Jan

What’s in the Art of New Year’s Resolutions?

by Meredith Mullins on January 2, 2019

Happy new year hat on weathered boards, showing the cultural traditions of Japanese wabi sabi and lending a theme for New Year's resolutions. (Image © Kameleon007/iStock.)

Here’s to a year of glitter and the worn beauty of wabi sabi.
© Kameleon007/iStock

Cultural Tradition with a Dash of Wabi Sabi

Eat healthier.
Get more exercise.
Lose weight.
Learn a language.
Save more money.
(Make more money!)
Master a new skill.
Read more.
Spend quality time with friends and family.

Sound familiar?

Yes, it’s that time of year again. A transition to a new annual chapter. A time to turn the page. Start fresh. And make a New Year’s resolution or two . . . or three—rising to the challenge of self-improvement and accomplishing new goals.

These days, the percentage of people making New Year’s resolutions seems to be steadily declining. And the percentage of those keeping their resolutions dives even lower.

I admit to being in this latter category. Resolutions made. Resolutions broken (usually by sometime in January).

So why not take a different tack? Why not embrace wabi sabi? Read more...

Meredith Mullins 5 Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/Japan

Oct

Cultural Traditions of the Japanese Tea Ceremony

by Meredith Mullins on October 15, 2018

Japanese woman presents a tea caddy for the Japanese tea ceremony, showing the cultural traditions of Japan. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The Way of Tea
© Meredith Mullins

Ichi-go Ichi-e: Life Lessons

Let the tea be simple and your hospitality heartfelt.—Sen no Rikyu*

When I entered the tea house, I suddenly felt reverential—a guest of some greater spirit.

The simple wooden walls, tatami floor, and perfect Ikebana arrangement created a sanctuary so serene that the only sounds were that of the birds in the garden and the simmering water for the tea.

I met Kozue, a student who was dressed in a silk kimono of muted tones of lilac and plum that had been passed through generations of her family. I asked her how long she has been studying the Japanese tea ceremony. Read more...

Meredith Mullins 4 Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/Japan/Life Lessons

Aug

Japanese Traditions in Yakushima Photography

by Meredith Mullins on August 1, 2016

Yakushima rainforest showing reverence for nature and Japanese traditions in photography. (Image © Kodo Chijiiwa.)

Photographers Show Reverence for Nature, Beauty, and Time

Yakushima is an island in the North Pacific that seems to have its own spirit, its own magic. It is rich in Japanese traditions, as well as exceptional natural beauty—with its lush vegetation, wild coast, ancient trees, and proud mountains.

I had not heard of Yakushima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before wandering into a gallery at the famous Rencontres d’Arles—a massive annual photography event in southern France. Read more...

Meredith Mullins 2 Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/Japan/The World's Photography

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Category Archives: Japan