Square Enix's Manga UP! Global service is releasing the manga in English, and it describes the story: Haruno debuted the manga in Square Enix's Gangan Joker in June 2023 as a one-shot story before it got a serialization later that year. Square Enix published the manga's fourth compiled book volume on January 21. Volume 15 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2021.811892 This article is part of the Research TopicThe Known, the Unknown, and the Future of Glutamate TransportersView all 11 articles the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system into presynaptic synaptic vesicles (SVs) depends upon three vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) Since VGLUTs are driven by a proton electrochemical gradient across the SV membrane generated by vacuolar-type H+-ATPases (V-ATPases) as well as the amount of glutamate in SVs at equilibrium are influenced by activities of both VGLUTs and V-ATPase Despite emerging evidence that suggests various factors influencing glutamate transport by VGLUTs in vitro little has been reported in physiological or pathological contexts to date this was partially due to a lack of appropriate methods to monitor glutamate loading into SVs in living synapses whether or not glutamate refilling of SVs can be rate-limiting for synaptic transmission is not well understood primarily due to a lack of knowledge concerning the time required for vesicle reuse and refilling during repetitive stimulation we first introduce a unique electrophysiological method to monitor glutamate refilling by VGLUTs in a giant model synapse from the calyx of Held in rodent brainstem slices and we discuss the advantages and limitations of the method We then introduce the current understanding of factors that potentially alter the amount and rate of glutamate refilling of SVs in this synapse and discuss open questions from physiological viewpoints mechanisms and regulators of vesicular glutamate transport mediated by VGLUTs offer potential treatment targets for these disorders Molecular elements that affect glutamate transport into SVs Mammalian SVs contain two primary pumps (blue square) 1) and plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPases (PMCAs V-ATPases create a proton electrochemical gradient ΔμH+ which is essential for glutamate transport by VGLUTs and conversely potentiate ΔΨ The primary function of VGLUTs (3–6 green circle) is to transport glutamate into SVs although how VGLUTs utilize ΔμH+ during the transport cycle has long been debated (3) biochemical studies indicate that VGLUTs mediate various transport processes such as proton-dependent Cl− conductance (4) VGLUTs are thought to mediate both Na+/Pi transport and H+/Pi Although molecular identities are uncertain SVs contain cation/H+ exchangers (7) and CLC-family members that mediate Cl−/H+ exchange (8) activities of which modulate the driving force for glutamate transport we will summarize key observations using the calyx of Held synapses that have shed further light on mechanisms and regulation of glutamate transport into SVs and will highlight some of the unknowns underlying the process The calyx of Held is the largest nerve terminal in the mammalian central nervous system, occupying 25–50% of the postsynaptic cell body, located in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) within the superior olivary complex (Figure 2A) The origin of the calyx nerve terminal comes from the globular bushy cell located in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) Globular bushy cells are contacted by multiple large endings of auditory nerve fibers The ability of bushy cells to encode temporal fine structure in the incident acoustic wave and their involvement in brainstem auditory circuits that mediate sound localization implicates the calyx of Held synapses in localizing sound in space (4) Whole-cell presynaptic patch clamping enables experimental manipulations of presynaptic cytoplasmic composition which cannot be achieved in conventional smaller synapses dialysis of presynaptic cytoplasm with an intra-pipet solution application of membrane-impermeable drugs into presynaptic cytoplasm through a pipet with defined concentrations The inevitable downside of this manipulation is that whole-cell patch clamping definitely leads to the loss of endogenous soluble molecules from presynaptic terminals which may change the properties of presynaptic terminals in a physiological environment In addition to electrophysiologically amenable preparations of the calyx of Held synapses in acute brainstem slices, these giant presynaptic terminals were successfully reconstituted by culturing two types of dissociated cells derived from cochlear nuclei and from medial nuclei of the trapezoid body in the same dish (Dimitrov et al., 2016) This novel preparation allows genetic manipulation and enables them to be adapted for optical measurements of SV dynamics with simultaneous presynaptic electrical recordings which cannot be readily achieved with acute slice preparations the current protocol seems to hamper feasible applications due to a relatively low success rate and relatively small postsynaptic currents seen in this preparation (<1 nA) different mechanisms to regulate glutamate content at equilibrium in vivo must exist changes in vesicle volume and in glutamate leakage that are associated with the exceeded glutamate refilling under these conditions that may be non-physiological These results collectively indicate that the amount of glutamate in the lumen indirectly regulates the vesicle release probability via changes in the biophysical properties of SV membranes Other potential molecular mechanisms controlling release probability conferred by distinct VGLUT-isoforms will be discussed below it is conceivable that they also lose luminal ions that might influence glutamate transport Biochemical analysis of isolated SVs revealed that SVs exhibit an electro-neutral cation/H+ exchange activity, which converts ΔpH to ΔΨ, thereby facilitating glutamate transport into SVs (Goh et al., 2011). Furthermore, reconstitution of VGLUTs suggested that VGLUT itself mediates the cation/H+ exchange activity (Preobraschenski et al., 2014) These observations raise the possibility that changes in presynaptic cation concentrations may regulate vesicular glutamate transport and have the potential to influence synaptic transmission presynaptic [Na+] is subjected to control at physiologically relevant conditions All these observations are compatible with a proposal from biochemical transport assays that activation of Na+/H+ exchange potentiates ΔΨ which would optimally drive glutamate transport Although regulation of presynaptic [K+] is less understood, manipulations of cytoplasmic [K+] at the calyx of Held synapses exerted similar effects on miniature EPSC amplitudes, i.e., complete replacement of presynaptic K+ with NMDG+ resulted in a gradual decline of mEPSC amplitudes by ~30%, while no decrease was observed in the presence of 130 mM K+ (Figure 4B; Goh et al., 2011) the inclusion of 10 mM Na+ in a pipet solution which mimics physiological conditions to some extent did not reverse the reduction of mEPSC amplitudes in the absence of K+ supporting the importance of K+ rather than Na+ in maintaining vesicular glutamate content under resting conditions also resulted in the reduction of mEPSC amplitudes to an extent similar to that in the absence of K+ indicating that the Na+/H+ exchanger is involved in this regulation regulation of vesicular glutamate content by NHE6 and SCAMP5 may be implicated in the pathogenesis of ASDs Whether the same mechanisms are implemented in the calyx of Held synapses needs further investigation indicate that at physiological temperature clathrin-independent rapid endocytosis occurs much more rapidly than previously believed (<100 ms) leaving room for exocytosis of incompletely filled vesicles upon vesicle reuse enhances glutamate refilling in these situations remains to be explored It should be noted that since VGLUT1-KO mice die at around ~20 days after birth most experiments were performed during postnatal days 16–19 whether and how glutamate content in SVs is controlled by VGLUT levels remains controversial presumably relating to endophilin-dependent distinct release probabilities between VGLUT1- and VGLUT2-encoding synapses precise actions of endophilin on the regulation of release probability and the presence of other key partners involved in these VGLUT isoform-specific properties in SV mobility and physiological consequences remain largely unknown we introduced recent key findings concerning mechanisms of vesicular glutamate transport processes in the calyx of Held and discussed their physiological relevance Although mechanistic insights obtained from in vitro studies also suggest the importance of luminal ions that are engulfed by vesicles during endocytosis facilitation of glutamate refilling by luminal Cl− during the initial phase of glutamate loading it is still uncertain how much this proposed mechanism contributes in physiological contexts studies using presynaptic glutamate uncaging indicate that it is much faster than rates observed biochemically using isolated SVs with some experimental concerns and possible rapid use of filled vesicles during highly repetitive stimulation described above it may be even faster than measured values In addition to multiple modes of SV endocytosis with distinct time scales depending on stimulation strength the time required for reuse of endocytosed vesicles may be an important key to fully understanding whether refilling speed can be rate-limiting for neurotransmission A future innovation that enables direct observations of glutamate refilling of individual SVs at presynaptic terminals in addition to indirect measures of synaptic outputs from postsynaptic cells under precise manipulations and stimulation will likely give us the answer All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version This work was supported in part by grants from JSPS KAKENHI (19H03330) Advanced Research Networks (Grant No: JPJSCCA20170008) and a grant from the Takeda Science Foundation to ST The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher We