Uchikura & Co Blog
2026-06-22
A World Map Depends on Where You Stand I saw this beautiful world map at the Turkish Airlines airport lounge. It is not only artistic but also reminds us that the way we draw the world depends on our...
2026-06-22
Why Many Japanese Do Not Consider Themselves Religious One of the most unique aspects of Japanese Shinto is the belief that kami exist everywhere. A mountain may have a kami. A river may have a k...
2026-06-21
“Ja no Michi wa Hebi” — The Snake Knows the Snake’s Path Japan has many traditional proverbs that express wisdom gathered through everyday life. One interesting example is “Ja no Michi wa Hebi” (蛇の...
2026-06-21
My Final Shrine Visit in Japan — Tokyo Daijingu, the Tokyo Ise ShrineThe highest-ranked shrine in Japan is Ise Jingu, located in Mie Prefecture. It is dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess ...
2026-06-21
Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods — Only One Was Born in Japan One of the most fascinating aspects of Japanese culture is its ability to adopt and transform ideas from other civilizations. A perfect example...
2026-06-21
嘘から出たまこと “Uso kara Deta Makoto” — The Power of Believing in Your Own Dream When you start a business, you have to believe in yourself. To others, your confidence may seem unrealistic, or even like ...
2026-06-20
Eating Rich May Not Be Good for Your Health — The Lesson of Edo Wazurai During the Edo period (1603–1868), many people living in Edo, now known as Tokyo, suffered from a mysterious illness called “Ed...
2026-06-20
“It Is Darkest Under the Lamp” — A Japanese Proverb Japan has a famous proverb: “Tōdai moto kurashi” (灯台下暗し), which literally means “It is dark beneath the lamp.” Many people assume that the word...
2026-06-19
Collecting Goshuin — A Journey Through Japan's Shrines and TemplesDuring my current trip to Japan, I have collected 13 Goshuin. For those who are not familiar with Japanese culture, you may wonder: W...
2026-06-19
A Conversation Over Coffee at Hotel New Otani This morning, I had coffee with a representative from Hotel New Otani. He previously worked in New York, where he was responsible for sales and promoting...