Selected Writing

  • Stacks of books and magazines arranged on the ground and on a platform, with some books in cardboard boxes, near a tiled floor.

    Jimbochō and Beyond — Tokyo’s Book District and the Fight to Reclaim Attention | MK Deep Dive

    Jimbochō is Tokyo’s last refuge for deep attention, where old bookstores, kissaten, and curry houses resist an eight-second world. Wandering its alleys is an act of resistance: reclaiming the mind from algorithms. From Saboru’s Showa charm to Bondy’s curry and the quiet glow of Kanda Myōjin, Jimbochō reminds travelers how to think — and feel — again.

  • Blood, sweat and spectacle: Women’s pro wrestling in Japan returns | Japan Today

    In Japan, joshi puroresu has long been defined by refinement, brutality, and physical risk. For decades, joshi has set some of the sport’s highest in-ring standards, trailblazing a style that even men took notice of and sought to emulate, before collapsing under the weight of its own intensity. What remains today is sustained by fans and wrestlers who refuse to let its fighting spirit dissipate.

  • A pathway through a dense bamboo forest with tall green stalks on both sides and a clear sky overhead.

    Arashiyama Bamboo Grove — Beyond the Instagram Myth and Into Kyoto’s Real Atmosphere | MK Deep Dive

    Arashiyama Bamboo Grove blends centuries of Kyoto history with a carefully cultivated, atmospheric beauty. Once a retreat for aristocrats and monastics, the bamboo was intentionally planted and shaped over generations. Today, crowded or briefly quiet, the grove remains one of Japan’s most enduring landscapes — a place where tourism, ritual, and human presence coexist, and where something older still lingers beneath the surface.

  • A stone sculpture of a creature with a long neck, small arms, and a face with closed eyes and an open mouth, wearing a hat with a string and small objects hanging from it, situated outdoors near a parking lot and Japanese signs.

    Inside Iino, Fukushima’s UFO village | Japan Today

    On the southwestern edge of Fukushima City, the rural district of Inomachi initially appears like any other small mountain town in Japan. A few shops remain open while older storefronts rust away and stay shuttered. Narrow roads lead into farmland or disappear into quiet hills. The threat of depopulation looms over everything — until the details begin to shift.

  • Night view of a illuminated city skyline with a large suspension bridge, water with reflections, and some light trails from moving boats or vehicles.

    Rainbow Bridge Tokyo — A Liminal Gateway to the City’s Future | MK Deep Dive

    Rainbow Bridge is more than a suspension bridge over Tokyo Bay — it’s a cinematic threshold between old Tokyo and its engineered future. Illuminated each night and framed by the neon skyline of Odaiba and Tokyo Tower, the bridge blends history, futurism, and atmosphere into one unforgettable view. This Deep Dive explores its origins, symbolism, and why its nightscape has become one of Tokyo’s most iconic visions.