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You were invited to a house by your Japanese friend. You were welcomed to a Japanese style room and your friend just left you to go and prepare for your tea. 

Now what can you see?

The first thing you’ve noticed may be sliding doors. Some of them may be heavy-looking and have some drawings on them. Some others may be translucent and through these, natural light is coming into the room.

If you turn yourself to the other side of the room, you may find an alcove in which you can probably find a hanging scroll with calligraphy painted on it.

And in the corner of the room, a white lantern may be on display. The surface may look soft.

So,  what are they all made of? I’m sure you know the answer, right?

The primary material for these items is Washi.

You may have heard of the term before. It’s handcrafted Japanese paper.

Some of them are extremely thin. Some others look thicker. But generally, most of them are very durable. And good washi can maintain its quality even after a thousand years.

So why are they so strong? What makes them so special? And more importantly, what are the major benefits of using washi or washi-made items in this modern society?

To address these questions, we’ll be joined by Paul Denhoed who has been researching washi over the past few decades. He has built knowledge about different types of washi and has studied washi making directly with a Japanese washi craftsman. He is currently working collaboratively to organize washi making workshops as well as tours of papermaking studios and fields where the raw material is grown.

More info about Paul Denhoed can be found on his Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/pauldenhoed/

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I can promise you that you will gain so much knowledge on how to explore, appreciate and understand Japan and so I look forward to meeting you inside the dojo community. More details are available here: patreon.com/japanexperts

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Keen to know more about Japan? Have questions about Japan Travel Planning? 

Feel free to reach out to me on social: 

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You are at home, trying to cut vegetables…. 

Would you like to make your food taste good? Of course, we all love delicious food. How about food appearance? 

Would you like to make your food look good? I think most of us would like that… unless you are really hungry. But you would agree with me that food presentation adds delight to your dinner table. 

What about food preparation time? Would it make your life easier if you can prepare your food in less time? That would be ideal, right? 

So, what’s the secret in achieving all these? Can you guess? 

A hint is Japanese cuisine.  

Have you ever been to a Japanese restaurant and tried sashimi? Did anything on the sashimi plate catch your eye? 

Maybe you were attracted to evenly sliced fish. Or maybe you were amazed by thinly shredded daikon radish on the side. Or perhaps what gave you joy was a plum blossom-looking carrot on top of your sashimi. 

Do you know what they all have in common? That is the tool the food was prepared with. That is Wabocho. 

What is Wabocho? Why are they so special? And most importantly, how would that help your life? 

To address these questions, I have interviewed Bjorn Heiberg. 

Over the past twenty years or so, he has enlightened people across the globe about the quality of cooking knives made in Japan and has served as a bridge between them and the Japanese knife industry. 

His business Tower Knives has an online shop as well as a store in Osaka and Tokyo where friendly advice is provided on selecting and sharpening knives. 

More info about him and his business can be found here:  https://www.towerknives.com/ 

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It is a place for you to get access to all the content for less than the money you pay for a single cup of coffee! 

So save the money today and invest it into your learning! 

I can promise you that you will gain so much knowledge on how to explore, appreciate and understand Japan and so I look forward to meeting you inside the dojo community. More details are available here: patreon.com/japanexperts 

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You're walking in a rural area of Japan... How would you feel if a complete stranger suddenly walks up to you and gives you money?

Would you feel awkward or even scared? Would you feel grateful and excited?

Whatever emotions you may have, the first thought that comes to mind is something like… why is this person giving this to me?

That’s because we are not used to this kind of situation in our daily life or wherever we travel to.

Actually there is one region within Japan where such a custom is practiced, as part of the local traditions.

That is Shikoku, which is in Southwestern Japan.

In this region, the local people show gratitude and kindness to people travelling on a pilgrimage route. These pilgrims are called Ohenro-san.

Why do they welcome Ohenro-san with warm hospitality?

To address this question, we need to first look at the Shikoku Pilgrimage and a faith in Kobo Daishi who is widely respected in Japan.

To do that, I would like to welcome Associate Professor of Tokushima University David Moreton. For the past twenty years, he has been living and working on the island of Shikoku and has been researching the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

Here is a documentary that you may want to check out for more information about David and the Shikoku Pilgrimage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3Mxa_B8oXE&t=346s

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It is a place for you to get access to all the content for less than the money you pay for a single cup of coffee!

So save the money today and invest it into your learning! I can promise you that you will gain so much knowledge on how to explore, appreciate and understand Japan and so I look forward to meeting you inside the dojo community. 

More details are available here: patreon.com/japanexperts

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We are in the Ainu Mosir -- a quiet ground of the Ainu, that is, human beings. 

The Ainu had lived in the northern part of the Japanese archipelago long before the Japanese moved there. 

What if main livelihoods are suddenly forbidden? What if using the mother tongue isn’t allowed? What if one day you found out that these things or even worse had happened to your family ancestors? 

