sleeping on grass (草の上で寝る)

After (somewhat) successfully passing my first tatami test, my sensei granted me a week’s break. At first, I intended to use the opportunity to walk… Read more: Journey around Biwako – June 2026

On 24 May, Fujitatami Guesthouse quietly celebrated its ninth anniversary. Apart from Issei, Kana and the German volunteer Celina, there were no other guests to… Read more: The tatami test – May 2026

A little while ago, Issei received a surprising message from Paris from the popular Japanese clothing brand UNIQLO. In the lead-up to the international sumo… Read more: UNIQLO and Kyoto – May 2026

The Golden Week began at the end of April, and Fujitatami quickly filled up once again with new guests. One of the first to arrive… Read more: Golden Week – April / May 2026

Catching up on the weeks on this blog still isn’t going particularly smoothly. That’s why I’m going to describe the past few weeks a bit… Read more: Five Weeks in Brief – March / April 2026

It was late March and I had already waved my mother off at the airport. The cherry blossoms were now truly beginning to bloom, and… Read more: Beyond the holiday – March 2026

It’s now late April, and I’m still a month behind in recounting events on this blog. I’d really like to share what I’ve already learned… Read more: Family Visiting (part 2) – March 2026

On my first night in Izumi, I slept almost straight through the clock. That was much needed, as early in the afternoon I had to… Read more: Family visiting (part 1) – March 2026

On 9 March, I set off from Hattem to Schiphol, where a long journey to Japan awaited me. Roughly twelve hours of flying from Amsterdam… Read more: Departure from the Netherlands, arrival in Izumi, Osaka – March 2026