March of the Penguins

Snow Snow Snow Snow Snow

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February 9th 2007
"Shouldn't you be working?" Hmm...yes, a thought that continuously entered my head as I departed for a 5 day trip to Hokkaido (the northern island of Japan). Many Japanese consider Hokkaido far away, and freezing cold...these are not so true. Sapporo is famous for two things: 1) The beer of the same name, and 2) The yuki matsuri (snow festival). The yuki matsuri swells the population ... read more

Asia » Japan » Hokkaido » Sapporo

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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