Glimpses of Japan Local - in JEnglish

January 31, 2026 I wanted to see the early cherry blossoms at Miyajidake Shrine before the Lunar New Year arrived. I practiced a traditional Japanese walking style called "Namba walk." It really works!  Walking up the steep stone steps and slopes was very easy this time. ❤️ I visited the main shrine, the smaller "hidden" shrines in the back, and even a small zoo called " Miya -Zoo."  The emus there greeted me with their strange, deep voices. The shrine was very busy because of the upcoming "Setsubun" festival  (the bean-throwing tradition to welcome spring) .  The parking lot was full, and the shops on the street leading to the shrine were very lively. Usually, I have to stop many times to catch my breath, but thanks to my new walking style, I reached the top easily! Miyajidake is famous for its "Path of Light," which looks straight out toward the sea.  I also noticed a horse statue that looks like it is eating grass.  Because many ...

  It’s been freezing since yesterday, and I could feel my body stiffening up. I figured I definitely needed a good warm-up. So today, I headed to the  Iccho-Tameike  promenade for the first time in a while to try out something I saw on YouTube: the "Samurai Walk" (also known as  Namba-aruki ). In school, we're taught to swing our arms opposite to our legs. But originally, Japanese people—like Samurais and messengers—didn't really swing their arms. Instead, they’d shift their weight onto the leg they were stepping with, moving the same-side shoulder along with the leg. When I actually tried it, it made sense! If someone suddenly attacked you with a sword while you were walking this way, you could draw your own sword and fight back instantly without losing your balance. They also say it helps reduce fatigue and builds stamina for long distances or climbing stairs. Since I didn't want people staring at me like I was some weirdo, I kept my hands in my pockets and just...