Japan's post-tsunami state of mind In the last few months Japanese bookstores have been offering noticeably more books on the topic of bushido (the “way of the warrior” philosophy of Edo period samurai) and the lives of famous samurai, with volumes dealing with the … [Read more...]

　 　 Japan as seen through foreign eyes Japan is a place where trends come and go with incredible rapidity. From mobile phones encrusted in Swarovski rhinestones to the myriad permutations of “Lolita fashion,” any foreigner strolling through Harajuku or Shibuya for the first … [Read more...]

　 　 My home is an ultra-modern apartment in central Tokyo. The walls are smooth, white, and entirely devoid of surplus adornment. It's a living environment in which everything feels factory-made and standard-issue. To take the edge off this rather sterile look, I decided to use mingei … [Read more...]

In these days dominated by video games and TV programs designed with the thought that anything less than frenzied action with new plot twists three times a minute might invite boredom, and in which unironed jeans and T-shirts are not only tolerated but positively celebrated as the epitome of cool, … [Read more...]

Contemplations on wabisabi - Differences in “abstract” scenes Francoise Morechand, Essayist Wabisabi could be the answer the world has been waiting for Since mentioning wabisabi in the issue before last, I've raised the topic with dining companions on numerous occasions and noticed … [Read more...]

　 Cultural divides - What takes the fancy of Figaro when it comes to what Americans like? Francoise Morechand,Essayist 　 　 What elements of Japan's culinary culture should the French incorporate into their own? 　 In July this year, Figaro, France's biggest-selling daily, … [Read more...]

　 Francoise Morechand,Essayist 　 　 Dare to be Japanese! While I know I'll never be completely Japanese, after so many years in Japan I have adopted, after my own fashion, certain aspects of how people here live and think. The ultimate example must be the humility I've … [Read more...]

Francoise Morechand,Essayist Bamboo and Japan - The Epitome of Japanese Elegance I'm not sure what Japanese people think of when they hear the word bamboo, but for the French bambou long possessed the exotic aura that once surrounded everything Asian. From Vietnam and Cambodia (Indochina … [Read more...]

Francoise Morechand, Essayist     In the West… Moss Relates to Man Fortunately for French poets, in French the word for “moss” (mousse) and the word for “soft” (douce) happen to rhyme. And in fact, poets and lyricists have made great use of this rhyme. Coincidence is a wonderful … [Read more...]