From creating lavish artwork on exquisitely crafted lattes to mastering the art of gender-bending cosplay, perfecting any skill takes a lot of hard work and time. But a Japanese monk who lived about 700 years ago recently reminded the Internet that another key part of success are the failures and embarrassments along the way.
A Twitter user recently found the ancient writings of this monk and his words seemed to resonate with Japanese netizens who found that words very applicable to their modern lives.
After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
Tokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
Samurai ritual suicide contest cancelled by organizer in west Japan
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
Beautiful Japanese garden green tea crepes waiting in Tokyo’s historical Asakusa neighborhood
Rage against the smoothie machine with this 7-Eleven drink hack【Taste test】
Tokyo restaurant isn’t kidding about the name of its overflowing rare wagyu-ju【Photos】
How to cook miso soup (the right way) in a few simple steps【RocketKitchen】
Ghibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle theme
New Ghibli papercraft kit gives you a little Princess Mononoke forest on your desk【Photos】
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in Japan
Starbucks releases new Wicked tumblers in Japan
Off-the-beaten-tourist-track observatory tower in Tokyo has great views of the city…for free!
Japan’s Pokémon donuts are evolving as Diglett grows into Dugtrio churro!
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】
Tokyo Disneyland loses top-attendance crown for Japanese theme parks for second year in a row
Adult Jam Bread causes a stir at store in Tokyo
What’s the deal with akebi, the perfectly purple, alien-like fruit that’s in season now in Japan?
Kyoto becomes City of Yokai, with Night Parade of One Hundred Demons festival this autumn
Totoro, Calcifer, other Ghibli stars returning as humidifiers ahead of Japan’s dry winter days【Pics】
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】
Beautiful Japanese garden green tea crepes waiting in Tokyo’s historical Asakusa neighborhood
Rage against the smoothie machine with this 7-Eleven drink hack【Taste test】
Tokyo restaurant isn’t kidding about the name of its overflowing rare wagyu-ju【Photos】
How to cook miso soup (the right way) in a few simple steps【RocketKitchen】
Line of foreign tourists leads us to Akihabara’s meatiest fatty ramen【Taste test】
Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood bans public Halloween drinking following mayhem
Japan’s adorable new Nikukyu notebooks have the squeezable feel of cat and dog paw pads【Photos】
Hayao Miyazaki-painted Totoro post cards on sale, proceeds help preserve real-life Totoro forest
New Ghibli papercraft kit gives you a little Princess Mononoke forest on your desk【Photos】
“What the hell are you doing to my woman?” attacker asks man feeding stray cat in Tokyo park
New heater-less pet kotatsu is a safe way to keep your furry friends warm this winter
Man arrested for throwing dog at police officer in Japan
New Attack on Titan theme park attraction coming to Fuji-Q Highland