“Spirit of Shizen – Japan’s nature through its 72 seasons” is an exhibition to be held this summer at Luxembourg’s Natural History Museum (www.mnhn.lu). The accompanying catalogue constitutes an anthology featuring essays and contributions by several WiK members (Amy Chavez, Karen Lee Tawarayama, Mayumi Kawaharada, Ted Taylor, Ed Levinson, Rebecca Otowa, Amanda Huggins, Jann Williams, …Read More
Tag: Amy Chavez
REVIEW by Rebecca Otowa THE WIDOW, THE PRIEST AND THE OCTOPUS HUNTERBy Amy Chavex (Tuttle 2022) Available on Amazon Amy Chavez has had an unusual life in Japan. Beginning in a teaching position in Okayama, a city between Kobe and Hiroshima, she moved to an island in the nearby Japan Sea known as Shiraishi (White …Read More
Protection and Promotion — Striking a Balance Heritage and Tourism Symposium, November 8, 2019 by Rebecca Otowa This past November 8, Writers in Kyoto hosted the Heritage and Tourism Symposium with four guest speakers. Over 80 people attended the event, including WiK members and concerned members of the general public, and many interesting points …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
Reviving an Ancient Buddhist Pilgrimage Amy Chavez A pilgrimage is a magical world brimming with history, beauty and solitude. Shingon Buddhism goes even further by presenting pilgrimage as a mandala, a type of map to the cosmos. These circular routes act as vehicles to enlightenment. There are myriad personal reasons for going on pilgrimage, all …Read More
ISLAND OF SEROW By Amy Chavez Japan is known for its cat islands where the resident strays can outnumber the humans living there. There is also a rabbit island populated by cute cavorting rabbits. I’ve even been to an uninhabited island in the Seto Inland Sea where wild deer and pheasants run amok. But nothing …Read More
What I’ve learned from reader comments by Amy Chavez With most publications having at least a part of their content online these days, it’s only a matter of time when as a writer, you’ll have to deal with the dreaded “reader comments.” Whether it be a traditional newspaper site, content marketing site or even a …Read More
Amy Chavez, freelance writer and columnist
Q&A with Amy Chavez
WiK 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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