Category: JAPAN

TOKYO, JAPAN: MATCHA

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In Japanese culture, matcha isn’t just a drink — it’s a whole way of paying attention.

The 4 classic tea-ceremony “tenets” in Japanese are:
和 (wa) – harmony
敬 (kei) – respect
清 (sei) – purity
寂 (jaku) – tranquility / quiet stillness

Tea ceremony & Zen: Matcha is at the heart of the Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu / sadō), a ritual that grew with Zen Buddhism. It’s used to practice mindfulness, stillness, and the idea of finding beauty in imperfection and transience (wabi-sabi). 

Values in a teacup: The traditional matcha ceremony is built on four core principles: harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. Everything—from cleaning the utensils to how the bowl is turned—is meant to express these values. 

Connection, not just flavor: Historically, matcha was drunk by monks, samurai, and elites, then spread as an art form that creates a quiet, shared moment between host and guest—one meeting, one time (ichigo ichie).  

和・敬・清・寂 — the four tenets in one bowl of matcha. 🍵⛩️

15december2025

TOKYO (SHIBUYA,) JAPAN STREET ART: TAKEFUSA KUBO

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Adidas brings sport and street culture together:
A large-scale statue or “monument” of Takefusa Kubo has appeared in the Dogenzaka area of Shibuya, Tokyo. It blends athlete, brand and city.

8november2025

TOKYO (NAKA-MEGURO,) JAPAN STREET ART: RUGBY

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TOKYO (NAKA-MEGURO,) JAPAN STREET ART: SAKURA

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8november25

TOKYO (NAKA-MEGURO,) JAPAN STREET ART: HOLDING IT TOGETHER

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8november25

TOKYO (NAKA-MEGURO,) JAPAN GRAFFITI: ART WILL SAVE YOU

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Gei wa mi o tasukeru.” (芸は身を助ける)

→ “Art will save you.”

8november2025

TOKYO (NAKA-MEGURO,) JAPAN: QUAINT

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Meguro River – famous for cherry blossom viewing – right now, the autumn foliage is doing it for me 🍁
This image sums up its laidback café/eatery vibe
There is a business district
There is art

Post-war, it was a working class area, but now it’s grown into an exhalation for the more central chaos…

8november2025

TOKYO (NAKA-MEGURO,) JAPAN STREET ART: BUBBLIES

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8november2025

TOKYO (SOSHIGAYA-OKURA,) JAPAN: HERO OF HOPE

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Ultraman: Japan’s Hero of Hope

First appearing in 1966, Ultraman became one of Japan’s most enduring pop-culture icons. Created by Eiji Tsuburaya, the special-effects genius behind Godzilla, Ultraman introduced a new kind of hero — a giant alien protector who defends Earth from kaiju monsters.

Beyond the spectacle, the series reflected Japan’s postwar optimism: science, teamwork, and courage could overcome destruction. Decades later, Ultraman remains a symbol of resilience and collective strength — a hero who reminds Japan that light always rises again after darkness.

November 2025

TOKYO (GOTOKUJI,) JAPAN: GOTOKUJI TEMPLE

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Gotokuji Temple sits quietly in Setagaya, Tokyo—it’s the birthplace of the maneki-neko, the beckoning cat said to bring good fortune. The story goes back to the 17th century, when a wandering samurai took shelter under a tree near the temple during a storm. He noticed a monk’s cat raising its paw as if inviting him inside. Moments later, lightning struck the very spot he’d been standing. Grateful, the samurai became a benefactor, and Gotokuji prospered.

Today, the temple grounds are dotted with hundreds of white cats, each one left by visitors hoping for luck or to give thanks for it. It’s peaceful, slightly surreal—rows of silent cats under the trees, tiny prayers for good fortune. Like much of Tokyo, Gotokuji blends whimsy and faith, the ordinary and the mystical, until they feel like the same thing.

4november25