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.
The Rise of Japan’s Women of Letters
Contemporary Japanese women writers are reshaping both domestic and global literary landscapes through subversive, critically acclaimed works—reviving a historic female literary tradition that dates back to the Heian period.
The Shogun's City: How Old Edo Shaped Modern Tokyo
Despite the neon modernity of modern Tokyo, its roots as an ancient castle town lie preserved in the very structure of the city existing today.
Umetatechi, the 850-Year-Old Japanese Practice of Expanding into the Sea
Japan’s centuries-long practice of land reclamation, umetatechi has profoundly reshaped its cities—from medieval ports to modern megaprojects—bringing both growth and seismic challenges.
From Alleyway Kitchens to Avant-Garde: Japanese Ramen Through The Years
An iconic dish packed with powerful flavor, ramen’s road to becoming classic Japanese cuisine is filled with history—and it continues to evolve both new traditions and new tastes.
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.
The New Uses of Hakata-Ori
Born in the weaving workshops of Fukuoka more than eight centuries ago, Hakata-ori, the emblematic textile once reserved for samurai belts and ceremonial attire, has now found its way into fashion, interior design, and architecture.
The Chashitsu as the Soul of Japanese Architecture
How Japan’s chashitsu, or tea hut, evolved from Zen simplicity into a timeless architectural form that continues to embody the nation’s spiritual ideals, artistic sensibility, and enduring cultural soul.
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.
From Basho to Pokémon: Japan’s Enduring Fascination with Insects
These small creatures play a big part in Japanese culture, from ancient times to contemporary culture.
The Inked Pages of Japan: A History of Manga
From ancient scrolls to post-war comic creations, the origins of manga have existed in Japan since far before their modern publications.
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.
Matagi: The Last Bear Hunters of Japan
The Legacy of Edo's Street Vendors
An indigenous way of life in northern Japan is threatened by modern changes, yet continues to preserve ancient bear-hunting traditions in harmony with nature.
How Japan Fell in Love with Jazz
Japan’s long-standing love affair with jazz, from Meiji era influence to the sonic sanctuary of the jazz cafe.
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.
Kintsugi Futures: Repair and Emotional Resilience
How Japan’s traditions of repairing and reusing have survived generations, connecting with modern movements of sustainability.
