Where Otani Chobei buried the bottle …

January 6, 2026JT Twissel 13 Comments

Here we are just six days into 2026 and already I am more than ready for a complete and total REFUND on this year! But there is no “swap this year for another” desk so I guess I’ll quit my belly-aching. As my mother used to say, “I could complain but what good would it do?” Indeed.

On a more upbeat note, I finally downloaded Google Translate and translated (well, sort of) the legend on the map of Japan my son sent me for Christmas. Below are the literal translations of the symbols. I’m not sure how helpful they are to clueless travelers who just want to get from Point A to Point B but they sure are sweet.

The Oh Wow face indicates a view that will leave you smiling no matter what. The little house represents one of the many temples that deserve a minute of your time. The flowers and leaf indicate seasonal views. Mileage distances are given for people who were smart enough to hire local drivers. If you weren’t – sorry but I guess it will take you longer especially if you stop at all the temples along the way. If you decide to walk to a point of interest, you’d better be a man under 50 with good legs otherwise all bets are off. It could take you a loooooong time.

Also on the map there are intriguing often poetic descriptions of historic sites:

In case anyone wants to know where Otani Chobei buried the bottle, it’s apparently under a pine tree overlooking a twisty mountain road along which there’s beautiful foliage in the fall. At first I thought Otani Chobei was a famous Japanese politician who had a drinking problem but “buried the bottle.” Or a Samurai warrior who made a secret pact with an unpopular Emperor. He’d had to bury the agreement in a bottle under a pine tree lest his treachery be revealed should the Emperor be dethroned. Or beheaded or whatever happened to unpopular Emperors.

And so I googled buried bottles and all the internet had to offer was:

A month before their wedding, couples in the American South often bury a bottle of Bourbon upside down to ensure good weather on their big day. Ok – probably not related unless Otani Chobei was the person who introduced bourbon to Japan.
In Japan there’s a famous baseball player by the name of Shokei Ohtani. As to why his name popped up … well, baseball is very, very big in Japan and he is movie star cute. Sure enough, along came email offers to join his fan club. No …. I do not want a Shokei Ohtani teeshirt!
In the early 1980s a group of Japanese high school students dropped 750 bottles containing messages into the Pacific Ocean in order to study ocean currents. Interesting but I doubt those students (now middle-aged) are wondering where their dimwitted classmate hid the bottle he was supposed to throw in the ocean.

Next I googled Japanese folk tales. Well … there are thousands of ancient Japanese folk tales and I don’t intend to read them all. Thus, I may never know why Otani Chobei buried the bottle.

Unless I go there. With a local driver and on my old, bad legs, of course!

Eat, drink or perfume my undies?

January 1, 2026January 1, 2026JT Twissel 44 Comments

This year for Christmas my son sent us a package from Japan which contained:

It feels a little squishy but has no smell. I googled and Kakiyashu is a restaurant which specializes in fine ($$$$) cuts of beef. So perhaps it’s a fancy beef bar?

There was also a nice note from my son telling me how happy he is to be in Japan and if I’d like to come visit, he kindly supplied a map:

I googled the town where they live and it is along 438 which is the dark blue line slicing across this part of the island of Shikoku. I assume 438 is a highway or perhaps a toll road. But … it could be a river.

The town they live in is near the big pink tree. That should make finding their town a breeze, right? (unless the tree falls down or isn’t in blossom)

By the way, a Nazi symbol on a Japanese map indicates a Buddhist temple. After WWII the Japanese government considered removing the symbol but it has existed and had meaning long before the Third Reich and will long after. It would be like removing the cross from a church because of the actions of unprincipled televangelists or immoral politicians (and you know who I’m talking about.)

Above is a legend to help my husband and I along on our drive. I imagine the smiley face indicates places were you can find food, lodging and gas … and be happy!

If I had to guess:

The little house probably marks a rest stop (with bathrooms hopefully)
The lotus leaf, perhaps an area full of lotus ponds?
The flower symbols … gardens?
And the maple leaf … forests?

Think I’m even close?

Included was also a map of the public transportation system in case we chicken out and decide not to drive. Hum, since we would be driving on the wrong side of the road in a country where we can’t read the signs and don’t speak the language, I would say …. at the very least …. we will be using public transportation. More likely, we will need full-time babysitting and hand-holding. Particularly considering our experience in England a few years back.

I really don’t know what to make of it. Do you?

The final gift in the package was this bag of something.

It’s a very pretty bag. I may never open it which is probably the best course of action since I have no idea what it contains.

It smells like cedar trees so perhaps it’s not meant to be steeped in hot water and sipped like tea. Perhaps it’s potpourri meant to sweeten your underwear drawer. What do you think?

Take heart everyone … 2026 is here. It comes with no promises and a hell of a lot of baggage. How it will end is anyone’s guess but no one knows. We’re all in the dark together with only kind hearts and patience to see us through.

The Eleventh Month and Vanilla

November 1, 2025JT Twissel 31 Comments

Hard to believe that we have reached the eleventh month of 2025. Only one more month until … yikes … 2026.

I’m guessing these are grapevines. What do you think?

This month there are apparently only two holidays in Japan: November 3rd which is Culture Day and November 24 which is Labour Thanksgiving Day. I couldn’t find too much on either. According to multiple tour guides, this month the main event in Japan is what we call “leaf-peeping.” But you have to get out early in the morning as it is very popular!

I found this guy very entertaining! However, so far I’m planning to visit my son in March or April. Did I tell you he bought a house? Yup. Paid the equivalent of $3,000 dollars so it is a doozy. Doesn’t have running water and he’s too tall to get in the front door. Lordie, lordie. Children. I try not to worry but …

Meanwhile, yes I did it. Ordered the very expensive Hawaiian vanilla. Now, what am I going to do with it?

A numbered bottle of vanilla. Sheez. I know, I know. There’s a sucker born every minute.

Please leave recipes (the easier the better) in the comments, and, have a great November!

As if the summer were merely an idea: The Sixth Month

June 1, 2025JT Twissel 22 Comments

It’s hard to believe but, ready or not, here comes June. The Merry Month of June known to many foggy coastal communities as “June Gloom.”

There may be no state-sanctioned days off in Japan during June but there are regional festivals all over the country. Of course, it’s the same here in the United States. When I was a single mom I always dreaded June. School ended and yet summer camps wouldn’t begin for at least a week. And then there were all those weddings and graduations and money just flew out the door. This country has never been child friendly and it looks like it will be getting worse.

Sunlight hitting the lilies on the hill.

But at least the weather is neither too cold or hot and the days are long. Best, I think, to enjoy the break before summer really takes hold and lasts (at least here) until the beginning of October.