Mindblown: a blog about ELICA’s love.

  • The Oldest Shrines in Japan:  Miwa Jinja

    The Oldest Shrines in Japan: Miwa Jinja

    Do you know the oldest shrine in Japan?It is Miwa Jinja in Nara. (“Jinja” means “shrine”.)As you might have guessed, my name is given from this shrine.Last summer in Japan, the pandemic eased down for a few months, and I took the opportunity to visit there.Enjoy watching!

  • New Year 2022

    New Year 2022

    For my international friends: Acting skills of actors are not only for theatre practitioners, but also (and more so) for our general daily interactive communication. 【Live Interaction】Looking into the mind’s eye.

  • Works 2021

    Works 2021

    Under COVID-19 restriction, my year 2021 was not so bad, thanks to your support, love and understanding.I did many performances both online and on the spot, both live and  recorded.I did many teachings for universities as usual (though many of them online, still better than in 2020).I led many workshops and lessons for actors, singers,…

  • AshiNo-Ko, Lake at Hakone

    AshiNo-Ko, Lake at Hakone

    You may have heard of Mt. Fuji.There is another great sightseeing spot near Mt Fuji called Hakone. The Name Hakone is the name of an active volcano and there is a huge crater lake called AshiNo.We Japanese call it as AshiNo-Ko.“Ashi” is “reed”.”No” is “of”.”Ko” is “lake”.Yes, the lake of reed, Reed Lake. How to…

  • ELICA Performing on Stage, September 2021

    ELICA Performing on Stage, September 2021

    I was performing on stage in Tokyo last week and want to share the beautiful photos with you. The piece was written by Dea Loher, a famous German playwright, called “Ja, es gibt eine Vision für die Theater der Zukunft” (Yes, There is the Vision of the Future of Theatre). Check my blog site here.

  • Tanzawa Lake and Japanese Farm House Life

    Tanzawa Lake and Japanese Farm House Life

    One cloudy day, I went to TanZawa Lake. It provides water for Kanagawa prefecture. You can only approach by car, which means theare are not so many people there. That means the air is crisp and clean. The atmosphere is quite different from Okutama Lake of Tokyo, though Okutama is also beautiful and clean. How…

  • Red & Golden Autumn

    Red & Golden Autumn

    Why Do I Write Travel Blog? Acting is about looking inside yourself. We actors (and directors and writers) need to experience as much as possible, as long as it is safe and nobody gets hurt. This is why I put travel diary in my Zen Acting blog. Though you may see me just having fun,…

  • Kawamata River High Bridge

    Kawamata River High Bridge

    Another beautiful Japanese autumn view spot.When you go visit the beautiful DoRyu Waterfall, don’t forget to put your step onto a long and high bridge of Kawamata River. The deep valley overlooking the river Kawamata at the bottom, you are surrounded by the beautiful multi colored hills.The bridge is settled at the very high point and…

  • Golden Waterfall: DoRyu

    Golden Waterfall: DoRyu

    I visited one of rare waterfalls in Japan.It is called DoRyu Waterfall, meaning Throwing-up Dragon…yes, wow, isn’t it? DoRyu 吐竜 DoRyu in Japanese kanji character is 吐竜。 吐 is pronounced as Do [do].It means both breathing out and throwing up.The fundamental meaning must be strong gush of something coming out from a mouth. You see…

  • Secret Floating Bridge

    Secret Floating Bridge

    At the deep end of Tokyo, there is a huge reservoir lake called OkTama (Okutama). And farther deep to the west of the lake, there is a floating bridge. Once, there were small villages on both sides of the mountains. But about 70 years ago, the area was drowned to make a huge reservoir lake…

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