Deeper Views
Dive further into Japanese culture.
Join our team of culture editors in exploring deeper connections between Japan’s art, culture, and history.
Latest
More than Matcha:
Understanding Japanese Tea
While matcha might catch the most attention these days, there’s a greater variety of Japanese tea to explore.
Your Guide to Autumn in Japan 2026
Seasonal Guide
Discover the best ways to travel Japan in autumn, from momiji maple views to hiking through Japan’s most iconic outdoor scenery.
Featured
The War on Geisha: Identity in the Face of Tradition
The complex struggle of geisha to preserve their traditional identity while adapting to the pressures of modernity, Western influence, and societal misconceptions.
More entries from
Deeper Views
The Aesthetics of Belief: Space & Shintoism
How Shinto shapes Japanese visual culture, where belief is carefully composed in space, material, and form.
Talismans and Oracles: The Question of Religiousness in Japan
From devout participation to cultural tapestry, religiousness in Japan requires a nuanced understanding—one accounting for the purchasing of talismans, objects, and divine protection.
Lucky Cats and a Daimyo Dethroned at Gotokuji Temple
The story of Tokyo’s Gotokuji Temple, the samurai family whose fate it was intertwined with, and the lucky maneki neko cats there for every step of the way.
Mudras, Mantras, Foxes, and Falls: The Japanese Religious Background of Anime and Manga
Discover how Japanese pop culture draws upon ancient spiritual practices to weave deeper meaning into anime and manga through a rich tapestry of religious symbolism and folklore.
The Untold History of Women in Sake Brewing
From once occupying a pivotal role in sake production to being barred from setting foot into breweries where they once worked, women in sake have experienced a fluctuating past.
Sacred Springs, Samurai Spas, and the Evolution of Onsen in Japan
With a history almost as old as Japan itself, onsen hot spring culture in Japan has evolved with the times, from eras of emperors and samurai soldiers to those of popular travel destination.
Foxes, Tanuki, and Lion-Dogs: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Dive into the fascinating world of Japan's folkloric creatures, from the mischievous tanuki and foxes to divine deer and lion-dogs guarding sacred sites.
Sumo: Tradition, Religion, and Sport
How religion remains at the roots of sumo wrestling, a sport of longstanding tradition and intense connection to Japanese culture.
The Mind of No-Mind: Zen Buddhism, Samurai, and Martial Arts in Japan
Beyond myth and movies, the Zen warrior reflects centuries of evolving philosophies, misunderstood ideals, and the art of winning not by strength, but by wisdom.
Tomitaro Makino: Grafting Western Science with Japan's Natural World
Tomitaro Makino’s passion for plants reflects Japan’s enduring reverence for nature—where science, art, and spirituality intertwine in a centuries-old cultural harmony.
The Beauty of the In-Between: "Ma" and its Influence on Modern Minimalism
Embracing silence and empty space, Japanese aesthetics reveal how absence—rooted in Zen and “ma”—cultivates beauty, meaning, and mindful connection in all things.
Unsheathing Bushido and Gender: The Female Samurai Warriors of Aizu
In the quiet valor of Takeko Nakano and the joshitai, bushido reveals itself not as masculinity, but as a timeless, genderless code of life.
Poem and a Picture: Japanese Gardens as Reflections of the Natural World
Harmoniously blending art and nature, Japanese gardens reflect the natural world through carefully crafted landscapes that evoke poetry and timeless beauty.
Acquiring Magic Powers in Mountain Seclusion: Shugendo and Japanese Religion
Blending myth, ritual, and endurance, Shugendo is Japan’s mystical mountain path where seekers chase enlightenment and power through nature, solitude, and spiritual trials.
The Origins of Omiyage in Japanese Travel
Explore the evolution of omiyage—Japan's cherished souvenir tradition—from its spiritual origins to its modern role as a symbol of connection and gratitude.
Telling Tales with Ainu
The Ainu oral storytelling tradition plays a huge role in preserving the culture and history of the Ainu people through epic, mythic, and ritual tales, despite the language’s endangered status due to forced assimilation.
In Praise of Silence: Japan’s Ancient Relationship to the Absence of Noise
Japan's historical reverence for silence, casting an undeniable impact on art, culture, and communication within Japan, comes in contrast to a modern noise-filled environment.
The Legend of Benkei and its Enduring Imagination
The legend of Japanese warrior monk Benkei continues to fascinate and inspire audiences.
A Community of Cuisine: Buddhist Fucha Ryori
A style of food with Chinese origins, fucha ryori links Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian values, and centers around communal eating.
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