Blogs

In Japan, January 7 is the day of the Festival of Seven Herbs ( Nanakusa no sekku). On this day, the Japanese make a special porridge called nanakusa-gayu with seven herbs, rice, and a bit of salt. … read more

Japanese affinity for the awe-inspiring beauty of their mountains is deep-rooted in a curious mix of sacred myths, love of outdoors, and respect for nature. Nearly 70 percent of the Japanese archipel … read more

The Japanese character for rice paddy is ta. It is a simple, stylish character which depicts equally divided rice paddies, representing fairness and sharing. Rice farming is an integral weave in … read more

Toko Shinoda is a leading Japanese avant-garde painter who just turned 104. For over seventy years she has kept on creating bold, evocative art which speaks from her heart. Toko-san created the p … read more

under cherry blossoms’ shade even those whom we don’t know are not strangers (Issa Kobayashi, 1819) When we can share feelings with others, they are no longer strangers. If we have em … read more