The sika deer of Japan, shinroku, are considered messengers of the gods in the Shinto Religion. They are regarded as sacred animals and are allowed to roam close to shrines and temples. Because of their religious importance, the deer have been protected by the government. Until 1937 killing one of the deer was punishable by […]

Since coming to Japan, my studies of Mt. Fuji have led me to think of the mountain as primarily a site of religious and cultural significance. Yet since I have been studying Fuji for six weeks, there are differences in how I perceive Fuji compared to how other tourists do. During the climb, I was […]

A week before I left to begin my journey in Japan, I visited the summit of Mauna Kea to watch the sunset and stargaze. Little did I know that I would soon draw intriguing parallels between the mountain of my home and the mountain I would climb on my trip. Now that I have experienced […]

I feel a bit homesick for my forests. I love strolling off the trail and sticking my nose in a flower or the dirt, running my hand over mossy tree trunks. This is no unique desire among many Americans. Some of us have had the privilege of growing up climbing trees and jumping into lakes. […]

I thought I was prepared for my visit to Nara Park, home to hundreds of Japanese sika deer. I’d seen friends’ selfies with the wide-eyed animals and heard about tourists feeding them the crackers sold by local vendors. I even passed a television screen in the train station of a cartoon deer on two feet […]