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 2025
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.
Japan’s Department Stores: Trendsetters in Taste & Art
Incorporating art into their business structure since conception, Japanese department stores provide more than a place to shop: they act as a space for shaping cultural trends and art aesthetics for all walks of Japanese society.
The Seiza and the Silent Art of Sitting
How posture impacts cultural formation and the creation of crafts, plus the evolution of “seiza” from social circles to widespread Japanese soceity.
Incompletion as Intention: Learning from Mikansei in Japanese Woodwork
Discover the aesthetic philosophy of incompletion, mikansei, and the impact it has had on Japanese art and crafts for countless centuries.
Artwork or Artifact? The Calligraphy Controversy in Modern Japan
How the contention of whether calligraphy could be categorized as fine art represented a larger question of aesthetic qualification in the Meiji Period.
Frank Lloyd Wright and Japan, An Architectural Love Story
The lasting influence of Japanese philosophy and architecture on the iconic work of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the legacy he left behind in Japan.
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.
Monogatari, The Meiji Years, and Japan's Oral Storytelling Tradition
For centuries, an oral tradition was so much more than entertainment. Read more about Japan's unbroken heritage of oral storytelling, from ancient times to modern scenes.
Art as a Catalyst: Rethinking Regional Revitalization in Japan
From homestay programs with local artisan villagers to art projects that reimagine a new creativity in rural environments, learn more about how art is being used as a lever to reimagine the regional areas of Japan.
Ukiyo-e: Capturing the Fleeting World Through Print
Discover more about ukiyo-e, a Japanese art revealing not only artistic brilliance but also the values and social dynamics of their the Edo Period.
The 72 Micro-Seasons of Japan: When Nature Shapes Creation
Whether in the quiet contemplation of a bowl of tea, the delicate brushstroke of a seasonal painting, or the taste of a perfectly ripened ingredient, the spirit of Japan’s 72 micro-seasons endures.
Jazz, Coffee, Cats, and Feminism: Why Japanese Literature Has the West in its Thrall
Modern translations of Japanese literature - of cats, jazz, and ambient atmospheres - draw readers deeper into a place of both healing and of redefinition.
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.
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.
Classical Words, Contemporary Feel: The Japanese Waka Poem
Japan’s timeless waka poetry continues to inspire modern creativity, blending classical elegance with contemporary expression.
Beer, Lacquer, and the Mystery Behind the Bottle
The fascinating connection between Kirin Beer, traditional Japanese lacquerware, and the hidden artistry behind the iconic beer bottle.
The Elevation of Craft from Folk to Art: Mingei, Minka, and Modern Japan
How Japan's mingei folk crafts and minka homes evolved from humble origins to celebrated art forms, preserving the nation's cultural heritage
