![The age of bloom](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/in-the-mood-for-love_400x150.jpg)
The age of bloom
Two drawings of scenes from Wong Kar-Wai's In the Mood for Love, and some notes on a song an a novel used in this movie.
![The small mystery of the Chinese inkstick](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/inkstick-history_400x150.jpg)
The small mystery of the Chinese inkstick
The fascinating background behind a present from long ago.
![Midnight in Tokyo Story](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/tokyo-story-midnight_400x150.jpg)
Midnight in Tokyo Story
A drawing of a key scene in Yasujirō Ozu's movie Tokyo Story.
![Tokyo Story](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/tokyo-story_400x150.jpg)
Tokyo Story
A watercolour of a made-up poster for the movie Tokyo Story.
![The Blue Dragon of Kiyomizu-dera](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/seiryuu_400x150.jpg)
The Blue Dragon of Kiyomizu-dera
A watercolour of the Blue Dragon of Kiyomizu-dera during the Seiryu-e procession.
![Kitchen](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/kitchen_400x150.jpg)
Kitchen
Why Kitchen is my favourite novel.
![Summer night in Shinbashi dōri](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/shinbashi-doori_400x150.jpg)
Summer night in Shinbashi dōri
A watercolour of a Kyōto night scene.
![Quiet crystallisation](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/memory-police_400x150.jpg)
Quiet crystallisation
On Japanese cultural references in Yoko Ogawa's novel The Memory Police.
![The mystery of the giant Kannon statues](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/kannon_400x150.jpg)
The mystery of the giant Kannon statues
Of the fifty tallest statues in the world, eighteen are of a being called Kannon. So who is this Kannon, and why are some many of the tall statues of it?
![Four portraits](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/umimachi-diary_400x150.jpg)
Four portraits
The story behind a series of four portraits from a scene in the movie 'Our Little Sister'.
![Per Tiziana](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/per-tiziana_400x150.jpg)
Per Tiziana
Eidon wrote a beautiful short piece with two different arrangements. I wondered if I could make a third arrangement.
![Ukifune](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/ukifune_400x150.jpg)
Ukifune
The classical tale behind a Japanese pop song.
![The Beautiful Japan of the Mind](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/my-own-private-japan_400x150.jpg)
The Beautiful Japan of the Mind
Some observations on the Nobel lecture of Yasunari Kawabata
![Daffodils](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/daffodils_400x150.jpg)
Daffodils
The short story of a whimsical music collaboration.
![The True Pure Land](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/shinshu-prayer_400x150.jpg)
The True Pure Land
On the origin and meaning of a Shinshū Buddhist hymn which I encountered in Yu Miri's Tokyo Ueno Station.
![The four wisdoms](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/four-wisdoms_400x150.jpg)
The four wisdoms
On the origin and meaning of this chant, common in Japanese Buddhism.
![About reading Murakami as a way to learn Japanese](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/learning-japanese-reading-murakami_400x150.jpg)
About reading Murakami as a way to learn Japanese
After spending nearly six years reading Murakami's 1Q84 in Japanese, I finally finished it. What did I learn?
![Cold or not: a riddle in Murakami's 1Q84](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/cold-or-not_400x150.jpg)
Cold or not: a riddle in Murakami's 1Q84
In one of the final chapters in 1Q84, a character tells an intriguing story about Carl Gustav Jung. I went looking for the story behind the story.
![The Winds of Kyoto](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/the-winds-of-kyoto_400x150.jpg)
The Winds of Kyoto
A very short story for the Fifth Annual Kyoto Writing Competition.
![On puppets and being human](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/ghost-in-the-shell-puppets_400x150.jpg)
On puppets and being human
On the symbolism of puppets in Ghost in the Shell anime series.
![Drawing the Naginata Hoko](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/naginata-hoko-kitsune_400x150.jpg)
Drawing the Naginata Hoko
Some years ago I photographed musicians in a festival float in Kyoto on the eve of the Gion Matsuri. I finally turned it into a drawing.
![Ghost in the Shell and the Manyoshi](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/ghost-in-the-shell-manyoshi_400x150.jpg)
Ghost in the Shell and the Manyoshi
The many layers behind the theme song of the Ghost in the Shell anime 'Innocence'.
