01 July 2025
A Half-Forgotten War
Dawn over the valley of Isawa. Mist drifted among the trees like the tattered robes of ancestral spirits. Look—rising from the dew-drenched reeds appears a wooden palisade:
30 June 2025
Exploring Rural Paths
One must leave behind the futuristic Tokyo, drive out of noisy Osaka, stray from the well-trodden paths of dignified Kyoto, and move past bullet trains, neon-lit districts,
26 June 2025
A Bald Monk, a Little Rascal, a Girl with a Broom
While in Japan—especially near the end of the rainy season—one may notice white, ghost-like dolls hanging by the windows
25 June 2025
“Of all the northern barbarians, the Emishi are the strongest. Men and women live freely together. In winter, they dwell in dugouts; in summer – in huts. They wear arrows
24 June 2025
「船に乗るより潮に乗れ」
Fune ni noru yori shio ni nore
"Instead of riding a ship, ride the tide"
Among a thousand islands, in a separate world of narrow straits, swift currents, and
24 June 2025
「船に乗るより潮に乗れ」
(Fune ni noru yori shio ni nore)
„Zamiast płynąć statkiem, płyń falą”
Wśród tysiąca wysp, odrębnym świecie wąskich cieśnin, wartkich prądów i zdradliwych brzegów wewnętrznego Morza Seto – w
23 June 2025
He walked the path of peace and tea, of sword and blood
Japan during the Sengoku period (15th–16th century) was a land drenched in blood, torn apart by a multi-generational
19 June 2025
A Lantern That Is Not Meant to Illuminate
There are certain things that everyone associates with Japan—regardless of whether we have ever been there or how much we know about
18 June 2025
Armor as protection, identity, an expression of ambition and worldview
In a display case at the Tokyo National Museum rests the armor of a daimyō from Mino. Its very appearance
17 June 2025
A Living Jewel
It hangs quietly, modestly – charming, immersed in the still air of the afternoon. A ball of moss, wrapped in string, suspended near a window – like
16 June 2025
What do you hear when you clap with one hand? Why must you kill the Buddha when you meet him? Could the most important truth in spirituality be a tree
11 June 2025
Encoding the Landscape
In an era when an overheard word or intercepted signal could bring death and destruction — silence became the most powerful language. In the Japan of centuries
11 June 2025
“Five tones of scent, like five footsteps of the enemy.”
I know—if I use the expression “the scent of a warrior,” I risk ridicule and evoking associations with a bad
10 June 2025
Is suffering a decoration, or a desperation?
Natsuko Tanihara is perhaps the closest to darkness of all living Japanese female artists. But her darkness is not nihilism – it is
09 June 2025
Gratitude is not just a feeling – it is a practice
Gratitude in Japanese culture is not a fleeting emotion but a ritual embedded in the structure of relationships and
05 June 2025
A Truly Personal Moment
There are moments in the year that do not bear names in any calendar, yet they stay with us for a lifetime. The chirping of cicadas
03 June 2025
Just when we thought nothing in Japanese folklore could surprise us anymore…
Tanuki is a creature that holds a place in Japanese culture as honorable as it is… incomprehensible to
02 June 2025
Being Open to the Possibility of One’s Own Error
Six blind men, one elephant, and an endless dispute over what reality truly is. One touches the side and perceives a
30 May 2025
Ancient Japan
Today’s Japan is a land of silent trains, tea-scented vending machines, autonomous drones, colossal cities, and deserted villages. But close your eyes for a moment and surrender to
28 May 2025
Mastery is not achieved in a single lifetime—it takes generations.
In Japan, some words are like scrolls—they unfurl slowly, not revealing their full meaning at once. One such word is
ukiyo-japan.pl/en
All Articles
「心は風の歌に乗せて。」
(Kokoro wa kaze no uta ni nosete.)
„Carry your heart with the melody of the wind.”
— Japanese saying
"Strong Japanese Women"
see book by the author
of the page
未開 ソビエライ
An enthusiast of Asian culture with a deep appreciation for the diverse philosophies of the world. By education, a psychologist and philologist specializing in Korean studies. At heart, a programmer (primarily for Android) and a passionate technology enthusiast, as well as a practitioner of Zen and mono no aware. In moments of tranquility, adheres to a disciplined lifestyle, firmly believing that perseverance, continuous personal growth, and dedication to one's passions are the wisest paths in life. Author of the book "Strong Women of Japan" (>>see more)
Personal motto:
"The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest." - Albert Einstein (probably)
Mike Soray
(aka Michał Sobieraj)
Write us...
Ciechanów, Polska
dr.imyon@gmail.com
___________________
inari.smart
Would you like to share your thoughts or feedback about our website or app? Leave us a message, and we’ll get back to you quickly. We value your perspective!