Now Out: Essay 1518 on 桑 (Mulberry) and 5 New-Monics

The Japanese have found uses for every part of the mulberry—the fruit, leaves, wood, bark, and roots. In Japan, mulberries have been so important that some maps mark mulberry fields. Aside from its mulberry connections, 桑 factors into the names of several significant places, including San Francisco and Japan itself! Our kanji also pops up in surprising sayings and a famous bit of wordplay.