History

Japanese castles, or shiro (城), stand out as distinctive architectural marvels originally built for military defense, but they also functioned as administrative centers and symbols of power. These castles, famous for their elegant multi-tiered roofs with sweeping curves, intricate wooden structures on imposing stone bases, and complex defensive layouts, seamlessly harmonize … [Read more...] about The Hidden Mastery of Japanese Castle Design

When you think of Japan, you think of big, modern cities, advanced technology, robots that serve you Ramen, some of the fastest broadband services in the world
…and Fax machines??? Wait, what?? 

As hard as it is to believe, these ancient bastions of pre-digital communication are still holding strong in Japanese businesses and especially government offices. Illustration by … [Read more...] about Are Fax Machines Inseparable from Japanese Society?

“ON THE SEVENTH DAY DEUSU BLEW BREATH INTO THIS BEING AND NAMED HIM DOMEIGOSU-NO-ADAN, WHO POSSESSED THIRTY-THREE FORMS. SO THIS IS THE USUAL NUMBER OF FORMS FOR A HUMAN BEING.” Imagine if somebody told you that all the Bibles in the world had disappeared and it was your responsibility to recreate it from memory. Even those who grew-up going to catechism every Sunday would … [Read more...] about How a Bible Was Recreated from Memory in Japan