Archives: 2026

What Kyoto Chose Not to Replace (Unohana Prize — Tenth Kyoto Writing Competition)

A look at what Kyoto chooses to hand down through the generations and why.

In Celebration of Hagi 

Lisa Wilcut offers odes to the autumn beauty of bush clover.

The Zen of Cats

Stephen Mansfield shares an extract from his forthcoming book, ‘BEAST: How a Tokyo Shelter Cat Changed Forever the Life of a Couple.’

Helen Keller and Kyoto

Yuki Yamauchi details the links between the world-famous educator and Kyoto.

You Will Not See Kyoto in Time (Yamabuki Prize — Tenth Kyoto Writing Competition)

A reflection on capturing the ever-shifting perception of Kyoto from afar, by Vidushi Sharma.

Ten Nights of Dreams

Mark Willis translates a section of Natsume Sōseki's short work, “Yume Jūya”

Fire Rite (Kyoto City Mayoral Prize — Tenth Kyoto Writing Competition)

A Kyoto ritual turns grudge to grace.

The Little Green Book

The strange power of a book, beyond words.

Book Review: Murder on Teramachi Street by Sara Aoyama

A journey into Kyoto. Rebecca Otowa reviews a new cozy mystery.

Three haiku

New poetry from Stephen Benfey

Announcement: Tenth Kyoto Writing Competition Results

Announcing the prizewinners selected from 114 submissions WiK received from around the world.

Langdon Warner and Kyoto: Error or Deception? (pt. 2)

The second part of Joseph Cronin's piece on Harvard lecturer Langdon Warner, who for many years was believed to have saved Kyoto from heavy bombing in 1945.

A WiK Writers Afternoon exercise

Lisa Twaronite Sone shares a piece she wrote in response to the writing prompt, "Kyoto fabric and kimono."

Langdon Warner and Kyoto: Error or Deception? (pt. 1)

For many years it was widely believed in Japan that Kyoto was spared heavy bombing in 1945 due to the efforts of one man, the Harvard University lecturer Langdon Warner. Joseph Cronin explains what happened.

Stormy With a Chance of Tofu

Life in the time of plum rains, hydrangeas and slugs.