Banja Luka

Original YT playout date: 15 March 2009
Duration: 4:32

It’s a restaurant in Warsaw, ul Pulawska 101, where we took Takahiro-san after his wonderful demo of Japanese calligraphy, which you will have seen on my channel.
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Japanese Calligraphy

Original YT playout date: 11 March 2009
Duration: 50:40

Takahiro-san not only gave me a wonderful present of a fantastic set of classical writing implements from Japan, but also gave me the chance to learn and share with you the way to do Japanese calligraphy the traditional way.

I hope you enjoy this unique film in which this ancient and subtle art form is fully demonstrated.
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Japanese friend in Warsaw

Original YT playout date: 24 February 2009
Duration: 24:49

Here is a day spent in the company of Takahiro Kajiura, an intelligent and cultured gentleman from the land of the flowering cherry.

I used for the background the song Ue o muite arukō, also known as Sukiyaki, by Kyu Sakamoto. This is a song I remembered from earliest childhood, which Takahiro-san helped me to identify.

上を向いて歩こう
Ue o muite arukō
I shall walk looking up

涙がこぼれないように
namida ga kobore nai yō ni
So that my tears won’t fall

思い出す春の日
Omoidasu haru no hi
Remembering Spring days

一人ぼっちの夜
Hitori bocchi no yoru
On this lonely night.
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