Lifestyle Feb 13, 2021
How to truly define a Japanese garden
Japanese gardens come in many forms that are each interpreted differently, redefining what such spaces represent in the first place.
Stephen Mansfield
Photojournalist and author Stephen Mansfield's work has appeared in over 70 publications worldwide, on subjects ranging from conflict in the Middle East to cultural analysis, interviews and book reviews. A longtime Japan Times contributor, his latest book is "Japan's Master Gardens: Lessons in Space & Environment."
For Stephen Mansfield's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Books / Reviews Jan 2, 2021
‘Japanese Zen Gardens’: Unearthing the complexity of Kyoto’s gardens
Yoko Kawaguchi’s book shows readers how many of Japan’s gardens incorporate Buddhist principles in their designs to function as spaces for meditation and enlightenment.
Books | 2020 in review Dec 19, 2020
Our critics’ favorite books published in 2020
As 2021 approaches, six Japan Times book reviewers look back on their top reads released in English this year.
Books / Reviews Dec 5, 2020
‘Family Crests of Japan’: For the miniaturist who appreciates fine details
This comprehensive overview of Japanese family crests delves into the motifs and geometries that fill even the simplest designs with meaning.
Books / Reviews Dec 5, 2020
‘36 Views of Mount Fuji’: Self-discovery through shifts in perspective
Cathy N. Davidson’s memoir is a thoughtful and compelling account of a woman gaining a deeper understanding of herself and Japan through her travels.
Books Nov 21, 2020
A passion project that became a literary journey through Kyoto
“Kyoto: A Literary Guide" was painstakingly collated by a group of friends whose dedication to studying the city’s literary legacy spans 10 years.
Books Oct 17, 2020
Hans Brinckmann: Bearing witness to Japan’s postwar transformation
The Dutch writer’s follow-up to his 2005 memoir offers insight into Japan’s economic, political and cultural changes between 1950 to the present.
Books / Reviews Aug 8, 2020
‘Diary of a Mad Old Man’: This quick read reveals the realities of lust
Junichiro Tanizaki’s final novel is a tragicomic tale about a man coming to terms with his ailing body and uncontrollable libido.
Books / Reviews Aug 1, 2020
‘A Late Chrysanthemum’: A short story collection full of pathos and maturity
This anthology of short stories may tend toward the morally dubious, but it’s a solid introduction to literary masters of the 20th century.
Books / Reviews Jul 4, 2020
Healing from the horrors of war in ‘The Garden of Evening Mists’
Tan Twan Eng’s evocative novel about loss, art and memory was shortlisted for a Man Booker Prize in 2012.