If you have ever looked at a Japanese silk screen print or sculpture and wondered what the cranes, monkeys or bears mean…this book is for you! I found this beautiful book in an art gallery and decided that, despite the hefty price-tag, I simply had to own it! This elegant coffee table book charts the artistic symbolism of animals in northern Asia with a particular focus on Japan and China. Each page is translated and in both Japanese and English.
Tag Archives: japan
Comforting Thought: Soft Fascination
We pay attention differently when we are in nature. This is called ‘soft fascination’ The great 19th century thinker William James (brother of novelist Henry James) proposed that there are two ways of paying attention. The first is voluntary and directed, which is used for tasks that demand concentration. For example doing work, walking alongContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Soft Fascination”
Ancient Word of the Day: Komorebi
This Japanese word has no direct translation to English but means ‘the sunlight filtering through the leaves of the trees’. It is made up of three Kanji characters: 木 means tree 漏 means ‘to leak’ or ‘to escape’ 日 means sun Komorebi 木漏日 ~ from Japanese. ‘Sunlight filtering through the leaves of trees The wordContinue reading “Ancient Word of the Day: Komorebi”
10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #88
Cuddle your furry ones closely, plant some forests, enjoy some funky house music and chomp down on some crispy tofu in this week’s edition #88. Hope you enjoy this trans-aurealian train journey.
Book Review: Shinrin-Yoku The Art and Science of Forest Bathing by Dr Qing Li
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Publisher: Nippon Medical School/Penguin Books. Genre: Non-Fiction, Health, Nature, Spirituality. Review in one word: Immersive This is one of the most supremely nourishing books to gift yourself or someone you love. Shinrin-Yoku is your guide to the ancient Japanese art of ‘Forest Bathing’, which is the English translation of the eponymous title. IContinue reading “Book Review: Shinrin-Yoku The Art and Science of Forest Bathing by Dr Qing Li”
Surreal vintage mental health posters from Japan
I found these amazing Japanese advertisements and vintage posters advertising Abilify, Zoloft, Ritalin, Serenase and other medications that are used for a variety of different mental health conditions. Despite me not knowing how to read Japanese, the storytelling here through design is evocative, straight-forward to understand and incredibly imaginative. It brings to mind Dali andContinue reading “Surreal vintage mental health posters from Japan”
10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #83
Welcome to the cosy cabin of your collective fantasies, featuring Aphex Twin’s serene ambient music, snow globe creatures encased in pure sugar and a softly-spoken Japanese woman whispering compliments to you, frozen ghost apples, post-partum pomeranians, African samurais and more. It’s edition #83…indulge it’s sugar-free and palm oil free. Richard D James AKA Aphex TwinContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #83”
10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #76
In edition #76 we will check out a Pink Floyd concert in Venise, read adoring odes to beautiful trees, see a beetle’s face up close and meet a man saving apples from extinction. I hope you enjoy this trip… Remarkable macro-photography of a Longhorn beetle Cerambyx Scopolii by Thorben Danke Originally tweeted by Thorben DankeContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #76”
Book Review: Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
This is the second and much awaited fictional novel by the Japanese author of Convenience Store Woman. A book I have also reviewed and absolutely adored in the past. Earthlings traverses familiar themes, just as in Convenience Store Woman there is a female social outcast as the main character in the book. Although that’s whereContinue reading “Book Review: Earthlings by Sayaka Murata”
Content Catnip TV: Team Lab Borderless, Tokyo
TeamLab Borderless in Tokyo is a remarkable audio-visual attraction in Tokyo and a must-see in the city if you ever visit. It’s on expansive, harbour-facing area of Odaiba which is encircled by the very scenic train ride, along with excellent shopping centre Diver City, which features a showcase level of award-winning ramen restaurants from throughoutContinue reading “Content Catnip TV: Team Lab Borderless, Tokyo”
Content Catnip 