A wonderful artist—and the facilitator of the live drawing group and museum shop manager at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette—LaDonna Vohar painted this beautiful artwork inspired by one of my wedding photographs by Liberte Me Studio in Nakano, Tokyo. Her delicate depiction of this happy moment in life and her observant eye for detail are exquisite.
Her exhibition, “LaDonna’s Mélange,” is open until May 10, 2026, at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. She shows a great range as an artist, from poignant portraits to dynamic murals and playful furniture pieces. If you are nearby, I highly recommend visiting the exhibition!
素晴らしいアーティストであり、Art Museum of Greater Lafayetteで人物スケッチのグループの進行とお店のマネージャーも務めているLaDonna Voharさんが、東京中野にあるLiberte Me Studioによる私の結婚写真の一枚から着想を得て、この美しい作品を描いてくださいました。人生の幸せな瞬間を繊細に描き出す表現と、細部まで行き届いた観察力は本当に見事です。
彼女の展覧会「LaDonna’s Mélange」は、Art Museum of Greater Lafayetteにて2026年5月10日まで開催されています。心に響くポートレートから躍動感あふれる壁画、そして遊び心のある家具作品まで、アーティストとしての幅広い表現をご覧いただけます。お近くにお越しの際は、ぜひこの展覧会を訪れてみてください。
Hello everyone, this is Nisreen —
welcome to the ninth episode of season three. It’s so lovely to speak with you
again. Today I’d like to introduce you to a musician many people outside Japan
have never heard of, even though he quietly shaped generations of listeners:
Kōzō Murashita. He was active as a singer-songwriter between 1980 and 1999, and
is especially known for his hit song Hatsukoi (“First Crush”) from 1983.
When he suddenly passed away due to a brain haemorrhage,
he was only 46.
The thumbnail of this episode is a drawing inspired
by my favourite song of his, Yūko, written in 1982. In the YouTube
version of the episode, I share the process of drawing this piece in the
background. I hope you’ll enjoy it.
Please find the episode below, available in video on YouTube or audio on Buzzsprout. It's also on Apple Podcasts , Spotify
On 28 February 2026, I had the opportunity to co-conduct a Taqsim workshop with oud musician Andy Smith at the INBC Annual Bazaar. INBC is a non-profit organisation that supports dancers and musicians in Indiana and the surrounding areas.
The workshop was originally Andy’s idea – and it was a brilliant one! We alternated in sharing the perspectives of a musician and a dancer on how to perform taqsim – an Arabic word for an improvised musical solo in traditional Middle Eastern, Arabic, Greek, and Turkish music. All the participants were very engaged despite the early morning schedule, asking great questions and sharing their own experiences.
This is a painting I created to express the joy of the teaching experience.
この絵はこの経験の喜びを表現したものです
Although I couldn’t stay for the evening gala show, it was wonderful to meet the headliner, Tina Maric, who is a lovely person and an incredible dancer. She taught a very energetic and playful mejance choreography and drum solo.
As the PR Officer, it was very satisfying to see the event’s success after months of preparation and promotion.
Many thanks to the Event Director, April, the coordinator, Andy, and all the board members who worked tirelessly to make it happen – and, of course, to all the participants, instructors, performers, sponsors, and volunteers who contributed!
How to Tell Japanese, Chinese, and Korean Belly Dancers Apart Online
These are my personal observations, and of course there are always exceptions. The point of this post is simply to have a giggle over a cup of tea. Not to mention, there are many cultural commonalities between these countries too. :)
Japan
There is always at least one studio photo taken by Mr. Nam.
This is mine lol
In photos with dance friends, a “cute” pose is common—one hand resting on the cheek.
Me posing with Ozma
Many posts show restaurant performances, with audience faces blurred (restaurant shows are rarely seen in China or Korea).
Lesson outfits tend to split between skirts and leggings, but among students, those showing a lot of leg are fewer than in China.
A wide age range (mainly people in their 20s to 50s).
Photos of meals with a partner appear, but often only hands are shown and the partner’s face is hidden—a so-called “soft launch”. If the partner is foreign, their face is sometimes shown.
The dancers' children occasionally appear in posts.
China
Very fair skin with vivid, matte lipstick—Snow White–style make-up.
Many dancers are extremely slim.
All students wear matching, dressy lesson outfits and perform group dances in the studio (everyone showing beautifully bare legs).
Short videos filmed in dramatic locations such as the sea or palaces.
Videos with large Chinese characters used prominently as titles.
Everyday life, such as casual meals, is rarely shown; everything posted is polished and highly professional.
When the hair is curled, it is tightly and finely curled rather than loose waves.
South Korea
Soft, bouncy skin like a peeled boiled egg; it’s uncommon to see vivid, matte lipstick worn daily.
Many dancers are young (including teenagers and those in their early twenties).
Lesson outfits are often stylish but lean more towards sporty than dressy.
Selfies in everyday clothes are common; hats appear frequently.
The Japanese Veggies I Miss and My Favourite Veggies in the US
恋しい日本の野菜と好きなアメリカの野菜
The Japanese Veggies I Miss
恋しい日本の野菜
Daikon – It’s a mild-flavoured winter radish. It can be found in Asian/Japanese markets, but it isn’t very common in supermarkets in my town. In winter, I start missing simmered daikon; it’s juicy, warm, and has a natural sweetness – the perfect winter food!
Edamame – These are young, immature soybeans harvested while still green and tender in their pods. There is edamame in my town too, but it’s hard to find good edamame. Good edamame have to be fresh and plump, and should pop energetically out of the pods. Soggy edamame is not nice!
