石西正二 / Isonishi Masaji

Our final correspondence:

石西: 明日の事はわかりませんが

とりあえず楽しくておつきあいをいただいたこと

ありがとうございました

me: BEST FRIEND

石西: ゆーつー

This might not be the most appropriate memorial photo for my friend Isonishi-san. But it is my favorite of the many photos I took of him over the years. I like to think it captures a lot about who and what he was: gregarious, friendly, funny, intelligent, informed... He adored his wife, his cats and dogs, the Beatles, trying to speak English and the Hanshin Tigers.

Isonishi and his wife ran a coffee shop in Tenri city in Nara prefecture called "Apple." Apple was a very important place and space for me, family, friends and many others. Isonishi taught me a lot and influenced me in many ways. There were so many good times. But now I find that words escape me. I put together a small album of photos I took to give to his wife and family. I feel that this is a time when photos can evoke memories and feelings better than words. At least my words now.

Isonishi-san passed away on July 13, 2025, at the age of 78. For now, may he rest in peace. But I have a feeling that I will be reunited with him again.

Kayashima Shrine Summer Matsuri (July 27, 2025) / 萱島神社夏祭り（2025年7月27日） / PLUS! A Surprise Bonus! / さらに！サプライズボーナス！

A HOT early Sunday afternoon, the deafening sound of the cicadas on the cherry tress that line the small stream behind out house, and the sound of shouting and taiko drums approaching... "Washai! Washai!" This is the parade of the Kayashima Shrine Summer Festival mikoshi (portable shrine). There are two mikoshi this year, a small, light one hoisted by children and a large one in the back of a truck along with a taiko drum. During this parade, the local deity of the shrine is temporarily transferred to the mikoshi so that it can bestow blessings to all as it moves through the neighborhood. In the past, the mikoshi was hoisted by an army of hot, sweaty men and women. These days, due to the dwindling number of children and elderly people (as a result of the low birth rate and aging society), COVID-19 (durimg the pandemic years) and the sweltering hot tempertures, the number of participants is low and the truck is used. It is a very different scene than it was several years ago, as can be seen here in 2013:

https://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.com/2013/07/local-matsuri-i-mikoshi.html

and here in 2014:

https://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.com/2014/08/local-matsuri-2014-edition.html

But still, the festival goes on...

BONUS: Mushrooms on the cherry trees (I actually noticed these a month ago)...

Takeshi Mamezuka Photo Exhibition "People Who Didn't Hear the Pika-don Bang"

Text and photos from kyoto-muse.jp.

The Kyoto Museum of Photography's Gallery Japanesque will be holding a photo exhibition by Takeshi Mamezuka entitled "People Who Didn't Hear the Pikachu/Snake Bang" from Tuesday, July 22nd to Sunday, July 27th, 2025 .

The deaf victims of the Nagasaki atomic bomb have survived the postwar period while bearing the triple suffering of being deaf, unable to speak, and exposed to the atomic bomb. Using a 6x6 format camera, Mamezuka carefully captured their way of life, getting very close to their inner selves. What is captured in his photographs are various thoughts and suffering, as well as the many expressions that only Mamezuka could capture by facing his subjects head-on.

The first paragraph of the artist statement: The atomic bombing had faded from people's memories, and the footsteps of war could be heard, when the news of the Hidankyo's Nobel Peace Prize came in. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the bombing. Deaf atomic bomb survivors of Nagasaki live with the desire for peace and the bombing experience. Looking back, it all began 40 years ago when a group of sign language interpreters was formed in Nagasaki. In Nagasaki, it was thought that one could not fully understand the lives of deaf people without knowing the bombing, so they began to record the experiences of the atomic bombing. As I had a close relationship with the sign language interpreters, I received a request to "record the experience photographically." As a group with no money, we began making volunteer visits to Nagasaki. We continued to visit Nagasaki for nearly 10 years.

