Unlike many Japanese, who rise early on New Year's mornings to watch the sunrise on the new year, I've always preferred seeing in the new year with a traditional hatsumode shrine visit promptly at midnight. This year's hatsumode was a particular treat, as it included some very special entertainment. This year I was fortunate to … Continue reading Myths in the mountains at midnight
This article takes readers on a seven lucky gods pilgrimage through an old, but not well known, corner of Tokyo. Seven lucky gods pilgrimages are mostly done at the New Year, but this one has delights in all seasons. Learn more in this article. (Archived article originally published by Japan Today.)
I recently blogged about Kabuki, one of Japan's more modern performing arts. Kabuki is highly entertaining wherever it is performed, but it is often said that there is nothing like seeing a Kabuki play performed in an historical theater in order to truly get the feel of the art. The trouble is, there aren't that … Continue reading Kanamaruza: the historic Kabuki theater of Kotohira
This article introduces the traditional cloth dyers of northern Shinjuku-ku in Tokyo, clustered near the Kanda River since the beginning of the 20th century. Every Autumn, several dyers open their studios to public visits in a Konya Meguri (Dyer's Tour). Learn more in this article. (Archived article originally published by Japan Today.)
Japan has many great traditional performing arts, some with over a thousand years of history. Perhaps the best known of these is kabuki, a form of theatre developed "only" about 400 years ago. The plays involved relate-able stories, elaborate costumes and clever staging, making kabuki immediately popular across all social classes (must to the displeasure … Continue reading Kabuki: Japan’s historic theatre art
It is often observed that Japan borrows ideas and technologies from various sources, adapting them to suit Japanese needs and sensibilities, essentially making them Japanese. Paper, one of Japan's earliest borrowings from China, is no exception. Japanese paper is nothing short of amazing. Traditional hand-made washi paper is lovely and soft; fun to make and … Continue reading Origami Kaikan: a chance to explore the folds and layers of paper
This article describes various lessons one can take while visiting Okinawa (including karate, glass blowing and pottery-making) to get a real taste of the culture of the islands. (Archived article originally published by Japan Today.)
Japan has several centuries of history in the use of decorative glassware, with a particular flowering of the craft in the 18th and 19th century. Among the glass arts practiced in Japan that tourists can also try their hands at are glass blowing, cut glass (known as "Edo Kiriko"), and sand blasting. The Tokyo Glass … Continue reading Glass art in Ota-ku
As the season of new beginnings, Spring is the season when bamboo shoots emerge from the earth to shoot their way skyward. But clever hunters know they can hunt out the little brown spears just as they are breaking the surface for an excellent seasonal treat. This year, late Spring found us visiting our friend … Continue reading Bamboo Shooting: the Spring hunting season
Every two years, in odd-numbered years, Tokyo sees one of the three largest festivals in Japan, the Kanda Matsuri of Kanda Myojin Shrine. This year, the biggest, most spectacular part of the festival is this week-end: May 11 and 12. Saturday, May 11 is the main procession, when Kanda Myojin's o-mikoshi, portable shrines, are paraded … Continue reading Kanda Matsuri: a major spectacle not to be missed
April 30, 2019 literally marks the end of an era. The 30 year imperial reign of Akihito, the Heisei emperor, will come to an end as his majesty abdicates to a well-deserved retirement. The next day, his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will ascend to the Chrysanthemum Throne and a new imperial reign, Reiwa, begins. The … Continue reading Imperial fever, imperial fervor
This article introduces Bessho Onsen, an historical onsen town in Nagano Prefecture that is easily accessible from Tokyo and perfect for a weekend getaway. Stay in a ryokan and let yourself be pampered by omotenashi hospitality and lots of amazing food. (Archived article originally published by Japan Today.)
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