99% of people don't know about the most powerful words that have been passed down since the time of creation - Hirata Atsutane - Words - Amatsu Norito //Summary - Level-B2// Hirata Atsutane compiled the Amatsu-norito, a sacred Japanese pra…

What did Prince Shōtoku do? Here is a detailed explanation of the background and legends behind his banknotes: //Summary - Level-B2// Prince Shōtoku, originally named Umayado Toyosatomimi, was a key political figure during Japan’s Asuka pe…

What is the difference between Lager and Ale? Here's an easy-to-understand explanation, from brewing method to taste. We also offer tips on how to drink and choose beer. //Summary - Level-B2// Beer is divided into two types: Lager and Ale,…

What determines the "colour" of clouds? Learn the science that will make looking up at the sky more fun! //Summary - Level-B2// The colour of clouds is mainly determined by light. Clouds look white because visible light, which includes all…

A summary of Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji, volume 54: Yume no Ukihashi. What is the mysterious ending of The Tale of Genji? A lover who was thought to be dead turns out to be alive. Will the two lovers end up together? //Summary - …

Get in the mood at a museum! Here are five scientifically proven reasons why Renoir and Ukiyo-e have a positive effect on the mind: //Summary - Level-B2// A recent international study shows that appreciating visual art, such as paintings b…

These Turtles Defrost After Freezing in the Winter | BBC Earth //Summary - Level-B2// Turtles and tortoises show remarkable resilience, surviving harsh climates, laying eggs with precise timing, and adapting to changing ecosystems. From fr…

What is Ningyo Joruri? Find out about the trends of the Edo period depicted in Japanese art! //Summary - Level-B2// Ningyo Joruri, also known as Bunraku, is a traditional Japanese puppet theatre combining storytelling, shamisen music, and …

At the Osaka Expo, Italian and Japanese craftsmanship cultures are compared. Graphic designer Kenya Hara and others discuss the similarities and differences between the two countries' manufacturing processes. Summary of the Article: Compar…

This summarises Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji, volume 53: Tenarai. Your dead lover is alive! The story unfolds like a modern drama heading towards its final chapter. //Summary - Level-B2// In The Tale of Genji, volume 53, "Tenarai,"…

The buttons on men's and women's clothing are in opposite positions due to an unexpected history. //Summary - Level-B2// Men's and women's clothes usually have buttons on opposite sides—right for men, left for women. This comes from histor…

A summary of Thomas Mann's Death in Venice. A story that questions beauty, art and humanity's true nature. //Summary - Level-B2//Death in Venice by Thomas Mann is about a writer, Gustav Aschenbach, who visits Venice and becomes obsessed wi…

Taiwanese team discovers clues from Japanese and US satellite images that could be a candidate for the solar system's "ninth planet." What do the future hold? //Summary - Level-B2// A Taiwanese research team has found possible evidence of …

Elisabeth International - Finals will open soon, Yoshimi Yuki will be the first to perform at 3:15 am on Tuesday, May 27th, Japan time The break before the Queen Elisabeth International Competition finals is finally over. The finals will b…

Let It Grow! The Benefits of Letting Gardens Go Wild //Summary - Level-B2// The “No Mow May” movement in the UK encourages people to stop cutting their grass to support wildlife, fight pollution, and store carbon in the soil. Wild gardens …

Japan is unparalleled - Lévi-Strauss (1908-2009, a Belgian-born anthropologist) - Anthropology - Japanese culture. //Summary - Level-B2// Claude Lévi-Strauss praised Japanese culture for its unique ability to harmonise contradictions witho…

Reading Izutsu Toshihiko's "Consciousness and Essence": If you're looking for Zen, I Ching, or Eastern philosophy, this is the book for you //Summary - Level-B2// Toshihiko Izutsu’s Consciousness and Essence explores how language and uncon…

Tonkünstler Orchestra conducted by Yutaka Sado, piano: Kyohei Sorita A)The culmination of 10 years as music director, a magnificent conclusion! Since Yutaka Sado became the Tonk Orchestra's music director in 2015, "Sado x Tonk Orchestra" h…

If a Tree Falls in the Forest, and There’s No One Around to Hear It, Does It Make a Sound? The age-old question of whether a falling tree makes a sound when there’s no one around to hear it exploits the tension between perception and reali…

Why 536 was ‘the worst year to be alive'Glacier cores reveal Icelandic volcano that plunged Europe into darkness //Summary - Level-B2// In 536, a huge volcanic eruption—likely in Iceland—caused a dark fog and global cooling, making it the …

"Harmony", not "power", that 99% of people don't know | Morihei Ueshiba | Love | Universe | Aikido //Summary - Level-B2// Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba teaches that true strength lies not in power or winning, but in harmony with the unive…

A few hours before a solar eclipse, the entire forest comes to life, and the trees synchronise and communicate. 1)A forest may be more than just a collection of trees; it may be one big group of friends. It was discovered in the Dolomites …

What the lonely genius philosopher tried to show at the edge of despair | Nishida Kitaro | Philosophy | Pure experience //Summary - Level-B2// Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro explored the idea of "pure experience," a state of awareness…

[Calligraphy/Calligraphy Model] Tips and tricks on how to write "Parent" (brush, large brush, regular script)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqB30eXJl2Q Model of the kanji for "parent" 2nd grade/The characters in your notebook will change …

Aubrey Beardsley - Aestheticism and decorative arts combined //Summary - Level-B2// Aubrey Beardsley (1872–1898) was a British illustrator known for his unique black-and-white style influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e. A key figure in the Aesth…

Father Brown (2013 TV series) 1)This article is about the 2013 TV series. For other TV series adaptations, see Father Brown (disambiguation). 2)Father Brown is a British period detective television series loosely based on the Father Brown …

The Queen Elisabeth International Piano Competition opens in Brussels on May 5 //Summary - Level-B2// The Queen Elisabeth International Piano Competition, one of the world’s most difficult, opened in Brussels on May 5. Sixty pianists, incl…

BBC The Secret History of Writing //Summary//It was used as a magical spell to raise the dead. 1. The universality of writing: Writing is shared by all cultures and is a key uniting factor for humanity. 2. The development of the alphabet: …

A large gathering of Caravaggios from around the world! A review of the retrospective of the great artist who lived a turbulent life 1)A retrospective of Caravaggio's work, "Caravaggio 2025," is being held at Palazzo Barberini in Rome. The…

The contents of "Hagakure," the book that Yukio Mishima was fascinated by 52 years after his death, are still available. He even called it "my only book." //Summary - Level-B2// Hagakure is a book from the Edo is a book from the Edo period…