Only in Japan...

So, I'm rushing through Mishima station to change lines and not sure how much time I have. As I whiz by the flow of humanity a familiar face catches my eye. I backtrack and do a double-take; pasting on the wall was a photo of Kyoto ceramic artist Kondo Takahiro! As many know, Kondo is the grandson of Living National Treasure Kondo Yuzo (nice memorial museum in Kyoto near Kiyomizu Temple, LNT for cobalt blue-sometsuke) and son of Hiroshi. The poster--sorry for the not so clear photo--in a rush--says to take the winter journey to Kyoto and also to 'open the door to Kyoto.' Kyoto is truly a magical city, and speaking of such, my good friend and Kyoto travel guru Steve Beimel just started a new blog about his life in Kyoto; that can be viewed at http://www.japanlivingarts.com/ The pottery photos are of Echizen master Takemoto Ikuo, whom Steve and I visited last week and whose works are now featured at www.japanesepottery.com Okini.