thank Dr. Steven D. Aird (www.sda-technical-editor.org) for English editing Molecular cloning of a novel brain-type Na(+)-dependent inorganic phosphate cotransporter Molecular and functional analysis of a novel neuronal vesicular glutamate transporter Uptake of glutamate into synaptic vesicles by an inorganic phosphate transporter Colocalization of vesicular glutamate transporters in the rat superior olivary complex PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Developmental pattern of three vesicular glutamate transporters in the rat superior olivary complex The calyx of held synapse: from model synapse to auditory relay doi: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-020911-153236 Large structural change in isolated synaptic vesicles upon loading with neurotransmitter Synaptic vesicles immunoisolated from rat cerebral cortex contain high levels of glutamate Glutamate uptake into synaptic vesicles: competitive inhibition by bromocriptine NBEA and AMISYN: three candidate genes for autism involved in secretion of 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in neurons Hidden proteome of synaptic vesicles in the mammalian brain Distribution of glycine receptors on the surface of the mature calyx of Held nerve terminal Presynaptic glycine receptors enhance transmitter release at a mammalian central synapse Reciprocal developmental regulation of presynaptic ionotropic receptors Interaction between the vesicular glutamate transporter type 1 and endophilin A1 Distinct endocytic pathways control the rate and extent of synaptic vesicle protein recycling Ultrafast endocytosis at mouse hippocampal synapses Clathrin regenerates synaptic vesicles from endosomes Interplay between VGLUT isoforms and endophilin A1 regulates neurotransmitter release and short-term plasticity Presynaptic regulation of quantal size by the vesicular glutamate transporter VGLUT1 Galphao2 regulates vesicular glutamate transporter activity by changing its chloride dependence An essential role for vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1) in postnatal development and control of quantal size Regulation of glutamate transport into synaptic vesicles by chloride and proton gradient Isolation and reconstitution of the chloride transporter of clathrin-coated vesicles PubMed Abstract | Google Scholar Vesicle endocytosis requires dynamin-dependent GTP hydrolysis at a fast CNS synapse A proline-rich motif on VGLUT1 reduces synaptic vesicle super-pool and spontaneous release frequency Citation: Hori T and Takamori S (2022) Physiological Perspectives on Molecular Mechanisms and Regulation of Vesicular Glutamate Transport: Lessons From Calyx of Held Synapses Received: 09 November 2021; Accepted: 07 December 2021; Published: 13 January 2022 Copyright © 2022 Hori and Takamori. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Tetsuya Hori, dGV0c3V5YS5ob3JpQG9pc3QuanA=; Shigeo Takamori, c3Rha2Ftb3JAbWFpbC5kb3NoaXNoYS5hYy5qcA== Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish Today's print edition Home Delivery Concerned about the worsening security situation in the Indo-Pacific France and Japan are speeding up negotiations to finalize a visiting-forces pact within the coming months that could also facilitate Self-Defense Forces’ deployments to French territories in the Indian and Pacific Oceans Paris’ top envoy to Tokyo said in an interview “We are confident that we will be able to conclude negotiations on a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) quite rapidly so we can have a new legal basis for further cooperation between our armed forces,” French Ambassador Philippe Setton told The Japan Times earlier this month.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); “This will be a big step in our long-standing relationship as we aim to deepen ties in all security areas,” the career diplomat said adding that the strategic partners hope to conclude the deal by the year-end to better defend their regional interests and shared values despite previous differences over whether Tokyo should host a NATO liaison office In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division LBV Magazine English Edition Some time ago, we published an article titled Saigō Takamori, the True Story of the Last Samurai recounting the story of this singular figure ending with a brief narration of his death a fight that marked the end of the so-called Satsuma Rebellion forced modernization of Japan brought about by the Meiji Restoration The battle was immortalized in a famous film because Takamori’s scant half-thousand loyal followers hopelessly outnumbered and with their leader dead The shogun believed that foreigners had introduced this religion as a pretext to seize control of the country Thus began a brutal persecution of new converts leaving only a small window for trade with the Netherlands exclusively in Dejima The sakoku policy remained in place for two centuries until 1853 squadron under Commodore Matthew Perry anchored in Tokyo Bay Perry forced the shogunate to sign the Treaty of Kanagawa which required Japan to open several ports to free trade the menacing steam-powered ships in the bay the precedent set by the British frigate HMS Phaeton threatening to bombard Nagasaki in 1808 the increasing arrival of foreign ships (mainly whalers needing supplies) and the evident impracticality of sakoku in the face of superior foreign power compelled the bakufu to recognize the need for change and to modernize the country and many notable figures clung to Sonnō jōi (“revere the emperor It became a rallying cry against Tokugawa Yoshinobu who saw an opportunity to reclaim effective power lost centuries earlier Yoshinobu had already hired French military advisors which proved too much for the discontented This marked the beginning of the Boshin War a civil conflict characterized by a degree of confusion and contradiction despite the shogun advocating for openness Yoshinobu was defeated and agreed to a peaceful retirement with the young Emperor Meiji Tennō who had just ascended the throne and was determined to transform the country into a global power—a process known as the Meiji Restoration The loyalists of the shogunate retreated to Hokkaido which was short-lived—only a year and a half—before the imperial army ended it in the summer of 1869 The new government included representatives from the Satsuma domain one of the most powerful feudal territories a low-ranking samurai who had risen to prominence and was appointed sangi (councilor) to undertake deep administrative and military reforms Takamori was not pleased with the direction things were taking he feared that the Meiji Restoration would go too far eroding Japanese identity and spreading corruption the introduction of railways and total free trade These disagreements worsened in 1873 when he advocated for a punitive campaign against Korea over a diplomatic slight His government colleagues preferred to avoid further military expenses accusing him of trying to create jobs for unemployed samurai who lacked livelihoods because Takamori himself had ironically decreed they should not receive salaries which escalated to the point where Takamori offered to become an ambassador to provoke the Koreans into attacking or even killing him he founded a military academy to support the aforementioned samurai The academy was so successful that it soon had a hundred branches in other locations allowing him to form a private army equipped with Enfield 1853 rifles and artillery (around thirty mountain guns and mortars) It was a movement of much greater dimensions than some of the small-scale samurai revolts that had recently occurred in Kyūshū as demonstrated when the fifty members of a government delegation sent to investigate were detained and tortured accused of planning the assassination of Takamori the government sent a navy ship to seize the arsenal in Kagoshima tensions were particularly high due to the suspension of rice supplies and a group of students seized the weapons beforehand to begin armed conflict arrived carrying the Minister of the Interior who explained that the cause of the uprising was the alleged attempt to assassinate Takamori The minister did not allow him to return to shore Despite the garrison being weakened by one of those revolts and suffering from a lack of supplies the siege failed because the soldiers managed to hold out and were informed of reinforcements on the way Takamori’s 15,000 men were intercepted by the 90,000 soldiers of the imperial army commanded by General Yamagata Aritomo and were forced to entrench themselves in the city of Tabaruzaka during which Takamori wrote to the emperor assuring him that his intention was not to rebel and that he was open to negotiation the insurgent troops retreated to Hitoyoshi Since both sides had suffered significant losses dispersing into small groups along the way to harass their pursuers with guerrilla tactics This left the main column reduced to barely 3,000 men most of whom were left with only their traditional melee weapons unstoppable in numbers and armed with rapid-fire Snider rifles driving them back to the slopes of Mount Enodake This marked the beginning of what would be the final episode of the war with his superior numbers at a seven-to-one ratio forced most of the rebels to surrender after several battles some of whom took their own lives while others broke through the siege and escaped to Kagoshima leaving them no choice but to entrench themselves on nearby Mount Shiroyama they watched in awe as the combined forces of Yamagata and Admiral Kawamura Sumiyoshi (who was married to one of Takamori’s aunts) surrounded the perimeter with 34,000 men in a disproportion that had now grown to about sixty-to-one This made it foreseeable that the defenses Takamori had been building for a week (ramparts dams…) would do little more than delay the inevitable outcome especially considering the five warships of the Imperial Navy joined the eighteen batteries of land artillery to bombard them the insurgent leader did not bother to respond to an offer of surrender and Yamagata had no choice but to resolve the matter by force as the imperials had surrounded their position with fortifications