Category: ME-SPIRATION

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…

Lake Shiromaru in Okutama is a perfect blend of natural beauty and is easily accessible a 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…

“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.…

Riding a large motorcycle, wearing Timberland yellow boots and jeans, Kayoko Ikeya visits tea farmers in Sayama, Saitama, and Shizuoka—both regions famous for Japanese tea production. She is the third-generation owner of Sayamaen, a long-established tea store in Tachikawa, who certainly defies the image most people have of those involved in Japanese tea. She has…