The Japanese art of regenerative living — Setsubun takes place on the day before the lunasolar New Year. So it is essentially the New Years Eve of yesteryear. It is a day of final preparation toward the new year that is ahead. The ritual of Setsubun can be traced back to the legend of the beginning of…

The Japanese art of regenerative living — ​【 ​February 14–18​ 】​ Season: Spring Sub-season: First of Spring Microseason: Fish Through Ice February is filled with interesting holidays worldwide isn’t it? One example of that being Valentine’s Day. In exploring more, its connotations are quite brutal and bloody. Eventually, associating to agriculture and creation of harvest and family. …

The Japanese art of regenerative living — Koyomi (/kə/yō/miː/, 暦) The traditional Japanese microseasonal calendar is Japanese culture’s playful and reliable North Star. The 72 microseasons across the year, tells the tale of our relationship with the natural world. Navigating daily life, as well as more deeply-rooted cultural practices. 四季 / shiki / four seasons 二十四節気 /…

In exploring mountain villages and seaside towns, speaking with grandmas, fermenters, geologists, and artisans up and down the Japanese archipelago, I have had the great privilege of being in the company of deep-seated wisdom. These wisdoms have defined my foundation. Grounding me to me in a way that I have…

The Japanese art of regenerative living — 【 February 9–13 】 season / spring sub-season / first of spring microseason / nightingales sing It’s a season of vocal training for us all. Nightingales, flycatchers, and robins are the three birds that are said to be the most representative of Japan. You know that the daytime sun that’s…

The Japanese art of regenerative living — 【February 4 — 8】 season / spring sub-season / first of spring microseason / spring winds melt ice Gentle eastern winds call in Spring. Layers of thick ice that built through Winter slowly turns to water and round plum flowers being to bloom. There are many different types of eastern…

The Japanese art of regenerative living — Of the many tools that are used in the Japanese kitchen, ohitsu may be one that doesn’t make its way to other countries worldwide. It’s a hinoki, Japanese cypress, wooden container with a lid. Specifically made to store rice after it’s been cooked. While being the staple of the country…

The Japanese art of regenerative living — Before watoji was the kansubon or the scroll book. A technique that arrived in Japan from China. However the scroll became quite the to do when one only wanted to write and read a single sentence. At around the turn of the 9th century, oribon, or folding book, was often…

The Japanese art of regenerative living — My absolute adoration and overflowing respect for rice and its significance in Japanese culture, even beyond the realm of food, comes from the woman who I call the Rice Steward. She is my all-knowing North Star. My Sensei. The one who has a way not only with the earth’s bounty…