Artists & Writers In Their Own Words: Kanariya Eishi

Kanariya Eishi (鹿鳴家英志) AKA Hiroshi Nakatsuji is a multitalented performer of the ancient Japanese Art of Rakugo in English. Following a Bachelor of Performing Arts from an American university he was involved in many theatre projects in Japan, US, and New Zealand. He trained as a theatre clown under Rone & Gigi, a world renownedContinue reading “Artists & Writers In Their Own Words: Kanariya Eishi”

10 Cool Things I Found on the Internet This Week #22

I hope these things cheer you up or make you smile. They certainly made my day better when I found them. Bulgaria’s Kooky Kukeri Festival Each year, people across Bulgaria gather in Blagoevgrad to partake in the annual Kukeri Festival. Draped in elaborate costumes made from long goat hair, participants dance away the evil throughContinue reading “10 Cool Things I Found on the Internet This Week #22”

Artists and Writers In Their Own Words: Gareth Quinn Redmond

Immensely talented Irish composer and musician Gareth Quinn Redmond reinterprets and pays homage to Japanese Environmental Music or Kankyō Ongaku in his music. A genre inspired by the conceptual genius of Erik Satie’s Furniture music, which then found fertile growth in Japan in the 1970s and 80’s. [Kankyō Ongaku] leads the listener into another world,Continue reading “Artists and Writers In Their Own Words: Gareth Quinn Redmond”

10 Interesting things I Found on the Internet This Week #17

A Shelf-Portrait with Alanis Morissette Rock goddess, highly sensitive person and all-round legendary bookworm Alanis Morissette talks about the books that have shaped and improved her life. A lot of great non-fiction here about mindfulness, spirituality and personal growth. The mystical beauty of an Ancient Egyptian daughter of Osiris (1913) An anonymous autochrome photograph takenContinue reading “10 Interesting things I Found on the Internet This Week #17”

10 Quirky Things I Found on the Internet this Week #16

Max Frey’s Magical Monsters Max Frey (1874-1944) was a German painter and graphic artist associated with the Symbolism and New Objectivity movements. His work in 1920s and 1930s is particularly inspired by Magic realism. Five of the world’s weirdest wild dogs I discovered a nice blog run by a pet shop and pet supplies businessContinue reading “10 Quirky Things I Found on the Internet this Week #16”

Seven Unique and Moving Fictional Books Set in Japan

Japan is a country close to my heart and since I first went there a few years ago, I have become a big fan of Japanese fiction and Asian fiction translated to English. Japanese fiction tends to emphasise the liminal and fantasy aspects hidden at the edges of everyday reality and also exploring the innerContinue reading “Seven Unique and Moving Fictional Books Set in Japan”

10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet this Week #14

Nick Cave performing Stagger Lee in Copenhagen is electrifying I have seen Nick live three times so far and his live performances of this song Stagger Lee are always a big highlight. The song escalates and gets harder, darker and more intense as it goes on. This is definitely my favourite Nick Cave song becauseContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet this Week #14”

10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet this Week #11

1. Natalie Wong’s exquisite and strange fantasy coral murals made from paper Read more 2. This guy who really wanted McDonalds but could only go through the Drive-Thru https://twitter.com/vickie19761/status/1268158165377482753?s=20 3. How to break free of the stimulation nation Some advice from the always relevant Dr Eric Perry Here are some steps that I use withContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet this Week #11”

Book Review: The Pine Islands by Marion Poschmann

*No spoilers Recently translated into English from German, The Pine Islands tells the story of Gilbert Silvester, a stuffy middle-aged lecturer in Germany. His area of academic specialisation is beard fashions in film. One day he finds out his wife is cheating on him (or so he believes, we never discover the truth). So heContinue reading “Book Review: The Pine Islands by Marion Poschmann”

10 uplifting things I found on the internet this week #3

#upliftingthings from the internet #3 Find inspiration and separating out the wheat from the chaff for internet amusement, Est. April 2020.