By Kit Nagamura deep winterin the comb tinesa single white hair whitewaterinstead of the bridgechoosing the long way around the moment you knowthe moment mutablewild cherry blossoms
Tag: Kyoto (Page 1 of 2)
Robert Weis has a passion for Japan, and for Kyoto in particular. ‘It’s my spiritual home,’ he says. He draws inspiration from its famous and not so famous spots, and for WiK’s fifth anthology he wrote of the significance of mountains around Kyoto. His appreciation of trees, especially maples, is evident in his writing. ‘When …Read More
by Edward J Taylor Blame it on the low yen, revenge travel, whatever, but our city found itself quite quickly under siege. After three lean but pleasantly restful years, it was startling to encounter this many people in town, and to do so many consecutive days of guiding. I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with …Read More
by Sara Ackerman Aoyama Natsumi opened the door cautiously and walked into the Starbucks. She was counting on being able to grab a chair at the window overlooking the Kamo River. But first, her eyes went to the menu on the wall. She could hardly believe it but today, finally, was the day that the …Read More
by Edward J. Taylor The closer we got to Mt. Hiei’s eastern face, the less I liked the look of the sky. Those carved valleys were holding onto clouds, letting loose precipitation which would eventually precipitate cuts deeper still. Mere minutes off the train, the rain found us, and the cuts most quickly noticeable were …Read More
by Stephen Benfey —A rock has a hundred faces, the Japanese gardener said. I thought of asking why not two-hundred, but this was one of Sawamura’s greatest hits, up there with Nature is always right, the latter spoken in his Kyoto-accented English. —Sensei, I said, —all this nice weather and no jobs. What’s up?” —Keeping …Read More
This fascinating selection of Kyoto-specific literature takes readers through twelve centuries of cultural heritage, from ancient Heian beginnings to contemporary depictions. The city’s aesthetic leaning is evident throughout in a mix of well-known and less familiar works by a wide-ranging cast that includes emperors and court ladies, Zen masters and warrior scholars, wandering monks and …Read More
“Sunrise Over the Kamogawa” by Ina Sanjana (UK citizen living in Kyoto) From the judges: “Homelessness within Kyoto is a rarely discussed topic, and Kamogawa Park is often viewed more as a recreational area for joggers, cyclists, children, dog walkers, couples, and instrumentalists. The judges appreciated this alternative perspective.” Sunrise Over the Kamogawa In the …Read More
Kyomojo (by Kevin Ramsden, British, Kyoto resident) A one, two three … Scoffin’ down a bento / slippin’ in a sento / Air BnB for rento Yamazaki whisky / pickled veg from Nishiki / horumon very risky Rubbery wakame / shellin’ edamame / dollars? sorry, dame Peko chan and poko, have a go at taiko …Read More
(For a full list of prizewinners, please click here on 2019 Competition ). Fadeby Samantha JC Hoh, Philadelphia, USA “Did you know cicadas actually live for many years?” Tak, tak. Our sandals smack the stone in rhythm as I try not to stumble over the hem of my yukata. “Really? I didn’t know that.” …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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