Ogawa Town in Saitama Prefecture is located just over an hour from Ikebukuro Station via the Tobu Tojo Line. Nestled in a basin surrounded by the mountains of Outer Chichibu, it is sometimes referred to as “Little Kyoto of Musashi.” The...
If you have ever embarked on a house renovation project, you know how much work it involves. Supervising contractors is never straightforward, and budgets and timelines always slide. The challenge is much bigger if the house has been abandoned. It...
Tokyo Llama is a popular YouTube channel of an Australian who bought and DIY-renovated an abandoned traditional house in Japan. His videos walk us through a painstaking process of remaking the old house from scratch, drawing over 200k viewers...
Kuroshio Town in Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku, is a small town with a population of 10,000 located along the Pacific Ocean. Despite not being easily accessible, this town attracted a remarkable gathering of 23,000 people from all over the country in...
On January 17, Zenbird held an event, “Japanese Old Folk House Kominka and Sustainable Hints.” We welcomed Ryuichi Sugimoto, the chairman of the Japan Kominka Association as a guest. This online event featured the sustainability aspects of kominka...
（Japanese version below:日本語でのご案内は記事後半からとなります。） Another exciting media event is coming up on January 17th, 2023! This online event explores kominka, Japanese old folk houses, and how they are linked to sustainability. The event will be bilingual...
As environmental problems caused by climate change become more serious, more and more people may be seeking a lifestyle that is kind to themselves, others and the earth. In Japan, the term “permaculture” is gaining ground among those...
（Japanese version below：記事後半から日本語でお読みいただけます） Zenbird aims to connect with readers and be a helpful platform for them to live better, more enriched lives through the community. We plan to offer opportunities to deepen understanding and experience...
（Japanese version below：記事後半から日本語でお読みいただけます） Zenbird aims to connect with readers and be a helpful platform for them to live better, more enriched lives through the community. We plan to offer opportunities to deepen understanding and experience...
Life Hugger, a new media promoting sustainable living in Japan, launched at the beginning of this month. Its goal is to help consumers lead richer and more sustainable lives through sharing information on sustainable products and services. Life...