Mayumi Kawaharada writes: At the beginning of autumn, on a sunny day, I joined a volunteer event of fixing bamboo fences alongside the bamboo forests in Arashiyama. It was organised by a NPO called “People together for Mt. Ogura”. My haiku master , Stephen H Gill, is one of the cofounders of this group. They …Read More
Category: Featured Writings (Page 4 of 14)
Featured writing
Prompted by Nick Teele’s account of reviving a 33 temple pilgrimage, a website reader from Denmark named Esben Andreasen has submitted an account of his own 13 temple pilgrimage to Kyoto. The piece below is an edited translation of his article which originally appeared in a Danish journal. Esben’s first visit to Japan was in …Read More
Extract from a new novel by Ian Richards, published by Atuanui Press and entitled, Drongo: A Kiwi Road Novel. In which the hero, Andy, has hitched a ride with Mrs Macalister and her cat Silky. Though he has no license, Andy has convinced her to let him drive her car. Andy is 18 years old, …Read More
The Abyss I’m standing quite still on the edge of an abyss,As wide and as deep as the heart itself is,And though I’ve not noticed its vastness till now,I know it’s been there since before time began. And now that I’ve seen it, I can’t run away,For it opens wherever I go,Yawning and gaping, like …Read More
Another SinceWe metThere has beenNo oneElseFor me but youTookAnotherAnd cameTo regretIt. ************ By the River I sat on the banks of the darkening river, By the broad, slow stream, where the water runs deep, And the grasses of Autumn grew over my heart, Entangling me, rooting me there. I saw the leaves fall to the …Read More
THE HORNED GODby Marianne Kimura No one knew how the statue of the horned god had gotten to the end of the broken desolate peninsula encased in the shambles of soggy, broken concrete. This spot, among rubble and weeds, with stark frames of defunct gigantic towers and their staring, blank and open windows, wasn’t a …Read More
A KYOTO PILGRIMAGEby N. J. Teele About twenty years ago, walking down Teramachi-dori from Shijo, I came across a musty little shop specializing in pre-Meiji wasōbon (books printed and bound in the traditional Japanese manner). Among them, I found a slim rather-worn and weathered book which was titled Kannongyō Hayayomi eshō, which roughly translates “An …Read More
The foreign community in Kyoto will all know of the delicious cheesecake available from the Papa Jon’s shops in town. Many will also know the popular owner, Charles Roche. Few will know however that October 17 happens to be the 50th anniversary of his arrival in the country. Yes, 50 years ago! To celebrate the …Read More
Okunoin, Koyasan / 奥の院、高野山 One enters this sacred garden aloneFinding one’s way by learning to readThe resonating air surrounding the stone Consulting a tome or charting a zone Unknown home where paths may leadOne enters this sacred garden alone By demolishing the knower knowing and knownScant satori when the soul has freedThe resonating air surrounding the …Read More
Inland Sea Life in the Showa EraAmy Chavez Fumiko twittered over to the genkan with arms pressed down at her sides and hands jutting out to the sides like little wings. Wearing a simple button down blouse and gingham pants, she bent at the waist in a deep Japanese bow. Of course, I don’t warrant …Read More
Kyoto Writing Competition
WiK Anthologies
The Nature of Kyoto (2023)
Eds. Lisa Twaronite Sone & Robert Weis
Foreword by Pico Iyer
Structures of Kyoto (2021)
Eds: Rebecca Otowa & Karen Lee Tawarayama
Foreword by Judith Clancy
Encounters with Kyoto (2019)
Eds: Jann Williams & Ian Josh Yates
Foreword by Juliet Winters Carpenter
Echoes (2017)
Eds: John Dougill, Amy Chavez, & Mark Richardson
Preface by Alex Kerr
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