Tag: iki

All the articles with the tag "iki".

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  Iki (粋) in Kanji: Edo Cool, and How to Write It

  By K. Yama ·

  Updated: 22 Oct, 2026

  Iki, 粋, is Edo's understated cool. What the one kanji means (it is also read sui, 'essence'), how Kuki Shūzō defined iki, and how to brush 粋 well.

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  Kimono (着物): What Japan's 'Thing to Wear' Really Means

  By K. Yama ·

  10 Jun, 2026

  Kimono means, literally, 'a thing to wear' — a living garment with seasonal rules and one detail you must never get wrong. The real story, not the costume.

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