Published inJaponica Publication·PinnedMember-onlyWhy This Tiny Mountain MUST be on Your Japan ItineraryThe heavenly haven of Haguro-san in Yamagata Prefecture — Of the thousands of mountains in Yamagata, the prefecture literally made of mountains, one peak emphatically stands out from the rest. Abode of yamabushi (mountain ascetics), and centre of spiritual journeys in Japan for over a millennium, Haguro-san (Mt. …Japan6 min readJapan6 min read
PinnedMember-onlyWhy You NEED to Hike The 100 Famous Mountains Of YamagataJapan’s hidden treasure trove of outdoor adventure — A yamabushi’s role is simple: Lead others into nature. Part of that is showing you the beauty of nature in Japan, starting with my own backyard, Yamagata Prefecture. Made of Mountains: Yamagata PrefectureJapan10 min readJapan10 min read
PinnedMember-onlyWhat is a Yamabushi?The ancient mountain dwellers of Japan For starters, the only way to really understand what a yamabushi is, is to become one yourself. However, I understand this isn’t exactly practical for most people, so I will give a rudimentary introduction of my understanding of the yamabushi from my perspective as a Dewa Sanzan Shrine Yamabushi. …Japan9 min readJapan9 min read
1 hour agoAre you doing enough to change lives?Most importantly your own — I’m lucky in that I’ve both experienced it myself, and seen it in others that Yamabushi training and Shugendo is powerful stuff. The ancient Japanese knew a thing or two about getting out into nature and using it as a training ground to better yourself. …Motivation2 min readMotivation2 min read
1 day agoA Matter of PerspectiveHow preparing for hiking can give perspective — Preparing your bag for hiking is never an easy task. You need enough to be able to survive out there, but too much and you risk literally weighing yourself down. Plus, going out in spring or autumn is much more unpredictable than going out in the height of summer, or…Hiking2 min readHiking2 min read
1 day agoA different perspectiveClimbing steep slopes — When you film yourself climbing mountains, you realise how difficult it is to show how steep the mountain is. …Perspective2 min readPerspective2 min read
2 days agoLife Getting In The WayLife is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans — John Lennon, Beautiful Boy — Life is in the way, you can’t deny it, but when won’t it be? The best time to start investing is yesterday. The second best time is now. Now’s as good a time as any to get started on what you always said you would. YAMABUSHI MAILERMotivation1 min readMotivation1 min read
3 days agoWhat to do with the off daysDecide in advance what you’ll do when you hit a wall — One of the most important parts of habit creation is deciding what to do with the off days, and I mean both kinds of off days; The days you decide in advance you will take off (or not), and the days where you’re just not feeling it. For the first…Productivity2 min readProductivity2 min read
5 days agoThe Power of AcceptanceOne example where acceptance is key — When I was in high school my bag got stolen. The first thing my dad did after I told him, besides checking whether I was ok, was to call the locksmith. …Acceptance1 min readAcceptance1 min read
5 days agoAnything but futile.An attempt at the impossible is futile. But is it really? — Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. An attempt at the impossible is futile, but is futility such a bad outcome? The mere attempt to do something means you’re thinking about it. It means you’re attempting new ways to achieve a certain aim. And with aims for things that were previously impossible, any attempt is far from futile.Inspiration1 min readInspiration1 min read
