Gozan nashi ni

Gozan literally means "five mountains" and it's a term that's used to describe the five schools of zen that migrated from China to Japan. There is a special exhibit at the National Museum in Tokyo by the same name, showing the artwork and calligraphy associated primarily with the zen schools in Kyoto. Alas, it opens on July 31, the day after my flight back to the US.

Yesterday was my second day in the Ueno area with a number of museums. The first day I overslept when napping because I'm still somewhat jet-lagged, and I wound up getting there after many were closing. Yesterday I went earlier in the day but found I wouldn't be able to see the exhibit I was most intererested in.

That said, I also saw a collection of ukiyo-e art of Japanese women collected at New Otani, the hotel where I'm staying. Ukiyo-e was created during the Edo era (1603-1867) and it's name literally means "pictures of the floating world." The above is by Kudo Shunman and titled "two beauties walking in the snow with an umbrella." The image here doesn't do justice to the original, which I loved.

Before venturing out yesterday, I again stopped by the local McDonald's for breakfast. Okay, so it's not traditional Japanese, but it's an easier way to ease into the day with something familiar and satisfying.

That said, I still had to learn a phrase in Japanese to get what I wanted (after a mistake the first go round). The phrase? "Two egg mcmuffins niku nashi ni" ... or "... meat without." I have to admit it felt so cliche to be walking into McDonald's the first morning, but I've managed to overcome that mild sense of embarrassment for a comfortable way to start the day.