Yoshida Kenko and A Movie Not Related to Him.

Here's a movie, not so long, that has an interesting story (some). I found it while trying to find some information - any information - about Yoshida Kenko (吉田兼好) who wrote Tsurezuregusa (Essays on Idleness) back in the 1300s Japan. This movie is vaguely related to him as his work is mentioned in the notes accompanying the video. From the notes:

• A short based on 'The Tsurezuregusa of Emma,' a collection of brief, haiku-like aphorisms by Emma Rohwer. Emma's Tsurezuregusa's (essays in idleness) are inspired by the original essays of the Japanese monk, Yoshida Kenko, written sometime in the early-mid fourteenth century.

Little Stories of Some Interest from Michael Gaston on Vimeo.

製然草 - Essays in Idleness - written by 吉田兼好 - Yoshida Kenko - in around 1330~1332 after the Kamakura Bakufu fought Godaigo. Big battle. Lots of fighting. Yoshida supported Godaigo as a guard, then retired when Godaigo's successor died.

My new blog: Idle Journal of a 30-year Japanese Resident has more about Yoshida and idleness.

Bassekou Kouyate - Ngoni Fola - Shanghai SIdeways

Cool music.


A quick flickr tour of Shanghai.


Next week: More books.

Japanese Females Death Metal

This video is for all you who think of Japanese (and/or Asian) women as petite, cutesy, high-pitched, and subservient. Check out the voice on the singer. This is a group from Osaka called Galmet (but the A is printed upside down.)

Not exactly your country-western diva, eh?