Although i’s hard to believe that six weeks have officially passed since the launch of Beneath the Lantern’s Glow, I still want to take a moment and say thank you to everyone who has ordered it – it’s thrilling to now see the book in your hands!
Through it all, I’m so grateful for the gift of these last two months – for not only have I been able to be present with my family, but I’ve also had the time to put together and publish my first book of travel sketches, Beneath the Lantern’s Glow.
There was a single round lantern directly above my head, floating over two banana trees. On a night when I’d felt entirely disconnected from the city, I was suddenly right where I needed to be. I was beneath the lantern’s glow.
The passing group of monks never actually stop walking, but when they see what I’m up to, they crane their necks, ooh and aah over my sketch, and wish me ganbatte a hundred times as they pass.
Most of all, what I want to remember from Temple 58 is its classic tiered roof. While it means my first day on the circuit will be longer than it should, I can’t help but drop everything and sketch the temple.
Before arriving on Shodoshima, I’d been wondering if there would be any connections between this pilgrimage and the one I did last year. Here in a souvenir shop on the island, it seems I’ve found my answer.
As I sketch, I keep looking out over the city spinning and swirling below me, feeling like I’m not only in the center of Tokyo, but in the center of the world itself. I found the Wakō after all – and so much more.
It is this vista that will remain with me the most from Nokogiriyama – because of the view, because of the cherry blossoms, and because of the way they really won’t be there for much longer.
As excited as I am to explore seven countries in six weeks, I also wanted to give this trip a purpose to ground me in the midst of so much moving around. And that’s exactly what I’d like to introduce you to today.