Most people find it hard to believe considering gloves, scarves and woolly hats are still compulsory attire when venturing outside but February 3 actually marks the last day of winter in Japan. The occasion is celebrated with a nationwide festival known as Setsubun, which is traditionally held to mark New Yearﾕs Eve under the old…

Of the previous generation of Japanese designers, Iwaya has the most respect for Hanae Mori because she was the first to have a haute couture collection in Paris.  Besides, I consider myself a believer in the traditional sense of high fashion like Mori, unlike Yamamoto or Kawakubo, who are more anti-fashion renegades. But I think…

The worldﾕs first gardens may well have been made of coral. Natural clusters of underwater beauty that could be glimpsed through the glass of the water. Perfectly tone-coordinated balance and formed, they were refined to a degree that may have suggested the presence of the divine. Those living in the coral islands of Okinawa have…

When you pass someone on the street in Japan, how do you size them up as they pass by? Is it their clothes? Their gait? Their make-up? How about their hair? The cut, color, condition, and degree of styling of a personﾕs hair arguably give a more accurate picture of that person than what they…

New Year in Japan, as in many nations around the world, is about family, celebrations and looking ahead to the coming 12 months. Traditionally, families would spend the last few days putting their financial affairs in order, cleaning the home, and cooking enough to last them through several days of the shops being closed, prior…

2009 was a disappointing year sports-wise for two of the nation’s biggest teams, one in baseball, the other in soccer. In terms of the kick ‘n’ chase game, Urawa Reds of the J-League have long been seen as the most popular in the land. Games at their home stadium in Saitama are always a huge…

Donald Richie, passing through the seaport of Onomichi in the late sixties, described it at length in his magisterial, The Inland Sea. Noting the crescent of old wooden houses along the waterline, several of which are still there, he observed “Onomichi is from the sea a very Chinese-looking city, the houses emptying directly onto the…

Playing one of Krush’s CD’s is a blissful journey of soundscapes and experimental juxtaposes all smoothly blended together in a smooth mix of vocals, soul textures, rapping, beats and live instrumentation. His hybrid and genre defying music is vastly experimental, and his ability to exquisitely fuse his stated influences of jazz, old techno, house, rock…

On August 28, 2009, at YAMAHA Okubo Ground in Shizuoka, there was the final match versus Fukuoka Sanix Blues before the top league starts. Kick-off was at 6PM. Game captain Sato said after the match that Yamaha Motor Jubilo used all aspects of the ground and was able to display their originality on the field….

Those living in Japan who love nature, hiking, and natural beauty simply must find the time to visit Yakushima. Yakushima is a small island in Kagoshima prefecture famous for its ancient Yakusugi forest and UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The forests of Yakushima inspired Miyazaki Hayao’s masterpiece Mononoke Hime (“Princess Mononoke”) and are absolutely marvelous….