The Blue Yama team wishes you a Happy Valentine's day! In Japan we also celebrate Valentine's day. The tradition is a bit different here: girls and women give chocolates on the 14th of February to boys they like but they can also give it to their friends, father, brothers, sons, etc. In return, 1 month later on the 14th of March (White day), it's the boys’ turn to give back candies to the girls. But a long time before Valentines in Japan, we talk about “Enmusubi”: literally meaning “relationship”. It basically means matchmaking! The most famous shintô shrine where one comes to pray to find his soul mate is called Izumo Taisha. Actually, it does not necessarily mean that one...
This sheer kimono -how the moon peers throughto my naked skin!Sugita Hisajo ( 1665-1718 ) Kimonos are perhaps most associated with a form of traditionalJapanese clothes in the western world, usually worn by women.However, in fact, it’s much simpler than that! The word Kimono is built on two words: the verb kiru, which means “to wear” and mono, that translates to “object”. Put the two together, and you get a very straight forward meaning: simply - a thing to wear! And fun fact: in Japan, western clothes have a special name themselves, and is referred to as yofuku, meaning “western-styled-clothes”.What westerners would mean when they say “kimono” would in Japan instead refer to a Haori, Happi or a Hanten, to...
The term Zen: It is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the Middle Chinese word 禪 (chán). Zen is a remarkable wisdom tradition. It is a path to fully awaken to your original nature, which is present right here, right now. Zen is a way of being. It also is a state of mind. John Lennon's Zen: One of the world best known musician, John Lennon was highly influenced by Zen spirit and the universe of Haiku. Zen and haiku had been a major influence on his writing. “I think haiku is the most beautiful poetry I’ve ever read. I’d like to simplify my lyrics [and make them] as beautiful as haiku. In the album, I’ve made the lyrics very...
Little snow, koyuki Winter is here, and we are looking forward to the first snowflakes: it is such a magical time. Did you know that Japan is the country where it snows the most in the world?The beautiful snow flake with its unique patterns, called “Koyuki mon” in Japanese, carries the memory of the cold winter night and the sweet warmth of the house. Now let's talk about a famous Japanese poem by Tatsuji Miyoshi: Snow piling onto his roof let Taro sleepSnow piling onto his roof let Jiro sleep This short poem takes us to a night scenery, where we can imagine it is snowing outside and it is warm and and toasty inside. It is not known whether it is the snow...
Discover the world of Blue Yama Blue Yama is a small design studio based in Paris where we develop different fashion projects. “Yama” in Japanese means mountain. Blue Yama “Blue Mountain”, you guessed it, is inspired by Mount Fuji, the tallest and most majestic mountain in Japan. “Blue Mountain” in old Japanese also means “The place to bury”.Don't leave yet, we're not talking about a death story or ghosts!We want to introduce you to a Japanese proverb:[Jinkan itaru tokoro Seizan (blue mountain) ari 人間 到 る 処 青山 あ り],Literally translated: [We have blue mountains everywhere].What does that mean?Our birthplace is not necessarily the place to spend your last days.We can leave our native land to go...
