A Glimpse of Summer in Timeless Japanese Poetry

Today in Tokyo, the sky is blue. It’s hot and humid. Summer is definitely in the air.

To reflect the season, we’ve hung a kakejiku (hanging scroll) in our room. This calligraphy was written by the calligrapher Akagi Shoka and contains a waka poem by Empress Jitō over 1,300 years ago. Though calling her a “busy businesswoman” might be quite disrespectful, I think that we today can strongly empathize with her feelings.

In the poem, the empress is so caught up in her daily duties that she doesn’t realize summer has arrived until she sees bright white clothing drying on the hillside of Amakaguyama in Nara. That moment of seasonal beauty moved her.

If you’re a busy professional yourself, why not take a break and enjoy a moment of quiet elegance, just as she did?

At our salon, you can experience Japanese culture through calligraphy and tea ceremony, all inside a charming traditional Japanese house. Private reservations are available, even for solo guests.

Feel free to book your own peaceful escape — we look forward to welcoming you.