Uchikura & Co Blog
2026-08-15
Jumon (呪文) — Magic Words in Everyday Japan In Japanese, jumon (呪文) usually means a spell or incantation—words believed to have the power to make something happen. But jumon is not limited to wizard...
2026-08-15
A Bridge Between Japan and the West During Japan’s Edo Period, when the country maintained strict limits on contact with the outside world, one European became an important bridge between Japan and...
2026-08-14
Oni (鬼) Is a State of Mind When you hear the Japanese word oni (鬼), you may imagine a demon with horns, sharp teeth, and a large iron club. But oni is more than a monster from Japanese folklore. It...
2026-08-14
About Japan — How Many Colors Are in a Rainbow (虹 Niji)? How many colors are in a rainbow? If you grew up in the United States, you probably learned seven: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indig...
2026-08-13
余白 (Yohaku) — The Value of What Is Not There The Japanese word 余白 (yohaku) means “blank space” or “margin.” In many Western traditions, attention is often drawn to what is there—what has been creat...
2026-08-12
The Company Built by a Small Samurai House in Tosa In 1835, Yataro Iwasaki（岩崎彌太郎）was born in rural Tosa, present-day Kochi Prefecture. His family had once belonged to the samurai class, but his g...
2026-08-12
Why Don’t You Start Your Own Business? "I’d like to run my own company someday." I think quite a few people have probably thought this at one point or another. So why don't they actually do it? "...
2026-08-12
Why Don’t You Start Your Own Business? "I’d like to run my own company someday." I think quite a few people have probably thought this at one point or another. So why don't they actually do it? "I'm...
2026-08-12
The Japanese word for “word” is 言葉 (kotoba). Look at the kanji and you may notice something interesting: 言 = words / speech葉 = leaf So why does a “word” have a leaf in it? An old and beautifu...
2026-08-12
After World War II, “Made in Japan” was often associated with cheap, mass-produced goods. Japan changed that image by making a strategic decision: compete with quality, not quantity. Japan has li...