Japanese Culture and Traditions– category –

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.

【The COVID, the one-way time machine】 The COVID is sometimes called "a time machine." Remote work is a good example. I think most of the companies at least in Japan just pretended to take a positive attitude but actually were not so se...

【Something in common between Japanese knives and furniture】 Just before entering the furniture business, I worked in the fishery industry and often took overseas clients to the biggest fish market in Tokyo. It was now-closed Tsukiji ma...

My sister thinks my personality is "Tofu," but my brain thinks insect noises are a language. Join me as I explore the bizarre world of Japanese onomatopoeia—where we can talk only in "fluffy" sounds—and discover the "Ninja Ears" that allow our craftsmen to hear the silent voices of Hokkaido trees.

TDoes a shared inferiority complex shape a regional soul? I argue that Hokkaido people—who often view the mainland as the 'better' Japan—have historically carried the Complex of the Frontier. I trace the moment this complex found catharsis: the 2004 high school baseball victory. This shift created a unique Hokkaido Humility—a grounded flexibility that defines our local spirit and is reflected in the open-mindedness of our furniture craftspeople.

What makes Sadō (tea ceremony) a profound ritual rather than just drinking tea? I argue that the merchant who formalized it was a genius to elevate a simple daily routine. This leads to the Zen Paradox: the spiritual core of mindfulness that balances objective observation (seeing a dirty rock as it is) with imaginative emptiness (seeing a whole garden in a single flower). We hope this Zen spirit will make you see expansive beauty in the simplicity of our furniture.

Why are Japanese people addicted to cherry blossoms even when the petals are falling? I explore the national aesthetic that finds beauty in the transient and imperfect, connecting it to the popularity of decaying ruins and our vulnerability to natural disasters. This philosophy—Wabi-Sabi—teaches us to cherish a single petal in a puddle over a perfect bloom. I conclude by explaining how this spirit is applied to our wooden furniture, where uneven character and aging are, in fact, the design.

Ambiguity is a necessary evil—a survival mechanism. We explore the theory that Japanese ambiguity is genetic (linked to S-alleles of the serotonin transporter). Discover the Backlash Wisdom: Ambiguity is not a failing, but a necessary cultural cushion—just like the intentional 'play' in a wooden furniture joint that keeps the whole structure from tearing itself apart.

We are a nation that is both deeply pragmatic and quietly spiritual. We have three times more shrines than convenience stores. Natsu Matsuri is essential, not for the gods, but for workplace harmony—and convincing ourselves that summer is finally, truly over.