Nihonbashi has always been a business and commercial hub in Tokyo, with Mitsukoshi--Tokyo's premier department store-- and the Tokyo Stock Exchange located nearby. But with recent developments of other multi-use buildings hosting shops, office facilities and hotels, the area is enjoying a new vibrancy. The name "Nihonbashi" means "Japan Bridge". It is the name given … Continue reading Nihonbashi: where modern Tokyo and historical Edo meet
My friend, Tajima-san, is a big sumo fan. So much so that he is an active supporter of the Arashio sumo-beya (a/k/a stable). And he kindly offered to take us along to a "keiko" (training session) at the stable. Sumo is Japan's indigenous national sport, with references to it found in Japan's earliest written histories. … Continue reading Sunday brunch at a Sumo stable
Growing up in the American Midwest, my only exposure to wisteria was a mention in the pages of a Nancy Drew mystery. It sounded like an intriguing, if not beguiling, flower. Fast forward to my life in Japan, where wisteria is native, and this dangling bundle of aromatic blooms is now a feature of my … Continue reading What’s with wisteria?
This article describes thirteen festivals or other special events taking place in Tokyo during Golden Week 2017. (Archived article - Originally published by Japan Today)
The Japanese artist known to the world as Hokusai Katsushika (1760-1849) was born Nakajima Tokitaro in what is now Tokyo's Sumida ward. In a career that spanned seven decades, he moved more than 90 times and used at least 30 different names. His best known genre was the ukiyo-e print, but in fact he explored--and … Continue reading Influential art: exploring the world of Hokusai Katsushika
Salt is an essential nutritional element for humans. It is also a widely used preservative and, in some cultures--like Japan--, it's regarded as a purification element for religious purposes. Over millenia we've learned many ways to extract this mineral from the world around us. In the Japanese archipelago, where one is never more than 90 … Continue reading Getting salt from the sea the old-fashioned way
Otemachi, the district that sits between Tokyo Station and the Otemon gate of the Imperial Palace has long been one of Tokyo's main business centers. Over the last 20 years it has seen incredible architectural changes bringing a new vibrancy to the area as old buildings are pulled down to make way for new office … Continue reading A lesson in the importance of not disturbing spirits
Japan is host to a variety of annual festivals, often seasonally driven, and often associated with Shinto shrines. These festivals usually involve music, dancing, fair food and portable shrines that are paraded through the local neighborhood. One of the more unusual of these annual festivals takes place on the first Sunday of April (in 2017: … Continue reading Kanamara Matsuri: A unique celebration of the pink of spring
Tracing the Tachi-ai River to its source, while enjoying cherry blossoms is an article describing a walk through a neighborhood of suburban Tokyo that includes blooms and blossoms, several historical buildings, and the source of a river. (Archived article - Originally published by Japan Today)
Japan's rapid industrialization during the Meiji Period (1868-1912), when the country was re-opened to international trade after more than 250 years of isolation, was nothing short of remarkable. The various achievements of the period were recognized by UNESCO in 2015 when it listed 23 components at 11 sites as "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution: … Continue reading Exploring early industrialization in Izu
Not long ago, we were driving in north-central Oita on the island of Kyushu when we spotted a mountain with a hole it. Needless to say, such a phenomenon must be explored! So we did. We learned that the top of this mountain was historically a hermitage for the practice Buddhist asceticism--reputed to have been … Continue reading Rakan-ji: Buddhist ascetism amid dramatic scenery, yet a sort-of hole in the wall
In many cultures, fire is regarded as a great purifier. Japanese Buddhism is one such culture, and one of the most dramatic purification rituals is firewalking. A chance to observe this tradition first hand is coming up on March 12, 2017, so if you'll be in Tokyo, mark your calendar and make plans to go … Continue reading Firewalking at Mt. Takao-a dramatic way to purify
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