Japanese Culture and Traditions– category –

Godzilla is a super movie content known to everyone in Japan and many people even outside Japan. Many people, not only film critics but also marketing professionals and even university professors have published study on it. The explanation about Godzilla that sounds most feasible to me is "Godzilla is the metaphor of nature."

【We come to need hotels for another reason】 The COVID destroyed the bright future of the Japanese tourism industry. The number of foreign tourists to Japan was increasing year by year and exceeded 30 million in 2018, when the nationwid...

Snow has already been used as a renewable energy source here. Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan, is the largest producer of potato, onion, and rice in Japan, and snow is used to refrigerate those crops during storage.

【What we do for Christmas in Japan】 Almost all the cities are filled with Christmas decorations in this season, though the percentage of the Christian population is only 1% in Japan. As I wrote before, we are good at cream-skimming oth...

【What is done cannot be undone】 More than 30 years ago, Japanese main railway operations were run by the government. Since the full privatization, many rail lines have been abandoned especially in rural areas like here in Hokkaido. If ...

A deep, often humorous analysis of Japan's "floor life" culture. We examine the architectural wisdom of tatami, the ritual of removing shoes, and the political reasons why the most comfortable sofa still can't beat the floor. As a furniture maker, I discuss this cultural paradox and introduce the design philosophy behind our MOLA sofa—a personal hideout designed for true, unrestricted relaxation.

【Craftsmanship commonly seen in Japanese swords and rifles】 In 1543, Portuguese merchants introduced rifles to Japan. They expected firearms to be one of their hot exports to Japan in the future but soon found that their plan had faile...

Why does Kendo resist Olympic inclusion? I explore the Anti-Sport Philosophy of Kendo, where natural expressions of victory are penalized and the bamboo sword is treated as the soul of the samurai. This ritualistic Way of Life is rooted in a deep Japanese reverence for tools. I conclude by revealing how the very same Kendo spirit—the humble partnership with one's instruments—is what drives the quality and meticulous care in our Hokkaido furniture factory.

TWhy did European castles have high stone walls while Japanese castles relied on wood? I compare the architecture of France’s Carcassonne with Japan’s design, revealing how earthquake threats forced a strategy of resilience, not impression. This analysis uncovers the political divide—total war vs. civil war—and concludes that understanding the "other" is the only way to recognize the unique value of the "self."

Kamakura—the modern pilgrimage site for Slam Dunk fans—was once the birthplace of the strongest Samurai. We unveil the 1,000-year-old secret of Japanese structural philosophy: ultimate strength is not in rigidity, but in controlled, flexible movement. Our furniture applies this ancient wisdom, using stealth metalwork to ensure the wood can flex and endure—just like a temple surviving a seismic shock.