I have a whole café built in my mind. I know what the light looks like in the afternoon, slanting low through big windows onto worn wood tables. I know the sound it makes, quiet, but not silent. The low hum of conversation, the occasional clink of a spoon against ceramic, something soft playing that…
Category: Japanese Culture
Between Japan and Korea
Ever since coming back from Korea, people keep asking me the same question: “So… which did you like better, Japan or Korea?” And honestly? I don’t think there’s a right answer. I’ve been lucky enough to visit both, and they each have something that makes them special. They both hold such massive pieces of my…
The Everyday Mindfulness of Japan
I remember one afternoon in particular. I’d ducked into a tiny café somewhere in Kyoto. It had maybe just a few seats and a handwritten menu and that soft late‑day light coming through the window. I ordered an iced matcha and a soft red bean paste with cinnamon wrapped in mist-warabi dough. They went together…