Announcing the winners: Buddhaland Brooklyn by Richard C. Morais

June 2, 2013, 3:24 am

≫ Next: A to Wa of Japan: Week 22

≪ Previous: Monthly Recipe: Zen vegetable chowder

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Earlier this month I ran a competition to win two copies of the book Buddhaland Brooklyn by Richard C. Morais, published by Alma Books. Thank you to everyone who entered by leaving a comment on the book review blog post. Today I’m happy to announce that the winners are… ☆★☆ Abi ☆★☆ ☆★☆ porridgeandrhi ☆★☆ I will … Continue reading »

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A to Wa of Japan: Week 22

June 2, 2013, 9:18 am

≫ Next: CD Review: POLYSICS – Weeeeeeeeee!!!

≪ Previous: Announcing the winners: Buddhaland Brooklyn by Richard C. Morais

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It’s time for A to Wa of Japan again! Last week’s post was about things beginning with と (to) and we looked at Tebasaki (手羽先). This week we are looking at things beginning with な (na). A big thank you to everyone who joined in with suggestions this week: David @ Shikoku suggested Naoshima (直島 / a small island in the … Continue reading »

CD Review: POLYSICS – Weeeeeeeeee!!!

June 2, 2013, 11:21 am

≫ Next: Japanese-inspired street art in Bristol

≪ Previous: A to Wa of Japan: Week 22

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Japan’s notorious boiler suited techno-new-wave hooligans POLYSICS return with Weeeeeeeeee!!!, their latest high-energy album, scheduled to shatter the eardrums of the UK and Europe from 10th June courtesy of JPU Records. Following in the footsteps of their 15th anniversary release – which featured collaborations with a number of music legends, including the band’s personal hero, … Continue reading »

Japanese-inspired street art in Bristol

June 2, 2013, 2:50 pm

≫ Next: London Event: Okinawa Day 2013

≪ Previous: CD Review: POLYSICS – Weeeeeeeeee!!!

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If you follow my other blog, Picturing England, you’ll know I’m a big fan of street art and often photograph the art I find here in the UK. Last weekend there was a street art festival called Upfest here in Bristol, and I was delighted to find a number of Japanese-inspired pieces of street art! … Continue reading »

London Event: Okinawa Day 2013

June 5, 2013, 2:47 pm

≫ Next: A to Wa of Japan: Week 23

≪ Previous: Japanese-inspired street art in Bristol

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When you think of a tropical getaway, do you think of Japan? It’s certainly all I can think about at the moment! Since seeing this poster (above) in London earlier this year, my mind has been full of clear blue seas, colourful coral, diving, snorkelling, and Ryukyuan culture. I never made it down to the … Continue reading »

A to Wa of Japan: Week 23

June 9, 2013, 7:19 am

≫ Next: A to Wa of Japan: Week 24

≪ Previous: London Event: Okinawa Day 2013

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It’s time for A to Wa of Japan again! Last week’s post was about things beginning with な (na) and we looked at Naoshima (直島). This week we are looking at things beginning with に (ni). A big thank you to everyone who joined in with suggestions this week: Zooming Japan suggested Niigata (a city (新潟市) and prefecture (新潟県) in Honshu) and Nikko (日光 / a … Continue reading »

A to Wa of Japan: Week 24

June 14, 2013, 1:28 pm

≫ Next: Cibo Matto, featuring some very special guests!

≪ Previous: A to Wa of Japan: Week 23

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It’s time for A to Wa of Japan again (a little earlier than usual as I’ve got a busy weekend ahead)! Last week’s post was about things beginning with に (ni) and we looked at ninja (忍者). This week we are looking at things beginning with ぬ (nu). A big thank you to everyone who joined in with suggestions this week: … Continue reading »

Cibo Matto, featuring some very special guests!

June 19, 2013, 3:47 pm

≫ Next: A to Wa of Japan: Week 25

≪ Previous: A to Wa of Japan: Week 24

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Let me take you back to sometime between 2001 and 2003. I was working in a second-hand CD shop in Portsmouth while I was a university student, and most of my wages used to go on CDs, DVDs and games. One day I came across this CD: I had no idea what it was but, … Continue reading »

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A to Wa of Japan: Week 25

June 23, 2013, 3:06 pm

≫ Next: Monthly Recipe: Vegetarian Chanpuru

≪ Previous: Cibo Matto, featuring some very special guests!

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It’s time for A to Wa of Japan again! Last week’s post was about things beginning with ぬ (nu) and we looked at Numazu (沼津). This week we are looking at things beginning with ね (ne). A big thank you to everyone who joined in with suggestions this week: UK Seikatsu suggested Nebuta Matsuri (ねぶた祭り / a summer festival at Aomori Prefecture), netsuke (根付 … Continue reading »

Monthly Recipe: Vegetarian Chanpuru

June 29, 2013, 10:52 am

≫ Next: Exhibition: Hiroko Masuko “bonsai extension” at the ICN gallery

≪ Previous: A to Wa of Japan: Week 25

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I have to admit, it’s getting harder to think of recipes to try for my monthly recipe, despite owning so many Japanese cookery books. This month I took inspiration from the tropical Okinawan islands, and decided to come up with my own version of ‘chanpuru‘. I spent a while reading different recipes on various different … Continue reading »

