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Edited by Rebecca Otowa and Karen Lee Tawarayama 
Foreword by Judith Clancy

Structures of Kyoto explores the physical, spiritual, and artistic elements of Japan’s ancient capital and beckons one to “step through the gate” to interact with them.

Bookended by the insights of authors Judith Clancy (Exploring Kyoto) and Alex Kerr (Finding the Heart Sutra), readers will find themselves amidst temple gardens and gates, within a tea ceremony and a calligraphy class, observing a children’s boat regatta, and amongst writers channeling their muse in literary cafes. The spirits of the city — ancestors, ghosts, supernatural creatures, and benevolent deities — also have their place.

From Ryoanji Temple in the west to Mount Daimonji in the east, and from Sanzenin Temple in the north to Fushimi Inari Shrine in the south, established authors, upcoming writers, and featured artists will transport you to the cultural heart of Japan with their non-fiction, fiction, prose, poetry, and images, which together paint a stunning and informative portrait of the world’s favorite city.

Contents

  • Structures of Kyoto    From the Editors
  • Foreword    Judith Clancy
  • Map of Kyoto

Introductory

  • What Does This Say, Sensei?    Rona Conti
  • Interlude: Kyoto    Brenda Yates 
    (3rd Prize, WiK Writing Competition 2020)

Part I

  • Rocks, Gravel, and a Bit of Moss    Mark Hovane
  • Sparrow Steps    Amanda Huggins
    (2nd Prize, WiK Writing Competition 2020)
  • Structures of Tea    Rebecca Otowa
  • The River    Felicity Tillack
  • The Streets of Miyako    Mike Freiling
  • Three Literary Cafes    John Dougill
  • Sunrise Over the Kamogawa    Ina Sanjana
    (2nd Prize, WiK Writing Competition 2019)
  • The Life Dispensary    Karen Lee Tawarayama
  • Converging Waters (Kamogawa Delta Blues)    Robert Weis

Kyukei 休憩

  • The Magic of the Training Structures of Zen and Kyoto    Reggie Pawle

Part II

  • December    Lauren E. Walker
    (1st Prize, WiK Writing Competition 2020)
  • Ohara, After Scarlet Leaves    Edward J. Taylor
  • Beyond Zen — Kyoto’s Gorinto Connections    Jann Williams
  • Okuribi    Lisa Wilcut
    (1st Prize, WiK Writing Competition 2019)
  • One Dog Day in Summer    Simon Rowe
  • The Gion Festival — A Hero’s Journey    Catherine Pawasarat
  • The Gate    John Einarsen
  • A Kyoto Ceramic Dynasty: Kiyomizu Rokubey Eight Generations    Robert Yellin
  • Sanjusangen-do, Reinterpreted    Ken Rodgers
  • Yurei Ame / Ghost Candy    Marianne Kimura
    (3rd Prize, WiK Writing Competition 2019)

Afterword

  • A New Philosophy of Tourism    Alex Kerr
  • Illustrators and Image Makers: Acknowledgements
  • Image Captions

Reviews

Structures of Kyoto, Interrogated — by Patrick McCoy , for Kyoto Journal’s 100 Views of Kyoto

Structures of Kyoto: Rediscover the Old Capital Through Vibrant Stories, Essays, and Poems — by Lisandra Moor, for Tokyo Weekender

Structures of Kyoto (WiK Anthology 4) Review by Irish Author Jean Pasley

Related Videos/Links

To hear the contributing authors speaking about their pieces in the anthology, please see the videos here and here.

For an interview of co-editors Rebecca Otowa and Karen Lee Tawarayama, please click here.