I looked across the table at my husband the other night and fell in love with him all over again. Hit send.

My inbox betrayed me, hiding an invitation for several weeks. Long story short, if technicalities can be resolved, I'll be reading an excerpt from my manuscript on Thursday, 16 October, at 7PM EDT, 4PM PDT, to mark the launch of Stone Canoe's 2025 issue. DM me for the link!

Attending the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights didn't destroy my closet. And in retrospect, I was glad to be in that closet for many years after. Can't come out yet? Your queer elders and siblings love you no matter what. open.substack.com/pu...

Today’s issue of Out of Japan discusses two steps forward and a kilometer of steps backward. Japan has just embraced its far-right demons and welcomed corruption back into its government. iambrianwatson.subst...

Tuesday morning, one of my dream literary agents requested my full manuscript. (She knew it was in revision and asked for as much as was ready.) in between a cancer screening (I’m fine!) and recovery, and all weekend long, I finished everything. The complete MS is on her desk!

I drew a tarot card, the World, at the start of the year. And although the 2025 has yet to finish, I’ve been astounded by that card’s power. Deeper friendships, many celebrations, lots of writing, successes at work, and love, love, love. Gratitude doesn’t begin to describe it.

Last night, I attended an awards dinner. It’s the annual Pacific Northwest writers Association conference this weekend, and I submitted the first 12 pages of my memoir’s manuscript back in April for their annual unpublished book contest. Last month, I was named a finalist. 1/3

My Alaskan cousin and her mom, my godmother from Indianapolis, were in Seattle last night before embarking on a cruise this morning. The four of us had a blast, sharing memories. Hours of nonstop love.

The red pen edits are complete. Most pages were lightly touched, some got more attention (and yes, Oscar Wilde was Victorian at his peak, not Edwardian), but I get to work on the computer version now. Is the manuscript going to be better as a result? Certainly.

The official anniversary won’t be until September 14th, but I’ve (gratefully) already taken delivery of the award that recognizes my first decade of full-time employment (after nearly another decade of contract employment) at Nintendo. I’ve met so many amazing people here.

Taking advantage of the holiday to review my memoir’s manuscript again. Looking at: Verb tense consistency. Places where end notes are needed. Visual cues for other characters. Potential plot holes after earlier revisions. Errant spelling errors 300 pages. I’ve got this.

James Dobson has gone to his damnation, but his legacy affects all Americans. Queer couples can arm themselves for the next wave of judicial prejudice, though. Learn more at open.substack.com/pu...

Thank you, Jennifer, for this boost.

My many thanks to the memoir category judges at the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. My manuscript, Crying in a Foreign Language was named one of five finalists for the 2025 Unpublished Book Contest. Winners will be announced on September 13th.

Endless gratitude to @iambrianwatson.bsky.social for this lovely review of NO OFFENSE in @hippocampusmag.bsky.social! hippocampusmagazine.com/2025/08/revi...

Is it AIDS I run from when I move to Japan in 1988? Or is it anxiety, grief, and even joy? Crying in a Foreign Language reunites all of me, weaving narrative and flashbacks with historical research on AIDS, queerness, and Japan. #QueerPit #A #MEM

A film that Hiro and I worked on the translation for (together with my friend Manako and her daughter Hana) is coming to Apple TV on September 1st. It’s an amazing story about a Japanese automotive family, and I’m honored that Hiro and I were involved.

Meta’s rollout of location sharing within Instagram is criminal. And attempts to deactivate that within Instagram’s settings are being reported as ineffective. Your location is still visible. Stop it at the source. On your iPhone, open the Settings app. 1/3

My essay is up at @literaryhub.bsky.social about the late, great Lana Clarkson and other promising young women whose lives have been derailed or destroyed by men. It’s also about my childhood sexual abuse and how I have tried, and failed, to reckon with it. lithub.com/on-promising...

Hiro and I have been friends with Tom and Dennis for a long time. When they visited us in British Columbia back in the day, people mistook us for each other. So we had a lot to laugh about when we reconnected last night after 5 years apart. I love our friendships.

Washington place names continue to make me laugh. Driving to Fife this morning and passed a sign for Surprise Lake. “Oh! There’s a lake here! Surprise!” ワシントン州の地名は時に馬鹿すぎる。100年前の白人開拓者がその場所に湖の存在でびっくりした？看板を見た瞬間で車でクスクス笑った。

Washington place names continue to make me laugh. Driving to Fife this morning and passed a sign for Surprise Lake. “Oh! There’s a lake here! Surprise!” ワシントン州の地名は時に馬鹿すぎる。100年前の白人開拓者がその場所に湖の存在でびっくりした？看板を見た瞬間で車でクスクス笑った。

Some excellent news! My local writer’s association has chosen the manuscript from my memoir as one of only five finalists for their unpublished contest, in the nonfiction category. I’m stoked!

12 years ago, on 7 July 2013, and after 19.5 years of relationship bliss, Hiro and I wed in a tiny ceremony in Burnaby, British Columbia. People ask us how we made our lives together last. I can only mention two reasons: a willingness to compromise and two great senses of humor.

The panoramic view from our hotel’s rooftop pool. The sumō wrestling arena is center front. The blue-roofed train platform is for Ryōgoku Station. The Sumida River divides Taitō Ward from Sumida Ward. And the cluster of black high rises at center is the Marunouchi neighborhood.

