Kadomatsu is a decoration with three cut pieces of bamboo and pine for the Japanese New Year’s holiday. After Christmas, you will see this decoration at the entrances of houses and buildings in Japan. The Role of Kadomatsu Decorations Kadomatsu is the landmark for the Shinto deity Toshigami-sama to enter your home. In Japan, it is believed…
How I Learned I Was Making Green Tea the Wrong Way
Disclaimer: This article was produced in cooperation with byFood and contains affiliate links. Kokoro Media may earn a commission from purchases made via the byFood links featured throughout this article. I started drinking green tea more than 15 years ago, during my first visit to Japan as an exchange student. I got a liking for…
Philosopher Coralie Camilli and Her Aikido Journey in Japan
Coralie Camilli is a French philosopher, a black belt in aikido, and a practitioner of Thai boxing. In late 2019, she decided to go to Japan to study aikido and Japanese sword fighting right in their country of origin. Resulting from this experience, in 2020, she published “L’art du combat” [“The Art of Fighting”], a book…
Kagami Mochi, the Japanese New Year Cake
During the New Year period in Japan, you can see kagami mochi displayed as a decoration inside houses. It is a cake usually made of two layers of round mochi (rice cake) topped with a mandarin orange. Kagami Mochi As a Symbol “Kagami” means “mirror” in Japanese, and it is often said that the shape of the mochi…
How to Use Japanese Chopsticks the Right Way
If you are reading this article, maybe you are having a business dinner with your Japanese counterparts soon. Maybe you have been invited to a Japanese family dinner. Maybe you are afraid to make a cultural mistake during your upcoming trip to Japan. Worry no more! Here are the keys that will allow you to use chopsticks properly and have…
Discover Japanese Arts and the People Who Make Them
Japan is home to numerous passionate artists. Some express themselves through traditional painting, calligraphy, traditional dances, or music, while others do it through modern means like animation or modern theater. Read our interviews of inspiring artists in Japan: their personal connection to their art, their place in Japanese society, and the messages they want to…
Changing the Negative Perception of Organic Farming in Japan
Masamichi Higa and his wife Sara are the owners of Higa Farm, where they grow organic vegetables that they deliver to their customers as set boxes every week. Organic farming is still something new and misunderstood in Japan, but the young couple is determined to change things. Read on to learn more about organic farming, what…
The Problem With Joshiryoku
I am looking at women’s magazines at the convenience store. On the cover of one of them, I can read, “Improve your joshiryoku!” I am in a long meeting. One of my colleagues has prepared snacks and drinks for everybody. Someone says, “Your joshiryoku is so high!” I am on the train. An advertisement advises visiting…
Our Online Talk About Japan Money Matters
This time the Kokoro Media team shares their experiences with money in Japan! We talk about the cost of living, how to save money, and the differences between our spending habits in Japan and in other countries. Participants for this edition are: – Ayane (Japan) – Anthony (USA) – Amelie (France)
Tsukimi, the Moon Festival
Praying to the Harvest Moon As it is often depicted in Japanese pop culture, manga, anime, or video games, you may have already heard about ”tsukimi,” or more formally “otsukimi,” literally “moon viewing.” It is the most emblematic celebration in autumn, and shops often have decorations or sell items bearing the moon, rice cakes, or rabbits (more about this…