Did you know there is a hiking spot, where you can enjoy the scenery changing from season to season, in just an hour from central Tokyo? It is Mount Takao or Takao-san in Japanese. Mount Takao is located in western Tokyo and it takes about an hour from Shinjuku station in Tokyo by Keio express train or JR line. The mountain has it all: stunning views, various hiking trails, attractive temples, and shrines. Since the mountain has a gentle slope and the altitude is rather low a

This article tells about my trip to the Setouchi Triennale in July 2019. The morning atmosphere at Takamatsu port is effervescent. Visitors from all over the world buy tickets for their ferries and run here and there in search of the right pier for boarding. The smell of the sea in the early morning is energising, but sometimes the wafts of diesel exhaust coming from the ferries override the fresh sea breeze and recall the imminent short cruise. The ferry from Takamatsu to Og

Have you ever heard of The Legend of the Hagoromo or The Legend of the Celestial Maiden? Anime fans may know a somewhat similar version of the legend from a famous shojo manga or anime title Ayashi no Ceres. The legend is so famous that it has adaptations in other languages around the world. Well, the legend goes like this; A celestial maiden descended to earth and hung her hagoromo (feather robe) over a pine tree to take a bath. Then a fisherman who was walking by decided to

The Japanese theatre has its roots in the primitive shamanic and magic beliefs, in the rites, music and dances spread in north-eastern Asia, under the influence of the two main heritage of tradition, Shinto and Buddhism. In Japan there are three main genres of traditional theatre: Nō, Kabuki and Bunraku. The early forms of Japanese theatre were dramatic and derived from the ancient liturgical representations that were held on religious holidays. Some ceremonies known as Kagu