When Summer Begins to Turn: Japan’s Quiet Tradition of the Doyō Season
July 20 is Marine Day in Japan, a national holiday that celebrates the sea. For many people, it also feels lik […]
Not Every “Lucky Day” Is Simple: What Japan’s Traditional Calendar Really Teaches Us
You may have seen headlines like this before: "Today is the luckiest day of the year." In Japan, these days of […]
For 16 Days, You Can Forget About Directions: A Quiet Summer Tradition in Japan's Old Calendar
The heat of summer has truly arrived in Japan. Early in the morning, a gentle breeze still lingers. But once t […]
Summer Never Arrives All at Once: Discovering Japan Through Its 72 Micro-Seasons
Summer doesn't arrive in Japan all at once. It comes quietly. A slightly brighter morning.A warmer breeze.The […]
Tanabata Wishes and the First Breath of Summer
In Japan, small signs of the changing seasons often appear when we least expect them. The other day, while I w […]
July 1: Why Mount Fuji Still Captures the Japanese Heart
Every year on July 1, the climbing season opens on the Yamanashi side of Mount Fuji, Japan's highest and most […]
June 30: Japan's Gentle Mid-Year Reset
Today was one of those days that finally felt like summer in Japan. Even while saying, "It's so hot," I happen […]
Sowing Seeds in the Rain: What Japan’s Grain-in-Ear Season Teaches About Beginning Something New
The rainy season arrived in western Japan this week. The sky has been gray since morning, and the air feels he […]
Two Consecutive "Lucky Seed Days" in Japan — A Quiet Time to Begin Something Small
Starting next month, I decided to try a Japanese meal delivery service called Nosh. It delivers frozen prepare […]
The Red-Nosed Princess Who Quietly Won in the End— The Season of Safflowers in Japan —
On May 26, Japan's traditional seasonal calendar moves into a micro-seasoncalled Benibana Sakau — "Safflowers […]