In Japan, people think that water sometimes becomes a border to divide two different worlds. Kamo River, which runs through Kyoto City, also used to be thought as the border to separate the world for the living from that for the dead. There was a crematory in the area called
For centuries, humans have sought to cultivate havens of peace and tranquility. One captivating expression of this desire is found in the Japanese garden, a design tradition where nature is meticulously arranged to create a powerful healing experience. A Reflection of the Cosmos: Unveiling Buddhist Influences Beyond their undeniable beauty,
We brought a small bouquet of astor from our backard to our tea ceremony lesson. Our teacher kindly and beautifully arranged it with pampas grass in a bamboo vase. The arrangement transported the rustic atmosphere of outside into the room. It brought in the essense of the season, too. Sometime, you
I visited Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto. The garden at Katsura Imperial Villa is one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens. I guarantee that this is quality landscape design that you should see. If you want to visit there, it is necessary to apply for visit on the website of Imperial
Yugen: appreciating the unknown Japan is a country made up of islands. Surrounded by the ocean, its climate is humid and constantly changing. Along the coast, high mountains are often covered in mist and fog. In part, familiarity with these transforming, obscured landscapes–as seen in this scroll from the Edo
Connections between the mind, body, and environment Imagine you are walking through an outdoor path in Kyoto, surrounded by bamboo. While you walk, your blood pressure happens to decrease. Is it because you are taking in the smells of the bamboo as you walk? Is your mind communicating a positive
What are “clouds, bubbles, and waves”? They suggest impermanence of Japanese architecture, but also resiliency of it. At the symposium on this very curious subject at Yale School of Architecture, Yoko Kawai of PED had a pleasure to moderate one of the sessions. Japanese architecture is known for its respect
On May 31st, Yoko Kawai is going to talk “Designing Mindfulness: Spatial Concepts in Traditional Japanese Architecture”, at TALKS+ of New York Japan Society. Please join this event!
At the panel discussion event ” The Future of Innovation in the Workplace”, PED’s Yoko Kawai, on behalf of Mirai Work Space, had a pleasure to moderate the conversation. It was at Williams Club in New York on January 22nd, and we had a large and lively audience! The panelists
