22 May 2025
Grief that destroys; grief that builds
Some kanji resemble deeply symbolic seals of the soul—and the character 怨 (urami) is among the most poignant. It is constructed from the “heart”
21 May 2025
Solitude more as a role than a feeling
At dawn, Hirata Orise’s home was bathed in twilight—the warmth of the fire had yet to dispel the chill of the night,
20 May 2025
A yōkai who brewed perfect sake
On one of those intoxicated nights, when the moon reflects on the surface of sake in a small ochoko cup, and the sound of
19 May 2025
The Essence of Japan – the Most Foreign to Us
In a world where every emotion must be named, photographed, and published, and every identity declared and defended, the noh
16 May 2025
First, Formalities – Then, Bloody Vengeance
In feudal Japan, revenge was not an impulse. It was a duty, a ritual, and at the same time a cold legal construct deeply
14 May 2025
「もっと踊ってよ、アメノウズメさん
腕ふり回し、汗かき散らし、
首しならせて、
踊って、踊って、もっと、もっと」
"Dance for us again, Ame no Uzume
Swing your arms, shake off the sweat
Tilt your head toward the heavens
And dance, dance, again, again"
—
13 May 2025
Kuuki wo yomu – “reading the air”
There are words that cannot be translated with a single equivalent—not due to a lack in vocabulary, but due to a lack in
12 May 2025
山霧を重ね重ねて隠れ里
“Mountain mists,
layer upon layer—
and you shall not find the hidden village.”
– Ōsaki Natsumi, 2011, Ugetsu (雨月)
Japan comprises over 6,800 islands, with its four main islands—Honshu,
08 May 2025
“Japanese emotions do not express themselves in words; they rarely reveal themselves even in tone of voice – they manifest above all in acts of exquisite courtesy and kindness.”
—
07 May 2025
蝸牛そろそろ登れ富士の山
(Katatsumuri sorosoro nobore Fuji no yama)
O snail, slowly, slowly
climb
Mount Fuji
– Kobayashi Issa, circa 1820, Kashiwabara
In an era where the pace of life resembles an
05 May 2025
"Where is the crisis?"—I ask myself while strolling through the streets of Harajuku.
On paper, it appears to be a tale of decline. Japan—once a paragon of miraculous development, the
04 May 2025
“You already know how to deal death. Now learn how not to.”
Before Yagyū Munenori became the most powerful sword instructor in Japan, he was the son of a man
03 May 2025
A Shadow in the Mountain Forests
The mountains of Japan conceal shadows that belong neither to day nor to night. Shadows of women who left their homes and never returned.
01 May 2025
I don’t want to “sink with a world that is fading away.”
Old age is too often a time of waiting – for someone, for a pension, for a visit,
29 April 2025
The True Shadow of the Samurai
Among all the swords of ancient Japan, none carried such a silent yet all-encompassing presence as the wakizashi. While pop culture has turned the
29 April 2025
"The Eel’s Bed"
Many of us, when thinking of old Japan, can easily imagine the residences of the samurai — sprawling estates behind high walls, filled with meticulously tended gardens
25 April 2025
Though their legs are as weak as old sandals, the bill keeps chasing them relentlessly...
One day, they tried to hold a spirit-summoning séance with two alluring witches. It ended,
24 April 2025
忘れ鳥居 祈りの紙を 水が舐める
Forgotten torii –
a prayer slip
licked by water.
- contemporary haiku, unknown author
First comes the chill. The concrete walls are damp, and the air is thick with
Warai Onna – The Yōkai from the Mountains of Shikoku Who Brings Psychosis and Death Through Laughter
23 April 2025
Don’t Go into the Mountains on the Ninth
You might encounter her on the 1st, 9th, or 17th day of the month in the mountain forests of southern Japan –
22 April 2025
Warriors Indifferent to Death
Not every mantra leads to enlightenment. Some lead to the battlefield. In Western imagination, Buddhism is often seen as a haven of peace — a path
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「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
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inari.smart
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