Nov. 13, 2009: Japanese aesthetics

Japan's substratum culture that people see gods behind beautiful nature has created another aesthetic feeling, which has been piled up on it.

Nov.6, 2009: Momijigari or Autumn Leaves Viewing

Enjoy Autumn Leaves Viewing in and around Nara while giving a thought to its 1300-year-history.

Nov.4, 2009: Japanese see gods behind nature

It's my opinion that ancient Japanese people felt kami or a divine spirit when seeing beautiful natural things. I also feel that such a feeling has been programmed into our own DNA, and has made Japan's substratum culture.

Oct. 30, 2009: What one's final journey means to Japanese ?

The journey can be regarded as a pseudo-funeral, for one can purify oneself and resurrect oneself through the pseudo-funeral. In this respect, it can be regarded as the rite of passage signifying death and rebirth. Such a pseudo-rite of death and rebirth has become a firmly rooted part of Japanese life.

Oct. 18, 2009: Reasonable price lunch at a hotel

In and around Nara, it's a good idea to take lunch at reasonable prices in good comfortable hotels.

Oct. 15, 2009: What lies beyond death ?

We know that each belief has an ideal image of death, which may be rooted in commoners' fear of death, I think. For this reason, let's take a look at what the founder actually said to get insight into beliefs.

Oct. 11, 2009: Sculptors' feeling

Genius sculptors feel every piece of wood or block of stone has a sculpture within it, though most Japanese geniuses think even in scrap pieces of wood the spirit of Buddha resides, and some Western geniuses see nature as an enemy to be overcome .