Not For All The Tea In...

Kansas?  I was going through boxes looking for stuff to sell and came across this basket.

Seems that the Green Tea that has been all the rage for the past few years was also popular at the turn of the century.  The label says extra fancy green tea, produced and packaged in Japan for the H. D. Lee Mercantile Co.

It holds about 8 ounces and has 35 cents written in pencil on it.  Can't believe the basket, grosgrain ribbon and label plus the tea for 35 cents which must have been a lot in its day.

All the way from Japan, up the mighty Mississippi River to Kansas.  Who knew?

excerpt from "Cherry Blossoms" (2008)

One of the final scenes from CHERRY BLOSSOMS. (You must read previous post to make sense of this post). On the last morning of Rudi's life, in his wife's kimono, he readies himself and walks to the lake near Mr Fuji. Here, he begins his butoh dance to honor his dead wife, who then joins him for this last dance. There are a few more scenes, but the last two are so diverse; say so much about life - one's own life as opposed to how others' view it. I want you to watch this film so I won't tell more except that CHERRY BLOSSOMS is about the interplay between fulfillment and regret; happiness and sorrow. The use of the cherry blossoms symbolized beauty, impermanence and new beginnings. You just have to see this beautiful film.

CHERRY BLOSSOMS (or Hanami)

I saw this movie the other night. Though not for everyone, I thought it profound... and beautiful... and heartbreaking: I think my life has been changed by it. CHERRY BLOSSOMS is a German film by Doris Dorrie from 2008. I saw it on the Sundance Channel. Set in Japan, it is about the end of life journey of an aging German couple. At the wife Trudi's prompting, they decide to take the trip she's always wanted, to Japan. Unbeknownst to her husband Rudi, the wife keeps his terminal diagnosis from him. Trudi had always loved Japan and her people, its culture; she had longed to travel there and study butoh dancing and see Mt. Fuji, but life, family, the rearing of their children got in the way. Her husband had always dismissed her dancing dreams and made a life for himself through his work. During a beautiful scene at the Baltic Sea on their journey to Japan, Trudi suddenly dies. Rudi is left alone, bereft and after burying her, heads to Japan to stay with his youngest son, who is not too happy having him there nor does he understand his father. Wearing his wife's clothing, her pearls; Rudi wonders around Tokyo trying to make sense of their loss; wants to somehow make it all up to his wife. One day he comes upon a young butoh dancer performing under cherry blossoms in a park. Though he is dressed in his wife's clothes, Yu, the dancer, doesn't respond; understands why he wears them. They journey together to find meaning. Watch the above video, THE DANCE OF SHADOWS. I'll talk more of butoh later. And the rest of this beautiful movie.

Sakamoto Ryuichi - Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (Live)

This is a wonderful live performance of Ryuichi Sakamoto performing Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. I think it is from the movie of the same name starring David Bowie. Nevertheless, I believe the concert was in Rome at the Coliseum and I wish I could have been there.

Energy flow, Ryuichi Sakamoto

A small gift to all my wonderful followers and friends whom drop by to visit sometimes.