What is "Mushin"? 無心とは？

Have you ever heard of the term 'mushin'? It's a Zen word, written as '無心' in Japanese kanji characters. So, you may have heard of it if you're interested in Zen and/or Buddhism. Mushin can literally translate into 'no mind' because 無 means non-existence and 心 mind. According to Kojien dictionary, mushin means as follows:

Buddhism Terms are Puzzling - "Other Power" vs. "Own Power" 自力 vs. 他力

I come from a Buddhist family—specifically the Jodo Shinshu, or True Pure Land, school. Founded by Shinran (1173–1263) during the Kamakura period, it’s the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan. The tradition teaches that liberation comes through tariki, which literally means 'other power.'

Yaoyorozu No Kami (Eight Million Deities) - Everything Flows

I've been looking for some guidance in life for the last couple of years. I thought I would be able to find it in the teachings of True Pure Land Buddhism because I come from a family that follows the school, but I wasn't able to. The True Pure Land school teaches that enlightenment can be realized through tariki, or 'other power,' but I don't believe in relying on an external power to attain enlightenment.

In Japan, Choose Your Words to AVOID Clarity... 言葉を選ばないとそうなりますね。。。

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

"Choose your words carefully." That is what I wanted to say to someone I talked to several weeks ago. That day, I received a letter from the Legal Affairs Bureau notifying me that my address change registration was complete. I originally wanted to complete the process online, but I couldn't because they don't accept credit card payments. Since I didn't have time to visit the bureau in person, I decided to handle it by mail instead.

Toad Lily (Tricyrtis Formosana) タイワンホトトギス（台湾杜鵑草）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

They are toad lilies (Tricyrtis formosana). While this plant is typically said to flower from August to September, I’ve come to believe that toad lilies actually bloom year-round. I have seen them in May, as well as in December and September.

The plant is named after spots on a toad's skin and its preference for shady, moist places like toads. In Japan, however, the toad lily is called 'hototogisu,' which translates into 'lesser cuckoo.' This name also comes from the plant's spots, which look like the chest plumage of the bird to Japanese people. Perception varies.

2026/10/4

Sphaerophoria ミナミヒメヒラタアブ（南姫扁虻）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) is native to North America, introduced to Japan around 1920, and can now be found across the country. In fact, the plant is so prevalent as a weed that it is called "binbo gusa" (poor weed) or "binbo giku" (poor chrysanthemum) in some areas of Japan. Sitting on one Philadelphia fleabane is a tiny hoverfly (Sphaerophoria indiana). It is so small, yet very beautiful.

2026/10/4

A Bee with Pollen Baskets🐝 花粉荷を運ぶハチ🐝

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

They are honey bees with pollen baskets. Pollen baskets are part of the tibia on the hind legs of some female bees. They pack pollen into these baskets to carry it back to their nest or hive. The bee in the last photo was covered in pollen and vibrating its body on a leaf. 

2023/7/5

Common Straight Swift (Parnara Guttata) イチモンジセセリ（一文字挵）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

The common straight swift (Parnara guttata) is found across Japan, where it is a much-loved insect. While moths usually open their wings when resting and most butterflies keep theirs closed, the common straight swift sometimes rests with its wings open to absorb warmth from the sun. This behavior allowed me to see that its back is green (scroll down). You can also scroll down to see an ant carrying a dead common straight swift.

The butterfly's Japanese name is "ichimonji seseri," which translates to "straight-line skipper" due to the white spots aligned on its wings. In contrast, the small branded swift (Pelopidas mathias), which features white spots arranged in a circle, is called "chabane seseri" in Japanese, translating to "brown-wing skipper."

Personally, I really love common straight swifts because of their cute, squirrel-like eyes.

2026/10/4

2026/8/25

Beef Jerky at Midnight 真夜中のビーフジャーキー

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

 

On a weekday afternoon, I was in the office talking with a colleague of mine. He loves steak—in particular, grilled beef steak. As always, he was passionately telling me about his favorite steak restaurants. It was nearly 1 p.m. I had many things to do that afternoon, but he kept talking. I glanced at my phone, pretending to check the time, and when I looked up, I was surprised to see a slice of raw beef on his right palm. He said with a broad grin, "This is the best beef I've ever had. You should try this!"

 

An Elephant Never Forgets 英語の諺「象は忘れない」

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

An elephant never forgets. Neither do I...

White-Banded Hunter Hawkmoth (Theretra Oldenlandiae) セスジスズメ（背筋雀）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Impatiens hawkmoths, also known as white-banded hunter hawkmoths (Theretra oldenlandiae), can be found across Japan. Their caterpillars are a beautiful black, creating a stark contrast with their orange spots initially, before turning brownish prior to burrowing into the ground to pupate. They can also sometimes be pale green, as their body color varies depending on temperature and age. While the caterpillars have a chubby appearance, the adults look cool, resembling fighter jets. Adults can be found from May to October in Japan.  

2026/8/5

2026/10/3