August 2026

Hiragana Times | August 2026
Hiragana Times Aug-1 2026

Hiragana Times August 2026 Issue

ひらがなタイムズ 2026年8月号

Long before modern politics, Japan was bound together by matsuri—a sacred rhythm uniting nature, people, and governance. The August issue explores the deep spiritual ties that define Japan, from Noto's fierce Abare Festival and the ancestral reunions of Obon to the visceral wisdom of hara and the folklore legacy of Yanagita Kunio.
民主主義や資本主義の遥か以前、日本は神と自然、そして人々を結びつける「まつり」によって国を形づくってきました。8月号では、能登の荒々しい「あばれ祭」から先祖を迎えるお盆の習慣、日本独自の「肚の文化」、そして民俗学の父・柳田國男が残した精神の記録まで、この国に息づく深遠な物語を紐解きます。

Japan Explore

日本探究 & 再発見

coveraugust

The More It Rages, the More the Soul Revives — Noto's Abare Matsuri

Discover the fierce intensity of Noto's Abare Festival depicted by artist Bunta Inoue—a raging spectacle of fire and sea that serves as a powerful prayer for recovery and a testament to the resilient Japanese spirit.
画狂人・井上文太氏が描く能登・宇出津の「あばれ祭」。炎と海に神輿を投げ込む荒々しい祭りの姿を通して、震災からの復興への祈りと、自然への畏敬を捧げる人々の力強い生命力を紐解きます。

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Ibukiaugust

Yanagita Kunio: A Life in Dialogue with the Depths of This Land

Follow the life of Yanagita Kunio, the founder of Japanese folklore studies, who dedicated his career to recording the quiet faith, daily practices, and ancestral bonds of ordinary Japanese people.
「日本人とは何か」を問い続け、名もなき人々の暮らし、祭り、そして死者への祈りを文字に書き留めた日本民俗学の父・柳田國男の信念の足跡を辿ります。

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Matsuri

Japan: A Nation Built by Matsuri

Long before modern politics, Japan was governed by matsurigoto—a system where worship and governance were one, uniting nature, rulers, and the people through shared prayer. Explore how the ancient spirit of matsuri continues to pulse through the nation today.
民主主義や資本主義のはるか以前、日本は「まつり(政・祭り)」を通して神と自然、そして人々を結びつけ、国をまとめてきました。一万年を超えて受け継がれてきた「祭政一致」の精神と、今も日本列島を脈打たせる「まつり」の本当の意味をたどります。

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Japan Now

日本の今

ticket News Review
🎧 Audio Available

Just Walk Through! “Face-Pass” Ticket Gates Debut

歩くだけでOK!?「顔パス」の改札が登場

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buzz2026 New Expression & Buzzwords
🎧 Audio Available

Hobby activity | ホビ活

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🎧 Audio Available

Big drink | デカドリンク

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football Close Up Japan
🎧 Audio Available

Toe to Toe with Brazil — The Football Japan Learned and Remade

ブラジルと互角に渡り合う —— 学び、つくり変えてきた日本サッカー

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Pro and Con 2026 Pros and Cons with Insight
🎧 Audio Available

Shall We Cut a Two Thousand Years Thread? Japan and the female-line emperor.

二千年の糸を、断つのか。|女系天皇容認に揺れる日本。

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Nihongo Do

日本語道

Voice Wave

Voice Wave | 言波

Uncover the deep connection between the gut, mind, and spirit in Japanese culture, where true wisdom (tanshiki) and unshakable resolve dwell not in the head, but in the hara.
知識や頭脳を超えた、人間としての覚悟や決断力――最新の医学「脳腸相関」とも重なる、古来日本人が大切にしてきた「肚(はら)」と「胆識」の文化に迫ります。

Word Leaves

Word Leaves | 言の葉

Explore how words act like leaves on a tree, carrying human emotion and natural reverence, through Japanese vocabulary centered around the concept of matsuri (festivals and rites).
人の心や自然への敬意を宿す「言の葉」。「祭」にまつわる様々な言葉を通して、日本人が神々や祖先とどのように向き合ってきたのかを紐解きます。

Voice-Word Art

Voice-Word Art | 言技

Delve into the famous phrase Ato no Matsuri—a proverb of late regret that subtly teaches us the vital wisdom of speaking our hearts and acting before time slips away.
「時機を逃し、悔やんでも間に合わない」ことを意味する「後の祭り」。諦めの言葉の裏に込められた、間に合ううちに手を尽くし想いを伝えるという先人たちの生きた知恵を学びます。

SavvyAugust2026

Japan Savvy | 日本通

Step into the traditions of Obon, from welcoming fires (mukaebi) and cucumber "horses" to Kyoto's iconic Gozan no Okuribi, as families gather to honor their departed ancestors.
きゅうりの馬やなすの牛、そして京都の五山送り火――先祖の霊を家に迎え、再び温かく見送る日本のお盆の深い情愛と風習を紐解きます。

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