Susan Spann's Blog, page 26

Western Breakfast in Japan

While visiting Japan, I enjoy both Japanese and “Western” breakfast options. I tend to switch off between them fairly regularly. I’ve blogged about Japanese breakfasts–like the one above–in the past (and will do so again) but today, I thought I’d share a couple of typical Japanese “Western” breakfasts. The first comes courtesy of Doutour – a coffee house chain with stores all over Japan (and I do mean ‘all over’ – you see them everywhere). Doutour has hot and cold breakfast options, including one of my favorites–a “curry sausage” that’s basically a hot dog in a naan-style “bun” with a slender stream

Sandals On – The Road Awaits

Japanese people have worn variations on woven straw sandals for over a thousand years. The simplest ones, known  as warazori, slipped over the foot and were worn for daily labor. Waraji had (and still have) ties to secure the shoe around the ankle, making them better suited for pilgrimages and other long-distance travel. People sometimes offered, or presented, waraji to Buddhist temples as a prayer for strength, either to work or to complete a special pilgrimage or journey. Sometimes the sandals were normal-sized, but in some cases – like the giant 0-waraji that adorn the back side of the hozomon at Tokyo’s Senso-ji – the sandals

A Visit to Nezu Jinja, Part 2

(To read Part 1, click here.) Like many Shintō shrines in Japan, Nezu Jinja features a subshrine dedicated to Inari Ōkami, the kami (god) of foxes, rice, sake, fertility, swordsmiths, merchants, agriculture, and worldly success (among other things). There are over 10,000 Inari shrines across Japan — and with good reason, given Japan’s historical dependence upon rice as a primary source of food (and, at one time, as the measure of wealth as well). Like all Inari shrines, the subshrine at Nezu Jinja has numerous carvings of guardian foxes watching over the precinct: Many Inari shrines feature “tunnels” of closely placed torii–the

A Visit to Nezu Jinja (Shrine), Part 1

Nezu Jinja lies in Tokyo’s Bunkyō ward, and has since Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi ordered the shine moved to its current location in 1705. The shrine is perhaps best known for its extensive azalea garden, which erupt in color every April (there’s even an azalea festival at the shrine each spring), but I visited for the first time last December and can attest it’s worth a visit in any season. According to legend, the twelfth Japanese emperor, Prince Yamato Takeru, founded Nezu Jinja during the first century. The shrine is dedicated chiefly to Susanō-no-mikoto, Shintō kami (god) of storms and the sea – though

Goodbye Hair – Hello to a Warrior Life

Most people who undergo chemotherapy lose their hair. Most women who receive the A/C drug cocktail I’m receiving for breast cancer treatment begin seeing the effects of alopecia (hair loss) about 14 days after their first treatment. Apparently, I’m a bit of an overachiever. Last night in the shower, my hair began falling out in clumps – and once it dried a few hours later, I ran my hand through it and came away with a large enough portion that it was clear the time had come. I went to the bathroom and shaved my head. Although a lot of hair

Blueberry-Cinnamon Oatmeal With Chia

Since I’m currently undergoing chemotherapy following breast cancer surgery, I’ve cleaned up my act where my diet is concerned. No one can guarantee that a certain food, or diet plan, will prevent, cure, or even help with cancer treatment – but healthy foods are never a bad idea. On the days right after my treatment, I take joy in preparing my meals, and it helps my appetite (which chemo suppresses) too. In the interest of sharing – and hopefully helping other people looking for healthy, simple, and tasty recipes, I’m going to share a few of my favorites in the weeks

A Fond Farewell – and an Unexpected Promise

When I left Japan in December, I bid Tokyo a bittersweet farewell – bitter, because I hate to leave, but sweet because I knew I’ll be returning soon. As always, I snapped a couple of photos out the airplane window. This was the best one:   In between managing focus and trying to capture the beautiful sunset, I almost missed the most important detail of all. Can you see it? Look in the upper left corner of the frame. The cone-shaped mountain rising above the clouds is Fuji-san – Japan’s tallest and most iconic mountain. It seems to be poking

100 Summits: Nihon Hyakumeizan 2018!

Happy New Year, everyone! Now that 2018 is upon us, I’m officially launching My 100 Summits Project: Nihon Hyakumaeizan 2018! As I mentioned in December, I’m under contract to climb and write a book about the Nihon Hyakumeizan (100 Famous Mountains of Japan) as described in Kyūya Fukada’s 1964 mountaineering book by the same name. Fukada’s book has inspired generations of Japanese mountaineers (and many from other countries around the world) to climb his “Hundred Famous Peaks” – which Fukada selected on the basis of their history, beauty, and essential “Japanese” character.   The world record for climbing all 100 peaks is

100 Summits, Plus 1 More: Chemotherapy (Day 1)

In 2018, I will attempt to become the first American woman over 45  to climb the Nihon hyakumeizan (100 famous mountains of Japan) in a single year. Given my recent cancer diagnosis and surgery, I believe I’ll also be the only person of any age to climb them within a year of completing chemotherapy. My oncologist described the journey as “100 summits, plus one more.” I started up the first one yesterday – even though I didn’t walk a step. Since I plan to chronicle the entire 100 Summits experience here on the blog, I’m including my “climb” through chemotherapy also

O Tokyo Tree . . .

Christmas decorations abound in Tokyo at this time of year, and Christmas trees are no exception. It seems every business and professional building, shopping center, and hotel puts up a massive tree display – some real: and some “creative interpretations.”While many are real trees, like the one in the photo above (in a building near Tokyo Station) interpretive trees are just as common. Among my favorites (so far): The twinkling “tree of lights” at Solamachi / Skytree Shopping Center. (Extra points for the blue-and-white color scheme, and the resulting inadvertent nod to Hanukkah…)   The floral tree on the Solamachi patio, near the