MindofRion

When you accidentally come upon a setsubun festival at the local market and win somehow win things ;) Sorry for the shaky vid. ##japan #life #inaka #kaneka #fukushima #aizu #yanaizu #guriko #glico #thanks #free #win #martialarts #柳津 #福島 #グリコ #ありがとう #外人 #日本 #節分 #setsubun #pocky #ポキ (at Yanaizu, Fukushima)

When you accidentally come upon a setsubun festival at the local market and win somehow win things ;) ##japan #life #inaka #kaneka #fukushima #aizu #yanaizu #guriko #glico #thanks #free #win #martialarts #柳津 #福島 #グリコ #ありがとう #外人 #日本 #節分 #setsubun (at Yanaizu, Fukushima)

This is a suit of authentic samurai armor that has been in my aikido sensei's family for hundreds of years. I thought it was a replica until I asked about it and was told some of its history. If you look closely you can see a few cuts in the plating and some damage from battles in the past. #samurai #armor #katana #sword #aizu #dojo #bugo #iaito #weapon #japan #aikido #kenjutsu #ninja #fukushima #martialarts #日本 #武道#会津 #福島 #大鎧 #oyoroi #iaido #jodo #history #art (at Aizubange)

Finished off the day by cleaning and oiling my iaido (iaito), kenjutsu (bokutou), and jodo weapons! Both the wood and blade look so much better with a light layer on them. Plus it just feels great to wind sown, while taking care of them. . . #martialarts #katana #sword #aizu #kyokushin #iaido #lucky #kenjutsu #jodo #kenjutsu #jodo #bokken #bokuto #日本 #jo #lucky #13 #wood #blade #weapon #iaito #tsuba #japan

Starting off the year right with the best luck from the local temple ;) remember to bow not clap! 大吉出来た！✌︎('ω'✌︎ ) #japan #temple #仏教 #martialarts #enzoji #aikido #kenjutsu #aizu #tera #newyear #new #lucky #lucky #会津 #円蔵寺 #日本 #大吉 (at 円蔵寺)

Found it pretty interesting that gas masks and other emergency gear were in most every subway station in Korea... #korea #southkorea #war #safety #martialarts #gasmask #subway #seoul #wow #whynot #taekwondo (at Seoul, South Korea)

Spent some time re-edging this santoku knife for a friend. Before: left, after: right. Had to go all the way down to my 500 grit whetstone to start, then moved through 1000, 3000, and 5000 to finish her off. ;) #martialarts #knife #sharpen #whetstone #grit #samurai #ninja #seiko #tea #oolong #包丁 #英語 #外人 #研ぐ #刀 #beforeandafter #cook #chef #sharp #whynot #ryan #mindofryan #mindofrion #polish (at Yanaizu, Fukushima)

Our first official meal in Korea! We had bibimbap and some crazy spicy squid and meat dish. Seeing as most of this was spicy, I ended up having to eat most of it.....-_- but it was delicious, so I'll survive! The beer was surprisingly light at this shop too. #korea #taekwondo #delicious #food #koreanfood #southkorea #omg #yes #bibimbap #squid #spicy #cass #beer #travel #ninja #samurai #seiko #yoga #martialarts #japan #whynot (at Dongguk University Station)

A glimpse of our third day in Seoul, Korea. We got some doppoki (toppoki) and squid on a stick ;) It was so delicious and only one stop of an awesome day ! #saturday #korea #koreanfood #travel #adventure #seoul #myeongdong #streetfood #omg #delicious #squid #toppokki #whynot #martialarts #japan #howdidigethere #spicy #yoga #seiko #samurai #ninja #taekwondo (at Myeong Dong - Seoul / 明洞 - 首爾)

A glimpse of our third day in Seoul, Korea. We got some doppoki (toppoki) and squid on a stick ;) It was so delicious and only one stop of an awesome day ! #saturday #korea #koreanfood #travel #adventure #seoul #myeongdong #streetfood #omg #delicious #squid #toppokki #whynot (at Myeong Dong - Seoul / 明洞 - 首爾)

Started reading the epic "Musashi" by Eiji Yoshikawa a few days ago and I'm really enthralled by the historic accuracy of certain events as well as the historical fiction used to make such a well written and well translated book! Do you have any recommendations on books like this that I should read? #musashi #miyamoto #takezo #book #reading #adventuretime #martialarts #budo #art #history #samurai #vagabond #iaido #karate #judo #aikido #sword #katana #sword #japan #yoshikawaseiji #charlessterry #日本#武道 #宮本武蔵 #本

Just placed 2nd in the under black belt division of the all-Japan Mugai-ryu iaido tournament in Tokyo. I am a bit bummed that I didn't place first, but the final match was really close and it was a great experience to train with and compete against iaido practitioners from all around Japan. I'm looking forward to seeing where I am next year. I might even join to jodou tournament ;) #martialarts #日本 #japan #iaido #jo #bo #tournament #championship #alljapan #karate #mugairyu #tokyo #kyokushin #日本 #無外流 #新撰組 #shinsengumi #katana #sword #prize #goals (at BumB)

The "supermoon" in Japan. Taken with my canon Rebel and a 200mm lense. I love how you can make out the craters, especially around the left edge ;) I think this is the first time I've managed such a clear shot of@the moon. #supermoon #japan #canon #rebel #lenses #martialarts #moon #crater #nofilter #会津 #日本 #月 #fukushima #福島 #photooftheday #photo

Part 3 of the behind the scenes look at the "aizu momen" factory in Japan. A great look at just how much detail goes into each piece of fabric! There are very specific "recipes" for the colors used, order, spacing, , etc.. Hundreds of threads are set through each of the wires and then the shuttle horizontal thread is passed through the alternating pattern to create the solid fabric. #fukushima #curious #japan #cotton #factory #clothes #howitsmade #expert #behindthescenes #aizu #aizuwakamatsu #wakamatsu #toyota #thread #sewing #vintage #design #vibrant #color #会津木綿 #福島 #日本 #ミシン #会津 #wanted

Part 2 of the behind the scenes look at the "aizu momen" factory in Japan. On the left are the yellow vertical threads being prepped before being laid into set patterns on the machines. On the right (blue) you can see the shuttlecocks being prepped for the horizontal passes in the fabric. #fukushima #curious #japan #cotton #factory #clothes #howitsmade #expert #behindthescenes #aizu #aizuwakamatsu #wakamatsu #toyota #thread #sewing #vintage #design #vibrant #color #会津木綿 #福島 #日本 #ミシン #会津 #wanted