to prevent it had to melt metal statues from nearby temples to make improvised bullets using the available common tools After enduring a deluge of bombs that lasted almost the entire night they saw a human tide charging toward their positions The response of the samurai was to drop their rifles and run toward their attackers with katana in hand as if they were still in the Middle Ages they had so hastily just left behind It was so astonishing that it confused the attackers and caused Yamagata’s operation to fail; his soldiers had been trained for modern warfare and did not know how to counter the traditional extraordinary melee weapon approach presented by the adversary two things happened that ultimately reversed the dire situation that morning of September 24 the numerical difference was so significant that even if the front lines were broken dozens more stood behind to contain the situation some shots wounded Takamori in the femoral artery and abdomen his death at that very moment—or seconds later if we are to believe a version in which he had time to apologize to his aide a young—thirty-one-year-old—but veteran officer who was reportedly very shy A kaishakunin was a trusted person whose mission was to decapitate someone performing seppuku (ritual suicide) to spare them suffering and prevent their facial expression from being marked by a grimace of pain the legend claims that Takamori took his own life and then Shinsuke hid his head so that the enemy would not find it everything happened so hastily that a lock of hair revealed to the soldiers where it was hidden The truth could only have been revealed by Shinsuke but he could not because he imitated the rest of his men—with whom he used to share his salary—in what would bring the most fame to that battle despite limping from a leg injury sustained in a previous clash decided to run downhill alongside a comrade just as the forty samurai who were still standing had done moments earlier charging against enemy lines; the deadly bursts of Gatling guns annihilated them within seconds The conflict resulted in severe human and financial losses forcing the government to abandon the gold standard and print paper money it marked a step forward in solidifying the decision to modernize as it became evident that traditional warfare was no match for modern weaponry: the samurai had succumbed to heimin (commoner) recruits banzai charges to machine guns and cannons; consequently whose emperor succeeded in Westernizing and modernizing the country turning it into an emerging world power modeled after Wilhelm I’s Prussia but without abandoning its traditions This article was first published on our Spanish Edition on January 2, 2025: Shiroyama, la épica batalla que supuso el final de los samuráis Mark Ravina, The last samurai. The life and battles of Saigō Takamori Brett L. Walker, Historia de Japón Marius B. Jansen, The making of modern Japan Augustus H. Mounsley, Satsuma Rebellion: An Episode of Modern Japanese History Donald Keene, Emperor of Japan. Meiji and his world, 1852-1912 Charles L. Yates, Saigo Takamori. The man behind the myth Wikipedia, Batalla de Shiroyama Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email Archaeologists from universities in the United States and Denmark found deep within the Actun Uayazba Kab cave in Belize two small stone tools dated between 250 and 900 AD that… men and women gathered to play a game called Cuju A team of researchers has succeeded in recreating for the first time in a laboratory experiment a phenomenon that until now only existed as a theory in the realm of… the Cantonal Archaeology of Aargau carried out a rescue excavation between early May 2024 and the end of March 2025 The Egyptian archaeological mission affiliated with the Supreme Council of Antiquities announced the discovery of a group of defensive structures and a system of moats that could indicate… In the southeastern area of the city of Rome archaeologists excavating inside the Triton Baths within the monumental complex of the Villa di Sette… Why did some animals from ancient eras become fossils while others simply disappeared without a trace A recent study on the cave paintings of the Altamira Cave in Santillana del Mar Cantabria (Spain) has concluded that some of the artworks it contains could be much older… A team of paleontologists from the University of Leicester has managed to decipher one of the many enigmas of the dinosaur era—the exact moment when pterosaurs Rome achieved numerous military victories that allowed it to grow and dominate nearly the entire known world in Antiquity Receive our news and articles in your email for free You can also support us with a monthly subscription and receive exclusive content Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Vox Populi Vox Dei is a daily column that runs on Page 1 of The Asahi Shimbun launched an all-out assault on Kumamoto Castle that was being defended by the Imperial Japanese Army Saigo attacked with the ferocity that a contemporary government record likened to “bullets raining down.” the government army held on and so did the castle a much-awaited reinforcement of government troops arrived I can’t help feeling there may be something else That must be because I just cannot “unsee” the sorry sight to which the once-impregnable Kumamoto Castle was reduced nine years ago Kumamoto was jolted by two earthquakes with the maximum intensity of 7 on the Japanese seismic scale—a foreshock on April 14 and the main shock on April 16 The restoration work prioritized fixing the castle tower as the symbol of post-quake reconstruction and the tower was reopened to the public four years ago But because this likely gave the impression of “recovery,” the donations needed to fund the reconstruction of the entire castle are said to have since dwindled to one-fifth of the amount in the immediate aftermath of the quakes The collapsed stone walls have yet to be rebuilt and experts say it will take nearly 30 years to completely restore the vast castle walls in their entirety “Shushin shiro wo nasu,” which translates literally as “the collective will of the people will build a castle,” is a saying derived from an ancient Chinese writing It means that when many people unite in their quest but I hope the sagacious ancient author will forgive me Many people must come together to rebuild the castle I believe that every small nail and every cobblestone must be made up of the feelings of people who remember and care about what happened nine years ago Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission James Harris Gallery and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" HAA Cultural Events Calendar A large sculpture by Akio Takamori sits outside of a Whole Foods store in Seattle The halls of the University of Washington’s ceramics and metal arts building is abuzz with new students embarking on a new school year Professor Emeritus Akio Takamori taught in the building for 21 years and — after his retirement in 2014 — made frequent visits to reconnect with colleagues and students Takamori will not be returning to the building “Akio was one of the leading figures in contemporary ceramics,” says Jamie Walker pointing to a bulletin board with several pictures of his late colleague “But he never wavered in his commitment to teaching He took teaching seriously and it was a job that he loved.” In addition to teaching at University of Washington for over 20 years Takamori was an internationally renowned artist known for his ceramic figurative work that portrayed subtle-but-expressive renderings of the human form Takamori died of pancreatic cancer at age 66 in January of 2017 the youngest of three children whose parents operated a small clinic Takamori would draw inspiration from his childhood growing up in a community struggling to rebuild after the devastation of World War II. As a child Takamori witnessed the full spectrum of humanity from red-light district workers seeking medical care in his parent’s clinic to artists who frequently stayed at the Takamori home Takamori joined the arts club in high school and studied art in Tokyo He later worked as an apprentice production potter in Koishiwara where he honed his skills by making thousands of individual teacups and everyday pottery ware It was during his apprenticeship where he met Ken Ferguson head of the ceramics program at the Kansas City Art Institute who was visiting the pottery factory while touring Japan Ferguson was drawn to Takamori’s skill and encouraged him to pursue graduate studies in the United States “[When you see his work] you can see Akio painting you can’t think twice,” says his student Yuki Nakamora and that speed and breath you can sense in his brush mark.” Takamori’s work began to garner international attention in the early 1980s when he began painting sensual human bodies on ceramic slab vessels The physical marks of his brush strokes possessed the bold quality of Japanese calligraphers with marks both large and small holding a sense of swiftness of intention This unique style would become the hallmark of his future work Takamori’s work evolved from slab vessels to stand alone ceramic figures often referencing memories of village life in Japan Through the simplicity of their poses and gestures held transcendent universal qualities – humble figures rendered with an earthbound weight and mass “Takamori’s renderings of the human form had a genuineness to it,” said Akio’s colleague and friend Patti Warashina University of Washington ceramics professor emeritus there is a tenderness that has a universal appeal.” people standing in quiet repose with large feet firmly rooting them to the ground Takamori’s final show “Apology/Remorse” was shown at the James Harris Gallery in February Gallery owner and friend James Harris says Takamori was inspired by the contemporary political climate to explore the act of apology and state of remorse as it relates to gender and power Renderings included kneeling Japanese CEOs and placing male heads on the idealized versions of a woman’s body Takamori’s most visible work is a group of larger-than-life figures at the corner of Westlake Avenue North and Denny Way in front of the Whole