An Uplifting Message - Be The Light For Others

 

The Nature of Questions

[image credit: pixabay.com]

 

Today's meditation:

When conducting an interview, or a discovery session...

Asking a question is like plucking a note on a stringed instrument...

The skill of the individual musician will vary...and the richness of what is heard, depends upon the skilll of listener...

Sometimes, the question is not the question.

Sometimes, the question is intended to "move the shade" and "reveal your true face".

Sometimes, the question is to reveal your questions.

Sometimes, the question is to reveal your intentions.

Sometimes, the question is to reveal your doubts and fears.

Sometimes, the question is like tapping a bell, to hear the the resonance of the tone returned.

Sometimes, the question is like tapping the side of a tall opaque jar, to determine the measure of fullness within.

And sometimes, the question is just a question.

Zen Koans - some resources

 This is a placeholder for links to interesting Zen Koans...enjoy!

• https://ashidakim.com/zenkoans/zenindex.html

 

(more to be added...)

My Favorite Translation of The Tao Te Ching

By Gia-Fu Feng & Jane English (1974)
https://genius.com/Laozi-tao-te-ching-gia-fu-feng-and-jane-english-translation-annotated

On  Amazon.com

 

 

Female speaker:

Male speaker:

Akiya Houses in Japan

Last updated: 2026-05-13 Wed 

 

Q&A: Buying Real Estate in Japan 

A Comprehensive Guide to Buying Property in Japan as a Foreigner 

Cost of buying a real estate property in Japan | The purchase of a house/condominium

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/japan-digital-nomad-visa

Searching Japan's abandoned houses for the ultimate fixer-upper

Hinoki House: 

• https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561079722704 
• "We are a small but very efficient team of professional real estate consultants based in the Kansai area of Japan. We can look for any type of property and any budget within our region.
  We run a guest house in Nara old town." 

Aikya Helper:

• https://www.akiyahelper.com/ 
• https://www.akiyahelper.com/all 

Haruka Oide: 

• https://www.facebook.com/haruka.oide.7/
• https://www.instagram.com/its.oharu/
• https://www.youtube.com/@oharu_japanese 
• https://www.itsoharu.com/ 
• https://www.itsoharu.com/services-4-1 
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1157804025431652/user/100029572911185/   

 Shu Matsuo: 

• https://akiyahub.com/  
• https://www.facebook.com/shumatsuopostfi 
• https://www.youtube.com/@shumatsuopost 

 

2025-10-29 Wed:

• https://abandonedkansai.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/AbandonedKansai/ 

 

2025-02-24 Mon:  

• Starting April 2025, Japan will implement revised building codes and energy conservation standards as part of the 改正建築基準法 (Revised Building Standards Law) and 建築物省エネ法 (Building Energy Efficiency Law), which will require all new buildings, including renovations of akiya (vacant homes), to meet specific energy efficiency standards.

• These changes may negatively affect potential akiya buyers by increasing renovation costs, as they will need to comply with stricter energy efficiency and structural requirements, potentially making the purchase and renovation of these homes more expensive. 

• For those interested in buying an akiya, the added costs of meeting these new standards could offset the initial affordability of these properties, especially since renovations already involve significant expenses for upgrades like insulation, seismic retrofitting, and modernizing plumbing and electrical systems.

 

 

2025-02-06 Thur - some great advice in this YouTube channel:

• https://www.youtube.com/@hakuba365

 

2024-05-07 CNN:  Super-aged Japan now has 9 million vacant homes. And that’s a problem

Great resources for finding inexpensive Japanese homes for sale, or rent:

• Facebook Groups: 
• https://www.facebook.com/TokyoGaijinMode
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/cheaphousesjapan 
• https://www.facebook.com/cheaphousesjapan 
• https://www.instagram.com/cheaphousesjapan/
  
• https://www.facebook.com/AkiyaHouseJapan
• https://www.facebook.com/japanhomequest [new]
• https://japanhomequest.com/ [new]

 

• https://www.akiyasjapan.com 
• https://www.koryoya.com/akiya/
• https://www.allakiyas.com/
• https://www.allakiyas.com/properties.php
  