Takeshi Mamezuka Photo Exhibition "People Who Didn't Hear the Pikadon Bang"
2025/07/22 ~ 2025/07/27
Gallery Japanesque, Kyoto Museum of Photography

For more information: https://kyoto-muse.jp/news/185559

See also: https://kyoto-muse.jp/exhibition/184680

Where to get baseball cards in Japan? Forget the bubblegum, think potato chips and kaki no tane... (and updated 7/14/25)

When I was growing up in America, I would often buy baseball cards that came with a stick (and scent) of bubblegum. But here in Japan, you can get baseball cards when you buy a certain brand of potato chips and a certain brand of kaki no tane (small, crescent-shaped rice crackers flavored with soy sauce and chili). Here are a couple of recent purchases...

I bought 3 small packs of chips at my neighborhood convenience store in Kadoma-shi. You get two cards per pack. Unfortunately I didn't get any Hanshin Tigers player cards this time.

*******

I found these kaki no tane at a convenience store in Kyoto. I had never seen these before. You get one card per pack. I was lucky to get one Hanshin Tigers player card, Nakano Takumu. My daughter and I enjoy opening up the packs and seeing which players we got, and then eating the snacks. Go Tigers!

UPDATE! 7/14/25:

Recently when we bought potato chips we got a "lucky card." We sent it in the the company and received a small folder to keep our cards in good condition.

The Latest Hanshin Tigers Merch

Bonus(?):

This picture pretty much says it all... 7 losses in a row. And on Umeno's birthday no less (he did get a hit, but was tagged out when he tried to steal second). Maybe they need to eat more bananas...

Japanese-style garden in Grand Rapids, Michigan , USA

"Bright morning light on pond and path around the garden"

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mi_shigapics/51427254438/in/album-72157712160299046

Thanks to Guven Witteveen for sharing this info through the Society for East Asian Anthropology listserv. Guven's comments: 

Probably there are many cities and countries with some form of Japanese-style garden. Of all the cultural landscapes around the world, there only seem to be a few traditions so widely exported during colonial eras and during global times today. Among the many forms of Soft Power, I wonder how gardens fit in at the level of individual impressions formed and popular imagination, too.

The link he provided comes from the sister-city relationship between Grand Rapids, Michigan and Omi-Hachiman in Shiga prefecture, Japan.

Context: As we mark 30 Years of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, we're also honoring a special milestone: 10 Years of the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden! 🌸

This serene oasis was crafted by the visionary Hoichi Kurisu and Kurisu International, a firm renowned for creating "inner spaces" that inspire and heal. Their unique approach weaves together the essence of place, people, and purpose to nurture nature's restorative power. 🌿

Did you know that Hoichi's original design remained remarkably consistent from concept to completion? 📝It's a testament to his clear vision! In the final summer before its opening, about 30 artisans from Japan joined us to bring this tranquil haven to life. Many structures were built in Japan and reassembled on site, with a large tent housing material shipped from across the globe. 🌏

Hoichi is an architect of space, crafting intimate areas that unfold into expansive strolling gardens. Each visit reveals new wonders! Join us in celebrating these milestones and experience the beauty of art and nature intertwined.

#MeijerGardens #JapaneseGarden #30Years #10Years #NatureMeetsArt

Link to "Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids" flickr page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mi_shigapics/albums/72157712160299046/

When it rains hard, the water rises and litter and other debris floats down the stream, oftentimes to be caught in a web of weeds and plants on the concrete banks... Apparently someone lost their fishing pole and it ended up here. Why? Did the fish pull the pole in the water? Did the fisherman have a bad day and in a fit of rage thrust his pole into the stream? So many questions, so many stories... Like, why do so many people throw their garbage away in the stream? This is the real Japan...

UPDATE 6/18/25:

It might be hard to see, but a pigeon picks the weeds and litter in search of food... Or th help clean the mess? Meanwhile (harder to see), a few ducks are chilling downstream in the shade.

Remember when the weeds looked like this? https://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.com/2025/04/2025-na-no-hana-relations.html

New Publication: "An archive of archives lost" by Dada Docot

Abstract: ‘An Archive of Archives Lost’ is an affective autoethnographic visual essay that examines the devastating impact of climate change through the lens of personal loss. The Philippines is among the countries most vulnerable to the ongoing climate crisis, with tropical storms getting stronger and more frequent. As a result of the intensified damage, many homes have lost their personal photographic archive, which used to bring together families and community through shared memories. The repeated experience of typhoons, flooding, and loss has made the community attuned to a routine cycle of letting go. The destruction of photographs symbolizes a deeper loss of cultural and social ties whose affective impact I explore.

