Ugetsu is my first Kenji Mizoguchi film, and it’s amazing.

“Ugetsu tells the story of Genjura, an ambitious potter haunted by a beautiful ghost, and Tobei, a farmer who dreams of becoming a samurai. Set in sixteen-century Japan, a period of bloody civil conflict, the film offers a commentary on the delusions of lust and power and the folly of battle – subjects with special resonance for the film’s orginal postwar audience. Working with renowned cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa, Mizoguchi seemlessly interweaves the supernatural with reality, creating one of the most beautiful films of all time.”

The movie is all around a piece of art. I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful this movie really is. Machiko Kyô’s portrail of Lady Wakasa is by far one of the most haunting performances I’ve ever seen.

I first had toasted brown rice green tea, or “Genmaicha”, in San Francisco at this lovely store called The Love of Ganesha. I’ve been addicted to it since.

A little about Genmaicha from The Tao of Tea.

I suggest enjoying Genmaicha with a heaping tea spoon of brown sugar per 12oz. of tea. It’s delicious :)