What's Jappening?

I am proud to present my first finished work; a woodblock print entitled "Growth". It was super exciting for me to learn a new printmaking technique, and as an avid fan of lino printing, I had high hopes. The process is actually pretty similar to lino printing, but with a bit more room for experimentation and texture. Unlike with linoleum, you can both add and take away from the wood. Obviously, the majority is carving, but you can also scratch into it, glue stuff on top, sand it away and more. This freedom is, however, balanced out by the fact that carving it requires a lot more care, as the wood can splinter off without warning, a fact that I learnt very quickly as I lost an entire branch within minutes of me starting to carve. I was much more careful from then on in. I based my image off a photo I'd taken at Nagoya Castle when the cherry blossoms were still in bloom, and even though we were limited by only cutting one block, I decided to add more colour to the print by...

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Japanese rest stops are better than English ones. Not only do the toilets not make you feel like you need a chemical shower after using them, but the entire entrance way is filled with sweets, snacks, drinks and all kinds of Omiyage (souvenirs), which would probably be quite handy if you were driving to see a friend or family member and forgot to get them something. Suck on that WHSmith. So this week I went to Atami, a vibrant coastal town southeast of Mt. Fuji, for two days with my friends and, despite being beyond exhausted when I got back, I had a really great time. Before we checked into our guest house, we stopped off at the Atami Museum of Art , which is quite possibly the most picturesque museum I've ever been to. Located some way above the town, MOA provides you with a sweeping panorama of the ocean and subsequently, great photo opportunities (I was particularly excited because I could see a large plankton bloom just off the bay...

Today my landlady, her husband and her sister invited myself and the other international students out to go see the cherry blossoms. Cherry blossom (Or sakura) season is world renowned for it's stunning pink blossoms accompanied by pleasant weather and seasonal sakura-themed products. Honestly, I expected it to be pretty overrated, I mean, I know blossoms are pretty, but there's no need to get overexcited!  Well let me just say: I was wrong. It's not just the blossoming trees, It's the way all the trees seem to bend over the river bed as if they, like me, are watching the koi swim around. It's the fluffy, pinky-white blossoms as Far as the eye can see, interspersed with pink lanterns that light up in the evening. It's the bustling streets filled with delicious-smelling food and care-free people. In short, it was lovely. We then sat down, whereupon we were given a dango (sweet, colourful mochi balls on a stick) and taiyaki (a fish-shaped cake filled with r...