Japanese Forest Bathing For Your Health!
Now is the season to go hiking and enjoy the outdoors. Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are blessed with many trails throughout the area …
Japanese Gold Leaf Tea
My girlfriend gave me a few packets of Japanese Gold Leaf Tea. The Japanese characters on the packet says, Jun Kin Cha, or Genuine Gold Tea. …
Omiyage, the Japanese Custom of Gifting
Omiyage, is the Japanese custom of gifting that is ingrained in our culture. When we are invited over to someone’s home for a meal or …
Lessons from the Japanese Culture of Ikebana
Ikebana is the known as Japanese flower arrangement. As a student of ikebana of many years, I want people to know that ikebana is not …
Robots and Elderly Care, Japanese Style
In Japan, the population of the elderly continues to increase, so finding solutions to improve the quality of life of the aged is a priority. …
Everyday Chinese Cookbook – by Katie Chin
In most Asian families, food and cooking are very much central to our lives. We celebrate many special occasions using food as symbolism. But it’s …
The Cultural Perception of Tattoos or Irezumi in Japan
My very limited knowledge of tattoos comes from my experience of growing up in Tokyo. In Japanese, the word for tattoo is irezumi, 入れ墨。The first …
If We Remove Shoes in the House, Why Not Add Covers for Wheelchairs?
The Asian custom to remove shoes in the home seems to be gaining momentum throughout the world. Many of my non-Asian friends are taking off …
Shichigosan: The Japanese Festival for 7, 5, and 3 Year Olds
The Japaneses Shichigosan festival celebrates children who are 7,5, and 3. The word, Shichigosan is literally a combination of three numbers in Japanese; shichi is seven, …
Sogetsu Ikebana and the Fundamental Energy of Plants
Ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, has a 600 year history. It began when the practice of offering small flower arrangements to Buddhist shrines …
The Symbolism of Water in Asian Culture
Water surrounds our life. It occupies 71% of the earth. On average, it composes 65% of our bodies. Without water, no life can exist. In …
9 Reasons to Drink Matcha Green Tea to Kick Start Your Healthy Lifestyle
Green tea is regarded by many nutrition experts as one of the items on any top 10 list of super foods in terms of antioxidant …
