NEWSLETTER MIYABI - 10.10.2025

Dear guests, dear friends,

It seems that in Japan this year, the autumn leaves are taking their time to appear. But here in Prague, they are already in their full splendor! The maples are glowing red as they should, and the ginkgo trees are shining bright yellow — a feast for the eyes. They seem to whisper: Come and see us; we are only leaves, and yet a wonder of the world!

Walnuts, chestnuts, pumpkins, mushrooms — autumn offers such a wealth of great ingredients, and it is a joy to use them. The Miyabi Omakase Dinner celebrates them in dishes worth tasting. There are only a few seats left, so please make your reservation HERE. I look forward to seeing you — and so does Mr. Saito!

We will also celebrate autumn through tea gatherings — Ochakai with Tea Master Soju Nakazawa — held on October 22 in the Zen tea house. There will be two sittings: at 14:00 (reservation HERE) and 19:00 (reservation HERE). Between them, at 17:00, you will have the opportunity to listen to a lecture about kekejiku scrolls (reservation HERE). Early booking is advised, as the number of seats is limited.

October is always rich in cultural events of all kinds, but please leave room in your calendar for Miyabi Sushi Tabehoudai! This year again it will take place on November 1, which is approaching fast. Tabehoudai translates as “eat as much as you can” or “all you can eat,” which may sound like an invitation to overindulge — but in the Japanese spirit, it means something different: a grand feast of carefully chosen dishes, a celebration! It is a parade of sushi — classic types, of course, but also those that surprise with new culinary ideas. The Miyabi Tabehoudai evening is usually sold out quickly, so don’t wait too long — from today, you can secure your reservation by paying the deposit HERE.

As you know, Miyabi celebrates its 30th anniversary this year — and for more than 20 years, we have been celebrating the Tabehoudai Festival! I wonder how many of you have joined us over the years. Count your visits and let us know! I will prepare small gifts for the winners — calligraphy artworks by our friend Izan Ogawa. Together with his students from his Shoshin – Beginners School, he has held at least twenty exhibitions at Miyabi. Many of you will surely remember. You can read more about Tabehoudai at Miyabi HERE.

Calligraphy has always belonged to Miyabi. In Japan, it has a deep tradition — each brushstroke carries focus, breath, and a piece of the artist’s soul. I’ve been thinking about what guided the brush of Petra Vitásková as she created her works for the upcoming exhibition at Miyabi. We will open it on November 1, the very day of the Tabehoudai evening. She told me she is fascinated by the number one. The “one” – “ichi” is a single stroke, from left to right — with a beginning and an end — and yet, it feels, at least to me, as if the line extends beyond itself. The number one has power. We often want to begin something with “one” — the first step, a step of courage, a step of dreams. But today, sadly, “one” often resonates differently — as the voice of “me first,” the claim of one over others. That frightens me. When I lived in Japan, I often heard “Nippon ichiban” (Japan first), and it didn’t feel right. Now the world echoes with “America First”, and I’m a little uneasy even when I hear “Czechia First.”

That’s why I so look forward to Petra’s exhibition, which has “one” – “ichi” in its title — because I’m convinced that her message will be different. Not about self-centered “me first,” but about something that transcends, uplifts, and soothes — something noble.

The exhibition opening will take place on November 2 at 18:00, and you are all warmly invited. We will prepare wine, tamagoyaki, tempura — and perhaps a few more surprises. It will be a small tabehoudai of its own!

I have always loved the word houdai. From tabehoudai. It reminds me of the word abundance — divine abundance. Something freely given, an extra gift of love. As there is tabehoudai (“eat all you wish”), there could also be miruhoudai — “see all you can.” So let us all look upon the beauty of autumn with all our senses — and may we never tire of looking. Let this season be a feast of abundance — houdai!

With love,
Your Miyabi Darja