Western kosen-ga
Kiyochika who persevered
the last of his kind
Kiyochika’s Haiku
Tag: Japanese culture
Kunisada’s Haiku
Beautiful women,
Shadows of Yoshiwara
Kunisada’s light
Hiroshige’s Haiku
The life you lead is
coloured with experience
Hiroshige’s answer
Guest Post: Kuzunoha And The White Fox
It’s January – the days are short and dark and the nights are long and cold. It’s a perfect time of year for sitting around the fire, lighting candles and storytelling!
We’ve been enchanted by a traditional Japanese folktale from the Kyoto Heian era about a woman called Kuzunoha who is secretly a white fox. We’ve seen enchanting metamorphoses in Japanese stories before – we love The Chrysanthemum Spirit where the noble lady pines for the chrysanthemums in the palace garden so much that a nobleman appears who is the actual spirit of the flower.
Come with us as we take a closer look at Kuzunoha, to discover a little bit more about Japanese storytelling traditions, and also take a look at the symbolism of the fox in Japan.
Women Warriors: Sei Shōnagon
Throughout Japanese history, powerful women have been at the centre of the culture, constantly defying the odds and carving out a name to be remembered. From Tomoe Gozen to Masami Odate, Japanese women have picked up swords and thrown themselves into fights on their personal journeys to define who they are.
Not every woman has needed to pick up a weapon. In the case of Sei Shōnagon, she created a legacy by picking up the pen. A writer, philosopher and courtly woman of intrigue, Shōnagon’s story is a fascinating tale of how to appreciate the small things in life.
Flights Of Fantasy: Itsano
Flights Of Fantasy examines the drinking habits of characters from fantasy and horror fiction and in this edition the spotlight is on Itsano from Tales Of The Frontier. A kamuni battle conductor, healer and warrior, Itsano would have a great love for sake because it has similar characteristics to tinek, the drink of his people.
Let’s take a closer look at the kind of nihonshu Itsano would drink.
Cultural Displacement And Complex Identities: An Overview Of The Kamuni
Japanese culture has had a big impact on me. Hell, it inspired the creation of Yamato Magazine and it’s been influential in crafting a world in which I’ve been able to publish my debut novella AT THE DEAD OF DUSK. Set within a dark western world called The Frontier, the novella follows an infamous witch hunter transporting a young woman across dangerous terrain.
When creating The Frontier, I dipped into my love of Japanese culture and created a group of people called kamuni. Much of the kamuni’s history has been inspired by the Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan who have their origins in Hokkaido. Read on to discover more about the kamuni.
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Diving Into The Wonderful World Of Japanese Snacks With A Sakura Co Box
Japan is famous for having some of the most unique food in the world, which also extends to snacks and sweet treats. As someone with a massive savoury and sweet tooth, it was a lot of fun to dive into a Sakura Co box that housed a themed range of Japanese snacks and discover new surprises.
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Haiku 52
Inari drinks sake
by the river in summer
drunk on gold laughter
Learn How To Make Scrumptious Sake Kasu And Beef Pie With Green Beans
When it comes to food recipes, I love mixing and matching ingredients from different cultures to experiment with flavours and indulge my own creativity. Many of my recipes are influenced by Japanese ingredients and one of the most recent dishes I’ve experimented with is beef and sake kasu pie with green beans.
Read on to learn how to make this crunchy and delicious pastry meal in your own kitchen.
Continue reading “Learn How To Make Scrumptious Sake Kasu And Beef Pie With Green Beans”
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