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Acknowledgements

I had a great deal of help the whole way in making this book. My thanks first to the Japanese people who gave so generously of their time and knowledge while I engaged in my perpetual scouting missions across Kansai in order to research the subjects included in this book. My various forays into Japan’s religious traditions actually date back two decades. Eiheiji, Koyasan, Tsubaki Grand Shrine, Hagurosan, are just a few of the places where I spent time in retreats of varying duration. Each one has added a rich dimension to my life for which I am deeply grateful.

I would like to extend my thanks to The Daily Yomiuri (The Japan News), for whom I worked as a columnist writing “Kansai Culturescapes” from my base in Kyoto from 2011-2012, and for their permission to include those essays among the new ones in the present collection. I am especially indebted to my chief editors Yumiko Miyai and Kakuya Ishida. Thank you also, Mr. Yoshihiro Kaida of the Kyoto International Cultural Association, for permission to reprint the essay “Gratitude.” It’s the welcome mat of the whole collection.

My esteem for Tuttle Publishing remains as strong as ever for their enduring dedication to making Japan better known to the world. I am thankful to my masterful editor, Terri Jadick, for shepherding this book to the finish in a timely and thorough manner. In the U.S., I enjoyed my affiliation with the East Asian Studies Program at the Johns Hopkins University. Program Director, Joel Andreas, welcomed me on board and granted me access to the excellent libraries and participation in seminars.

A hearty thanks to others, mostly in Japan—to Christopher Fryman for his generosity and liaising expertise, and to all the contributing photographers: John Einarsen, Hiroshi Mimura, Moho, Kazuhiko Susukida, Daniel Peralta, and to Ittoen for allowing me to reprint one of their photos, and to Nariko Yamashita of TOTO Ltd. who granted me to use of photos from the company’s collection. Thanks also to Yu Tsukinaga who allowed her lovely watercolor to be reproduced here.

I remain grateful for the strong support and early influence of Takie Sugiyama Lebra,. To Donald Richie and Donald Keene—the “grandfathers” of Japanese studies whose inspiration embraced a whole generation—thank you both for being such superb models.

This book would not exist at all were it not for two other people. Therefore, I dedicate this book to my mother and father for their sustained belief in me. My gratitude for their support is incalculable.