Architecture, Kanazawa (December 2025)

A spur-of-the-moment detour to the museum of a beloved architect. I came for the recreated Yushintei rooms and ended up captivated by an unexpected water garden, a solo winter day in Kanazawa.

2025.12.20

Museums

A Tabletop Journey: CANAVON (December 2025)

CANAVON, a vegetable-and-natural-wine bistro near Jingu-Marutamachi in Kyoto. After all the clever dishes, the one that stole the show was the fries. A solo tabletop journey that proved the strength of a classic.

2025.12.19

Solo Gourmet

Blue Boy Trial (directed by Kasho Iizuka)

I went for Izumi Sexy's screen debut. Blue Boy Trial left me thinking about what I had not known beforehand, plus a voice I overheard on the escalator afterward. A solo movie outing.

2025.12.03

Others