Currently in Japan, there are people of Ainu descent. Some of them see themselves as an Ainu person. Some of them are trying to search for their identity. Some others are not comfortable talking about it. 

You may have heard of such stories.  But beyond that, what do you know about the Ainu? Perhaps you’ve seen their embroidery and wood carving crafts? Or maybe you can recognise their music and traditional dancing? How about their cultural values and beliefs? Do you know anything about these? 

Being aware of these would enable you to see Japan from another angle, which should be a great help if you are visiting Hokkaido or even travelling in Japan. 

So today, we are joined by Professor of Hokkaido University Jeffry Gayman to discuss all the things about the Ainu. Currently based in Hokkaido, he has been studying and researching the Ainu for almost two decades, especially in the field of indigenous and intercultural education as well as promotion of indigenous rights. 

Beyond academic research, he has supervised a Japanese-English bilingual book The Spirit of Huci: Four Seasons of an Ainu Woman. 

More information about Jeffry Gayman and his work can be found in the following site: https://researchmap.jp/483 

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So, save the money today and invest it into your learning!  

I can promise you that you will gain so much knowledge on how to explore, appreciate and understand Japan and so I look forward to meeting you inside the dojo community! 

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Who else loves this sound? Sounds like good sake, right? 

But what is good sake? And do you know how to find good sake? 

Imagine you are at a restaurant or at a liquor shop or even on the Internet. Should I take Ginjo? Or should I go for Junmai? How are they different? Have you ever thought about that while facing a large selection of sake? 

If you have, don’ worry. You’ll have your question sorted today. Maybe some of you have never been in such a situation – because you have some favourite ones that you always go for. But don’t you want to try other good sake too? I hope the answer is yes! 

And the worst case? … is removing sake from your options because you are not sure about what to start with! I hope you didn’t give up. But even if you did, it’s not too late to try it now. Because today you’ll gain some good knowledge on how to select good sake and enjoy it better. 

To do that, I’m so honoured to have John Gauntner -- aka the sake guy -- on my show. He has been writing and lecturing about sake for longer than any other English-speaking experts of sake would have – in fact for almost 30 years. 

He is certified as both a Sake Expert Assessor and a Master of Sake Tasting, meaning that he is the only non-Japanese person to hold these two certifications in the world. 

More information about John Gauntner and his work can be found in the following site: https://sake-world.com/ 

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A SPECIAL offer for you! You will be getting a 50 percent or more discount from a monthly membership fee in 2022 if you sign up for the dojo community today! 

The Japan Experts dojo community is a place for you to get access to the secrets, mysteries and everything else that even the Japanese cannot explain in detail, for less than the money you pay for a single cup of coffee! 

So, save the money today and invest it into your learning! I can promise you that you will gain so much knowledge on how to explore, appreciate and understand Japan. 

More details are available here: patreon.com/japanexperts 

Extra bonuses are also available if you want to take your learning to a deeper level. 

Please make sure you check out the page carefully and choose what would benefit you the most. I look forward to meeting you inside the dojo community! 

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We are deep in the forest and surrounded by urushi trees.

Did you know that urushi lacquer is made from tree sap?

Urushi is tree sap that is dripped out as a defence mechanism like humans would form a scab when they get a cut.

Currently in Japan, urushi tapping can only be found in limited areas such as the north eastern part of Japan.

What’s important to note is that each tree takes 12 to 20 years to grow. But each would produce only 200 grams of the sap and will be chopped down after the tapping season, which would last only for half a year.

That’s why urushi is so precious that it’s called as drops of blood.

Let’s go back to the forest and hear how urushi tapping is done.

It’s not an easy process for both trees and human beings. We can see that, so why has the Japanese kept this tradition for thousands of years. And how is this precious material being used in our lives?

To address these questions, I have spoken to Suzanne Ross in Wajima City, where the tradition of lacquerware production is still evident. With three decades of career as an urushi artist, she has not only studied wajima nuri and other lacquer techniques but also has taken unique approaches to Japanese lacquerware, attracting younger people to the world of urushi.

More information about Suzanne Ross and her work can be found in the following sites:

https://www.suzanneross.art/

https://www.ross-studios.net/

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The Japan Experts dojo community is a place for you to get access to the secrets, mysteries and everything else that even the Japanese cannot explain in detail, for less than the money you pay for a single cup of coffee!

So, save the money today and invest it into your learning!

I can promise you that you will gain so much knowledge on how to explore, appreciate and understand Japan.

Here is the link: patreon.com/japanexperts

Extra bonuses are also available if you want to take your learning to a deeper level. Please make sure you check out the page carefully and choose what would benefit you the most. I look forward to meeting you inside the dojo community!

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This is a sutra that’s often recited by Shin Buddhists, which accounts for the largest population of all Buddhism followers in Japan.

Let’s listen to the end…. Please listen carefully to the very last after the bell sound.

