Whispers from Japan

In Japan, passion for cherry blossoms run deeps and anticipating their arrival every spring borders on a national obsession. Pictures above are from nightly news national TV broadcasts in early March … read more

In early February, though still cold in Japan, days start to get noticeably longer, and it begins to feel that winter is on its way out. Pretty plum blossoms begin to bloom first, and an early-bloomi … read more

Today is the first day of tsuyu, the beginning of the rainy season in southern Japan.  Spring is in its full glory and gentle, warm rain has been falling all day. It will rain here every day for … read more

  They are a curious mix of animal, human, and the supernatural. They are called dogū (土偶, clay figure) and perhaps the most remarkable representation of Japan's Jōmon culture (12,000 BC), … read more

Kyudo is the art of archery, practiced in Japan virtually unchanged since the 12th century. It is a solitary practice and the only Japanese martial art in which there is no opponents. I started pract … read more