The Possible City

The Possible City

Home
Notes
Shorts
Essays
Bomunsan Forest Protocols
Archive
About

Japan

Urban Japan: Shotengai, the Street That Connects Everyone
The way a place connects people — or how it pushes us all further apart — has a big effect on whether or not we can function well as a society. We…
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
25
The Importance of Being a Beautiful Idiot
Three more illustrations Japan's Kansai region, exploring the meaning of 'division' and what happens when we dance like beautiful idiots.
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
9
Defining 'Value' Like a Japanese Kissaten
Some things are untouchable. In Japan, the local coffee shop seems to be one of those things. It all might have to do with a thing called value.
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
17
Cities, Dads, and Stars: A Neighborhood in the Cosmos
My dad taught me how to find the Big Dipper.
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
4
The Golden Poop and the Sacred Fly — An Adventure in Japanese Printmaking
What can a pile of poop teach us about art, beauty, and the cycles of life? Probably more than we think. An illustrated dive into ancient printmaking…
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
7
Maybe You and I Should Just Start Building the Cities We Want — Part 1: The Search for Home
At dawn we rolled our suitcases down the alley, trying to be as quiet as possible. We were leaving our life in Japan and we didn’t know where we were…
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
8
Urban Japan: The Sword and the Scone
A walk through Ikoma's Hozan-ji temple, and a valley filled with contradictions, where ancient wisdom helps reveal the beauty of openness and human…
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
6
Urban Japan: Hidden Worlds and The Act of Tasting
There are countless new worlds hidden in plain sight. On a quiet mountain just outside Osaka, discovering them begins with the smallest bite.
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
5
Urban Japan: The Neighborhood is a Dojo
In a neighborhood that feels more like a communal living room than a city, one well-placed body slam might just hold the power to change the world.
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
3
Urban Japan: A Local Food Cafe in Every Neighborhood?
This week we step inside a tiny pasta shop in Nagoya, Japan, where half a century of history, and a humble chef reveal how small, local restaurants can…
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
5
Urban Japan: Cities of Smallness and Awareness
In the heart of Japan's mega cities, it’s not the big chaotic rush, but the subtle flow of smallness and awareness that keeps everything moving. Join me…
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
6
Urban Japan: The Benefits of Neighborhood Factories. Really.
From handmade goods to industrial production, Japan’s neighborhood factories offer more than just jobs—they play a crucial role in creating sustainable…
 • 
Patrick M. Lydon
5
© 2025 Patrick M. Lydon, The Possible City
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture