Asano (tempura, sashimi, etc.) in Yanaka (Tokyo, Japan)

Back in 2007 I returned to Japan for the first time after a nearly 20 year absence. On our second night we ate at a Izakaya near our hotel called Asano (浅野 or あさの). When we lived in Japan in 2009 and 2010 we ate there again. But today’s photos come from last summer when I enjoyed my third meal there.

Asano owner, cook, and conversationalist

The owner is very friendly. He remembered me from each of my prior visits like any good Izakaya proprietor would.

Japanese tempura

Hopefully I’ll get the chance to partake again in the not-too-distant future.

Posted on May 31st, 2014 under Japan. Tags: food, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, yanaka. Comments Off on Asano in Yanaka

Oregon Ducks Baseball – Trent Paddon

Game time is 10 a.m. PST and you can watch it on ESPN3.

Posted on May 30th, 2014 under Oregon. Tags: AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II, baseball, eugene, Nikon D600, sports photography. Comments Off on Oregon Ducks Baseball Team face Clemson in NCAA Regionals today

Oregon Ducks Softball – Cheridan Hawkins

@CheridanH11 The Ducks beat the NCAA Division I player of the year (Lacey Waldrop of Florida State) this afternoon. The final score was 3-0 thanks to the shutout thrown by Cheridan Hawkins. Hawkins still has two more seasons of eligibility after this season so one of those player of the year honors may be going to her in 2015 and/or 2016.

Oregon plays again Friday (5/30/14) against #5 seed Flordia. Game time is 4 p.m. PST on ESPN2.

Posted on May 29th, 2014 under Oregon. Tags: eugene, Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 EDIF AF-S VR, Nikon D600, Oregon, softball, sports photography. Comments Off on No rest for the winners

Oregon Ducks Softball – Janie Takeda

@jtakeda19 Most programs are happy when they have one All-American. Oregon has three in 2014. The other two are Cheridan Hawkins and Courtney Ceo. Only Ceo is in her final season.

Posted on May 29th, 2014 under Oregon. Tags: eugene, Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 EDIF AF-S VR, Nikon D600, Oregon, softball, sports photography. Comments Off on Ducks land three players on the All-American list

Gwangju’s Speakeasy

If you ever find yourself in Gwangju, you may notice that socializing can be rather difficult. This is especially true if you can’t speak Korean and are by yourself. Unlike Japan, where I can walk into any establishment and quickly make friends, Korea can be rather isolating. Menus in restaurants and bars are designed for groups, not individuals, in Korea. Seating is designed for groups. If I walked into any normal pub in Korea, there was no place for me. Nor would anyone attempt to communicate. People simply don’t go out by themselves.

I read online about Speakeasy, drew a map, and headed out. The neighborhood was a long bike ride from where I was staying on the CNU campus. However, even after finding the general area, I couldn’t find Speakeasy. Eventually I did, but it wasn’t easy. Nor was it the second or third time I visited. The streets surrounding it are a maze. Maybe if you have GPS it won’t be so bad. In any event, Speakeasy is a place you should find if you are in Gwangju.

Posted on May 28th, 2014 under Korea. Tags: buildings, directions, gwangju, map, Nikon D600, signs. Comments Off on Speakeasy in Gwangju