• https://www.akiya-mart.com/ 
• https://www.akiyainaka.com/akiya-listings/
• https://wagaya-japan.com/en/
•  https://akiyahopper.com/japan

These may be useful resources:

• https://www.akiyajapan.com/
• https://www.akiyabanks.com/ 
• https://cheaphousesjapan.com/buy-an-akiya-japan/
  

Interesting expat blogs and YouTube channels, about living in Japan:

• https://www.facebook.com/ikimasho.net
• https://ikimasho.net/
   

This is the YouTube video that got me hooked on the idea of a Japanese farm house...

We Bought an Abandoned House in Japan, Exterior | Tractor, 2 Cars, Farm Tools Left Behind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNFD9fKOWic

We Bought an Abandoned House in Japan, Interior, Everything Left Inside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgw_8fTkqNk

How We Bought Our Abandoned House in Japan | Process, Costs, Risks, Finance, How to Find One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwRjO3kHxU4


Some  recent updates...on their progress...

Spring Garden Year 3 Update | Tokyo Llama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZPv5UrvXko

35 Things We Still Need to Do on Our House | Abandoned House Renovation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHIR5xhe0So


Their channel is filled with wonderful stories of their journey...
https://www.youtube.com/c/TokyoLlama

Some other stories...

Aussie Turns 130 Year Old Japanese House into Cafe/Farm/School | Tokyo Llama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF-ljp7plLg

Incredible Tiny House Off-Grid Homestead in Japan | SELF-BUILT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgfrlRGxz5w

What A US$23,000 House Looks Like in Rural Wakayama, Japan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp0cXfA1-Q4

Before & After - 6 months in a 120-year-old Japanese Kominka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s19vS3BzmMY


Jaw-Dropping Traditional Small Japanese Home Renovation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36_6AnhQDT0


Some property listings in Japan...

(some better sites for finding the real bargains...)
https://realestate.co.jp/en/forsale/listing?prefecture=&city=&district=&min_cap_rate=&min_price=&max_price=10000000&min_meter=&rooms=&distance_station=&agent_id=&building_type=house&building_age=&updated_within=&transaction_type=&occupancy=&order=&search=Search
 

example: 5M Yen ~ $41.6K USD
https://realestate.co.jp/en/forsale/view/874273



(more expensive listings, in English...)

• https://www.japan-property.jp/en
• https://www.century21global.com/for-sale-residential/Japan/Kanagawa

Some info on different style/type of houses...

• https://www.toshihikoyamamoto.jp/kominka-renovation/
• https://www.tsunagujapan.com/simple-yet-beautiful-japans-traditional-homes-kominka/
• http://www.furusatokikaku.net/en/kominka/
• https://www.toki.tokyo/blogt/17/10/4/kominka
• https://blog.gaijinpot.com/buy-abandoned-house-in-japan/
• https://www.rethinktokyo.com/free-houses-japan-countryside
• https://www.rethinktokyo.com/2018/09/19/akiya-banks-abandoned-homes-japan
• https://resources.realestate.co.jp/news/akiya-bank-japan-vacant-house-database-to-now-include-govt-public-assets-ministry-of-land/

• https://www.koryoya.com/

Kominka Houses
Traditional Japanese Countryside Houses
https://www.koryoya.com/kominka/index.html


Machiya Houses
Traditional Japanese Townhouses
https://www.koryoya.com/machiya/index.html


Akiya Houses
Abandoned or Vacant Old Houses
https://www.koryoya.com/akiya/index.html



Example: 4.5M Yen ~ $37.5K USD
https://maizuru-iju.com/akiya/%e4%b9%85%e7%94%b0%e7%be%8e%e3%81%ae%e5%ae%b6%ef%bc%88%e7%89%a9%e4%bb%b6%e7%95%aa%e5%8f%b7%ef%bc%9a%e6%9d%91135%ef%bc%89/


(other listing sites...)
https://taka-t28365.akiya-athome.jp/
https://www.akiya-athome.jp/

