Tag: Japan 2025

The Basho Museum in Ogaki

David Del Testa
A sign advertising the sights of Ogaki, Japan, including a castle, a man on horseback, a fire tower, cherry blossoms, and a representation of the haiku poet Bashō

On our last full day in Japan, while the students did tourism or homework in Kyoto, I took myself to Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture, Japan to visit the Bashō Oku no Hosimichi [Narrow Road to the Deep North] Museum. We sent Mika back home at 4:40am. Sad to see her go, but hopefully to return soon.  Ogaki is about an ninety minutes east of Kyoto, and I took the Hida Limited Express there; I had had to purchase unreserved tickets, so… Read moreThe Basho Museum in Ogaki

Our workday on Thursday, 20 March 2025 in Fukui Prefecture

David Del Testa
Image shows the seven members of the Bucknell Japan 2025 research group at Daihonzan Eiheiji Temple, Fukui, Japan.

On Thursday, March 20, we engaged with our main project, capturing high-resolution LiDAR scans on a series of spaces that have served as the basis of our proof-of-concept in and around Fukui. In particular, we have focused on: Tenryū Shiseizen-ji Temple, the street leading up to Daihonzan Eiheji Buddhist Temple (of the Sōtō Sect, to which Bashō belonged – we haven’t received permission to scan on the grounds of the temple yet), and a small, nearby Hakusan Shintō Shrine. Bashō… Read moreOur workday on Thursday, 20 March 2025 in Fukui Prefecture

Introduction: Dylan

Dylan Christie

Hi everyone! My name is Dylan Christie and I am a junior economics major. I will be spending my week in Japan developing the Digital Sojourns Project with Professor Del Testa. I was introduced to the project through history coursework where I learned Geographic Information Systems (GIS), where I used digital mapping to track historical events and sites. I decided to apply my newly found interest in GIS to aid Digital Sojourns and attend a conference in Yamaguchi, Japan, where… Read moreIntroduction: Dylan

Tokyo & Fukui Adventures Thus Far: Sarah

Sarah Maldonado

Hello Digital Sojourn friends and followers! The last few days have been busy and exciting. Yesterday we travelled from Tokyo to Fukui! Only three hours by train was not bad for the distance covered! While in Tokyo we visited the Sensō-ji temple and Kaminarimon gate which had plenty of really cool shops near by with souvenirs and great food.  Although less exciting to the beautiful attractions, the subway was also really cool to see because in comparison to the US… Read moreTokyo & Fukui Adventures Thus Far: Sarah

From Tokyo to Fukui, a travel day

David Del Testa

We had our travel day today, from Tokyo to Fukui directly. After some discombobulation on my part in the Tokyo Subway, we arrived at the always-very-busy Tokyo Station, purchased box lunches, and got on the Hakutaka Limited Express of the Hokiriku Shinkansen, which meant we stopped at about 15 stations before reaching Fukui. As usual and as expected, everything went smoothly and comfortably, although the train was pretty crowded. Lovely snow-flocked mountains flanked us for most of the journey as we… Read moreFrom Tokyo to Fukui, a travel day

My Day, looking for Bashō

David Del Testa
A small Japanese-style house with a bronze statue of Bashō seated on a step in front of it.

While the students went out to engage in some tourism in Asakusa this morning, I decided to seek out the places and spaces related to Bashō that I had missed last year. Last year, I sent my time at the Bashō Memorial Hall. This year, I followed up by following the Bashō Path (for the iPhone and Android). I decided to return to the Nihonbashi neighborhood where we stayed last year because it has a convenient location and it is… Read moreMy Day, looking for Bashō

In Tokyo, but why are we here?

David Del Testa

So, while the students introduce themselves, let me describe why we are here. Our ultimate goal is to use a Matterport Pro3D, a LiDAR scanner, to capture immersive 3D scans of our test area, and then attach them to our proof-of-concept space in Unity. Seems simple enough, right? Well, this has been a long and interesting process to get to this point, with a long but relatively gentle learning curve.  For various reasons, for the Japan 2024 trip, we chose… Read moreIn Tokyo, but why are we here?

Digital Sojourns Blog- Bryce Babcock

Bryce Babcock

Hi everyone! My name is Bryce Babcock and I’m a senior computer science and economics major. I started working with Professor Del Testa during the fall semester through my senior design course doing project management and development on the application. Now, I’m continuing to assist the development process by helping the team get our Matterport scans in Fukui and upon returning to campus, importing them into the Unity framework we established last semester. This is my 3rd visit to Japan… Read moreDigital Sojourns Blog- Bryce Babcock

Introduction: Sarah

Sarah Maldonado

Hi Everyone! My name is Sarah Maldonado and I am one of the lucky students selected to go on Bucknell’s Digital Sojourns trip in Japan! After learning about the digital sojourns project through some friends, I had the chance to meet with Professor Del Testa to discuss this project with my senior design class.  During our time in Japan I am responsible for working on social media and assisting in the matterport scans. For social media, I will be running… Read moreIntroduction: Sarah

Introduction to this year’s journey…and thanks!

David Del Testa

This blog specifically concerns the weeklong 2025 field research trip to Japan by Prof. David W. Del Testa and six students to continue development of the Digital Sojourns Project. In builds on the work completed over the course of four years by Bucknell University Presidential Fellows Grace Garvey, Lizzy Harrison, Bryce Merry, and Vienne Warfel; by the project development team of Alec Sanders, Wera Kyam Kyaw, Gideon Daniels and Jack Glassman; sponsored by Bucknell University’s Small Business Development Center  by… Read moreIntroduction to this year’s journey…and thanks!