![A shop, the planets and the days of the week](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/suikin-planets-weekdays_400x150.jpg)
A shop, the planets and the days of the week
A tale of a shop with a strange name, the planets, and the days of the week.
![Reading Murakami in Japanese](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/reading-murakami_400x150.jpg)
Reading Murakami in Japanese
Some observations on reading Japanese: reading aloud and reading without subvocalising.
![Getting started with vegan cooking](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/balanced-vegan-meals_400x150.jpg)
Getting started with vegan cooking
A few tips to get off to a good start with vegan cooking.
![Why the 'Little People' say 'Ho ho'](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/1Q84-kuukisanagi_400x150.jpg)
Why the 'Little People' say 'Ho ho'
A look at why the 'Little People' in Haruki Murakami's 1Q84 say 'Ho ho'
![Repetition in Murakami's 1Q84](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/repetition-in-1Q84_400x150.jpg)
Repetition in Murakami's 1Q84
Why do Tengo and Fuka-eri repeat one another so frequently?
![Why does Japanese have kanji for very large numbers?](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/japanese-large-numbers_400x150.jpg)
Why does Japanese have kanji for very large numbers?
A story of counting systems, a mathematics treatise and buddhist scriptures, with a supercomputer and a samurai.
![Drawing the dancer of Ranryōō](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/ran-ryou-ou_400x150.jpg)
Drawing the dancer of Ranryōō
Some years ago I saw a a traditional dance performance in Kyoto on the eve of the Gion Matsuri. I finally turned it into a drawing.
![Move over onion, here's ginger](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/ginger-vs-onion_400x150.jpg)
Move over onion, here's ginger
Quick and Tasty recipes don't use onion. There is no special reason, I just prefer ginger. So let's make the case for ginger.
![Some observations from a slow learner of Japanese](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/yu_400x150.jpg)
Some observations from a slow learner of Japanese
Why even 5 minutes per day is enough to get you there.
![Should you eat 10-a-day, and how much is that anyway?](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/how-much-is-10-a-day_400x150.jpg)
Should you eat 10-a-day, and how much is that anyway?
Some thoughts on a recent study saying that we need to eat ten portions of fruit and vegetables per day.
![Celebrations! One year of Quick & Tasty!](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/one-year-of-quick-and-tasty_400x150.jpg)
Celebrations! One year of Quick & Tasty!
Quick an Tasty Cooking is one year old!
![My favourite types of rice](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/my-favourite-types-of-rice_400x150.jpg)
My favourite types of rice
There are many, many varieties of rice. Here are five types that I like.
![Some tips for reading Japanese as a learner](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/reading-japanese_400x150.jpg)
Some tips for reading Japanese as a learner
Why it is hard, and what you can do to make it easier.
![Three of my favourite Japanese kitchen tools](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/japanese-kitchen-tools_400x150.jpg)
Three of my favourite Japanese kitchen tools
Simple and effective design.
![Murakami meals](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/murakami-meals_400x150.jpg)
Murakami meals
Peer into the fridge, see what you can make.
![My journey of learning Japanese](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/kanji_400x150.jpg)
My journey of learning Japanese
Discovering Murakami in Japanese, and a Zen cookbook.
![The most underrated kitchen appliance](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/microwave_400x150.jpg)
The most underrated kitchen appliance
Cooking food in the microwave has many advantages.
![The Zen way of cooking](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/zencookbook_400x150.jpg)
The Zen way of cooking
What we can learn from a Zen Buddhist cookbook.
![The 3 great virtues of a cook: laziness, impatience and hubris](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/shiitake_shichimi_wakame_400x150.jpg)
The 3 great virtues of a cook: laziness, impatience and hubris
Some of the qualities of a geek boffin are transferable to cooking.
![7 tips for making quick & tasty meals](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/dried_tomatoes_bold_400x150.jpg)
7 tips for making quick & tasty meals
With these tips, making tasty meals will be a breeze.
![Why quick and tasty cooking](https://quickandtastycooking.org.uk/images/homepage_banner_400_2.jpg)
Why quick and tasty cooking
Recipes for healthy, tasty meals in no time.