Books
BOOK REVIEW | ‘Stranger in the Shogun’s City: A Japanese Woman and Her World’ by Amy Stanley
This fascinating book is the story of the last generation of people to know the thriving metropolis of Edo […]
Culture
BOOK REVIEW | ‘The Chronicles of Lord Asunaro’ by Kanji Hanawa
The Chronicles of Lord Asanaro (Red Circle, 2020) is an unusual and rewarding story that lingers in the consciousnes
Culture
Nezu Museum Showcases Edo Era Tea Ceremony Until December 23
Japan’s cultural roots might be found in China or the Korean Peninsula, and over the last 150 years in […]
Culture
‘Kyoto: Capital of Artistic Imagination’ at the Met in New York until September 2020
Nestled among the treasures from ancient civilizations in a museum at the heart of one of the modern world’s […
Culture
Suntory Museum of Art | ‘Styles of Play: The History of Merrymaking’ Runs Through August 18
The underlying theme of the Suntory Museum of Art’s collections is “Art in Life,” and those who visit the […]
Travel
Gardens of Wealth: At Rikugien and Furukawa Are Layers of Tokyo History
I originally rented my SOHO (small office) to avoid three hours of daily commuting that was often extended […
Economy & Tech
BOOK REVIEW | ‘The Ghost of Namamugi’ by Robert S.G. Fletcher
Charles Richardson’s Ghost One fine September afternoon in 1862, six years before the Meiji Restoration, a [&hel
Culture
To Understand Japan, You Need to Understand the Emperor System
What significance does the tenno or “emperor” have for Japan and the Japanese people? There is no easy answer [&hellip
Culture
A Visit to the Atelier | Kuniyoshi’s Beautiful Women
(Part 5 of a Series on the Art of Kuniyoshi) Toshihiko Isao When discussing Kuniyoshi, warrior […]
Special Reports
Will We Be Seeing Fewer Somei Yoshino, the King of Cherry Blossoms?
Cherry blossom viewing season—better known as hanami—has peaked in Tokyo and throughout much of Japan. Among all of
Culture
A Visit to the Atelier | Utagawa Kuniyoshi: The Ukiyo-e Artist You should Know
(Part 1 of a Series on the Art of Kuniyoshi) Toshihiko Isao, 82, is a painter and ukiyo-e […]