Example: 2M Yen  ~ $16.6K USD
https://taka-t28365.akiya-athome.jp/bukken/detail/buy/%E5%A4%9A%E5%8F%AF%E9%83%A1%E5%A4%9A%E5%8F%AF%E7%94%BA%E5%A3%B2%E6%88%B8%E5%BB%BA%E4%BD%8F%E5%AE%85-21168


Example: 2.92M Yen ~ $24.3K USD

Example: 8.8M Yen - $73.3K USD
https://shiso-c28227.akiya-athome.jp/bukken/detail/buy/7872


https://www.homes.co.jp/akiyabank/


(using different search parameters...)
https://www.akiya-athome.jp/bukken/search/list/?freeword=%E5%8F%A4%E6%B0%91%E5%AE%B6&search_type=freeword&br_kbn=buy&sbt_kbn=house

https://www.akiya-athome.jp/
https://www.akiya-athome.jp/bukken/search/list/?freeword=%e5%ba%97%e8%88%97&search_type=freeword&br_kbn=buy&sbt_kbn=buy


https://inakanoseikatsu.com/

 

Japanese Carpentry:  

YouTube Channels: 

• Shoyan Japanese Carpenter

Books:

• Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit, and Use

 

 

Stillness In Solitude

Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash

 

 Sometimes we all need stillness. 

To pause. 

To reflect. 

To plan. 

To be in the moment - and not constantly striving/competing toward some goal. 

To simply sit and watch the clouds roll by. 

To watch the waves continue their unending journey to the shore. 

To walk in the forest and hear the wind in the trees. 

The sanctity of stillness in solitude - as a necessary pillar of our spiritual health.

NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO

In 1981, while stationed at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, with the 24th Infantry Division - I began teaching a weekly Shotokan karate class at the base's Community Center. 

One of the students in that class was the young son of Mrs. Hisako Durbin - who became a dear friend. 

She worked at the  small food court (at the "Shoppette") that was opposite the base's "Moon Theater" - and within a short walk from  my barracks. 

We began our friendship over many months - when she would take her break in the late afternoon - and I would visit to be tutored in the Japanese language. 

Once she learned that I was teaching karate at the community center, she asked me to accept her son as a student. 

The night she came to watch her son train - afterward, she shared with me a compliment of the first order - the memory of which I cherish to this day...a short Japanese phrase that translated means: "Single-mindedness of Purpose"...which is what she felt generated from the floor, as I led the class in their training.

After Anwar Sadat was assassinated in Egypt - she feared for my safety - as I was to be part of a Rapid Deployment Force exercise called "Operation Bright Star", and was scheduled to travel to Egypt soon thereafter. 

She gave me her cherished Buddhist meditation beads to take with me - and I remembered the chant I had learned one weekend when she invited me to join her at a small gathering of followers of the Nichiren Buddhism sect. This was an act of grace, kindness, and friendship - that touched me deeply.

A Candidate House for Shibumi Sanctuary

Since 1999, I have had a dream of creating an Artist Retreat - for a small cohort of visiting artists (painters, sculptors, poets, writers, etc.). A sanctuary - in which artists of different modalities might spend weeks or months - with room & board provided at a low nominal cost to them - so that they might have the freedom to bring their dreams to reality - and perhaps, create their masterpieces.

Tomorrow I will be calling a realtor to inquire about this house - a 5,000 sq ft. mansion - that has been on the market for quite a while (a foreclosure) - and is now at a steeply discounted price.

There may be unexpected (and disappointing) news with regards to the condition of the house - but, I will ask for a favorable wind from Neptune and Poseidon.

This is a good example of what I have always envisioned Shibumi Sanctuary to eventually be:

What does Shibumi mean?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibui

Shibui (渋い) (adjective), shibumi (渋み) (noun), or shibusa (渋さ) (noun) are Japanese words which refer to a particular aesthetic of simple, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty. Like other Japanese aesthetic terms, such as iki and wabi-sabi, shibui can apply to a wide variety of subjects, not just art or fashion.