You get it? Most Japanese have probably heard of it somewhere, even if they are not a follower of Shin Buddhism.

But what does it mean? And why do Japanese people recite it?

Before that, do you know anything about Shin Buddhism?

Don’t worry… even if you have no idea! Since you are here already, let’s learn it together from scratch, shall we?

Buddhism has greatly influenced Japanese society and culture, so it’s definitely a good idea to know the basics!

To dive into the topic, I would like to invite Kenneth Tanaka who is an ordained Jodo Shinshu priest. With his unique academic and professional backgrounds in Japan and the US, he has played a major role in enlightening people in Japan and elsewhere about the teachings of Buddhism through his books and other activities. His books include Ocean and Jewels, which are available online for free of charge.

More information about Shin Buddhism priest Kenneth Tanaka and his work can be found in the following sites:

Ocean: An Introduction to Jodo-Shinshu Buddhism in America: http://www.yamadera.info/ocean/ocean-index.htm

- A related article: https://tricycle.org/magazine/buddhist-diversity-in-america/

- A video about the Ocean story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iymiZIqvOwQ

Jewels: An Introduction to American Buddhism for Youth, Scouts and the Young at Heart: https://www.bdkamerica.org/book/jewels-introduction-buddhism-youth-scouts-and-young-heart

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The Japan Experts dojo community is a place for you to get access to the secrets, mysteries and everything else that even the Japanese cannot explain in detail, for less than the money you pay for a single cup of coffee!

So, save the money today and invest it into your learning!

I can promise you that you will gain so much knowledge on how to explore, appreciate and understand Japan.

Here is the link: patreon.com/japanexperts

Extra bonuses are also available if you want to take your learning to a deeper level. Please make sure you check out the page carefully and choose what would benefit you the most. I look forward to meeting you inside the dojo community!

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What kind of impression do you have of Noh?

Too slow?

Okay…

Here is a sound clip that I would like to introduce.

Noh is a dance drama. So, a main character dances along to music and chanting, often while wearing an elaborate costume and a Noh mask.

Can you imagine that? It may be difficult to have a clear idea on Noh if you haven’t watched any performances before.

Even if you have, you may be thinking... I don’t quite understand how to appreciate Noh.

Okay. Honestly speaking, I was thinking like that too. So how exactly can we appreciate Noh?

To address this question and discover the wonders of Noh, I have interviewed Richard Emmert. 

Being a certified Kita school instructor, he has studied, taught, and performed Noh for almost 50 years. He has also founded Theatre Nohgaku in an effort to share a passion for Noh internationally. Together with his team, he has made English-speaking Noh available, and has performed Noh in the US, Europe, and Asia.

More information about Noh expert Richard Emmert and his work can be found in the following sites:

Theatre Nohgaku: https://www.theatrenohgaku.org/

Between the Stones: https://www.betweenthestones.com/

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Join Japan Experts EXCLUSIVE dojo community: patreon.com/japanexperts

The Japan Experts dojo community is a place for you to get access to the secrets, mysteries and everything else that even the Japanese cannot explain in detail, for less than the money you pay for a single cup of coffee!

So, save the money today and invest it into your learning!

I can promise you that you will gain so much knowledge on how to explore, appreciate and understand Japan.

Here is the link: patreon.com/japanexperts

Extra bonuses are also available if you want to take your learning to a deeper level. Please make sure you check out the page carefully and choose what would benefit you the most. I look forward to meeting you inside the dojo community! 

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You are attending a Japanese tea ceremony. The tea is served in front of you and you just take the tea bowl.

Now please describe the chawan you are holding.

Is that completely round or irregular-shaped?

What about the colour? Is that glossy white? Or is that more of a brown-ish type?

How about the texture? Is that smooth or do you feel a rough surface?

I would imagine each of you has described it differently because there are so many varieties in Japanese ceramics. In fact, it’s hard to find the same one unless they are a machine-made product.

So, today, I will be taking you to the world of Japanese pottery. To do that, I would like to welcome Robert Yellin. Over the past few decades, he has been one of the pioneers, introducing many different artists and styles of Japanese ceramics to the world, through his writing, online resources, and yakimono gallery in Kyoto.

More information about Robert Yellin and Yakimono can be found in the following sites:

Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery: https://japanesepottery.com/

Pottery knowledge center: http://www.e-yakimono.net/

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Join Japan Experts dojo community: patreon.com/japanexperts

The Japan Experts dojo community is a place for you to get access to the secrets, mysteries and everything else that even the Japanese cannot explain in detail, for less than the money you pay for a single cup of coffee!

So, save the money today and invest it into your learning!

I can promise you that you will gain so much knowledge on how to explore, appreciate and understand Japan.

Here is the link: patreon.com/japanexperts

Some extra bonuses are also available if you want to take your learning to a deeper level. Please make sure you check out the page carefully and choose what would benefit you the most :)

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