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Monthly Archives: May 2010
Some 1945-Era Facts Verified
Buss Kerstetter visited Wakayama in September 1945 as a fire control third class petty officer from the Cleveland Class Cruiser USS Montpelier, CL-57. The war was over. Although he had been fighting the Japanese for more than three years, he … Continue reading
Ohashi Roka and Wakayama Castle at Night
Ohashi Roka is a covered bridge providing passage into the grounds of Wakayama Castle. Restored from 2003 to 2006, the bridge once protected the identifies of people entering the castle. Its angled architecture is rare in Japanese design, but served … Continue reading
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Wakayama Castle on a Tiger-Shaped Hill
The unifier of Japan in the last part of the 16th Century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Wakayama Castle on a hill overlooking the city of Wakayama. The hill is shaped like a tiger reclining on its stomach and looking around. Today, … Continue reading
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Rock Waterfall at Wakayama City Museum
While verifying September 1945 facts at the Wakayama City Museum in Wakayama, Japan, we noticed a flow of rocks on the concrete wall of the lobby. It appeared to be rock art of a waterfall. Our host affirmed this, showed … Continue reading
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Multicultural Japanese Italian Pizza
Despite mythology claiming its USA origins, pizza was indeed invented in Italy—specifically in Naples by a man named Don Raffaele Esposito. Even the name—pizza—comes from the Latin word ‘pitta’ with two t’s, a flatbread meaning—amazingly—pizza. In Wakayama you can order … Continue reading
Wakayama—Too Little Time—Aaaaaah!
We have way underestimated the amount of time we need to spend here. We thought four days would be very adequate. Not so. We need at least two weeks here. The city is clean, the area is beautiful, the people … Continue reading
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Researching a Biography Written as Memoir
Memoir and biography are personal stories built around remembrances and historical records. We are in Wakayama, Japan to research the wartime biography of Wilfred Lawrence Kerstetter, a sailor who served the people of the United States and World from August … Continue reading
Mt. Fuji from 20,000 Feet
We saw this on our approach to Narita International Airport in Japan this morning. You seldom get to see Mt. Fuji without clouds. White and gray billows circle the mountain most of the day everyday, although at times in the … Continue reading
Banyan Tree and Avatar
Made famous because its spiritual, mystical importance in the movie Avatar, the banyan tree is also important to Asian countries, including Vietnam, because of its beauty and shade. While both Hinduism and Buddhism attribute religious importance to the banyan, at … Continue reading
Vietnamese Pancakes are Similar to Crêpes
With its thin, airy and translucent texture, the Vietnamese pancake looks a lot like a crêpe. The Saigon chefs prepare them in large woks, packing them with your choice of meats and vegetables. A lunch or dinner meal, one is … Continue reading