Open Source full text article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17540763.2025.2487588

Docot, D. (2025). An archive of archives lost. Photographies, 18(2), 223–244. https://doi.org/10.1080/17540763.2025.2487588

Workshop on Scholarly Communication: “The Art of Herding Cats: Reimagining Classroom Lectures and Conference Presentations” (a continuation of a series at Harvard) June 24, 2025 @ Doshisha University, Kyoto

This workshop brings together presenters from four universities to explore innovative approaches to scholarly communication. Moving beyond conventional formats, the event highlights alternative, dynamic ways to engage audiences. We invite participants to rethink the possibilities for sharing knowledge with both colleagues and students across diverse academic settings.

Hosted by The Institute for the Liberal Arts, Doshisha University

DATE: June 24 (Tuesday) 2025
TIME: 12:00 - 2:00 pm
LOCATION: Doshisha University, Imadegawa, Muromachi Campus
Kambaikan 6F Main Conference Room (寒梅館6階大会議室)
103 Gosho Yahata-cho, Kamidachiuri-sagaru, Karasuma-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi

Register by June 15, 2025 via the QR code on the flyer or at this link: https://forms.gle/HHLVs2AsbrStfHtE9

New Book Announcement: Mark Bookman's "Disability Publics: Making Accessibility in Modern Japan"

A personal note: Dr. Mark Bookman was an incredible scholar, the foremost expert on historical and contemporary disability issues in Japan, a wonderful and caring person any my good friend. He was here in Japan doing research and working on his PhD dissertation, all the while writing several articles and making many presentations. He eventually finished his degree, got a post doc at Tokyo College and then a position at Ritsumeikan University. I was very lucky to know him and benefit from his knowlwdge. At times we were able to work together, and he always found the time to watch many of my presentations (and then give me compliments and his frank and honest critiques). This is the book we have all been waiting for...

Book Description (from Oxford University Press):

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. It is free to read on Oxford Academic and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations.

Over the last 150 years, activists and policymakers have tried to improve access to Japan's built environment, education, employment, entertainment, and medical care systems for disabled persons, but these attempts have frequently excluded as many impaired individuals as they have empowered. Their technological and legislative interventions have not only structured the everyday lives of disabled individuals, but also women, children, old people, migrant laborers, wounded veterans, and members of other vulnerable groups, by both creating and removing obstacles to social participation.

Why and how have stakeholders pursued these accessibility projects for different demographics in modern Japan? To unpack this question, this book investigates the history of Japan's "disability publics": coalitions of activists, government officials, and other interested parties who have advanced policy agendas for specific communities by responding to social, political, and economic circumstances. It demonstrates that pressures tied to macrosocial processes such as industrialization, urbanization, militarization, globalization, and population ageing have played a key role in defining Japan's disability publics. Equally influential have been international flows of information, products, and people working in the welfare sphere, which have inspired Japan's disability publics to implement domestic reforms. A final contributing factor arose from social crises and mega-events (such as the "triple disaster" at Fukushima, the global COVID-19 pandemic and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics) which have provided windows of opportunity for catalyzing policy changes.

Disability Publics uses this history to intervene in current debates about inclusion and will guide future policymaking efforts by asking stakeholders to consider who has a seat at the table, how they come to be there, and what they fail to imagine when developing accessibility measures. In so doing, and by unravelling the politics of Japan's disability publics in this comprehensive way, the book outlines a path towards a more equitable society.

***

Many of our Japanese Studies colleagues will know Dr Mark Bookman's work on disability in Japan. He was trained as a modern historian, but he had many fruitful collaborations with anthropologists during his career. Over the last year, I have been honored to work with Mark's father and Professor Nagase Osamu of Ritsumeikan University to bring Mark’s UPenn dissertation to publication. Please help us sustain his legacy and buy the book at this discount, or recommend it to your library or … read it for free! OUP has happily agreed to make the manuscript open access after its publication in September 2025. (Carolyne S. Stevens, book editor)

For more information: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/disability-publics-9780198979739?cc=jp&lang=en&