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JAPAN ESSENCE · KYOTO

Beyond the familiar.

Legends, living craft, and journeys into Japan.

JAPAN ESSENCE · STORIES FROM KYOTO

Open a new chapterExplore by region
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THE UNSEEN SIDE OF JAPAN

Every place has
a story worth passing on.

Legends in the mountains. Memories held in the hands.
A single story can change the way you see Japan.

FRESH FROM JAPAN ESSENCE

The latest stories.

More places, traditions, and unexpected discoveries.

Mikaribaba: The Legend of Japan's Borrowed Sieve Hag

Discover the legend of Mikaribaba, the one-eyed yōkai of Yokohama, and explore the fascinating Japanese folklore surrounding Kotoyōka liminal days.

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Discovering Koshu Onigawara: Yamanashi’s Legendary Devil-Face Roof Tiles

Explore Koshu onigawara, Yamanashi’s 300-year-old devil-face roof tile tradition. Discover their history, cultural symbolism, and where to see them.

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Discover Oshirasama: The Fascinating Horse-Girl Deity of Tōno, Iwate

Explore the legend of Oshirasama, Tōno's unique horse-girl household deity, and discover where to see 1,000 sacred figures at Denshoen Park in…

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01 / 13 GENRES OF JAPAN

Thirteen doors into Japan.

Let an image lead you into a deeper story.

知る / EXPLORE
Zen01

Zen

ZEN

 Kawara roof tiles02

Kawara

KAWARA

 Japanese legends03

Legends

LEGENDS

 Japanese mythology04

Myths

MYTHOLOGY

 Yokai folklore05

Yokai

YOKAI

 Travel in Japan06

Travel

TRAVEL

 Nature in Japan07

Nature

NATURE

 Japanese craft08

Craft

CRAFTS

 Folk arts and songs09

Folk arts & songs

FOLK ARTS & SONGS

 Japanese customs10

Customs

CUSTOMS

 Japanese history11

History

HISTORY

 Japanese food12

Food

FOOD

 Illustration of the Takachiho mythology13

Kami

KAMI · DEITIES

Japan’s deities and sacred traditions.
MAKE · EXPLORE · TAKE HOME

Step into the story.

Make something. Follow a place. Bring craft into your life.
Find your own way into Japanese culture.

03 / THE STORY ATLAS

Every place holds a story.

From Hokkaido to Okinawa.
Select a region and explore the stories that live there.

A map of stories across JapanJapan divided into 11 regions. Select a region to see a featured article and browse its other stories.
地図か下の地方ボタンを押してください。JAPAN · 11 REGIONS
EXPLORE BY REGION

地方から探す

関西
KANSAI · 関西

伊根の浦島伝説

京都の海辺に残る浦島伝説。

この物語を読む
STORIES FROM THIS REGION

関西の記事をすべて見る

An illustration of Onimaru-chan’s Bansho Studio world
KYOTO ⇄ THE FUTURE
ONIMARU-CHAN · BANSHO STUDIO

Onimaru-chan’s
Bansho Studio.

Fragments of Japan, carried into the future.

An onigawara AI robot born in Kyoto.
Onimaru-chan travels across time and place, collecting fragments of Japan’s culture.

Explore Onimaru’s studio
THE WORLD OF ONIMARU-CHAN

Today’s stories. Tomorrow’s landscape.

  1. 01 / COLLECT

    Find fragments of Japan

    Across time and place, discover the history and folklore of Japan.

  2. 02 / GIVE FORM

    Let stories take shape

    Collected stories take shape as kawara art objects.

  3. 03 / CARRY FORWARD

    Carry them into the future

    To the Japan area of a future space colony.