A resident of Kyoto for over 40 years, Judith Clancy lives in a 120-year-old converted weaver's studio in Nishijin, Kyoto's weaving and dyeing district. Originally, she studied the tea ceremony for six years at Urasenke, the tea school on the heartland of Japan's culture. Her first book, Naturescapes, was a tribute to the work of her Ikebana teacher Tamura Sukio. Clancy is also the author of Exploring Kyoto, a book offer 27 wonderful expeditions through the city.

For 10 years, Clancy, was the English-speaking secretary to the head of the International Division at the Kanebo headquarters, a company founded on textiles, which eventually expanded to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and foodstuffs. Today, Clancy interprets for different groups and teaches about Kyoto's history and culture, as well as teaching English at Otani University.