An artist visitor from France

Dominique stopped by on his way back to Paris from Shanghai, China
and had tempura lunch with us at Ten-ichi, Jiyugaoka.
Mom at the Starbucks
Chinoyo getting ready to take a Halloween flight in front of
Dominique's painting

"It is well known that nature exists only insofar as it blends
in the contrary rhythm of life and death, of genesis and
entropy. The infinite universe brings these throbs together
in a totality. Dominique Thinot's canvasses, large or small,
depict this infinite space, teeming with contradictions.
Here one's glance gets caught in the trap of representation:
one believes for a while in the truth of these fragments of
nature. There, in cntrast, as if swelling from the depth of
the sea, blue beaches straddle each other and simulate order
in the middle of storm."
(Jacques Leenhardt in D. Thinot, Nature & Fragments)

Visiting Seoul for the 44th ASAK Int'l Conference

After the closing ceremony
Fall colors from my room in the Hoam Faculty Guest House, Seoul
National University

Enjoying coffee during the break
Beautiful Seoul National University Campus in fall colors

The 44th ASAK International Conference "The Future of America" was
held at the Seoul National University, Korea, from October 23 to 24.
Americanists gathered from within and without Korea gave excellent
papers in the Conference. I read my paper "Rethinking Puritan Studies in
a Transatlantic Context" in the session "Rethinking American Literature"
and enjoyed exchanging views with other participants. I was struck by
high-quality papers at the conference.

New York in the morning of Sept 10, 2009

New York was cloudy in the last morning -- I took an ANA
flight at 12:30PM from JFK. Everything went smoothly.
Thanks go to A & J.
See you again Mr. Lee, my new friend in NY City.

Museum of Natural History

I visited the Museum of Natural History, both planetarium and
the exhibits. After learning the birth of universe, I went to greet
with both coastal and prairie Indian people. Here are photos of
coastal Indian history and culture:


Tools for fishing




"Dan dan"

SOUTH PACIFIC at Lincoln Center

Most people Live on a lonely island,
Lost in the middle of a foggy sea.
Most people long for another island,
One where they know they would like to be.

Bali Ha'i
May call you,
Any night,
Any day.
In your heart
You'll hear it call you.
"Come away,
Come away."

Bali Ha'i
Will whisper
On the wind
Of the sea.
"Here am I,
Your special island!
Come to me,
Come to me!"

Your own special hopes,
Your own special dreams,
Bloom on the hillside
And shine in the streams.

If you try,
You'll find me
Where the sky
Meets the sea,
"Here am I,
Your special island.
Come to me,
Come to me!"

---------------------------
Here is an obvious Utopian element in this
lyric. I will use this text in my fall lecture
"Utopia and dystopia in American Literature."
Students shall enjoy the music.

Fifth Ave. temporaly closed for S & C

In front of the Bergdorf Goodman, many people watching
"Sex and the City" film shooting -- The second film will have
scenes in the Bergdorf Goodman. My destination in this
afternoon was the first floor of Bergdorf Goodman
to see their beautiful collection of bags. (CAUTION: They are
good for your eyes not good for your purse. )
According to what people said, the four girls in the "Sex and the City"
were all there. So, next movie will have scenes in the Bergdorf and
on the Fifth Ave.

At Jean George, New York

Chocolate cake -- inside is melt-in-your-mouth softness
Time Warner Center, Columbus Circle
The Central Park green is right there across from the restaurant.
Today's main is chicken -- crunchy outside skin and tender
inside meat.