2026– date –
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Dogs & Life Together
Mount Mitake with a Dog: A Shrine Visit Above Tokyo
Explore Mount Mitake with your dog: the wolf guardian of Musashi Mitake Shrine, prayers for pets, the cable car and a thoughtful mountain visit. -
Rural Japan & City Dreams
Irori: The Hearth That Held a Japanese Home Together
Discover Japan’s irori hearths: hanging kettles, family seating, thatched roofs and the people who keep the fires burning in historic houses. -
Growing Up in Japan
Koinobori: Why Carp Swim in Japan’s Spring Sky
Explore the meaning of Japan’s koinobori carp streamers, from Children’s Day and family displays to village rivers and Kazo’s giant flying carp. -
Performing Arts
Noh Masks: How One Face Can Change on Stage
Discover how Noh masks change expression through small movements, why their inner shape matters, and what to watch during your first performance. -
Growing Up in Japan
Karuta: Japan’s Card Games Begin with Listening
Explore Japanese karuta through picture cards, Hyakunin Isshu poetry and competitive play. Learn what to listen for and how beginners can join in. -
Rural Japan & City Dreams
Engawa: The Space Between a Japanese House and Its Garden
Discover Japan’s engawa: how wooden verandas, sliding screens and deep eaves connect rooms, gardens and everyday life, with three real-house photographs. -
Performing Arts
Bunraku: Why Three Puppeteers Move One Puppet
Discover how bunraku’s puppeteers, narrator and shamisen player bring characters to life, with a closer look at the details to watch and hear. -
Growing Up in Japan
Kendama: Why One Good Catch Is Only the Beginning
Explore Japan’s kendama culture, from a first cup catch and small practice goals to Hatsukaichi’s woodworking history and an international community. -
Rural Japan & City Dreams
Shirakawa-go: Life Beneath Japan’s Gassho Roofs
Look beyond Shirakawa-go’s famous roofline to discover silk-farming attics, rope-bound timbers and the people who keep thatched houses standing. -
Performing Arts
Rakugo in Japan: One Storyteller, Many Characters
A glance becomes a new character; a fan becomes chopsticks. Discover how rakugo builds a whole world from one seated storyteller—and what to check before choosing a performance.