Exhibition: Hiroko Masuko “bonsai extension” at the ICN gallery

June 29, 2013, 1:24 pm

≫ Next: A to Wa of Japan: Week 26

≪ Previous: Monthly Recipe: Vegetarian Chanpuru

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June has been a busy month and I’m afraid I didn’t get the chance to write about this wonderful exhibition at the ICN gallery in London until now, and today was the last day of the exhibition. The ICN always has interesting exhibitions by Japanese artists, and this was no exception. June’s exhibition, Hiroko Masuko “bonsai extension”, … Continue reading »

A to Wa of Japan: Week 26

June 29, 2013, 4:24 pm

≫ Next: Okinawa Day 2013

≪ Previous: Exhibition: Hiroko Masuko “bonsai extension” at the ICN gallery

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It’s time for A to Wa of Japan again! Last week’s post was about things beginning with ね (ne) and we looked at the Nebuta Matsuri (ねぶた祭り). This week we are looking at things beginning with の (no). A big thank you to those who joined in with suggestions this week: Zooming Japan suggested Nobunaga Oda (織田 信長 / daimyo and initiator of the unification of Japan,  1534 … Continue reading »

Okinawa Day 2013

June 30, 2013, 12:27 pm

≫ Next: A to Wa of Japan: Week 27

≪ Previous: A to Wa of Japan: Week 26

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Last Saturday was Okinawa Day in London’s Spitalfields Market and, although the weather was far from tropical, the blast of Okinawan Culture certainly brightened up the day. I attended the event for work, so I won’t be giving a blow-by-blow photographic account of everything that happened as I usually do. If you want that, I … Continue reading »

A to Wa of Japan: Week 27

July 6, 2013, 4:35 pm

≫ Next: A to Wa of Japan: Week 28

≪ Previous: Okinawa Day 2013

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It’s time for A to Wa of Japan again! Last week’s post was about things beginning with の (no) and we looked at Nokogiriyama (鋸山). This week we are looking at things beginning with は (ha). A big thank you to those who joined in with suggestions this week: Zooming Japan suggested Hamamatsu (浜松 / a city in Shizuoka Prefecture), Hakodate (函館 / a city … Continue reading »

A to Wa of Japan: Week 28

July 14, 2013, 12:04 pm

≫ Next: HYPER JAPAN 2013: 26th – 28th July

≪ Previous: A to Wa of Japan: Week 27

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It’s time for A to Wa of Japan again! Last week’s post was about things beginning with は (ha) and we looked at Hakone (箱根). This week we are looking at things beginning with ひ (hi). A big thank you to those who joined in with suggestions this week: Japan Australia suggested Hinamatsuri (雛祭り / Doll’s or Girl’s Day), Himure Hachimangu (日牟禮八幡宮 / a shrine in Shiga … Continue reading »

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HYPER JAPAN 2013: 26th – 28th July

July 18, 2013, 1:47 pm

≫ Next: A to Wa of Japan: Week 29

≪ Previous: A to Wa of Japan: Week 28

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Who’s coming to Earls Court next weekend? I don’t know about you (well, those of you in the UK), but I’m getting pretty excited about this year’s HYPER JAPAN, which looks better than ever! For full information and to get your tickets, check out www.hyperjapan.co.uk. There will be all kinds of performances, music, food, and J-culture … Continue reading »

A to Wa of Japan: Week 29

July 21, 2013, 7:10 am

≫ Next: Book Review: The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal

≪ Previous: HYPER JAPAN 2013: 26th – 28th July

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It’s time for A to Wa of Japan again! Last week’s post was about things beginning with ひ (hi) and we looked at hitsumabushi (櫃まぶし).This week we are looking at things beginning with ふ (fu). A big thank you to those who joined in with suggestions this week: Japan Australia suggested Fuji-san (富士山 / Mount Fuji), fugu (フグ / blowfish), furin (風鈴 … Continue reading »

Book Review: The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal

July 21, 2013, 11:30 am

≫ Next: Monthly Recipe: Kinpira Rice Burger (きんぴらライスバーガー)

≪ Previous: A to Wa of Japan: Week 29

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I need to begin this book reviewing by saying that this is in no way going to be a professional, in-depth review of this book. I have my own reasons for reading this book, and it is with those in mind that I shall review it. So allow me to start at the beginning of … Continue reading »

Monthly Recipe: Kinpira Rice Burger (きんぴらライスバーガー)

July 22, 2013, 1:37 pm

≫ Next: A to Wa of Japan: Week 30

≪ Previous: Book Review: The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal

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This month I found cooking inspiration on the Eat Japan website, where there is a TASTE JAPAN recipe leaflet available to download for free. TASTE JAPAN will be taking place at HYPER JAPAN this weekend in London, and will offer visitors the chance to experience the varied and unique flavours of Japan. People will be … Continue reading »

A to Wa of Japan: Week 30

July 25, 2013, 1:05 pm

≫ Next: A to Wa of Japan: Week 31

≪ Previous: Monthly Recipe: Kinpira Rice Burger (きんぴらライスバーガー)

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It’s time for A to Wa of Japan again (a little early this week as I’ll be Hyper Japan-ing all weekend)! Last week’s post was about things beginning with ふ (fu) and we looked at Fukuoka (福岡).This week we are looking at things beginning with へ (he). A big thank you to those who joined in with suggestions this … Continue reading »