Books
Imperial Animations in Transpacific Contemporary ArtBy Kunimoto Namiko This book explores how the legacy of the Japanese Empire continues to shape the modern world, how after echoes of Japanese colonialism have perhaps never truly died away. Review by Laurence Green
Books
A Tiny Speck of Black and then NothingBy Emily Midorikawa This book is a mystery set in Osaka, where Anna, a naïve English teacher searching for her half-Japanese heritage, is drawn deeper into a world whose very real dangers she does not fully understand after her enigmatic friend Loll disappears. Review by Isabel Mermagen
Books
Tsubaki Stationery StoreBy Ogawa Ito Set in the quiet town of Kamakura, The Tsubaki Stationery Store follows Poppo and rewards pensiveness with vibrant characters and a homely setting. Review by Rio Julian
Events
Exhibition – Kyotographie. Kawada Kikuji x Iwane AiKyotographie presents a layered dialogue between post-war photographer Kawada Kikuji and contemporary artist Iwane Ai, an exhibition that questions how memory, history, and lived experience shape our perception of reality. Review by Vittorio Cimino
Films & Series
KokuhoDirected by Sang-il Lee Kokuho is a raw and visually stunning drama that traces a young man’s rise through the demanding world of post‑war kabuki, revealing the beauty and brutality. Review by Rachel Pratt
Books
Torikaebaya Monogatari: A Japanese Tale of Gender-Swapped SiblingsTorikaebaya Monogatari is a boundlessly entertaining and surprisingly forward‑thinking Heian‑period novel, remarkable for its intense psychological complexity. Review by Thomas Caffrey
Events
Exhibition – Threads of Life by Chiharu ShiotaThreads of Life presents an immersive environment by Chiharu Shiota, an exhibition that explores the shifting, fragile networks of memory and human experience. Review by Vittorio Cimino
Films & Series
August in the WaterDirected by Gakuryu Ishii This film follows a series of mysterious events orbiting a young diver in Fukuoka, unfolding through a spiritual, meditative filmmaking style that immerses the viewer completely in its enigmatic world. Review by Lachlan Evans
Books
Takeout SushiBy Christopher Green The book is a collection of seventeen short stories inspired by Green’s experiences in Japan and at other periods of his life. Review by Maxine Stacey
Books
One Hour of FervourBy Muriel Barbery Barbery gives herself full rein to explore the Japanese sensitivity towards nature and in particular, the beauty of Kyoto. Review by Isabel Mermagen