Looong way away

New Years

---

January 9th 2009
So...New Years New Years in Japan is one of the more traditional holidays. Most people go to an elder relative's house, back to the home town, eat toshikoshi soba on the 31st, go on a early morning visit to a temple, then eat osechiryouri (new years food) for the next few days. My family did none of this. Instead we went to a town called Shimoda on the Izu Penninsula. Large resort town an ... read more

Asia » Japan

---

In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Fol... ... read more