Momoka Miyoshi is a young sculptor who made a sensation on social media thanks to her graduation art project, Day Off. The statue shows a Nio guardian–a Buddhist figure that usually stands at the entrance of temples with an angry face–on its day off. The statue’s gentle expression as it is holding a baby provoked…
Discovering Kyoto’s Gardens through Interactive Live Documentaries
Andrew William is a U.S. national who has been living in Kyoto for more than 10 years. After a career in garden design in both countries, his love for the town and its lesser-known gardens has led him to share them with guests in a very unique way. Through his company, An Design, he offers…
Hunting Kyoto’s Ghosts Through Art
As I explained in my previous interview, in Japan, summer is the season for ghosts. That is why this interview also deals with this spooky topic, as I talk with a young artist who made a series of art pieces about Kyoto’s ghosts. Michael Hirschbichler is a German-Austrian-Swiss artist and professor at the Academy of…
Ohigan, a Japanese Buddhist Holiday
Maybe you are already familiar with obon, a Japanese holiday during which people pay their respects to their family’s graves. But did you know that they also visit graves on two other days of the year? That celebration is called ohigan. Ohigan Is a Period for Remembrance Ohigan is celebrated twice a year on the…
Japanese Shinto Priest Explains His Religion in a Fun Way
Soushi describes himself as a pioneer among Shinto priests. During the day, he performs his duties at 17 different shrines. At night, he becomes the “Singing Shinto Priest,” a pop musician whose mission is to make basic Shinto principles more accessible to the public. According to Soushi, although the Japanese often go to shrines, most…
The Shikoku Pilgrimage: Practical Tips and Anecdotes by Oliver Dunskus
Oliver Dunskus is a German national who spends most of his year being a marketing manager. However, he has an atypical hobby: spending a few weeks each year walking the most famous pilgrimage of Japan, on Shikoku island. Noticing the lack of practical guidebooks for western pilgrims, he wrote and released the first Shikoku pilgrimage…
The Correct Manners When Visiting the Japanese Grand Shrine of Ise
The gods of the Ise Grand Shrine have been enshrined here for over 2,000 years, and this shrine is the holiest in Japan. It is one of the places Japanese people hope to visit at least once in their lifetime. It has a special and mystical atmosphere, with its 100-year-old cedar trees. Here are eight…
The Meaning of Hina Matsuri, the Japanese Girls’ Day and Its Dolls
Hina Matsuri is a festival celebrated on March 3rd to pray for the health and good future of young girls. When a girl is born into a family, it is customary for the relatives to offer hina ningyo (hina dolls). On the day of the festival, these dolls are displayed in the household. The Origins of Hina Matsuri The history of hina…
How to Consult an Oracle at Japanese Shrines and Temples
If you have already visited a Japanese shrine, you may have wondered what the folded papers attached to trees or threads were. These are called omikuji, or oracles. What is written on them is believed to be a message from the deities. They are provided in many forms: some shrines and temples have sorts of…
Ittoseki, a Mysterious Stone Cut during a Battle with a Tengu
The place has recently become a pilgrimage spot for fans of the manga “Kimetsu no Yaiba” (“Demon Slayer” in English). Kids and cosplayers take their picture in front of this huge stone holding a sword, just like the main character Tanjiro at the end of his training. It is true that the mysterious stone called…