Foods Market Warashina said she was surprised at the resilience of the materials to the outdoor elements and the aluminum and enamel hasn’t cracked,” she said but his works of art remain and they embody a lifetime of reflecting on what it means to be human This story originally appeared on KCTS9.org We rely on donations from readers like you to sustain Cascade PBS's in-depth reporting on issues crticial to the PNW Aileen Imperial is a video producer at Crosscut and KCTS 9 focused on arts and culture. Find her on Twitter at @imperealize or email at AImperial@kcts9.org As Republican legislators opt for ballot harvesting Democrats lean into town halls in predominantly red districts to engage new or reluctant voters The development of Walking grew out of two parts: the process and the findings of this process my movement across this campus became repetitive such that each walk echoed a walk from an earlier time I became intrigued with how we gain access to past or forgotten memories and thoughts when we remain in or return to those relevant spaces By anchoring my arts practice to the act of walking I found a way to carve out the time to walk for the sake of remembering and reflecting I hoped that if I spent enough time understanding the effects of the space while I was here perhaps it wouldn’t be such a loss once I left While the act of walking fulfilled a desire to contemplate the space I was about to leave I began to reflect on the negotiations of space–how we change ourselves to fit into the environment and how we carve out room for ourselves in these spaces where the act of survival can depend on sacrifices of the self or an unending negotiation between the self and the space While considering the expansiveness of these contentions I also began to see these interactions in the most mundane moments from my walks Within the banal act of clearing snow from sidewalks and pathways I saw continuous negotiations of space between human activity and snowfall I also saw moments of perseverance from the snow in the face of salt these moments were intriguing for their subversions and disruptions of agendas greater than themselves This series grew into a documentation of these mundane moments of subversive survivals 507-222-4000 This conversation is part of a series between Caroline Ha Thuc and curators across Asia Pacific. Nobuo Takamori is an independent curator and the director of “Outsiders Factory,” a curatorial collective that emerged in 2012 Takamori has organized various shows throughout Asia including “Post-Actitud” (2011) at Exteresa Art Actual Mexico City; "After Our Dear Country Failed” (2019) at Digital Art Center Taipei; "The Secret South” (2020) at Taipei Fine Art Museum; “The Middleman Taipei; “Another Continent” (2022) at National Taiwan Museum of Fine Art Taitung; and "The Oceans and the Interpreters” (2022-23) at Hong-Gah Museum and Solid Art and what did you have in mind at that time I quickly realized that I was not a good artist and that this path did not fit my personality a Taiwanese friend was looking for a curator for a project in Mexico City I took the job and found it very attractive The project led to the “Post-Actitud” exhibition organized at Ex Teresa Arte Actual in 2011 How has your conception of this field evolved My practice started with the urgent need to connect the Southeast Asian art scene with Taiwan a psychologically isolated country struggling with self-identity The exploration and rediscovery of its position on the map and the re-investigation of its history through a contemporary art perspective are necessary to make its art meaningful in our society. I attempt to remap my home island within the Global South’s perspective and create a network or platform for encouraging intercontinental dialogues through contemporary art. Installation view of "The Secret South" at Taipei Fine Art Museum Positioning Taiwan in the Global South framework is a strong political statement especially in our current geopolitical situation This was the topic of one of your exhibitions in 2020 “The Secret South,” in which you retraced the history of the relationships between Taiwan and the non-aligned countries How does the development of Taiwanese art fit into this narrative Although the Taipei government of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) did not participate in the conference the “exiled government” of “the Republic of Taiwan” in Tokyo sent a representative to observe the conference The existence of Taiwan itself is always intricate and its inner social structure regarding identity These narratives create gaps for outsiders trying to understand Taiwan but also reflect the complexities of Cold War histories Taiwan is the Galapagos of postwar geopolitics It is a developed country with the mindset and lifestyle of a developing country yet unrecognized diplomatically by most countries Outsiders like to categorize Taiwan within their singular narratives Chinese-speaking countries like to see Taiwan as part of Greater China do not like to include Taiwan within their cultural perimeter I wondered how to leverage these difficulties and challenge these existing narratives I presented a problematic country with a tropical landscape that does not belong to anything in a Global South context. navigates the hidden histories of the Cold War Artists Chang En Man and Ciwas Tahos reflect on their anxieties about identity When Taiwanese artists start to address self-identity issues they also rediscover the rich and complex layers of Taiwanese history I think it is a “tradition” in the Taiwanese art scene for most curators to work on group shows instead of solos. Installation view of "The Oceans and the Interpreters" at Hong-Gah Museum “The Oceans and the Interpreters” originates in a research residency you explored the relationships between Africa and Asia but the artistic practices that depict this connection are My priority was to try to find works that were dealing with this connection I also tried to use this opportunity to introduce some landmark works from Africa to a Taiwanese audience I hope that artists from different continents can rethink their relationships and evoke interest in future collaborations I assume this project was just a kind of “start-up.” What was your own research methodology for this process Did you work in collaboration with curators from Africa? My first field trip to Nigeria was in 2017 An Indonesian friend introduced me to the Nigerian artist and curator Jude Anogwih He was the co-curator of the Biennale Jogja XIII in 2015 which focused on Nigeria-Indonesia connections Jude helped me organize meetings at the Centre for Contemporary Art as well as galleries and artists based in Lagos traveling with a Taiwanese passport has always been challenging the Senegalese embassy rejected my visa application the most important African Biennale on the continent so I could not visit the Bamako Photography Biennale. My interest in the Caribbean started through research I contacted local galleries and artists on the internet Most of the islands I visited were European dependents as it was too complicated to get visas for independent countries such as Barbados or Trinidad. You have chosen to present artists from different countries What were your criteria for selecting the works Did you commission some works for this exhibition I prioritized works that directly addressed the relationship between Asia and Africa I also included works describing past trans-cultural or hidden international relationships during the Cold War The commissioned works were an important part of this exhibition whose works depict temporary building structures in the Caribbean created an installation inspired by Taipei’s urban landscape with local materials we also have issues with “illegal buildings,” yet some of these apartment extensions can be very creative who is famous for his photography of ruins created an artwork about the “Chinese Pagoda” in Kinshasa This pagoda was actually built for President Mobutu by the Taiwanese diplomatic delegation in the early 1970s. The show was split between Solid Art Gallery The basic idea was to divide the exhibition into two parts: a “black box” for videos with heavier historical topics located at the Hong-Gah Museum and a “white box” dedicated to installations including the large-scale installation by Tirzo Martha and other works with lighter topics My strategy was to create a journey of various experiences I designed several screening rooms where all the videos could be played at random The audience could adjust their screening time such as the classical film Xala (1975) by director Ousmane Sembène. The exhibition also included participatory artworks such as Malaysian artist Hoo Fan Chon's How to Dance Like a Mudskipper (2022) This commissioned work is based on his long-term research on the mudskipper As the galleries are located in the Guandu area of Taipei we organized a workshop for viewers to participate in the Taipei version of the dance Together with the “karaoke” style video Misafafahiyan Metamorphosis (2022) by Taiwanese artist Posak Jodian this form of expression had a strong presence in the show It is a powerful metaphor for self-projection If you consider how karaoke is important to pan-Asian societies then you will not be surprised by why so many artists like to utilize this format into their artistic expression. I opened the show with several oil paintings by Sudanese artist Salah Elmur Their strong cubist style was a good starting point to discuss “African style” and the influence of mainstream Western art history These paintings are also based on the vintage photo collection of Studio Kamal a photo studio operated by the artist’s grandfather in Khartoum during the 1960s and 70s The work is imbued with a sense of nostalgia for the “old days” and offers a relevant introduction to post-war modern history It is followed by Tuan Andrew Nguyen’s documentary The Specter of Ancestors Becoming (2019) about the Vietnamese community living in Senegal perhaps because I come from a minority myself and by Our Empty Uniforms Marched to the Echoes of an Invisible (2020) This video installation functions as a preface of the whole introduction