samurai in modern america

A papercraft samurai walks down Main St. writing in a notebook as paper letters flutter through the air around him.

hot off the brush

Freshly posted.

The newest tales, still warm. Straight from the field.

The Bewilderment

I needed a single book. I was told to go to a great building where they keep them all.

I ordered a coffee.

On my third day, the barista handed me a small card.

The sign read: "ALL YOU CAN EAT — $14.

My American friends invited me to dinner.

The Bewilderment

In America, there is a secret password.

My friends said they were taking me somewhere "fun.

The Bewilderment

My English teacher warned me: "Americans are fake.

The Bewilderment

I learned English from action movies.

A shop in a shopping mall, called Cinnabon.

"How many times did you die of dysentery?

An arcade called Dave & Buster's.

USA. NASA visitor center.

The Bewilderment

A doughnut shop called Krispy Kreme.

Stateside. A training mock-up of the space toilet.

The Bewilderment

A grocery store called Trader Joe's.

The Sacred Rituals

"How much do I tip a camel. " Brad asked it without looking up from his wallet.

USA. Battery Park ferry.

The Sacred Rituals

USA. Anime convention, Saturday morning.

Stateside, a man with three small children at a brewery looked at my hakama and said, very…

The Sacred Rituals

"Take as long as you want at the window, sir.

A gas station in Texas, called Buc-ee's.