2026-01

Yokai

When Three Images Are Enough

Some images do not ask to be explained.They simply ask to be seen.This small Japanese picture book, created decades ago ...
Objects & Symbols

“Maneki-neko and the Meaning of Raised Paws: Luck, Family, and Harmony”

Small figures, rich with meaning.Maneki-neko quietly invite luck, harmony, and human connection.
Yokai

Who Is This Red Monster? A Japanese Festival Called Setsubun

Once a year in Japan, people throw beans at a creature called “Oni” to chase away bad luck and welcome good fortune.Once...
Yokai

Zashiki-warashi: The Invisible Child Who Lives with the House

1. Opening — A Story Still Told TodayIn Japan, there are places where people still speak quietly about someone who canno...
Yokai

When Form Becomes Presence

Clay Figures, Spirits, and the Japanese Sense of “Too Real”These objects come from museums in Miyoshi City, Hiroshima, a...
Places & Landscapes

Sankeien Garden (三景園)Hiroshima

Located just a few minutes from Hiroshima Airport and the Airport Hotel, Sankeien Garden is a beautifully designed Japan...
Stays & Retreats

Forest Hills Garden Cottage – A Quiet Forest Retreat Just Minutes from the Airport

Located just a short walk from Hiroshima Airport, Forest Hills Garden Cottage offers a rare combination of accessibility...
Myths & Deities

What Lies Within the Tumulus

Stone, Iron, and the Journey BeyondAt first glance, these gentle hills appear to be part of the natural landscape.Quiet,...
Yokai

The Old Man Mermaid of Kyoto: A Japanese Legend of Immortality

An Old Man Mermaid Preserved as a Ceremonial Dish, Once Kept by a Kyoto FamilyThis is not the mermaid most people imagin...
Objects & Symbols

Another Side of Japan: Summer, Ice, and Everyday Life

An old shaved ice machine, still in use after many summers.Another Side of Japan: Summer at a Small Shaved Ice ShopWhen ...