because it narrates neglected stories and hidden connections between Asia and Africa. the show opened with Stefanos Tsivopoulos’s surrealist video Although it deals with Greece’s history and modern society I felt that it was a strong metaphor for the Taiwanese audience: three strangers from different ethnic backgrounds wake up on a mysterious island and ask basic philosophical questions such as “why are we here?” “where is this island?” and “who owns it?” I discovered this important work in Cyprus in 2017 Instead of visiting the most famous contemporary art show and have no interest visiting in the future I would like to spend more resources and time to visit countries that are ignored or are out of the mainstream You can always find inspiring artists and talented curators there Maybe my Taiwanese background made me look into other isolated countries I built a platform where the artworks could speak for themselves but I prefer to limit verbal discourse within the exhibition Visitors can take more time to engage directly with the artworks One of the joys of visiting a show is to discover things freely on my own. Installation view of "Everyday Life and Landscapes of the Island: Betel Nuts or do you also try to develop other modes of research I chose to work as a curator because I could avoid following the academic route but the folk stories from general villagers might inspire me as well or the smell of a town cannot be easily described in academic essays but work as material for me and my practice. My research cycles usually take 3 to 5 years but I conduct several projects simultaneously which gives me enough space to think and engage with them Things occur naturally through discussions and trust is paramount to building relationships with the artists involved I try not to directly interfere with their creation. Most of your curatorial work involves research including in fields outside the art sphere Do you think that curators must initiate research and work in a multidisciplinary manner Instead of “must,” I suppose I would “suggest.” Research is an excellent method to discover the potentiality of the curatorial practice Traditional academic methodologies can provide original materials curating works more like an interface that can bridge academic resources and audiences but it is very efficient for speaking of the unspeakable I feel I cannot go back to “academic writing” again. are curators today in a position where they can transmit and generate knowledge? I don’t think the curator is the one who “generates” knowledge and negotiate with them about how to tell their stories to our readers We try to publish a collage of stories that make sense and inspire. The value of curating is not to bring us knowledge but experiences these experiences are the gateway to creating our own knowledge ecosystem When thinking about exhibitions as platforms for knowledge production we are also wary of a top-down authoritarian structure A writer could also be authoritarian when narrating a story We cannot avoid top-down structures altogether contemporary art exhibitions are already platforms for expression that allow for great diversity and can even create the possibility of paradoxical discussions or physical chaos and institutions to re-elevate themselves. How can this chaos be translated into space? The chaos I refer to means bringing forth self-paradoxical narratives A multi-narrative experience can be created inside the show by selecting works from different materials and backgrounds and the Time Traveler,” that I curated in 2019 at TKG+ I juxtaposed videos from Julian Rosefeldt’s and Dan Isomura’s migrant worker’s “festival tent,” and karaoke work My Earthy Taste (2018) from Hoo Fan Chon and Tseng Zi Yi the gallery assistant had to take care of the snails from Chang En Man’s work The exhibition was a festival of hybrid forms I feel more like an architect fascinated by providing audiences with an experience of space as a collage of works Do you favor participatory programs to encourage the audience’s expression? Sometimes participatory projects create a structure or frame for participants therefore I like exhibitions that give me space to develop my skepticism Asian culture is already too participatory in its form—for instance What we lack are exhibitions where people can escape from intensive gatherings and social pressure to make themselves ready to care about abstract subjects deeply Curators work with many constraints and often have to make compromises If you were absolutely free to develop your own project The fun part of curating is not running away from compromise but finding good tricks to challenge these limitations I would love to work for a small-to-middle-scale biennial or triennial as my career development in Taiwan is bound by the island’s isolation. Subscribe to ArtAsiaPacific’s free weekly newsletter with all the latest news, reviews, and perspectives, directly to your inbox each Monday. How a traditional medium can be endlessly reinvented Behind-the-scenes of Ge’s social-intervention projects A look at the group’s most influential projects info@aapmag.com Privacy Policy | About Our Ads Mayor-elect Richard Bissen announced the appointments of directors to three more departments within his administration including: Shayne Agawa previously served as deputy director of the Department of Water Supply and deputy director of the Department of Environmental Management in two different administrations he was an engineer in the County’s Department of Public Works for over 15 years where he oversaw management of federal aid projects in coordination with state and federal agencies When he served as deputy director of the Department of Environmental Management Agawa was key to the expansion of the Environmental Protection and Sustainability Division which oversees recycling and environmental protection related grants As director of the Department of Environmental Management Agawa will lead more than 200 employees in three divisions of wastewater reclamation and environmental protection and sustainability Agawa received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Seattle University Kathleen Aoki has worked in nearly every division of the Planning Department She has previously served as a deputy director and director of the Department of Planning Aoki is currently the division chief for the Plan Implementation Division in addition to serving as a temporary division chief of the Long Range Division while it seeks to fill the vacant position She will lead a department responsible for updating the County General Plan used to guide the development of the county the administration and enforcement of long-range planning programs and cultural resource management and the administration and enforcement of zoning ordinances The department also supports six planning commissions that focus on the islands of Maui as well as the Cultural Resources Commission Urban Design Review Board and the Board of Variances and Appeals In 2018 Aoki was named the County Manager of the Year in recognition of her commitment to collaboration effective decision making and dedication to finding inclusive solutions Aoki earned a Bachelor of Arts degree Speech Communications from the University of Hawaiʻi Marc Takamori previously served as deputy director of the County Department of Transportation for more than seven years and since 2019 has been the department’s director He will be responsible for the management of the department’s annual budget of approximately $20 million and the oversight and compliance of Maui’s public transit and air ambulance contractors and vendors the transportation department performed a comprehensive operational analysis developed an electrification of transportation plan for the Maui Bus program and procured the County’s first hybrid electric range transit buses He received a Master of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Hawaiʻi Shidler College of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from the University of the Pacific School of Engineering and Computer Science Takamori is a 2015 graduate and a current Board member of the Ka Ipu Kukui Fellows leadership program “It is important to examine how our departments collectively and comprehensively integrate the programs and services we provide to our communities,“ said Mayor-elect Bissen “The work that gets done by all county departments impacts not only the everyday lives of our citizens but also the generations to come after us I am committed to exploring innovative ways we can balance providing services and programs needed now with a keen eye towards our future needs.” All appointments of department directors are subject to confirmation by the County Council Saigō Takamori was born in 1828 in the Kajiyachō district of Kagoshima as the eldest son of a low-ranking samurai Today his birthplace is a park with a monument dedicated to his memory was also the birthplace of many other great figures of the Meiji Restoration The monument marking the birthplace of Saigō Takamori Access: A 10-minute walk from Kagoshima-chūō Station or a short walk from the Museum of the Meiji Restoration stop on the Kagoshima City View bus route Just a minute’s walk from the birthplace of Saigō is the Museum of the Meiji Restoration entertaining highlights on the great leaders from Satsuma who helped to overthrow the Tokugawa government and build the Meiji state The entrance to the Museum of the Meiji Restoration The museum also has an area that uses a game format to present the pastimes that Saigō enjoyed in his childhood and youth such as swimming in the river or sumō wrestling with his friends and learning the traditional school of swordsmanship that originated in Satsuma The museum includes an area where kids and adults alike can experience the pastimes Saigō enjoyed in his childhood and youth The section of the museum presenting the history and achievements of the great historical leaders of the Meiji Restoration The centerpiece of the museum is the “Experience the Restoration Hall,” featuring realistic robots and film presentations Two short dramatic films are shown here—“The Road to the Restoration,” explaining the history from the