お辞儀 — Why Japanese People Bow
After Japan lost to Croatia in the World Cup, the manager bowed deeply to the fans. A friend from Brazil messaged me: was he apologizing? I said no — he...
Wabi Sabi Journal
師走 — The Month When Even the Masters Run
In the old Japanese lunisolar calendar, months were not numbered. They were named. December was 師走 — the month when even the masters run. The image is exact.
毎日のスポンジ — The Dish Sponge Worth Keeping
Martha Stewart says replace your sponge every two weeks. She is not wrong about most sponges. But the one I use lasts two months. Here is why that is, and...
棕櫚箒の手入れ — How to Care for Your Shuro Broom
A shuro broom can last twenty, thirty, forty years — but only if you know how to care for it. The most important thing is storage. The most surprising thing:...
Tsukimi 2022
Hello there! What is the weather forecast in your area for tonight? I hope we have a clear night sky. Every fall in Japan, Tsukimi (Mid-Autumn Moon Viewing Festival) is celebrated under...
Weekend Fun with Japanese Indigo Dyeing
Now that August is behind us, it’s time to welcome the beginning of the fall season. At our home, kids are back to school, and we returned to the usual...
侘び寂び と 金継ぎ — Wabi Sabi and the Art of Kintsugi
侘び寂び — Wabi sabi isn't something I studied. Growing up in Japan, it was the quality of light through a paper screen. The texture of an old wooden tool....
萩 — The Flower That Announces Autumn
Summer in Japan does not end quietly. The heat lingers into September. And then, gradually, the 萩 begins to bloom — the flower that has been announcing autumn in Japan...
金魚すくい — Goldfish Scooping at the Summer Festival
Last night the shrine near our neighborhood held its summer festival. We came home with three goldfish.
贈り物 — How Japan Gives
What struck me during weeks at my parents' house was how much was moving between people — neighbours, relatives, friends. The rhythm of exchange was constant, quiet, and entirely...
ラムネ — The Drink That Made Samurai Reach for Their Swords
In 1853, Commodore Perry served lemonade to Edo Shogunate officials on board his ship. When the bottle was opened, the officials reached for the hilts of their swords. It was...
紫陽花 — The Flower That Belongs to the Rain
June in Japan is wet. But it is the month of hydrangeas — and against the grey of a rainy day, they are vivid in a way that feels almost...
燕三条 — Tsubame-Sanjo, The City That Made Its Own Way
燕三条 is a name made from two cities. Tsubame was a city of craftsmen. Sanjo was a city of merchants. Over time, the names merged — and so did the...
桜吹雪 — Sakura Blizzard
Most people come for the bloom. But there is an argument — and I find myself more persuaded by it the older I get — that the most beautiful moment...
Cherry blossoms on Mt. Yoshino
Cherry blossoms on Mt. Yoshino begin blooming in late March or early April and peak in early to mid-April. Going to see this magnificent view has been on my...