Introduction

If you're reading this, chances are you've been linked from my "father" blog, To See the World.  At first I thought to use TSW as the vehicle to relay my tales of Japan, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized a trip of this magnitude - one I had been contemplating since its inception in grade ten - deserves its own space.  Never mind the roughly forty pages of chronicling over the course of the month and the effect such history-heavy content would have on the disinterested.  No, I thought it best to keep this as a separate blog where only the truly interested can browse.

To reiterate what has already been said, Japanese culture had always been an interest.  I mean, what society can boast such intense discipline as to push something as simple as making tea into the realms of spirituality?  Nothing is without purpose.  Each move is calculated, each thought predetermined, each word considered and spoken and reflected upon.  Western culture, by comparison, is relativistic and carefree.  We do not accept the consequences of our actions or benefit from our own hard work.  We instead rely on the tawdry offerings of our government.  Do I appreciate Japan because it rewards the resourceful and ignores the lazy?  Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!

Rant ended.

Japan is steeped in history, as you will soon see through my journal entries transcribed here.  Mind you, by the time they hit your eyes, they will have been edited and expanded to include my own musings.  By musings, I of course mean delving into historical records.  Just so you're forewarned.

Enjoy!