An Editor's Choices

[kunihito-miki]

Japanese Cherry Blossom /日本樱花   | instagram |  Kunihito Miki Photography |   

[miss--sherlock]

A Modern Twist To A Classic Duo.  Miss Sherlock And Dr. Wato-San. (x)

[beifongkendo]

Sakura boats and Samurai humour - miniature art scenes by Tatsuya Tanaka (for daily scenes check out his amazing miniature calendar).

[nippon-com]

The 'good witch' who wrote a Japanese children's classic

Eiko Kadono's whimsical tales have earned her the so-called Nobel Prize for children's literature.

[mazrim13]

During “the Civil War Era” or “the Sengoku Era”,  there was a period when power was fragmented among numerous samurai. During this time three powerful warlords tried to unify the country.  Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

There is a poem known to Japanese school children that shows the different styles of the warlords and their characters. A parable was told that these three leaders were gathered in a garden, when a bird landed on a limb. A Zen Master then asked each of them what they would do if the bird doesn’t sing. Oda Nobunaga - 1534-1582 Nobunaga was arguablly the most potent and the most fierce Samurai in the era. He was also known for his cruelty and often described as a demonic figure with no mercy.  Nobu would have thundered “Kill it!” or without a word cut it to pieces. Toyotomi Hideyoshi - 1536-1598 Hideyoshi was the successor of Nobunaga. He finally unified Japan and had brought an end to “the Civil War Era.” Then he buried his rivals one by one, and he conquered all over Japan at last. Hideyoshi would have said “make it sing.” Tokugawa Ieyasu - 1542-1616. \ Ieyasu was the successor of Hideyoshi, and the founder of Edo Shogunate. Presumably he is the most famous shogune in the history. Ieyasu was known as a patient, persevering man with an excellent talent for management.  Ieyasu would have told everyone there that “If a bird doesn’t sing, wait for it to sing.”

[doku-mag]

ICY FILMS FOR THE SNOWLESS WINTER IN ISTANBUL

Unfortunately, Istanbul couldn’t enjoy a white winter this year. Up until a week ago, I was frantically checking my weather app day and night, and getting excited over the slightest temperature change on the screen, even though it was perfectly sunny outside. After I immediately took a screenshot of the app and sent it to my friend with a caption “Look, this week the temperature is falling down. Maybe it will snow?”, and then I was planning the perfect instagram shots with snowy backgrounds. I dreamed watching the snow falling to the ground behind the window with a cup of hot chocolate in my hands. And finally, it had snowed last week, but it was just too little too late and I have accepted that the spring has come. This watch-list of snow-themed films and shows is to satisfy my hunger for a white winter. Join me with a cup of hot chocolate in your hands.

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[seeyouitaly]

Romantic Hotel, Istanbul. The Hotel was fascinating. Artworks of the walls and enjoying coffee at the terrace while looking through the unique view of sea, was charming. Click for reservation: https://seeyouturkey.com/hotels/listing/romantic-hotel-istanbul

[rendakud]

|ʘ‿ʘ)╯  いらっしゃいませ!  (Irasshaimase).   Welcome! - Said in stores/restaurants to a customer. ご注文、よろしいでしょうか？(Gochūmon, yoroshī deshouka?) Would you like to order?

なにかのみものはいかがですか？(Nanika nomimonowa ikagadesuka?) Would you like something to drink? How are your katakana skills? Need practice? Well if you like coffee, it’s time to brush up on it.  (⊙_⊙) ☆ ★ ━━━━━━━ ★ ☆ 喫茶店 (きっさてん) Cafe コーヒー Coffee メニュー Menu スターバックス Starbucks (often shortened to スタバ ) 

ホットコーヒー Hot coffee アイスコーヒー  Iced coffee       アイコ (abbreviation) エスプレッソ Espresso ラテ  Latte カフェオレ Café au lait フラペチーノ Frappuccino モカ Mocha チャイ Chai カプチーノ Cappuccino カフェ アメリカーノ Cafe Americano マキアート Macchiato エス Small エム Medium エル Large ショート Short   トール Tall グランデ Grande べんティ Venti ソイ Soy 豆乳 (とうにゅう) Soy milk 低脂肪乳 (ていしぼうにゅう) Low-fat milk 無脂肪乳 (むしぼうにゅう) Fat-free milk ホイップクリーム Whip cream フォームミルク Foamed milk ソース Sauce シロップ Syrup クリーム Cream さとう Sugar

チョコレート Chocolate バニラ  Vanilla キャラメル Caramel 抹茶 (まっちゃ) Matcha シナモン Cinnamon ヘーゼルナッツ Hazelnut アーモンド Almond ☆ ★ ━━━━━━━ ★ ☆ ( ˘▽˘)っ♨   Can you read it? 

