Today is the Autumnal Equinox, the day when the sun rises due east and sets due west, and the length of day and night stand in perfect balance.

The other morning, I noticed tiny drops of dew shimmering on the leaves. In that quiet moment, I felt that autumn had arrived.

On March 20, 2025, at exactly 5:01 am, Eastern Standard Time, the Earth will reach a moment of perfect balance—day and night will be equal. It’s a quiet reminder that, no matter where we are in the world, we are all moving through time together.

A month has already passed since the start of 2025, but February brings an event that truly marks the beginning of the year—Setsubun. This year, it falls on February 2nd.

A Happy New Year!

2025 is the Year of the Snake “巳年”. Snakes, known for shedding their skin as they grow, symbolize rebirth, transformation, and resilience. They represent vitality, infinity, prosperity, and immortality.

The sun goes down early this time of year. In New York, sunset is currently at 4:32 PM, and sunrise doesn’t arrive until 7:17 AM.

As we approach Thanksgiving and reflect on the close of 2024, it’s a time to think about the events that have shaped us.

This year started with a significant event in Japan—the earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula, causing deep devastation to Wajima.

I’m pleased by the interest from so many of you wanting to hear about my visit to Wajima and my meeting with the very talented Urushi artist there. So much has happened since my visit—but where to begin?

Last month, I visited a very talented Urushi artist, Kamata Katsuji (鎌田 克慈）, in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Getting to Wajima from Tokyo is surprisingly easy; there is a daily flight from Haneda (Tokyo)  to Wajima, and the flight time is just under an hour.  

Matcha is becoming increasingly popular outside of Japan. When did matcha become so popular? Recently, more matcha cafes have opened in New York, suggesting people are recognizing matcha as a healthy drink.

The other day, I visited Shibui Spa at the Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca, one of my lighting projects completed more than 15 years ago.

Minazuki (水無月) is another for June in Japanese, and it is also one of wagashi (Japanese sweets)  enjoyed in June. Every year, when June comes, I crave this wagashi. Unfortunately, it is usually not sold outside of Japan, so my only option is to make it myself.

At the beginning of June, I had the special opportunity to meet two Living National Treasures at the World of Japanese Kogei-Art event, and ever since then, I've wanted to share this wonderful experience with you all.

One of my favorite seasonal words is the one for May, "Kunpuu (薫風)." This breeze blows through the fresh greenery of early summer.

Spring brings a lot of rain, which is a blessing from nature. I enjoy seeing wet leaves that look vibrant, green, and beautiful when it rains. This period is important in the natural cycle, as plants grow with plenty of water.