Typhoon Roke

21 September 2011

The past two days have been humid and soggy, with especially heavy rain today related to Typhoon Roke which had a much more severe impact along the east coast in the Nagoya area. We went over to the University where Win was supposed to participate in a meeting, but found the place mostly shut down. At least he knows what bus to take and which is the building where his office is located. Classes don't start until October 1.

The heavy rain curtailed our explorations this week, giving us more time to read etc. I highly recommend a wonderful book Holly B. gave us before we left called The Hare with the Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal, a gifted English potter whose family (Ephrussi) in the past were wealthy bankers from Odessa who settled in Paris and Vienna in the late 19th Century and were among other things art collectors. One member acquired a magnificent collection of 240 netsuke during the early days of enthusiasm for Japanese art. How this collection moved from Paris to Vienna, surviving the unspeakable horrors of the Nazi invasion, and ended up in Japan after WWII via England and finally in de Waal's possession makes a mesmerizing and extremely touching story. The picture I include is his hare and another netsuke I just liked.

We think the weather should be getting better, and since Friday September 23 is another national holiday (o Higan or Fall Equinox) we will try to take some day trips outside the immediate city.

With love to all