On Craftsmanship

beautiful flower shop in Ginza

I think over the years, definitely with time, our tastes mature and become more attuned to what we like, what we need. I'm definitely feeling it more and more as I also try to reflect on things I consume. 

I was away Dec 8th to Dec 14th for a brief trip to Taiwan and Japan. Story is that I got a job faster than anticipated and I've wanted to take a trip to Taiwan quickly before I settled into the job. Thankfully my bosses are extremely encouraging of travel and calls them "inspiration trips" for which I am very glad.

Coming back on topic, I think this trip really put to words things I've been attracted to and goals I aspire to. That is craftsmanship. Everything I absolutely loved on my trip is in some form attached to craftsmanship - skill in a particular craft. In ZhongLi, it was that simple bowl of roasted grass jelly; in Ginza, the perfect bowl of gyudon; in Kawagoe, a beautiful unagi-don. I looooved everything. I love being able to experience the perfection of a skill in all sorts of art forms.

roasted grass jelly with QQ in Zhongli

Guydon at Kitsune-ya in Ginza

This trip has really been a beautiful insight to something I need to give deeper thought to. It's still hard to put into words what my goals are for 2018, but I hope to align it with that. More food for thought this week... Soon the goals for the next year will have to reveal itself!

yuzu ramen!!