About this episode

In this episode, the host walks with illustrator Chie along the Takase River, exploring the sounds of autumn and their cultural significance.

The Takase River winds quietly through central Kyoto, where the city’s noise meets the voices of insects and flowing water. In this episode, I walk with Chie, a Kyoto-based illustrator, who tells me why the sounds of autumn are her favourite. For her, the shift from cicadas to crickets reminds her of a Japanese phrase 静と動, stillness and movement, and the balance between energy and reflection. As the river carries us through stone-lined streets, we pause to hear how these insects mark the shift of the season. Find more about my sound walks at kyotoinsound.com , with behind-the-scenes moments shared over on Substack . Please check out Chie's illustration work on Instagram .

People in this episode

Host: SJF

Guest: Chie

Topics covered

• autumn sounds
• Kyoto
• nature
• insects
• illustration
• cultural reflection

Keywords

• autumn
• Kyoto
• sounds
• insects
• illustration
• cicadas
• crickets
• nature

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: 静と動

Places: Kyoto, Takase River

More episodes of The Kyoto, in Sound Podcast

• The Voice of the Commuter Trains: A morning spent at Umekōji Park | Kyoto, in Sound • Episode 07 · February 20, 2026 · 9 min
• Shaking the dust off: New Year at a Kyoto temple | Kyoto, in Sound • Episode 06 · January 11, 2026 · 8 min
• Finding calm in the noise of Kyoto | Kyoto, in Sound • Episode 05 · December 14, 2025 · 7 min
• E04 • Nature's Prayer · November 13, 2025 · 8 min
• E03 • Life-Affirming Sounds · October 16, 2025 · 8 min
• E01 • Suzaku Garden · August 11, 2025 · 9 min

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