Mitsu fidgeted with excitement. Father will finally know that I am as good at tricks and illusions as Kitsu. Once he gives me a chance, he will see that I am better, Mitsu thought as he held a silver tray with the wasabi cakes. He wobbled on his hind legs. He still wasn’t used to…
The Gossamer Journal
The Gossamer Journal is the memoir of a woman we know only as Michitsuna’s Mother. Michitsuna is the son she had through her marriage with Fujiwara no Kaneie. Michitsuna’s Mother, whom I will call the Gossamer Lady to follow literary convention, was born perhaps around 937 (we don’t know for certain) and died in 995….
Poems from the Frontier of Japan
Most people think of Basho and haiku when they think about Japanese poems. Japanese poetry encompasses more than lovely nature images. The word literature conjures, at least for me, feelings of stuffiness and boredom. It’s easy to forget that what we deem literature, that is, writing representative of a time period, was the love poems…
Lessons from 10 Years of Blogging
I’ve been writing for JP for 10 years now. Over those years, my writing style has changed. I hope for the better! I’ve also gained more confidence, although I still suffer from impostor syndrome. Impostor syndrome is the feeling that you and your work are fake, that you don’t know enough or are good enough….
The Fox Brothers and Old Tanuki’s Trick Chapter 2
Kitsu returned an hour later, carrying a fat plant. He spat it at Mitsu’s feet and licked his chops with a grimace. “Now we just need to make that into a red bean cake.” He looked Mitsu up and down and sniffed. “Humph. Looks like you didn’t do anything while I was gone.” Mitsu nudged…
The Fisherman and the Moon Maiden
Pearly and lustrous white, like a cloud in the far-off blue sky, seemed the floating figure of the moon maiden, as she flew to earth. She was one of the fifteen glistening virgins that wait attendant upon the moon in her chambers in the sky. Looking down from her high home to the earth, she…