Category Archives: Asia

Walk This Way

Posted on March 24, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Most of us have not had the option to travel during the past year, so we have to make do with any virtual alternative that comes along. Until it’s safe again, you can almost satisfy those travel urges with City … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, Film, Middle East, South America, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Year of the Mask

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

“Beyond Noh” by Patrick Smith is a mesmerizing trip through thousands of mask from around the world, including the now ubiquitous Covid-19 protective devices.  The vivid images span dozens of cultures and time periods and shift from one to the next … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Animation, Art, Asia, Europe, Film, Museums, South America | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Worldwide Live

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

When I have felt especially claustrophobic during the Pandemic lockdown, I have checked out some of the amazing live camera feeds from around the globe. Recently, I found the wonderful Rolling Cam World on Youtube and I think that I’m … Continue reading →

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Kafka on the Shore (and t-shirts)

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

When I think of the celebrated Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami  fashion does not come to mind. However, it seems that the author is much more interested in style than his novels such as 1Q84 and Norwegian Wood suggest. Murakami recently collaborated with … Continue reading →

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Vintage is better

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I recently ran across a treasure trove of vintage Japanese travel posters from the early 20th century. As you know, I’m a little bit obsessed with travel related advertising, but I think that early travel posters managed to do a … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, History, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Guess Where

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

City Guesser is a geography based browser game that strives to provide an exceptional travel and guessing experience by allowing participants to guess where in the world they are from short video clips. I spent way to much time at … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Europe, Maps, Middle East, South America, Tech, Tourism, USA | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The Red Lantern

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Kitagawa Utamaro and The Red lantern Shop, Kyoto, Woodblock printing technique From Process of Printing Wood Engraving (Mokuhan Suritate Junjo),  1956.  

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Repair and Restoration

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

  A big h/t to Bonnie B. our first and most loyal subscriber for this post on a loving restoration project from Japan. As an antiquarian and secondhand bookseller, I’ve done some minor repairs and restorations over the years, but … Continue reading →

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National Parks

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Hiroshi Yoshida (吉田 博, Yoshida Hiroshi, September 19, 1876 – April 5, 1950) was a 20th-century Japanese painter and woodblock printmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest artists of the shin-hanga style, and is noted especially for his excellent landscape prints. Yoshida travelled widely, and was particularly … Continue reading →

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Pandemic Art

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

The New York City-based Brazilian-born Japanese artist Oscar Oiwa found himself in similar circumstances as many folks when the pandemic began last year. His projects and travels were all postponed, and he found himself locked down in his NYC apartment. … Continue reading →

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