Category: IKIGAI
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Journey Into Akiruno Tiny Art Space
The story of Akimitsu Tomonaga, an artist, begins in 1967, during the post-war era when Japanese airlines had yet to establish flights to Australia. One day, a friend working at a television station handed him a flyer about a unique opportunity—a film production company in Australia was seeking a designer to create characters for a movie centered…
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Between Tama and the 23 Ward: A Creative Journey
Hiroshi Nobue, a literary writer and producer of the globally recognized novelist Haruki Murakami’s radio show, Murakami RADIO on TOKYO FM, shares his reflections on how the outskirts of Tokyo—areas like Tama—provide fertile ground for literature, philosophy, and the roots of creativity. TOKYO FM is a leading Japanese radio station and the flagship of the Japan FM Network…
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Cross-Culture Chronicles: A Korean’s Life in Kunitachi
The city of Kunitachi, celebrated as a vibrant college town, has long attracted renowned writers and artists. It’s also home to unique bars, restaurants, record stores, and boutiques, where the small business owners’ creativity shines. Within this vibrant community, the Park Hyejung Korean Language Class has emerged as a welcoming space for cross-cultural exchange, bridging Japan and…
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Akiruno: The Mountain Where Hydrangeas Bloom
In early summer, tens of thousands of visitors come to see over 10,000 hydrangeas at Minamisawa Hydrangea Mountain in Akiruno. Visitors can rest in the shade of the trees and admire the hydrangeas, which were planted by Chuichi Minamisawa. Chuichi’s family has been the landowner of the area for centuries. His solitary effort to plant…
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Living in the Flow: Okutama’s Lake Shiromaru and River
Lake Shiromaru in Okutama is a perfect blend of natural beauty and is easily accessible from the city of Tokyo. Here, Megumi Goto has been teaching river kayaking for nearly 30 years. Locals admire Megumi not only for her kayaking expertise but also for her warm smile. Her passion for river kayaking began in her mid-20’s while working as…
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Crafting Imperfect Beauty: Akiruno’s Maverick Genius
“The beauty of silence,” “silence is golden,” and “if it is hidden, it is the flower,” are expressions that reflect a long-standing concept in Japanese culture: the virtue of discretion and not speaking unless spoken to. Although not all Japanese may adhere to this mindset today, this notion is often not understood outside of Japan.…
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The Female Gaze: Tachikawa and the U.S. Military Base in the 60s
At the end of November 2023, Tachikawa, a photography book capturing the late 1960s in Tachikawa, Fussa, and other areas known for their U.S. military bases, was published. The photos were taken by members of the photography club at Otsuma Women’s University and Junior College, who graduated in 1969. The afterword states: “In 1967, the…