Our final three nights in Japan were spent at a mid-level hotel (in the APA chain but fancier than most of their properties). At the entrance to the basement level bath was a sign explaining etiquette. Can you imagine showing up at a public bath with an IV drip? 🤣

A section of the Zōjōji precincts (the Buddhist temple at the foot of Tōkyō Tower) is dedicated to the bodhisattva of mercy, Kwannon. (Hiro and I are particularly devoted to her.) Behind her statue are rows of Jizō bodhisattvas. Jizō is renowned for protecting women and children.

During the lead-up to my 2004 gastric bypass surgery, I underwent a sleep apnea test. At the hospital with more than a dozen wires connected to me. I took another one last night in my bed wearing this. A wrist band, a finger monitor, and a throat monitor on my sternum. 1/3

In the middle of Ameyokochō, the alleyways that run between Ōkachimachi and Ueno Stations on Tōkyō’s Yamanote Line, you’ll find a small temple/shrine complex up a flight of stairs. The temple is dedicated to a son of Brahmā, Marīci (known as 摩利支天 Marishiten in Japanese). 1/6

I’m a Show? Me too, Tōkyō, me too.

There is a hall in Manpukuji, a Buddhist temple complex in Uji, that is lined with statues of the Disciples of the Buddha. There is also a much smaller statue of Hotei, a member of Japan’s favorite septet, the Gods of Good Fortune. Hotei offers luck when you rub his belly.

Our penultimate day in Tōkyō included two museums, a small shrine, and some shopping in Ginza (at Kyūkyodō, one of my favorite stationery shops). To recharge, we had an old-fashioned treat: melon cream soda floats.

We only had rāmen once during our trip, but wow, did we hit the jackpot. A tiny place in Ryōgoku had a seasonal special. A clear broth with slices of lemon so tender you could eat them, rind and all. The garlic paste atop the pork was a perfect addition.

Back to Yushima, the Tōkyō temple to Confucius. Shrine and temple rooftops incorporate tiles, known as 鬼瓦 (onigawara), which are meant to frighten off demons (鬼, oni, are demons). Usually those tiles depict the faces of demons or are snarling lion-dogs. Not so at Yushima 1/8

Within Zõjōji, there are pairs of ornately decorated ceremonial drums and gongs (the gongs are the smaller instruments). The use of traditional music is not specific to Japanese Buddhism. We saw similar drums at Kasuga Shrine (photo 3), a Shintō shrine in Nara, in 2023.

There is always joy to be discovered in Japan. In the smaller temple adjacent to Zōjōji, where Hiro and I received our stamps for the visit, this felted Kumamon, a mascot for Kumamoto Prefecture, sat on his own in a nook. He’s adorned in red, the bodhisattva treatment. 😊

The world might not need another tribute to Edmund White, but he changed my life, offered me courage, and gave me hope, all without ever meeting me. open.substack.com/pu...

I have to admit: Hiro got a little miffed when we arrived at Kanda Myōjin, a beautiful Shintō shrine complex near Ochanomizu Station in Tōkyō, because I was so entranced by the sculptures at the gate that I forgot to pray first. Can you blame me?

We discovered that one of the best views of Tōkyō Tower can be had from a nearby Buddhist temple, Zōjōji. Written 増上寺, the name means “ever upward,” a fitting choice for a temple favored by the Tokugawa shogunate.

In the center of Tōkyō, near Ochanomizu Station, there is a shrine to Confucius, Yūshima. The Neo-Confucian movement arrived in Japan just as the Tokugawa shogunate was looking for ways to indoctrinate the children of samurai into respectful obedience, for a more peaceful Japan.

Monday, May 26th, was our last day in Japan during this most recent trip. After checking out of the hotel, we spent the first half of the day at Tokyo shrines and temples we’d never been to. Kumano Shrine is dedicated to a mythical 3-legged crow, a messenger of the gods.

One of the last things I ate in Japan was this massive sandwich at Komeda Coffee. It’s an egg salad sandwich converted into pizza toast, with tomato sauce and heaps of cheese on top. It was delicious and I’m grateful I brought my lactase with me, too.

Ten of our 16 nights in Japan were spent in the city of Uji, just south of Kyōto. It was a great base for exploring—we visited sites in 4 prefectures—and pinpointed where we want to retire to. Hills rise to the east of the Uji River and we agreed: let’s try to live there.

Celebrated a friend’s birthday last night and, of course, I had to try on the tiara. Hiro had his camera at the ready.

Hiro and I safely returned home last night after 34 hours of being awake. Today, a friend sent word that the official twitter account of a sumo wrestler included a photo that just happened to include me in the background! A little fame to mark an incredible journey.

Passionflowers are 時計草 (tokeisō, literally clock flowers) in Japanese. The past few days have been a whirlwind and we only have two more nights left in Tōkyō. I’m going to pause reporting on our trip for a bit to focus on friends and final touristy things. More to come later.

Arrived at our final accommodation, in Tōkyō’s Ryōgoku neighborhood. The hotel overlooks the sumō wrestling arena, Kokugikan, and when we exited Ryōgoku Station, a portrait of my all-time favorite wrestler, Chiyonofuji, awaited me.

The thing about Enryakuji, built on Mount Hiei, is that there are lots of stairs and hills and slopes to climb. With patience and pauses, we ended up seeing nearly all of the buildings in the Eastern Complex. (We will visit the Western and Yokogawa Complexes next visit.)

Why Mount Hiei? There’s a massive Buddhist temple complex there collectively known as Enryakuji. It was lunch time when we arrived and I indulged in Yamaimo Udon. Yamaimo is a tuber that, when grated, creates a thick liquidy paste. Mixed with egg yolk and spices, it’s delicious.

Smaller temples to Jizō, a boddhisatva protector of women and children, can also be seen at Enryakuji. The stickers were placed by pilgrims.