Food & Drink Dec 4, 2021

Amid the pandemic, Ise’s ama divers keep the fires burning

Without the usual waves of tourists supporting their endeavors, the "ama" divers of the Ise Peninsula expand the scope of their operations.

Books / Reviews | ESSENTIAL READING FOR JAPANOPHILES Jul 11, 2021

‘Tea Life, Tea Mind’: Celebrating the simple act of serving tea

Green tea began in China as a medicinal brew, and grew in Japan into an aid to wakefulness and meditation for Zen monks. In time, the ceremony of its preparation became a mode of refinement for a social elite versed in introspection and aesthetics. ...

Books / Reviews | ESSENTIAL READING FOR JAPANOPHILES Jul 11, 2021

‘Impressions of Japanese Architecture’: A sense of discovery toward the traditional arts

Ralph Adams Cram’s focus on traditional architecture, with design principles still relevant today, explains why his book “Impressions of Japanese Architecture,” first published in 1905, has stood the test of time.

Books / Reviews | ESSENTIAL READING FOR JAPANOPHILES Jul 4, 2021

‘Paradise in Plain Sight’: You don't need to look far for life lessons

In Karen Maezen Miller’s book, the Zen garden she restores to its former beauty becomes a metaphor for life.

Lifestyle | Longform Jun 28, 2021

Basics of bonsai: How miniature trees from Asia have transcended frontiers

Originating in India before spreading to China and Japan, bonsai art forms can now be found all over the world.

Books May 30, 2021

Five nonfiction books about Japanese food to devour from cover to cover

In an age where the internet provides an abundance of information, to still be unaware of the varieties of Japanese cuisine could be seen as a form of self-exile from pleasure. While curating a list of the “best” nonfiction on the topic is certainly ...

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.

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.