Kawaakari (Japanese) Kawaakari is a mystical Japanese word that means the glow of a river or stream in darkness or dusk, or the gleaming surface of a shadowed river (Japanese 川明かり). Kawaakari can also mean the reflection of the moonlight off flowing water. Obumbro (Latin) A similar word in Latin in Obumbro. To shadow overContinue reading “Ancient Word of the Day: Kawaakari”
Tag Archives: japan
Japan’s 72 gossamer-light and poetic microseasons
The traditional seasons in Japan are marked out by impercetibly small changes in nature across 72 miniature seasons in a year, each lasting 5 days and reflecting the fleeting, impermanent and diaphanous beauty of nature and all of its wonders. There are 24 divisions or sekki in the calendar that are split into 72 kōContinue reading “Japan’s 72 gossamer-light and poetic microseasons”
Travel: Magnificent Ryoan-ji temple and gardens, Kyoto
Ryōan-ji (meaning the Temple of the Dragon at Peace) is a Zen temple located in Kyoto, Japan. The Ryōan-ji garden is considered one of the finest surviving examples of Japanese Zen temple garden design generally featuring distinctive larger rock formations arranged amidst a sweep of smooth pebbles arranged in immaculate linear patterns, designed to facilitateContinue reading “Travel: Magnificent Ryoan-ji temple and gardens, Kyoto”
10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #32
Godzilla met King Kong when they were just kids! Memento Mori by High Dependency Unit A sweeping and melodramatic post-rock album by Kiwi band High Dependency Unit that’s filled with light and dark. A bustling sushi city by the creative genius in miniature Tatsuya Tanaka A Journey to the Big Cat Sanctuary with Heather SmallContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #32”
Artists & Writers in their Own Words: Jonelle Patrick
Inspiring author Jonelle Patrick weaves webs of literary magic in her five novels set in Japan. She has been writing about Japanese culture and travel since she first moved to Tokyo in 2003. In addition to The Last Tea Bowl Thief and the Only In Tokyo mystery series, she produces the monthly newsletter Japanagram, andContinue reading “Artists & Writers in their Own Words: Jonelle Patrick”
Artists & Writers In Their Own Words: Kanariya Eishi
Kanariya Eishi (鹿鳴家英志) AKA Hiroshi Nakatsuji is a multitalented performer of the ancient Japanese Art of Rakugo in English. Following a Bachelor of Performing Arts from an American university he was involved in many theatre projects in Japan, US, and New Zealand. He trained as a theatre clown under Rone & Gigi, a world renownedContinue reading “Artists & Writers In Their Own Words: Kanariya Eishi”
10 Cool Things I Found on the Internet This Week #22
I hope these things cheer you up or make you smile. They certainly made my day better when I found them. Bulgaria’s Kooky Kukeri Festival Each year, people across Bulgaria gather in Blagoevgrad to partake in the annual Kukeri Festival. Draped in elaborate costumes made from long goat hair, participants dance away the evil throughContinue reading “10 Cool Things I Found on the Internet This Week #22”
Comforting thought: A 10th century Japanese poem about courage
Although the wind Blows terribly here the moonlight also leaks between the roof planks of this ruined house ~ Izumi Shikibu, 10th Century Japanese poet More inspiration Remember that if you wall up your house too well you will stay dry, but you will stay moonless. We should strive to let the world into ourContinue reading “Comforting thought: A 10th century Japanese poem about courage”
Artists and Writers In Their Own Words: Gareth Quinn Redmond
Immensely talented Irish composer and musician Gareth Quinn Redmond reinterprets and pays homage to Japanese Environmental Music or Kankyō Ongaku in his music. A genre inspired by the conceptual genius of Erik Satie’s Furniture music, which then found fertile growth in Japan in the 1970s and 80’s. [Kankyō Ongaku] leads the listener into another world,Continue reading “Artists and Writers In Their Own Words: Gareth Quinn Redmond”
An Anatomical Guide to Godzilla and other Gigantic Japanese Monsters
These amazing diagrams showing a medical cross–section of Godzilla along with other Japanese monsters such as Mothra, Gamera and Agurius. These illustrations were created in 1967 by Shogo Endo for a book called ‘An Anatomical Guide to Monsters’. This cult book was crafted by Shoji Otomo (writer) along with Shogo Endo (illustrator) (1967). An AnatomicalContinue reading “An Anatomical Guide to Godzilla and other Gigantic Japanese Monsters”
Content Catnip 