Visiting Sengakuji Temple After walking through the Takanawa area, I visited Sengakuji Temple. It’s well known as the resting place of the 47 Ronin, but what I found there was more than history. It was a living cultural experience. The Original Meaning of Goshuin Today, goshuin (temple seals) are often collected as souvenirs when visiting […]
Visiting Takanawa Gateway I recently visited Takanawa Gateway, one of Tokyo’s newest train stations, and had the chance to watch a kabuki performance nearby. At first glance, this area feels futuristic and new. But beneath the surface, this land holds memories of Edo-era travelers and Japan’s journey into modernization. Takanawa Was Once the Gateway to […]
When Is Doyo no Ushi no Hi in 2026? In 2026, the summer Doyo no Ushi no Hi falls on Sunday, July 26th. This year there is only one Ushi no Hi during the summer Doyo period (roughly July 20 to August 6), with no second “Ni no Ushi” day. What Is Doyo no Ushi […]
Calligraphy & Origami Workshop for Vietnamese Students in Tokyo On June 19, 2026, we had the pleasure of hosting a calligraphy and origami workshop for 26 students from Vietnam at a language school in Tokyo. For calligraphy, we prepared a personalized kanji template for each student — selecting characters that matched the sounds of their […]
Why Calligraphy Works for Team Building More and more companies are choosing calligraphy as part of their corporate events and team-building programs. You might be wondering: why calligraphy? In this article, we share three reasons why calligraphy is uniquely suited for team building, along with a real example from a corporate event. 3 Reasons Calligraphy […]
Tanabata & Matcha: Celebrate Japan’s Star Festival with Seasonal Wagashi Every year on July 7th, Japan celebrates Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival. According to Japanese legend, Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented by the stars Vega and Altair, are lovers separated by the Milky Way and allowed to meet only once a year. People celebrate […]
June 30th marks the midpoint of the year in Japan, a date marked by a Shinto purification ritual called Nagoshi no Harae (also written 名越の祓). The ritual is held to cleanse away the impurities accumulated over the first half of the year and to pray for good health through the months ahead. It takes place […]
The first thing you hold in a Japanese tea ceremony is the matcha bowl. Its weight, the warmth it carries, the texture beneath your fingers — every detail is intentional. In a single bowl, centuries of Japanese aesthetic sensibility come together. What many people don’t realize is that matcha bowls vary enormously depending on where […]
Tea Ceremony Experience at Narita International Culture Hall We recently had the pleasure of hosting a matcha tea ceremony experience at Narita International Culture Hall in Narita City, Chiba — as part of a team-building event for an international company. The group consisted of 20 participants from a wide range of countries, including members from […]
We hosted an on-site matcha experience for a group of 100 international visitors at Meiji Kinenkan in Tokyo. Here we share how we handled the unique challenges of a large-scale event — including English support, dietary restrictions, and smooth logistics. The experience in action at Meiji Kinenkan Event Overview Venue: Meiji Kinenkan, Minato, Tokyo Participants: […]
