In the series of the 24 seasons of the Japanese solar calendar, October 8 to 23 is the period of Kanrō, or white frost. It’s during this period that dew turns to white frost as night-time cold sets in. It’s…
Shi-an’ is an ephemeral tea house built entirely from washi paper, without the use of glue. To achieve this, designer Akinori Inuzuka has invented an origami technique (the art of paper folding in Japan) which ensures the stability of the…
Fifteen years ago, I explained the solar calendar, which is still very much alive in Japan, and intimately linked to the evolution of nature throughout the year. Today, we’re entering one of the 24 seasons that corresponds to the beginning…
The crane is intimately linked to Japanese culture. It is commonly found on the magnificent fabrics of kimonos, on the washi paper of tea caddies or in the form of origami.The Japanese crane is emblematic of the archipelago. This sacred…
In Japan, as elsewhere, the year is punctuated by the 4 seasons, except that with its climate, these seasons are very marked. However, Japan divides its calendar into 24 lunar/solar periods called sekki of around 15 days, which are themselves…
