Our Deep Japan storytellers, your Senpai.
Our Deep Japan storytellers,
your Senpai.
Our mission.
Deep Japan is a community-driven tourism platform offering authentic insights into Japanese culture, travel, and everyday life. Our diverse “Senpai” writers—many with over 20 years of living in Japan—share heartfelt stories, practical travel tips, and fascinating observations about the Japan they know and love.
Our mission is to shine a light on the thoughtful traditions and endearing quirks that define Japanese life, fostering a deeper appreciation for what makes this country so beautifully different.
Write for us. Tell your story.
Professional writing experience is not required—if you have lived in Japan for at least three years at any point, we welcome you to apply to join our Senpai writer community. Whether you first came to Japan to teach, study abroad, follow a partner, launch a new career, or simply chase a curiosity—we want to hear from you.
There are stories only you can tell, and at Deep Japan, we would be honored to give your voice a home.
Yugen
This word was recently used in Emma’s article, which she defined as “a sense of mystery we cannot fully comprehend.” In another article I found online, Japanese Mentality by Julia defined it as “a beauty that suggests rather than shows, that invites you to feel rather than define.” Although both definitions speak to similar concepts, I love how the wording is distinct and, in my humble opinion, reflects how each person interprets the word slightly differently because it is rather abstract.
Since the kanji for yu is the same one used in yurei, which means “ghost,” when I hear the word yugen, my mind paints the image of a misty valley where you feel as though spirits loom — invisible, but there. The unknown, the stillness, the simplicity. The moment is both daunting and beautiful.
For me, it seems to capture the very essence of walking this earth, where so much is beyond what humans can comprehend (although we may try our very best). To me, there is no way forward besides accepting the unknown and befriending it as something, the very thing, that makes being alive so fun.
Hello there! I’m Hana, Editor-in-Chief of Deep Japan. Every Monday, I share a Japanese word, phrase, or expression with you.
Whether it helps enrich your Japanese vocabulary or simply gives you a new idea to reflect on, I hope it offers a little inspiration as we begin a fresh new week. We got this! Gambarimasho
24°C
