Avignon - Panoramic view, taken from the Brèche de la Comtadine in Villeneuve.
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Byōdō-in: Goshuin and Phoenix
In Japanese Buddhist temples and some Shinto shrines, there’s an awesome tradition of receiving a goshuin in exchange for a small donation.
A goshuin is a piece of calligraphy, usually featuring the name of the temple and the date of your visit. It can be written on any piece
No Doubt - Just a Girl
When I compare Japanese music, such as J-Pop and its variants, with Western music, especially the kind I like, listen to, and talk about here, I notice that popular Japanese music is usually very "happy." On the other hand, "my" music rarely is.
So, I
"The Time of the Beginning" by Shiko Miyake
Today's artwork has been on Shodoshima for all to see since 2022. However, it's probably one of the least visited Art Setouchi artworks because it's almost in the middle of nowhere. Okay, not totally. It's right next to a road. But it&
Bône - Panoramic View of the Municipal Stadium
This is one of the few cards I have from Algeria back when it was a French colony. As the title says, this one represents Bône's municipal stadium. The city is now called Annaba, and I have no idea if this stadium still exists. Probably not as the
Palais Bourbon - home of the National Assembly (aka the lower legislative chamber of the French Parliament)
From the archives: a private visit of the Palais Bourbon, circa 2010.
The Rolling Stones - Miss You
When I started this "Music for the Next Generation" series, I don't think I originally planned to include the Rolling Stones. Everyone knows the Rolling Stones, right?
Well, a few days ago, I realized that while the Beatles are widely famous in Japan, it turns out
Albi - General View and St. Cecilia Cathedral
I've already shown you pictures of Albi taken in the 21st century. I'll show you more soon, but here is one taken more than a century ago.
Jean Sazy sent it to his wife Jeanne while he was stationed in the town before being sent to
Whale in a Cave on Awashima
When people think of the 'Japan Art Islands', Naoshima is usually the first name that comes to mind, followed by Teshima and Inujima — and if they have attended the Setouchi Triennale before, they may mention a few others.
However, there is an island that truly deserves to be
Brown Bear in Gramat
Located in the south-west of France, not too far from my hometown but not quite next door, Gramat's animal park is one of my favorite zoos in the world.
Like many European zoos, its mission is more one of education and protection than pure entertainment. Gramat is
Massive Attack - Teardrop
Massive Attack are a band from Bristol, England, who debuted in 1988 and are still active today. They are more than just a band; they are a "collective" and are the main representatives of the trip hop genre. They have been extremely influential in electronic music and beyond,
Lot River
Just a picture of the Lot river in the South West of France. It was taken in the small village of Vers.
I love living in Japan, but I'm not going to lie, France beats it as far as the beauty of the countryside is concerned. That'
"Weaving Time" by Motoi Yamamoto (Utazu, Setouchi Triennale 2025)
Today, I want to introduce a stunning artwork that sadly no longer exists. I hope you had the opportunity to experience it if you attended the Setouchi Triennale 2025 during the autumn session last year.
As the title suggests, it was called "Weaving Time" and was created by
War of 1914 - on the front lines
There's a lot to unpack with this card.
It’s the first in a long series of postcards from World War I.
First, it’s interesting that it says "War 1914." This was at the very beginning of the war. Obviously, people had no idea how