Whispers from Japan

After nearly four months of being closed due to Covid-19, Miyazaki Toy Hospital has resumed its operations. The Toy Hospital operates every Saturday and Sunday, with a staff of 42 volunteer "toy doct … read more

Clockwise from top left: Mother with children in Tokyo, Kimono-clad lady in Kyoto, Going surfing in Miyazaki, Mamachari “Grand-Prix” in Osaka. In Japan, mamachari bicycles — literal … read more

Aya (綾) is a picturesque sustainable organic farming community of 7,053 inhabitants (2019) located about 20 kilometers from our hometown of Miyazaki in south Kyushu island. It is nestled between … read more

In Japan, the tea ceremony is more than an artistic pastime for preparation and presentation of matcha. The ideals which it represents serve as tools for teaching children personal and social values. … read more

There is so much written about the beauty and profoundness of cherry blossoms. And yet, my childhood memories of them are quite simple. I grew up in Mimasaka, a small town in Okayama prefecture. Ther … read more