DURING a brief trip to Japan in late November to visit family, actress Sakura Kai (Setsuko Tsuchiya) and I made an even briefer stop at Toei-Kyoto Studios jidaigeki (Japanese period drama) Park and filming lot for a day — https://global.toei-eigamura.com. Needless to say, being actors ourselves, we had a wonderful time transported back to Japan’s Edo period (1600 to 1868 AD) Japan, walking streets we’d seen in various Japanese movies and shows in the taiga (historical) drama genre. Ac...

THERE seems to me to be four big factors suddenly at interplay with regard to food these days. First, however, it’s important to place this post within context: People all over the world are suddenly experiencing pre-war instability and uncertainness. Those who lived through WWII (and they are a rapidly dwindling minority) often say our contemporary world “feels” just like pre-World War II but “on steroids.” In the meantime, the world’s population continues a 45-degree growth curv...

FUN going GROCERY SHOPPING! I used to look forward to a quick in and quick out after work with several bags of fresh, tasty groceries for $25 a bag. Yep. Usta.

Went shopping at 6:45 AM this morning to avoid the crowd and maintain social distancing while wearing my obligatory mask. Tried to walk the isles for exercise (grocery walking) but had to do all the shopping in 15 minutes or less, only to wait in long lines for the only one or two cashiers up and awake at this time of the day. They ca...