late Tokugawa period up to the creation of the Meiji state and “Satsuma Students Head West,” depicting the story of students from Satsuma sent to Britain to pursue their studies giving museum visitors the sense of being right in the middle of the historical action Realistic robots depict historical figures of the Meiji Restoration in the museum’s diorama a 107-meter hill in the heart of the city of Kagoshima decisive battle was fought in the Satsuma Rebellion that broke out in 1877 pitting the Satsuma forces led by Saigō against the Imperial Army of the central government Today the area is a much-loved park where city residents can relax and enjoy themselves The view from Shiroyama takes in the city and the Sakurajima volcano in the distance is the small cave where Saigō Takamori is said to have spent the final five days of his life after his forces were driven back by the Imperial Army forces Saigō was shot and wounded as he left the cave and later committed suicide Lush trees and a stone fence surround the Saigō Takamori Cave A statue of Saigō stands at the base of Shiroyama accompanied by a small dog built to resemble his beloved pet About 10 minutes by car from Shiroyama is the Saigō Nanshū Memorial Museum built in 1978 by the Kagoshima municipal government as part of the commemorations of the 100th anniversary of Saigō’s death The museum’s attractions include a diorama and videos depicting Saigo’s life and achievements Entrance to the Saigō Nanshū Memorial Museum Upon entering the museum visitors immediately encounter a portrait of Saigō The museum collection includes Saigo’s works of calligraphy and materials related to the Satsuma Rebellion Particularly coveted among the museum’s items is his calligraphy of the four Chinese characters 敬天愛人 (keiten aijin) love people.” This was Saigō’s favorite motto The expression clearly reflects the distinctive approach to life of this son of Kyūshū known for his sincere interaction with and capacity to help people as well as his unwavering loyalty to friends Saigō’s calligraphy of his favorite motto: keiten aijin (“respect heaven The collection at the Saigō Nanshū Memorial Museum includes rare items like cloak that Saigō wore while serving as a general in the Imperial Army The historical materials on display include weapons used by the rebel forces and the Imperial Army during the Satsuma Rebellion On the same site as the Saigō Nanshū Memorial Museum is the Nanshū Cemetery where the remains of Saigō and 2,023 of his comrades who died in the Satsuma Rebellion are buried People still flock to the cemetery to pay their respects to Saigō’s memory reflecting the deep-rooted love that he has inspired among people in the local area and throughout Japan Sakurajima rises up in the background behind the Nanshū Cemetery Saigō’s tomb in the center of the Nanshū Cemetery (Originally written in Japanese by Satō Fumi; photographs by Kusano Seichirō Banner photo: Saigō stands watch over his hometown in statue form at the base of Shiroyama.) had a career that spanned traditional industrial pottery sometimes cartoonish figures — including those on display in front of Whole Foods at South Lake Union Seattle ceramic artist Akio Takamori spent Wednesday working in his Magnolia studio He put the finishing touches on some pieces with the help of his son a friend whose Pioneer Square gallery is showing an exhibition of Mr A Seattle show featuring the work of Akio Takamori and Efrain Almeida will run Feb 16 through April 1 at the James Harris Gallery who taught at the University of Washington for 21 years ceramic slab vessels and ultimately larger-than-life His work drew heavily from his Japanese heritage and from images from art history and culture “His work always had a sense of beauty,” Harris said “And I think that came from a real love of people in the world Takamori was born in 1950 in Nobeoka on Japan’s Kyushu Island His father was a doctor and his mother helped run a clinic attached to their house He studied ceramics and industrial design in Tokyo and apprenticed as a production potter on Kyushu “I had to make 250 cups every day for two years,” he told The Seattle Times in a 2002 interview He found a way out when American ceramist Ken Ferguson visited and encouraged him to study in the U.S Takamori enrolled at Ferguson’s Kansas City Art Institute he attended graduate school at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University He drew early recognition in the 1980s for a series of vessels made up of slabs in human forms Takamori joined the UW faculty in 1993 and was a cornerstone of a ceramics program that would be recognized as among the best in the country his work had moved from vessels to distinct human figures He mixed villagers drawn from his childhood in Japan with people in modern settings Douglas MacArthur and Japanese Emperor Hirohito with their height difference exaggerated “It was extraordinary that he was willing to take these kind of risks,” said Jamie Walker a UW art professor who helped recruit Takamori to the school suddenly talking about these incredibly powerful emotional part of an abstract-leaning break from industrial pottery His subjects stretched from mothers carrying children on their backs to laughing monks and babies with oversized heads Takamori could probably have gotten out of teaching introductory courses at the UW Takamori particularly enjoyed the opportunity to help guide students new to the art “He did a really good job juggling working as an artist “He was always evolving and growing; it never seemed like he was stuck.” Recently, he had been creating figures that drew on images of men apologizing from humbled chief executives to political leaders “My interest is humanity,” he told the The News Tribune of Tacoma in 2006 Everyone from a 2-year-old to an old man still has love Akio Takamori: Meet the Artist. Uploaded to YouTube by Derek Klein. Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser! Vashon Island Visual Artists will hold its Spring Studio Tour, featuring 43 art studios and galleries, from 10 a.m. to… Halperin will speak Saturday, May 3 at Vashon Havurah. It will feature well-known local actors Cate O’Kane and Dedra Whitt. Volume 13 - 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2020.00086 Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disease of the postsynaptic neuromuscular junction (NMJ) where nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (AChRs) are targeted by autoantibodies Search for other pathogenic antigens has detected the antibodies against muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) and low-density lipoprotein-related protein 4 (Lrp4) both causing pre- and post-synaptic impairments Agrin is also suspected as a fourth pathogen In a complex NMJ organization centering on MuSK: (1) the Wnt non-canonical pathway through the Wnt-Lrp4-MuSK cysteine-rich domain (CRD)-Dishevelled (Dvl The presynaptic Ca2+ homeostasis conditioning ACh release is modified by autoreceptors such as M1-type muscarinic AChR and A2A adenosine receptors The post-synaptic structure is stabilized by: (i) laminin-network including the muscle-derived agrin; (ii) the extracellular matrix proteins (including collagen Q/perlecan and biglycan which link to MuSK Ig1 domain and CRD); and (iii) the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex The study on MuSK ectodomains (Ig1/2 domains and CRD) recognized by antibodies suggested that the MuSK antibodies were pathologically heterogeneous due to their binding to multiple functional domains biglycan which functions in the manner similar to collagen Q our antibody assay showed the negative result in MG patients the synaptic stability may be impaired by antibodies against MuSK ectodomains because of the linkage of biglycan with MuSK Ig1 domain and CRD The pathogenic diversity of MG is discussed based on NMJ signaling molecules Functional organization for synaptic transmission in neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and antibody-targets (A) Presentation by staining of cultured rat myotube with fluorescence-labeled α-bungarotoxin and by the image analyzing using a laser cytometer indicating acetylcholine receptor (AChR) cluster (red) a synaptic stabilizing organization including extracellular matrix proteins (gree and light blue) The image is constructed on ACAS 570 (Meridian Instruments Inc. USA) which provides a graded pseudocolor image on the computer display (B) Schematic presentation of the post-synaptic structures Y marks attached with numbers indicate the antibodies to recognize respective targets of the functional structures Gray frame indicates the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) cluster formation Pink frames indicate AChR clustering by way of two signaling pathways mediated via the muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) 1/2 domains (green-limit in the pink MuSK ectodomain and green line with arrowhead) and MuSK cysteine-rich domain (CRD; red-limit in the pink MuSK ectodomain and red-line with arrowhead) the signals of which are mediated by Dishevelled (Dvl The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (Lrp4) is the receptor for agrin (partly for Wnts as described in the text) The small GTPases (shown in the pink frame of Kinases) effector PAK1 (p21-activated kinase 1) acts as a bridging molecule between the Wnt- and agrin-signaling pathways From “inside” the muscle cell MuSK is activated by Dok7 (downstream kinase); Dok7 recruits two adaptor protein Crk and Crk-L (CT10 regulators of kinase) for rapsyn-anchored AChR cluster formation The formed AChR clusters are anchored at the endplate membrane by rapsyn and immobilized by MuSK-linking heat-shock proteins (HSPs): tumorous imaginal disc 1 short form (Tid1s) Tid1s is required for the MuSK-Dok7 signaling during the MuSK activation The interaction of neuregulin 1 (NRG 1) with ErbB receptor (receptor tyrosine kinase of epidermal growth factor receptor family) increases the MuSK tyrosine phosphorylation (via Erbin) and thereby modulates the MuSK-dependent AChR clustering Caveolin 3 binds with the MuSK kinase domain and thereby driving AChR clustering Yellow frames indicate the organizations for synaptic stability