WELCOME TO OUR BLOG
Welcome to the SevenPonds.com blog – a community-driven extension of SevenPonds.com! I hope you find comfort and community in the resources and stories featured here. I’m always happy to hear from readers and can be reached at suzette@sevenponds.com.
FEATURED
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Our Annual Seven Holiday Gifts for Someone Who Is Grieving, 2024 Edition: Gracious gifts that spread love and beauty -
“Making Mobiles” by Karolina Merska: An artist’s manual on how to create beautiful Polish pajaki -
“Hands Up to the Sky” by Michael Franti & Spearhead: A surprisingly upbeat song about acknowledging both loss and the beauty of life
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Categories
Tag Archives: Japan
Okinawa Has Highest Concentration of Centenarians in the World
The Japanese Prefecture and its inhabitants have been studied for over 40 years
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN, has traveled the world to learn the ways different people live meaningful and healthy lives. One of his expeditions took him to the Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. The string of islands … Continue reading
Posted in Something Special
Tagged Asia, Centenarian, Healthy Aging, Japan, longevity, Okinawa, Something special
1 Comment
Servers with Dementia Will Surprise You at This Tokyo Restaurant
The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders is wonderfully unique
Are you an adventurous diner? Would you eat at a place called Cheesy Does it? How about Lord of the Fries? Poopsies Food and Drink? Would you consider dining at Baguetteaboutit? If your answer is “yes,” then you probably have … Continue reading
Posted in Something Special
Tagged Atzheimers, Dementia, Japan, Michelin Stars, Restaurant of Mistaken Orders, Shiro Oguni, Toyko, Yukio Wada
1 Comment
Exploring Themes of Life and Death in Hasegawa Tōhaku’s Landscapes
The Japanese artist uses simple designs to express complex ideas
Known as one of the greatest painters in Japanese history, Hasegawa Tōhaku has influenced countless artists over the centuries. He is famous for his simple, almost reserved painting style; Hasegawa Tōhaku’s landscapes are all deeply serene and minimalist in nature. … Continue reading
Song About Loss: “Ue o Muite Arukō (Sukiyaki)” by Kyu Sakamoto
An emotional Japanese tune contains hidden layers of meaning
“Ue o Muite Arukō,” also known as “Sukiyaki,” by Kyu Sakamoto is a moving song about loss that translates across languages and cultures. It’s at once sorrowful and hopeful. The light melody bubbles at the surface and sparks joy in … Continue reading
Posted in Expressive Music
Tagged Good Memorial Songs, Japan, Japanese songs, Kyu Sakamoto, Songs about loss, Sukiyaki, Ue o Muite Arukō
3 Comments
Do All Zen Buddhists Believe in Rebirth?
A look into two theories behind Dogen teachings
One of the primary concepts behind most schools of Zen Buddhism is the idea that there is no real “self” who is born or dies. If one believes in this concept, it seems that the idea of “rebirth” doesn’t fit into … Continue reading
Posted in Cultural Perspectives
Tagged Buddhism, Buddhism and death, Death, Dogen, Gautama Buddha, India, Japan, Rebirth, Reincarnation, Soto Zen, Zen, Zen Buddhism
12 Comments
“Departures” by Yōjirō Takita
This Japanese film explores the taboo of working intimately with death
In “Departures,” Yōjirō Takita points out the absurdity of a culture that holds onto rich death rituals while condemning those who perform them. The emotional, sometimes downright hilarious, movie explores why we need death traditions and shines light on a practice that … Continue reading
