Today is the winter solstice already. Let me remind my fellow non-digital New Year’s greeting card senders ... on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

Andon-Yama Kofun Tumulus in Tenri City, where migratory birds gather, is the spot where the sun sets on the Winter Solstice. It is the season when the beginnings and ends of lives pass each other.

It has been sung for generations probably because it portrays an imagined scenery of Japan ... to see the harsh winter coming to an end. The process begins on the winter solstice, and spring ...

The very first Midwinter celebration dates back to 1898, and it’s still a time filled with icy swims, gift exchanges, warm greetings ... The winter solstice in Japan, called Toji, has a few ...