and maintenance The synaptic stability of NMJ including AChR clusters (gray frame) Lrp4 (pink frame) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is modulated by extracellular matrix proteins (collagen Q laminin-network including muscle agrin and laminins and dystroglycan) worked in cooperation with the cytoskeleton The interaction of NRG 1 (neuregulin 1) with ErbB receptor (pink frames) contributes to the cytoskeletal organization through α-dystrobrevin phosphorylation on one hand (yellow frame) and the MuSK activation via Erbin on the other hand (pink frame) The downstream effector of Dok7-recruited Crk-L (Sorbs1/2) acts on the cytoskeleton for synaptic stability Collagen Q-Perlecan and Biglycan act on Dystroglycans in cooperation with cytoskeleton for synaptic stability on one hand (yellow frame) and implicate in AChR cluster formation via their interaction with pink-MuSK ectodomains (Ig1 shown by green limit with a green line and CRD shown by red limit with red line) on the other hand The former is cooperated by linking to dystrophin/utrophin-associated protein complex; the latter is cooperated by linking with rapsyn to firmly anchor AChR clusters at the post-synaptic membrane Cortactin (yellow frame) has the function of phosphorylation-dependent signaling downstream from Agrin/Lrp4/MuSK (pink frame) in promoting actin polymerization and also stabilizing AChR clusters at the postsynaptic membrane Coronin 6 is the actin-binding protein contributive to synaptic stability Muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) 1/2 domains; Y3 Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (Lrp4); Y5 Immunologically, MuSK antibodies are mainly IgG4 subclass (Koneczny, 2018) and known to cause MG by inhibiting binding between MuSK and Lrp4 independently of complement activation (Huijbers et al., 2013), but IgG1-3 MuSK antibodies can disperse preformed agrin-independent AChR clusters (Koneczny et al., 2013) We must be cautious of the antigen used for agrin-antibody assay because of the above-mentioned difference of functional structure between neural agrin and muscle agrin It seems likely that the MuSK antibodies have pathological heterogeneity based on their binding to functionally different domains Further work may provide a clue to the understanding of BMPs-mediated pathology in MuSK antibody-positive MG patients the complex compensatory mechanisms including the presynaptic autoreceptors and Ca2+ influx channel(s) may underlie to compensatory postsynaptic dysfunction the β2-agonist stimulation could be chosen as a novel therapeutic strategy in autoimmune and genetic myasthenias The following is the synaptic partners organizing molecules that regulate synaptic stability suggesting the test as to if the Collagen XIII could be a pathogenic antigen in MG patients The author confirms being the sole contributor of this work and has approved it for publication The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest Developmental regulation of amyloid precursor protein at the neuromuscular junction in mouse skeletal muscle Cortactin is a regulator of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity controlled by Wingless Intracellular Ca2+ stores and Ca2+ influx are both required for BDNF to rapidly increase quantal vesicular transmitter release Biglycan is an extracellular MuSK binding protein important for synaptic stability A case of anti-Lrp4 antibody-associated myasthenia gravis with a rare complication of thymoma successfully treated by thymectomy 25(OH)2D3 regulates agrin-induced acetylcholine receptor clustering through upregulation of rapsyn expression in C2C12 myotubes PD-1 and PD-L1 expression in thymic epithelial tumours and non-neoplastic thymus LRP4 is critical for neuromuscular junction maintenance Crosstalk between agrin and Wnt signaling in development of vertebrate neuromuscular junction safe and potentially effective therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Potentiation of exocytosis by phospholipase C-coupled G-protein-coupled receptors requires the priming protein Munc13–1 a danger signal that 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gravis Zoltowska Katarzyna Collagen Q-a potential target for autoantibodies in myasthenia gravis Structural mechanisms of the agrin-Lrp4-MuSK signaling pathway in neuromuscular junction differentiation Structural basis of agrin-Lrp4-MuSK signaling Double seronegative myasthenia gravis with anti-LRP4 antibodies Structure and superorganization of acetylcholine receptor-rapsyn complexes Next-generation Fc receptor-targeting biologics for autoimmune diseases Citation: Takamori M (2020) Myasthenia Gravis: From the Viewpoint of Pathogenicity Focusing on Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering Trans-Synaptic Homeostasis and Synaptic Stability Received: 15 January 2020; Accepted: 28 April 2020; Published: 28 May 2020 Copyright © 2020 Takamori. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) *Correspondence: Masaharu Takamori, bS10YWthbW9yaUB2YW5pbGxhLm9jbi5uZS5qcA== Manga UP! describes Shut Up, Takamori! (Takamori-kun o Damara Setai!!): Haruno debuted the manga in Square Enix's Gangan Joker in June 2023 as a one-shot story before it got a serialization later that year Square Enix published the manga's third compiled book volume on August 21 Tanaka launched the manga in pixiv Comic in March 2018 Square Enix published the manga's second compiled book volume in June 2023 Tanaka's A Terrified Teacher at Ghoul School! (Yōkai Gakkō no Sensei Hajimemashita!) manga launched in Square Enix's Monthly G Fantasy magazine in 2014, and is ongoing. The manga is inspiring a television anime that will debut on October 8. Volume 11 - 2017 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2017.00422 This article is part of the Research TopicSynaptic vesicle cycle: cellular and molecular mechanismsView all 15 articles Efficient retrieval of the synaptic vesicle (SV) membrane from the presynaptic plasma membrane is crucial for the fidelity of neurotransmission particularly during sustained neural activity Although multiple modes of endocytosis have been identified it is clear that the efficient retrieval of the major SV cargos into newly formed SVs during any of these modes is fundamental for synaptic transmission It is currently believed that SVs are eventually reformed via a clathrin-dependent pathway Various adaptor proteins recognize SV cargos and link them to clathrin ensuring the efficient retrieval of the cargos into newly formed SVs we summarize our current knowledge of the molecular signatures within individual SV cargos that underlie efficient retrieval into SV membranes as well as discuss possible contributions of the mechanisms under physiological conditions other accessory proteins specific for certain SV cargos such as AP-180/clathrin assembly lymphoid myeloid leukemia (CALM) family likely contribute to cargo selection and efficient retrieval In addition to specialized adaptors that link SV cargos to clathrin specific or non-selective cargo–cargo interactions within SVs may contribute to selective cargo retrieval into newborn SVs The latter mechanism can be particularly important and economic in maintenance of the stoichiometry of the major SV components a mechanism must exist to ensure the faithful retrieval of SV cargo proteins to generate SVs functionally competent to maintain the fidelity of neurotransmitter uptake and SV exocytosis during high activity indicating that the retrieval of individual SV cargo might be differentially regulated by multiple factors since a wide range of stimulation protocols have been used to monitor SV cargo recycling when multiple modes of endocytosis could be elicited it should be noted that pHluorin signals may include multiple reporter statuses in various endocytosed vesicles upon repetitive stimulation The contributions of other possible factors to preserve protein clusters on SVs a luminal matrix that “bridges” SV residents During repetitive stimulations through which the RRetP are exhausted the SV proteins inserted into the plasma membrane by exocytosis travel to the “hot spot” by diffusion and are likely retrieved by subsequent endocytosis we will present amino acid sequences or motifs within SV proteins that are responsible for SV cargo recognition by the adaptor proteins that underlie the efficient retrieval of individual cargo into clathrin-coated vesicles We will further describe the contribution of other endocytic motifs as well as specific cargo–cargo interactions that affect the efficiency of SV protein retrieval AP-2 recognizes a di-leucine or a dileucine-like motif within the cytoplasmic region of SV cargos (e.g. AP-2/cargo protein complexes are incorporated into SV surrounded by clathrin complexes The basic motif within the C2 domains of Syt 1 is required for binding of AP-2 and the binding is enhanced by a tyrosine-based motif of SV2A The SNARE motif of Syb2 binds to the ANTH domain of AP180/CALM The proline-rich domain of VGLUT1 interacts with a SH3 domain of endophilin which senses membrane curvature and recruits dynamin that mediates membrane tubulation and fission (Left panel) Syp and Syb2 form a 1:2 complex on SVs and the complex is dissociated upon SNARE complex assembly during exocytosis the Syp/Syb2 complex is reformed and incorporated into SV the efficiency of Syb2 retrieval would be decreased VGAT contains an atypical di-leucine motif (E39EAVGFA45) consisting of acidic residues at the −4 and −5 positions upstream of two hydrophobic residues and the F44A/AA mutation resulted in reduced retrieval of VGAT during and after repetitive stimulation the E39E40/GG mutation also caused substantial delay of VGAT retrieval underscoring the importance of acidic residues in the di-leucine-like motif single mutations in the acidic residues led to a shift from the AP-2-dependent pathway to the AP-3-dependent pathway These results revealed the following: (1) hydrophobic residues are more compatible and di-leucine motifs are more diverse than previously envisioned and (2) acidic residues in the di-leucine motif may play an essential role in selective binding to specialized adaptor proteins including AP-1/2/3 (see also Proline-rich