​On behalf of the Editorial Board, it is our great pleasure to present Taiyō, Volume 2, Issue 2. Continuing the journal’s founding vision of fostering interdisciplinary and cross-cultural scholarship, this issue brings together a set of richly textured studies that move across literature, religion, translation, pedagogy, and cultural history—illuminating Japan in dialogue with the wider world.

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The articles in this volume exemplify Taiyō’s commitment to intellectual plurality. From an exploration of Japan’s mummies (sokushinbutsu) and their reconfiguration within postwar occulture, to a nuanced study of sound symbolism and the aesthetics of translation through Ishikawa Takuboku’s tanka and its Hindi rendering, the issue foregrounds how meaning travels—across bodies, languages, and temporalities. The inclusion of “Japaneeyamu” by Sriram Veerabrahmam further deepens this dialogue, offering a perspective shaped by cultural encounter and creative mediation.

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Moving beyond literary analysis alone, this issue also addresses contemporary pedagogical and sociocultural concerns. The paper on intercultural communicative competence (ICC) and translanguaging among English teachers in Japan bridges policy and practice, highlighting the lived realities of multilingual classrooms. Complementing this, the impact of Buddhism in Akutagawa Ryūnosuke’s literary world opens a compelling comparative lens, situating Japanese literature within broader Asian philosophical and social currents. The issue has also tried to shed light on the comparison of the caste system in Indian and Japan.

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Taken together, the papers in this volume reflect Taiyō’s evolving identity as a space where disciplines intersect and where Japan is examined not in isolation, but as part of a dynamic network of global ideas, histories, and practices. Volume 2, Issue 2 stands as a testament to the vitality of such conversations and to the possibilities that emerge when scholarship crosses linguistic, cultural, and methodological boundaries.

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This issue has been made possible through the dedication of our authors, the careful engagement of our reviewers, and the continued support of our readers and board members. We extend our sincere gratitude to all who have contributed to this collective endeavor. As Taiyō continues its journey, we look forward to nurturing new dialogues and reaching further milestones together.

​Taiyō Editorial Board

Japan’s Mummies: The Sokushinbutsu in Post-war Occulture

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18350070

Dr. Ajoy Kumar Das