Travel through Shiga and Lake Biwa with Chiharu as she visits La Collina Omihachiman, explores the architecture and legacy of William Merrell Vories, and stays at a quiet lakeside hotel.

This episode looks at how Vories influenced Omihachiman and how his legacy still connects with local culture, business, architecture, and Taneya today.

A reflective journey through Japanese architecture, landscape, food, friendship, and slow travel in Shiga, Japan.

Can you really create a Parisian interior in a Japanese apartment?

In this episode, Chiharu explores what happens when an interior style travels from one culture to another. Parisian apartments are shaped by high ceilings, symmetry, historic architecture, and proportions that are very different from those of a typical Japanese home.

Drawing on a renovation project in Karuizawa, she reflects on how elements such as mouldings, herringbone floors, arches, and a fireplace can be adapted to a Japanese space without simply copying Paris.

She also considers why a traditional tatami room can feel uncomfortable with a ceiling that is too high, and recalls a moment when she realized that “Scandinavian interior” can mean very different things in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland — just as Japanese, Korean, and Chinese interiors are not the same.

Perhaps the goal is not to recreate a style exactly, but to understand what we love about it and translate that feeling into the place where we live.

What is a Lazy Susan, and why is it called Susan?

In this episode, I explore the surprising history behind the rotating table, including its connection to Japan and a famous Tokyo dining venue in the 1930s.

Similar ideas appeared in different cultures, but they shared something in common: making it easier for people to stay seated, share food, and enjoy conversation.

From Japanese hospitality to contemporary interior design, this is a small story about how a simple piece of furniture can quietly change the way people gather around a table.

From Tokyo to Okinawa, everyday life in Japan can feel surprisingly different.
In the Yaeyama Islands, closer to Taiwan than Tokyo, a walk through a truly dark night made me question what we call convenience.

On Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands, I encountered dark roads, subtropical forests, tiny creatures, and people whose way of life is shaped by the nature around them.

This episode is about travel, convenience, and what we may fail to notice when we arrive somewhere carrying our own idea of what is normal.

Why do hotel rooms feel so relaxing?

In this episode of Living Notes, recorded from the quiet island of Kohama in Okinawa, I explore why so many people dream of creating a hotel-like home—and why that feeling doesn't always last.

Perhaps the secret isn't luxury at all. Perhaps it's fewer decisions, less visual clutter, and a home that gives your mind a chance to rest.

Drawing on my experience as an interior designer in Japan, I share simple ideas inspired by hotel living, minimalism, and thoughtful home design—without asking you to give up the things you love.

If you've ever wished your home could feel as peaceful as your favorite hotel, this episode is for you.

Traditional Japanese homes had a unique relationship with light.

Soft daylight filtered through paper screens, while paper lanterns carried warm light after sunset.

So why do many modern Japanese homes rely on bright ceiling lights?

In this episode, I explore how the history of Japanese homes shaped the way we live with light—and why sometimes, one lamp is enough to change the feeling of a room.