Shibumi is a Japanese word that means 'effortless perfection'. Anything that is Shibumi is quiet in refinement, noble and fulfilling in a manner that is not shaped exclusively by analytical thought.

In Japanese culture, Shibumi implies 'a simplicity of spirit; an attitude of refinement without pretension, honesty without apology, beauty without artifice. Western mystics try to attain or achieve a state of inner peace, but shibumi must be found, not won.'

Shibumi is understanding rather than knowledge, it is harmony in action. In art, it is understated beauty, articulate brevity. In philosophy, it is spiritual tranquility that is not passive; it is being without the angst of becoming.

The kanji or character for shibumi has many meanings. The term may describe the subtle and elegant patterns of a fine kimono. Or the effortless grace of a bird in flight. A shibumi flower arrangement brings into being coolness during a scorching summertime and sunshine on a frigid day It may describe an action done with effortless perfection.

Shibumi is a Japanese concept that suggests complete harmony, tranquility, and balance. It is "eloquent silence" and "understanding, rather than knowledge."

The following excerpt is from Shibumi by Trevanian. Published by The Ballantine Books, New York. Copyright C 1979 by Trevanian.

". . . Tell me, Nikko. Will you miss Shanghai?"
Nicholai considered for a second. "No."

"Will you feel lonely in Japan?"

Nicholai considered for a second. "Yes."

"I shall write to you."

"Often?"

"No, not often. Once a month. But you must write to me as often as you feel the need to. Perhaps you will be less lonely than you fear. There are other young people studying with Otake-san. And when you have doubts, ideas, questions, you will find Otake-san a valuable person to discuss them with. He will listen with interest, but will not burden you with advice." The General smiled. "Although I think you may find one of my friend's habits of speech a little disconcerting at times. He speaks of everything in terms of Go. All of life, for him, is a simplified paradigm of Go".

"He sounds as though I shall like him, sir."

"I am sure you will. He is a man who has all my respect. He possesses a quality of . . . how to express it? . . . of shibumi."

"Shibumi, sir?" Nicholai knew the word, but only as it applied to gardens or architecture, where it connoted an understated beauty. "How are you using the term, sir?"

"Oh, vaguely. And incorrectly, I suspect. A blundering attempt to describe an ineffable quality. As you know, shibumi has to do with great refinement underlying commonplace appearances. It is a statement so correct that it does not have to be bold, so poignant it does not have to be pretty, so true it does not have to be real. Shibumi is understanding, rather than knowledge. Eloquent silence. In demeanor, it is modesty without pudency. In art, where the spirit of shibumi takes the form of sabi, it is elegant simplicity, articulate brevity. In philosophy, where shibumi emerges as wabi, it is spiritual tranquility that is not passive; it is being without the angst of becoming. And in the personality of a man, it is . . . how does one say it? Authority without domination? Something like that."

Nicholai's imagination was galvanized by the concept of shibumi. No other ideal had ever touched him so. "How does one achieve this shibumi, sir?"

"One does not achieve it, one . . . discovers it. And only a few men of infinite refinement ever do that. Men like my friend Otake-san."

"Meaning that one must learn a great deal to arrive at shibumi?"

"Meaning, rather, that one must pass through knowledge and arrive at simplicity."

From that moment, Nicholai's primary goal in life was to become a man of shibumi; a personality of overwhelming calm. It was a vocation open to him while, for reasons of breeding, education, and temperament, most vocations were closed. In pursuit of shibumi he could excel invisibly, without attracting the attention and vengeance of the tyrannical masses.

Kishikawa-san took from beneath the tea table a small sandalwood box wrapped in plain cloth and put it into Nicholai's hands. "It is a farewell gift, Nikko. A trifle."

Nicholai bowed his head in acceptance and held the package with great tenderness; he did not express his gratitude in inadequate words. This was his first conscious act of shibumi.

Although they spoke late into their last night together about what shibumi meant and might mean, in the deepest essential they did not understand one another. To the General, shibumi was a kind of submission; to Nicholai, it was a kind of power.

Both were captives of their generations.