Book Review: Ikigai The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

Book Review: Ikigai The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Ikigai (生き甲斐 Reason for being, Japanese n. Having a clear purpose in one’s life that makes it worthwhile, give one a sense of satisfaction and give meaning to one’s life. Read more on Wikipedia InContinue reading “Book Review: Ikigai The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life”

Ancient Word of the Day: Kawaakari

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”

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”

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”

10 Interesting things I Found on the Internet This Week #17

A Shelf-Portrait with Alanis Morissette Rock goddess, highly sensitive person and all-round legendary bookworm Alanis Morissette talks about the books that have shaped and improved her life. A lot of great non-fiction here about mindfulness, spirituality and personal growth. The mystical beauty of an Ancient Egyptian daughter of Osiris (1913) An anonymous autochrome photograph takenContinue reading “10 Interesting things I Found on the Internet This Week #17”

10 Quirky Things I Found on the Internet this Week #16

Max Frey’s Magical Monsters Max Frey (1874-1944) was a German painter and graphic artist associated with the Symbolism and New Objectivity movements. His work in 1920s and 1930s is particularly inspired by Magic realism. Five of the world’s weirdest wild dogs I discovered a nice blog run by a pet shop and pet supplies businessContinue reading “10 Quirky Things I Found on the Internet this Week #16”