(Digital Issue) Guest Editor: Lane Diko Kyoto Journal 106 dives into the theme of ‘Cultural Fluidity’: the accelerating flow and blend of cultures across borders. This concept is the 21st century globalized equivalent of what might have formerly been oversimplified as imported and exported cultures. From Japonisme to Pokémon, contributors illuminate this subject from diverse viewpoints, through a …Read More
Author: WiK (Page 3 of 13)
A Tiny Nature: Recollections of Poems and TreesBy Robert Weis (self-published, September 2023) Review by Rebecca Otowa ********************From the WiK Website:“In this ‘recollections of poems and trees’, Robert Weis unites two seemingly distant worlds: that of short poems inspired by haiku and that of bonsai trees. Flora and poetry blend naturally on these pages through …Read More
The Gion Festival: Exploring its Mysteries by Catherine Pawasarat (2022) Reviewed by Paul Carty The Gion Festival, an integral part of Kyoto’s cultural heritage, spans the month of July, culminating in vibrant processions on July 17th and 24th. Catherine Pawasarat’s book, The Gion Festival: Exploring its Mysteries, provides a comprehensive guide to this historic event, …Read More
by James Woodham flat out on the grasscoming down as deep as dreams –the seeds of freedom the lake concealinga million lives, another worldso the mind dreams afternoon so slowit feels like the sun has stoppedclouds just hanging orb of the moon hungin a sky of palest bluepink tinge on the hills ducks glide sereneon …Read More
The island of Shikoku’s principle attraction is of course its pilgrimage. While the 88 temples that serve as waypoints are of varying grandeur and importance, Cape Muroto’s Mikuriyajin Cave must certainly be considered of primary significance, for if Kukai had not had his spiritual epiphanies here, it is doubtful that the pilgrimage would exist at …Read More
Marc Keane is well-known to readers for his remarkable books on Japanese Gardens, and during his lunchtime talk for WiK last autumn he revealed that he was working on three new writing projects. One of them has now come to fruition, The Name of the Willow. Like Rebecca Otowa, whose artistic talents were evident in …Read More
by Cody Poulton On New Year’s Day in Kyoto my wife and I visited a friend in Fushimi. He is an architect and amateur soccer player who also happens also to be a Pure Land Buddhist priest. I discussed my interest in finding some old house in town to fix up and make liveable. But, …Read More
Papa Jon’s Café Rokkaku, January 13th, 2024 Writers In Kyoto aims not only to bring together members of the local literary community to focus on writing, but also to support each other’s activities. WiK member Rebecca Otowa exhibited her watercolor paintings between January 10th and 15th at Papa Jon’s Café Rokkaku in downtown Kyoto, a …Read More
Monochrome images capture the stark realities of Okinawa’s vassal status. Stephen Mansfield is a Japan-based writer and photographer, one of the leading contributors about contemporary Japan, and a reviewer for The Japan Times. He is the author of 20 books, and his work has appeared in more than 60 magazines, newspapers and journals worldwide. This …Read More
Writers in Kyoto, Words & Music Bōnenkai, Dec. 10thReport by Mark Willis Pulling open the door to Irish Pub Gnome at six o’clock on December 10th, I found the basement pub already filled with writers, readers, singers, and listeners gathered for the Writers in Kyoto Words & Music bōnenkai. I left my daypack on an …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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