The blog name “Mori no Kanata” is read as “森の彼方” in Japanese.
The Japanese word “mori (森)” means “forest” in English.
Since this word “Kanata (彼方)” has an abstract meaning even in Japanese, it’s difficult to convey in English, but Japanese speakers tend to associate it with the following images:
・An unknown world beyond
・A distant land separated from where people live
・The other side of the boundary between reality and another world
・A place of longing or an ideal utopia
・An unseen future or destiny
・The setting of myths and folktales
The word “kanata (彼方)” itself has a poetic resonance, evoking a “distant place,” “a place so far away it cannot be seen,” or “a world beyond reach.” In Japanese, “kanata” is a fantastical and romantic word.
Expressions close to a literal translation
・Beyond the forest
・Beyond the woods
While these convey the meaning, they are somewhat too literal.
If you want to convey the sense of fantasy inherent in “森の彼方 (Mori no Kanata)” in Japan, the following expression might be more accurate.
Let me explain it in terms of imagery.
In other words, I believe the most appealing aspect of “森の彼方 (Mori no Kanata)” is not simply “beyond the forest,” but the image of “the other side of the boundary separating the world we inhabit now from the world we have yet to know.”
This blog focuses on the following topics:
Japandi & Dual Living | Crafting Our Urban & Rural Life
How I am building a two-base lifestyle in Japan