Takeshi Kitagawa
Graphic & Textile Designer / Writer — Osaka
SHIBUMIWORKS
It is a design practice and cultural media project rooted in Japanese aesthetics. It brings together textile and graphic work — drawn from traditional family crests (kamon), patterns, and kanji — and English-language writing on Zen, Shinto, and the quiet beauty of restraint known as shibumi.
EXPLORE THE JOURNAL
[Buddhism & Zen] — Connecting ancient mindfulness with the realities of modern Western life.
[Taoism & Lao Tzu] — Navigating complexity through the flowing wisdom of the Tao and Wu-Wei.
[Shinto Philosophy & Guides] — Unlocking the sacred stories and nature-centric animism of Japan.
[Japanese Philosophy & Aesthetics] — Deep diving into the concepts of Wabi-Sabi, Yūgen, and Eastern mindsets.
[Japanese Culture & Traditions] — Experiencing lived traditions and the essence of Japanese cultural identity.
RESENT POSTS
- The Virtues of Bushido
- Why a Japanese Man Prays at Both
- Nobody Told Me About the Tank Top
- The River Is Still There — Even When You’re Not Looking (Diarogue)
- What Miyamoto Musashi Can Teach You About Competing in the Modern World
- The Book of Five Rings: What It Is and Why You Should Read It
- The Book of Five Rings — The Earth Scroll: The Philosophy of Not Losing
- Why Meditation “Isn’t Working” — And What the Practice Is Actually Doing
- A Self-help Book Written by a Samurai, for Samurai — The Book of Five Rings: Before We Begin
- What’s the Real Difference Between Zen and Mindfulness?