by Cody Poulton I thought I was a citizen of the world, but today borders matter more than ever, and I’ve come around to thinking, in spite of myself, that it’s a good thing we have them. We’ve all erected barriers to protect ourselves from Covid-19, but if we’ve learned anything during this pandemic, it …Read More
Author: John Dougill (Page 9 of 45)
by Richard Holmes The view from the roof was always dynamic and inviting. I could see clearly in all directions, something odd for a big city that was supposed to be in perpetual haze. I spent three years of my early youth on top of an eight-storey office building on Chancery Lane. This was just …Read More
(‘Story of a Fly‘ first appeared in Kotto, 1902) Synopsis: The story takes place around 1700 in a merchant’s house in Teramachi. His name was Kyuben, and he and his wife had a maidservant called Tama of whom they were fond. Now Tama showed no interest in clothes and always looked badly dressed. One day …Read More
A spring walk from Ohara to Kurama-deraby Robert Weis Today is a good day, is my thought, observing the shades of green on the mountain slopes through the panoramic window at KULM, a simple-yet-sophisticated vegan eatery in the quaint village of Ohara, nestled in between the rice paddies and mountains that protect Kyoto from the …Read More
report by Mayumi Kawaharada ”Reminiscence Poets“ In early 70’s to 90’s, there were several poetry readings, by both Japanese and foreign poets, (including Gary Snyder, Kenneth Rexroth, and Allen Ginsberg) held at the legendary café Honyarado where writers, activists, students, artists and musicians used to go. Since Kai himself is a part of Dankai-no-Sedai(Sort of …Read More
The article below first appeared in Japan Review 33 (Special Issue: War, Tourism, and Modern Japan, 2019: p. 271–297) Down in a Hole: Dark Tourism, Haunted Places as Affective Meshworks, and the Obliteration of Korean Laborers in Contemporary Kyoto by Andrea DE ANTONI This article provides an analysis of the relation between tourists’ experiences, affect, and …Read More
This piece by Reggie Pawle first appeared on the Little Bangkok Sangha website, Bangkok, Thailand (11 July, 2020) and is representative of Reggie’s current interests. ****************** What do you say to university students who are depressed and don’t see much reason for continuing to live? For some time now students at the university that I …Read More
Zoom session with Peter Goodman, founder of Stone Bridge Press (2/15/2021) On Sunday Writers in Kyoto hosted a presentation by Peter Goodman, with about 15 members participating. It provided a great opportunity to bring our scattered community together, with the speaker and three members in North America, one person in Australia, and others scattered around …Read More
Japanese Wood and Carpentry – Rustic and Refined – By Mechtild Mertz A book review by Judith Clancy___________________________ Japan is a country whose primary building material is wood, ranging from delicate alcove posts to some of the largest wooden structures in the world all employing exquisitely selected wood species. Walking the old streets of Kyoto …Read More
On Jan 20, 2021, notice of the obituary of Mary Smith (1930-2020), former wife of Donald Richie, was posted on the Writers in Kyoto Facebook public page. This prompted discussion of the renowned Japanologist, which led to personal reminiscences by Alex Kerr and Everett Kennedy Brown. John Dougill initiated the discussion: Donald Richie once recommended …Read More
Kyoto Writing Competition
WiK Anthologies
The Nature of Kyoto (2023)
Eds. Lisa Twaronite Sone & Robert Weis
Foreword by Pico Iyer
Structures of Kyoto (2021)
Eds: Rebecca Otowa & Karen Lee Tawarayama
Foreword by Judith Clancy
Encounters with Kyoto (2019)
Eds: Jann Williams & Ian Josh Yates
Foreword by Juliet Winters Carpenter
Echoes (2017)
Eds: John Dougill, Amy Chavez, & Mark Richardson
Preface by Alex Kerr
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