Takashima: Where all Japanese Fans are Born
English 日本語 To most of the Western world, fans are an easily recognizable symbol of East Asia. Fans have been used in Japan for 100s of years and...
arts and crafts
The Biwako Biennale Shows Shiga’s Strong Artistic Pulse
It still surprises me writing about it now that somewhere as local as Omi Hachiman has a world class art installation event. The Biwako Biennale (‘Biwako’ is the...
Oga Showten: Art, Craft and Cuisine Freshly Born from Traditional Spaces
While I love Kyoto for its traditional aesthetics and endless places to stroll and inspect, there are times when I want to make the most of a weekend...
A Quest to Reimagine Pipe Cleaner Art
Until about 5 years ago, Atsushi Kitanaka had been living and working around Kustatsu as a seasoned designer for both architecture and web firms, having embarked on a...
Tonda Puppetry Troupe
English 日本語 Tonda Puppet Troupe (冨田人形共遊団 Tonda ningyō kyōyūdan) is a locally famous Nagahama area group that has been doing traditional bunraku performances and puppetry workshops for almost...