Living in Japan for several years, I the Japanese culture is instilled within my system, especially having tea as a staple in my daily living. It has been my parents' ritual to share a cup of black tea at 7 in the morning every day. Watching them throw their everything into enjoying the moment made me want to experience it again and again. And now that I’m living independently, I get to reminisce about all the memories by drinking a cup of black tea or wagoucha every morning. I disliked the taste of black tea upon tasting. However, it grew…

Japan is one of the world’s largest mountainous nations, and it’s no wonder that mountain devotion has long been a part of Japanese culture. Mt Fuji, in particular, stands out among Japan's mountains as a cultural icon. Mt. Fuji is Japan's highest mountain, standing around 12,388 feet. Its perfect volcanic-cone structure, which others compare to an inverted fan, is widely recognized and much adored. Furthermore, Mt. Fuji is considered sacred by Japan's two significant religions—Buddhism and Shinto—and Japanese from across all levels of society witness the influence of this natural symbol firmly embedded in the national psyche. And unlike other…