The Chrysanthemum Festival
Do not think yourself The vanishing dew. Think instead Of the long-blooming Chrysanthemum flower. The Heian Court calendar was peppered...
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Apr 18
Cherry Blossom Kyoto - a Travel Journal
The best among blossoms is the red plum, whether light or dark in colour. As for the cherry, the blossoms should be on slender branches,...
Feb 14
Kasane: Looking at Colour Layering
Murasaki Shikibu wearing juunihitoe. Lady butterfly perfumes her wings by floating over the orchid –Bashō I have long been fascinated by...
Jul 23, 2023
Kyoto Travel Journal: Gion Matsuri 2023
Chigo, Yasaka Shrine Influences and Beginnings When I was in my early twenties, and without much experience of travel, I arrived with my...
Mar 24, 2023
More Japanese Drama!
I love watching Japanese drama! It's a great way of improving Japanese listening skills while being entertained! My vocabulary has...
Feb 8, 2023
JanuaryInJapan 2023: The Old Capital Bookclub Review!
We had a fantastic time at our online JanuaryInJapan Bookclub this year - thank you so much to everyone who joined us! Our subject for...
Jan 20, 2023
Kyoto and Tokyo Travel Journal, Fall 2022
It was almost three years to the day when we returned to Kyoto in November 2022. In the intervening time, when it was not possible to...
Sep 1, 2022
Zusetsu Book Review: The Old Capital
The Old Capital by Yasunari Kawabata The novel is set in Kyoto, a city of high art and the cultural soul of Japan since it became the...
Aug 11, 2022
Zusetsu ART and Masao Ebina
Kobai (Red Plum Blossom) by Masao Ebina. Note the fine gold strings and pattern on the koto. Many of you know that I am an artist with...
Jul 3, 2022
The River of Heaven - Tanabata in Japanese Poetry
Curious this day on which long ago they must have pledged their troth; like the River of Heaven's waves rising - this is sent out. This...
Jun 30, 2022
A Look at Origami Kimono Dolls
Here at Zusetsu, we're fascinated by the popular paper craft of Japan called origami. In this blog, not only do we want to have a try at...
Feb 16, 2022
A Review of our JanuaryinJapan Online Book Club Event!
We loved looking at this beautiful image of Murasaki Shikibu. What could the significance of the green and red colours in her juunihitoe...
Feb 2, 2022
Princess Kaguya
We've enjoyed exploring Heian monogatari and Japanese folktales over the last few weeks, and we loved our fantastic JanuaryInJapan...
Jan 26, 2022
The Future Diary, and Diaries of the Past
Netflix series The Future Diary It's nearing Valentines Day, and while love is in the air, what could be better than watching the new...
Dec 30, 2021
Kuzunoha and the White Fox
Kuzunoha by Yamakawa Shuuhou It’s January – the days are short and dark and the nights are long and cold. It’s a perfect time of year...
Oct 27, 2021
Karuta and the Hundred Poets
This week we've been looking at the traditional Japanese card game called karuta. It's a fascinating competitive sport in Japan, which...
Oct 14, 2021
Take a Look at our New Furoshiki Handbook!
We're thrilled to be able to introduce you to our new Zusetsu Furoshiki Handbook! It includes 16 different styles of furoshiki wrap, so...
Sep 22, 2021
Autumn in Kyoto
Glorious Eikandou in the fall Autumn is a magnificent time of year to be in Kyoto. The air is cool, but the skies can be bright blue, and...
Sep 9, 2021
9 September: The Chrysanthemum Festival!
It's the 9th of September, and we're thinking of chrysanthemums today, as it's Kiku no Sekku in Japan: the Chrysanthemum Festival! The...
Jul 6, 2021
Tanabata: the July 7th Star Festival!
Two Tanabata Poems Don't look up by yourself at the sky where stars meet - the wind from the Milky Way blows cold. How I envy the...
May 4, 2021
Children's Day, Koinoburi, and the Iris
What is Children’s Day? Children's Day (こどもの日, Kodomo no Hi) is a national holiday in Japan, which takes place every year on the 5th of...
Feb 18, 2021
What is Hina Matsuri?
Yukki's set of hina dolls that her parents bought for her when she was born :) Are you interested in Japanese festivals and traditions?...
Jan 31, 2021
Genji and the Changing Seasons
A scene from Chapter 24 'Butterflies', The Tale of Genji, illustrated by Tosa Mitsuyoshi (1539–1613) and Choujirou, Kyoto National Museum...
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