Japan Happiness

Animated Spirituality

Japan's spiritual traditions are everywhere -- even in your favorite anime shows.

Sep 8 • 

Hiroko Yoda

35

12

August 2025

Spiritual noodles

The city of Miwa is home to a ritual where commerce, cuisine, and kami intersect

Aug 16 • 

Hiroko Yoda

37

7

NYC, again!

Anime as a window to Japan's spirituality

Aug 14 • 

Hiroko Yoda

21

1

July 2025

Nakama

A story about unplugging and reconnecting in the mountains

Jul 27 • 

Hiroko Yoda

48

11

June 2025

Sightseeing with the Dead

Visiting graves can broaden horizons

Jun 25 • 

Hiroko Yoda

32

10

May 2025

Searching for a Lost Kami

An adventure on San'in's Mount Daisen

May 29 • 

Hiroko Yoda

51

10

April 2025

Eight Million Ways to Happiness

Announcing my new book, coming out later this year!

Apr 28 • 

Hiroko Yoda

54

16

“Ikigai” vs. Ikigai

The long strange trip of a word from Japanese to English and back again

Apr 9 • 

Hiroko Yoda

106

26

March 2025

The Priest of Japan's Forbidden Zone

Remembering the March 11, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

Mar 11 • 

Hiroko Yoda

73

21

February 2025

Flying plums, crying plums

What to do when there's nothing to do?

Feb 22 • 

Hiroko Yoda

79

20

Setsubun: the oni within us

Sometimes, you can make friends of monsters

Feb 2 • 

Hiroko Yoda

47

13

December 2024

Endless Christmas Eve

The surprising reason Japan celebrates Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day

Dec 23, 2024 • 

Hiroko Yoda

53

10