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The set lists and times for Friends of Koto's three performances at #Oshogatsu today. (at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens)

Setting up for performance at the Willow Theater with Fushu Daiko

I feel like a new person getting my hair redyed and cut~

Experiencing a new wine is a lot like a blind date. Good wines have so much to say over the course of an evening. A wine might be having a good day or a bad day. And a wine that you encountered years ago has probably changed significantly since then. The 2011 Chateau De Saint Cosme Gigondas has a particular dark-toned herb/forest floor/barnyard scent that I recognize from other fine Rhone wines I've had over the years but that shows up all too infrequently. Tons of "barnyard," even after a two hour decant. This is an Old World style wine - structure and pepper on the palate. Good body. Slight tang to the fruit as it opens. Good wine!

Maybe the happiest I've been since returning from Tokyo. Shio Ramen at Naoki Japanese Cuisine in Melbourne, Florida. #ramen (at NAOKI Japanese Cuisine)

Hitting up guitar and music stores today looking for a guitarist for ss hanami. #guitarist #jrock #sshanami #band #classified

Back in Ikebukuro, exploring. Stopped into a recommended place called Kohmen Ramen. Such delicious, rich broth. #Japan #Tokyo #ramen #Ikebukuro (at Ikebukoro Tokyo Japan)

Tonight I tracked down a small but fantastic sake bar in Shinjuku. I love the vibe of this area! #japan #tokyo #Shinjuku #sake (at Shinjuku)

Back from clothes shopping on Takeshita Street. It was crowded, as you can see. There's a fantastic store called Yellow House that has been around for 35 years or so. On the wall there are pics of the owner with hide, among numerous other musicians. I bought a pair of CIVARIZE pants from there, I'll probably do a live stream later to show off my purchases #harajuku #takeshita #CIVARIZE #japan #Tokyo (at Takeshita Street)

I'm here~ #Ikebukuro #Tokyo #Japan (at 池袋駅 Ikebukuro Station)

The Rhone Valley is probably tied with Burgundy as my favorite wine area in the world. If you've never had a Rhone wine, treat yourself to the 2015 Le Colombier "Tradition" Vacqueyras for 18 bucks at Total Wine. It's a good intro to the region -- a quintessential Rhone blend -- red & dark fruit, licorice, a little underbrush/garrigue, a hint of crushed rocks. And it's immediately accessible, no need to decant. #Rhone #wine #vacqueyras

A nice under-$20 Burgundy with some Port Salut cheese (specifically recommended to pair with red Burgundy) while I fight my way through Dragon's Eye in Icewind Dale. The wine --2013 Bouchard Aine & Fils-- has nice sweet red fruit with wood in the forefront (dry, broken branches and twigs). It isn't overly tart, and while it comes across as somewhat 'house-wine-ish' it's solid for the price. The cheese pairs well. Both were bought at Lucky's in Melbourne. (at Brevard County, Florida)

Setting up! I saw AFI perform here years ago, and it was one of my favorite shows I've ever seen. Now getting to play koto on the same stage tonight with Fushu Daiko is a dream come true. #fallingneverfeltsofun #koto #taiko (at Mizner Park Amphitheater)

The "Koto and Absinthe" panel at Anime Iwai: Soar in November is official! If you buy your weekend pass for Iwai Soar today at Mini Iwai, you get into today's event for free. (at Anime Iwai)

Taking a break from koto practice to drink some beautiful Italian wine. 2014 Falesco "Vitiano Rosso" -- 1/3rd each Merlot, Cab Sauv, and Sangiovese. Nose of chocolate (cacao beans, chocolate shavings, maybe cocoa butter), leafy foliage from a garden or roadside shrubs on a warm day (not greenness), with underlying juicy berries. Vibrant taste -- it has that quality certain wines do of "dancing" on the palate -- the acidity isn't tart but rather gives beautiful tension to otherwise round, warm notes of chocolate, spices, and the aforementioned leafy foliage. James Suckling gave this wine 91 points, which is right on point, and it's just under ten dollars. I find his scores to be a very good guide for buying wine. Surprisingly nuanced for an under-$10 wine.

Watching GACKT's Last Visualive DVD for the first time while sharing a fantastic bottle of 2014 Bordeaux. "Chateau de la Huste" Fronsac -- red fruit and peach pit, some citrus (orange juice, unsweetened) but not tart. 20 minute decant brings out minerality, with iron and blood on the finish. (Sarah pointed out that it's "not fresh blood.") Under $20.

So many books to pack. Putting my favorite Weird Fiction titles in a special box for easy access. #moving