Satsuma-imo / Sweet potatoes – There are delicious sweet potatoes here too. However, they are often orange or maroon and very soft. Japanese sweet potatoes are distinctive for their starchy texture and intense sweetness, typically yellow on the inside and maroon on the outside. I miss the nasal singing voice from baked sweet potato trucks or stalls in winter – yes, there are sweet potato stalls in Japan, very much like ice-cream or taco trucks! They are much rarer now, though.
Sweet peppers – I am mesmerised by how sweet and fresh they can be! I love roasting them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. A friend of mine once shared her garden-grown sweet peppers – they were delicious! There are sweet peppers in Japan too, but there are fewer varieties. The pointy shape I portrayed in the drawing had long been associated with spicy ones in my mind.
Brussels sprouts – My absolute favourite vegetable. My go-to meal is roasted Brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar and honey, a flavour combination my husband recommended. The slightly burnt bits are irresistible! They can be found in Japan too, but they are less common. I don’t think I ever had them when I was a child.
Parsnips – This is the only vegetable I had literally never tried until I moved here. I thought they were carrots at first, then realised they were sweeter and juicier. Roasted parsnips are now one of my favourite winter meals.
I am grateful for vegetables wherever they are – they give us nutrition and energy, and more than anything, they are associated with happy memories around a table with our loved ones.
Although the number of television dramas centred on romantic
relationships between women has gradually increased over the past twenty years,
such works remain relatively rare on a global scale. First broadcast between
2019 and 2022, Gentleman Jack stands out even among these few examples,
boasting an outstanding script by the acclaimed writer Sally Wainwright
and superb performances from a highly accomplished cast. Set in 1830s
Yorkshire, the series is based on the real-life figure Anne Lister, and
depicts, with both poignancy and humour, the challenges that accompanied a
woman’s determination to live her life openly with another woman. Below are
three key reasons why this drama is so remarkable. (Spoilers are avoided.)
This is my fan art of Miss Lister (Suranne Jones) and Miss Walker (Sophie Rundle)!
1. A balance between historical accuracy and
entertainment
Living in a manner that closely resembles what we would now
describe as openly lesbian, Anne Lister is arguably the most
relatable character for modern viewers. No matter how harshly she is judged by
those around her, she refuses to abandon her resolve to live authentically.
Articulate and quick-witted, Anne is sometimes described as manipulative.
While viewers may find themselves instinctively rooting for her, the series
does not shy away from portraying aspects of her character that sit
uncomfortably with contemporary values.
She takes immense pride in her aristocratic status and holds
politically conservative views. Her rigid class consciousness is evident in
small but telling moments: she cannot accept a family member marrying into a
trade, and even when she recognises her own mistakes, she is unable to
apologise to her servants. While the series carefully portrays the oppression of homosexuality in
nineteenth-century society, it also acknowledges Anne’s privilege. Her ability
to live with dignity and confidence was, in part, enabled by her wealth and
aristocratic position. Personally, I find it disappointing when historical
dramas simply replace past values with modern ones—a problem I felt keenly in Anne
with an E. For that reason, I was particularly drawn to Gentleman Jack
for its commitment to historical realism.
2. The emotional complexity of the characters
As noted above, despite its epic scope, the drama
consistently maintains a sense of realism. While the romantic elements can be
joyful and exhilarating, the characters themselves are deeply complex and far
from flawless. Each possesses admirable qualities alongside traits that are
difficult to condone. In particular, Anne’s wavering resolve and, at times,
ethically questionable decisions in Season 2 proved divisive among viewers. Yet
I would argue that it is precisely this portrayal of her vulnerability that
gives the series its emotional depth. Can anyone be unmoved when the whole world is against them? At one
point Anne even admits, “Don’t hurt me. I’m not as strong as you think.”This scene is impossible to
watch without tears.
3. Naturalistic dialogue
The dialogue throughout the series feels strikingly natural;
at no point does it sound as though characters are delivering lines. This is
undoubtedly a testament not only to the quality of the writing, but also to the
actors’ exceptional performances. The arguments between Anne and her long-time
friend Mariana Lawton are particularly outstanding. These scenes feel
less like scripted drama and more like genuine conversations, charged with
intensity and emotional complexity. Alongside these heavier moments, the series
also offers plenty of witty, light-hearted exchanges that draw spontaneous
laughter. Compared with Happy Valley, another of Sally Wainwright’s
acclaimed works, Gentleman Jack feels notably brighter and more humorous
overall. Anne’s expressive use of her eyes is also remarkable. Even in moments
of silence, emotions such as guilt, loneliness, and love are conveyed with
striking clarity.
Overall, Gentleman Jack is a richly layered and
deeply engaging drama that explores love, family, women’s independence,
aristocratic society, and history from multiple perspectives.
It is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in these themes.
No spoilers for the final episode./最終回のネタバレは避けています。
I finished watching the final episode of Stranger Things on new year's eve.
My favourite points throughout all the seasons:
Character development – especially Steve’s.
The earnest portrayal of a mother who fights for her
son even when no one believes her.
Anti–alpha male energy.
The depiction of gay struggles and how shame can
alienate someone from their friends.
Some actors’ impeccable performances, especially
Henry(Jamie Campbell Bower) and Hopper (David Harbour).
Eleven and Mike’s innocent romance.
References to 80s classics such as E.T.
and Back to the Future.
My least favourite point:
Too long.
I feel the ending would have been ten times more moving if it had ended with
season two, or maybe three. Especially in the last season, it felt as though
the writing was struggling – the dialogue no longer sounded natural. The story
was all over the place instead of sticking to the main storyline, which was
more confusing than effective. I often see the same issue in many popular
American TV shows and superhero films: they go on for too long!
Don’t get me wrong – I was entertained throughout all the seasons. I love
all the characters, and there were so many great qualities in the show. I just
wish it had ended at the right time. Overall, though, it was such an
entertaining drama!
