Letters from Hio

A gentle journey through Japan's heart and healing.

religion

  • Sei 誠

    This article was inspired by an important friend of mine and I just admire the way he loves. Love is not possession. Or it depends on how we choose to love. Silent love reminds me of the era of samurai, when they were willingy to sacrifice their lives, their youth to something bigger than themselves:… Read more

  • late bloomer

    Dear friends,How have you been?My apologise for disappearing for 2 months. Lately, my life has been so hectic, but mostly good, thanks God 😀Things that happened to me lately:– Mr Saito and I went back together and we decided to start our own business. It’s promising, I can guarantee. – I found a job and… Read more

  • The quiet echo of time in Sabi 寂

    Dear friends, How is life? In Japanese cultural aesthetics, sabi 寂 is the quiet beauty found in the aged, the old, the faded and the solitary. Sabi carries a hint of sadness and serenity—the awareness of things passing. But it’s definitely a philosophy of profound relief: the comfort found in accepting that inevitable decay. My… Read more

  • the hermit

    Dear friends, How have you been? I’m still struggling with the job hunt like many adults. Quite a life. But I still dream of a day when I could withdraw from Tokyo and move to a quiet small town, maybe a beach town? I’m still figuring out if I should post the articles I want… Read more

  • Hikawa jinja – where the divine love hides

    Dear friends,If you know me, you know that I am a desperated fan of love and divine love. I might say that I’m a die hard romantic person. I love love and I love finding the divine love that hidden among us. Nestled amidst the tranquil landscapes of Japan, numerous Shinto shrines stand as testaments… Read more

  • the sacred knot

    Dear friends, We are living in a world that often feels shallow and disconnected. We are craving and looking for something that reminds us of who we are. We are looking for love, from someone else. But there is a profound human need for Musubi—the sacred act of weaving connections. In Japan, this concept is… Read more

  • The mappo

    Dear friends, I have the urge to write about Mappo – The Dharma ending age, the longest period of fall knowings. The doom. The concept of the Dharma Ending Age, or Mappo in Japanese Buddhism is a fascinating and complex idea that speaks to the cyclical nature of time and the decline of spiritual truth.… Read more

  • Karma is a cat

    Dear friends, It’s a rainy day in Tokyo. I’ve been suffering the worst kind of headache for more than a week. Rain always brings me memories, which I thought I lost during my time that has been used to just survive. The song “Renaissance” by Paolo Buonvino suddenly hits hard. “Sometimes I justify the words… Read more

  • 108 reasons why you feel guilty? Or not?

    Dear friends, You know, I’ve been so burnt out lately. Maybe it’s just an excuse for my laziness. Or not? All at once it seems like a bad excuse because I’m not productive at all. I do feel guilty. May be? You know that feeling when you’re already running late, but you keep delaying because… Read more

  • Misogi – purify the impurity

    Dear friends, Lately, it’s been tough. My life in Japan, my study, my job hunt, my mind, my thoughts, my heart, my love. All of them suddenly become so difficult to explain. I thought I could make it like I always do, but I burn out. Hard to admit it. I need a reset, restart,… Read more