A merchant owed money to a samurai. Since he had violated the agreed deadline for repaying the debt several times, the samurai drew his sword to kill him. The merchant, resigning himself to his fate, looked the samurai in the eyes, bowed, and calmly said, “You may freely kill me, but before you do, it … Read more
Akira Kurosawa is considered one of the greatest directors of the 20th century. Unusually tall for a Japanese man, he was simple and modest. Kurosawa was an artist whose nobility and sense of deep human drama is clearly depicted in his impressive body of work. He was born in 1910 in Tokyo, into a family … Read more
Does anyone ask what is the spirit of this land, Japan: The blossoms of the mountain cherry shine in the morning sun. Norinaga Motoori The rhythm of the seasons naturally follows the life of man. A blooming tree, a calm lake surface, the chirping of birds, the autumn richness of fruits, the purity of snow … Read more
Bushido – the code of the samurai, the Japanese warriors and knights, is not unknown in our Western cultural circle. The code of chivalry, which served as a moral anchor for medieval Japanese warriors, attracts attention with its mystical beauty to those who seek higher human values. Inazo Nitobe, the son of a samurai, a … Read more