▶  キャラメル マキアート  ▶  マンゴー パッション ティー フラペチーノ ▶  さくら ブロッサム クリーム ラテ ☆ ★ ━━━━━━━ ★ ☆ Extra phrases: エスプレッソショットのついか。 Add an espresso shot. コーヒーおかわり Coffee refill. ホットコーヒーをひとつください。One hot coffee, please.       ~おねがいします is a more polite way to say please than ください。 トールソイチャイ ティー ラテおねがいします。Tall soy chai tea latte, please. コーヒーにはミルクとさとうをください。I would like milk and sugar for my coffee, please. (S,M,L)  サイズをください 。I’ll have a small/medium/grande/etc, please. ☆ ★ ━━━━━━━ ★ ☆ ♨o(>_<)o♨ . .

[doku-mag]

AI WEIWEI, ABRIDGED IN ISTANBUL

That was an unexpectedly warm and sunny day in Istanbul, maybe the last one of the year. Prepared myself to a very cold morning and now feeling unnecessarily hot –especially after much struggle of finding a parking place for the car– I walked towards to the infamous Atlı Köşk, also known as Sakıp Sabancı Museum, where the best exhibitions in town are hosted. “This time is extra special”, so I thought as my eyes met the Ai Wei Wei’s in the “I am watching you as well” poster at the entrance. 

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[bookriot]

Ever since I picked up the acclaimed novel Norwegian Wood way back in my early 20s, I’ve been obsessed with Haruki Murakami quotes and his words. This extremely popular Japanese author has a way with words that keys into something deep within us, parts of us that perhaps we didn’t even know existed before. Perhaps that’s why Murakami is so popular with young people: it’s not just that his stories are usually centered around protagonists in early adulthood; it’s that he speaks to the parts of us that are still trying to figure out who the heck we even are. Then again, who isn’t trying to figure out who they really are, regardless of age?

My point is this: there’s a reason there’s so much hype surrounding this author. Murakami’s work is endlessly quotable, and if you still have somehow missed the Haruki Murakami bus, it’s time to get on board. Here are twenty-five of the most insightful Haruki Murakami quotes that see right into your soul.

https://bookriot.com/2018/02/19/haruki-murakami-quotes/

[archatlas]

A Curved Library Reflected by the Floors Like Water

Architecture firm XL-Muse has completed ‘Yangzhou Zhongshuge’, a library located in Zhen Yuan, China. the concept was based on the idea of water and how it is the cradle and breeding ground of the Yngzhou culture. Another important element was the arch bridge—an indispensable traditional element used as a guiding factor of commerce, which will represent in the bookstore the connection between human and books throughout history. As visitors walk in, they are welcomed by the arched walls which turn into ceilings that contain the books. the use of a black mirrored glass as floors reflects the bookshelves while giving a feeling of water.

Check out the design by XL-Muse of another magical bookstore: Hangzhou Zhongshuge.

Images and text via

[petitepointplace]

Antique Embroidery Book written in Cyrillic.

[nippon-com]

New Trend in Inbound Tourism: Back to Basics with “Minshuku”

Minshuku around the nation are attracting fewer Japanese customers, but they are popular among non-Japanese tourists, for whom the human connection and the flexibility they offer are major selling points.

[nippon-com]

Japan’s latest Kit Kat is made with ruby chocolate, a new variety developed by Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut. It has a natural pink tint and distinctive fruity flavor. The sublime ruby Kit Kat will be available at specialty Kit Kat Chocolatory stores in Japan and South Korea as well as online.

[dictionarycomblr]

Words of the 20s

What Dapper Flappers Used to Say

[smithsonianlibrariesarchives]

Frigid arctic blast got you down?

Visit our Image Gallery’s collection of Seed and Nursery Catalogs and get lost in lovingly illustrated catalogs promising spring is just around the corner!

Visit our exhibit, Cultivating America’s Gardens for more about the role catalogs played in the history of gardening in America.

[tofugu]

Queen Himiko: Badass Women in Japanese History

She was a queen, a shamaness, and the first recorded Japanese person ever. Learn everything there is to know about our Queen Himiko.

When you were a wee one, did you dream of being a doctor or a lawyer when you grew up? Or maybe something even more ambitious like an astronaut? How about a shamaness-queen? Almost 2000 years ago, Queen Himiko of Yamatai raised the bar for women everywhere when she was crowned high priestess and supreme ruler of her kingdom. As the political and religious leader of the proto-Japanese federation of Yamatai, she was beloved at home for her peaceful rule and respected abroad for her diplomatic savvy.

Himiko (also known as Pimiko) is not just any old badass chick in Japanese history. She holds the distinct honor of being the first badass chick in Japanese history. In fact, she’s the first named and confirmed (male or female) figure in Japanese history, period. Most people on earth who lived and died during the 3rd century have been rendered anonymous by temporal and cultural distance. But not the queen. According to a recent survey by the Ministry of Education and Sciences, 99% of Japanese schoolchildren recognize and can identify her. Like Oprah or Madonna, Himiko’s on a first name basis with the Japanese general public. Meanwhile, she continues to fuel intense debate among amateurs and scholars alike concerning the exact location of her kingdom, a debate that more or less hinges on the location of her grave.

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