domain although the detailed roles of the di-leucine-like motifs of Syt1 and other vesicular neurotransmitter transporters (VMATs/VAChT) in recycling at the presynaptic terminal remain to be explored the existence of di-leucine-like motifs in the major SV cargos indicate a vital role in their retrieval This sequence also predicts which adaptor protein complexes are involved during recognition and can ultimately define the distribution of the SV cargos across SV pools with distinct release properties These findings collectively indicate that the basic motif of Syt1 is not only responsible for Syt1 retrieval during endocytosis but also plays a key role in concentrating the endocytic protein machinery at the “hot spot” of endocytosis upon the elevation of cytoplasmic [Ca2+] near release sites the deletion of stonin 2 resulted in the selective accumulation of Syt1 on the cell surface indicating that it was required for maintaining sufficient copies of Syt1 during constitutive synaptic vesicle recycling and not for the rapid retrieval of Syt1 upon stimulation Elucidating the contributions of the C2 domains of Syt1 to its retrieval has proven difficult, mainly because Syt1 plays an essential role not only in Ca2+-triggered exocytosis, but also in SV endocytosis (Jorgensen et al., 1995; Poskanzer et al., 2003, 2006; Nicholson-Tomishima and Ryan, 2004; Yao et al., 2011) the interaction might be central to the initiation of SV endocytosis through recruitment of clathrin and accessory proteins that are essential for SV reformation Syb2, the most abundant SV protein and major SNARE on SVs, is essential for Ca2+-triggered rapid SV fusion to the plasma membrane. Although Syb2 is abundant (~70 copies per SV) and also present on the presynaptic plasma membrane as a potential RRetP, reduced expression of Syb2 might have a substantial impact on synaptic transmission (Koo et al., 2015) binding of the N-terminal SNARE motif of Syb2 to the AP180 family might play a key role in the selective retrieval of Syb2 It remains to be clarified whether the existence of a PRD in VGLUT1 alone resulted in the differences between the isoforms In addition to the role of the PRD in VGLUT1 retrieval, this domain may be involved in the regulation of release probability (Weston et al., 2011) Overexpression of endophilin in hippocampal neurons increased the release probability whereas suppression of endophilin had the opposite effect the increase in release probability induced by exogenous endophilin was mediated by the BAR domain of endophilin the effect could be “buffered” by the PRD of VGLUT1 indicating that the PRD in VGLUT1 may regulate available endophilin molecules on SVs that increase the release probability the PRD of Syb2 plays a pivotal role in SV recycling rather than Syb2 retrieval exclusively This finding indicated that non-selective hydrophobic interactions as well as specific sequence-dependent interactions between cytoplasmic tails of individual cargos There is now evidence to support the notion that direct interactions among SV cargos might also significantly influence their cooperative retrieval These results collectively indicated that SV2A might function as a molecular chaperone of Syt1 limiting the retrieval of Syt1 during endocytosis its interaction with Syp contributes to the efficient retrieval of Syb2 It remains largely unknown whether these physical changes in SVs resulting from the functions of VGLUTs have any influence on the clustering of other SV proteins it remains to be seen whether similar mechanisms by which transporters play central roles in coordinating retrieval of other SV cargos exist in different vesicle populations carrying different vesicular neurotransmitter transporters SV cargos are retrieved into ELVs and subsequently sorted into SVs in a clathrin-dependent manner the previously reported involvement of clathrin-dependent retrieval motifs at room temperature with the use of pHluorin probes should be carefully reconciled in future experiments we have summarized our current knowledge regarding the molecular signatures of SV proteins which affect the efficiency of their retrieval but some interact with multiple adaptor proteins This complexity of cargo-adaptor interactions may be responsible for the fidelity and efficiency of SV cargo retrieval within a wide range of synaptic activity contain multiple retrieval motifs that are recognized by different adaptor proteins As SV membranes are reformed via multiple modes at different speeds depending on neural activity the existence of multiple motifs in individual cargos may represent a “safeguard” system to maintain the amount of essential SV cargo at any time Future studies will be needed to proceed toward a complete mechanistic understanding of SV cargo retrieval YM prepared initial drafts of the manuscript and the figure and ST finalized them This study was supported by grants from JSPS KAKENHI (16H04675) and the JSPS Core-to-Core Program, A. Advanced Research Networks, and a research grant from The Naito Foundation to ST. We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.jp) for English language editing Architecture of the synaptophysin/synaptobrevin complex: structural evidence for an entropic clustering function at the synapse Single synaptic vesicles fusing transiently and successively without loss of identity Structure of synaptophysin: a hexameric MARVEL-domain channel protein The kinetics of synaptic vesicle reacidification at hippocampal nerve terminals AP180 maintains the distribution of synaptic and vesicle proteins in the nerve terminal and indirectly regulates the efficacy of Ca2+-triggered exocytosis The synaptophysin-synaptobrevin complex: a hallmark of synaptic vesicle maturation Synaptic vesicle membrane proteins interact to form a multimeric complex Blagoveshchenskaya Di-leucine signals mediate targeting of tyrosinase and synaptotagmin to synaptic-like microvesicles within PC12 cells and synprint binding region of the C2B domain of synaptotagmin The phospho-dependent dynamin-syndapin interaction triggers activity-dependent bulk endocytosis of synaptic vesicles Bulk synaptic vesicle endocytosis is rapidly triggered during strong stimulation Abnormal neurotransmission in mice lacking synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) Synaptobrevin is essential for fast synaptic-vesicle endocytosis Factors regulating the abundance and localization of synaptobrevin in the plasma membrane Synaptobrevin binding to synaptophysin: a potential mechanism for controlling the exocytotic fusion machine Monitoring vacuolar-type H+ ATPase-mediated proton influx into synaptic vesicles PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text Regulation of markers of synaptic function in mouse models of depression: chronic mild stress and decreased expression of VGLUT1 Generation of high curvature membranes mediated by direct endophilin bilayer interactions Fernandez-Alfonso The kinetics of synaptic vesicle pool depletion at CNS synaptic terminals Simultaneous binding of PtdIns(4,5)P2 and clathrin by AP180 in the nucleation of clathrin lattices on membranes Multiple dileucine-like motifs direct VGLUT1 trafficking Fission and uncoating of synaptic clathrin-coated vesicles are perturbed by disruption of interactions with the SH3 domain of endophilin Synaptic proteins and SNARE complexes are localized in lipid rafts from rat brain synaptosomes Diffusional spread and confinement of newly exocytosed synaptic vesicle proteins A fine balance of synaptophysin levels underlies efficient retrieval of synaptobrevin II to synaptic vesicles Synaptophysin is required for synaptobrevin retrieval during synaptic vesicle endocytosis Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is the dominant mechanism of vesicle retrieval at hippocampal synapses Recognition of a basic AP-2 binding motif within the C2B domain of synaptotagmin is dependent on multimerization Endocytosis of VAMP is facilitated by a synaptic vesicle targeting signal AP-2 recruitment to synaptotagmin stimulated by tyrosine-based endocytic motifs Tyrosine-based 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synaptobrevin/VAMP and synaptophysin Synaptic vesicle recycling at CNS synapses without AP-2 CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Synaptic vesicle generation from central nerve terminal endosomes Compromised fidelity of endocytic synaptic vesicle protein sorting in the absence of stonin 2 Molecular mechanisms of presynaptic membrane retrieval and synaptic vesicle reformation Clathrin/AP-2 mediate synaptic vesicle reformation from endosome-like vacuoles but are not essential for membrane retrieval at central synapses Vesicular synaptobrevin/VAMP2 levels guarded by AP180 control efficient neurotransmission SNARE motif-mediated sorting of synaptobrevin by the endocytic adaptors clathrin assembly lymphoid myeloid leukemia (CALM) and AP180 at synapses A phosphorylation site regulates sorting of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter to dense core vesicles Synaptophysin regulates the kinetics of synaptic vesicle endocytosis in central neurons SNAREs are concentrated in cholesterol-dependent clusters that define docking and fusion sites for exocytosis SV2B regulates synaptotagmin 1 by direct interaction Visualizing postendocytic traffic of synaptic vesicles at hippocampal synapses The synaptic vesicle protein SV2A is the binding site for the antiepileptic drug levetiracetam The C2B Ca2+-binding motif of synaptotagmin is required for synaptic transmission in vivo CrossRef Full Text Stonins – specialized adaptors for synaptic vesicle recycling and beyond Stonin 2: an adaptor-like protein that interacts with components of the endocytic machinery is not essential for neurotransmitter release Miesenböck Visualizing secretion and synaptic transmission with pH-sensitive green fluorescent proteins Recruitment of endophilin to clathrin-coated pit necks is required for efficient vesicle uncoating after fission Fast vesicle fusion in living cells requires at least three SNARE complexes Protein quantification at the single vesicle level reveals that a subset of synaptic vesicle proteins are trafficked with high precision Nicholson-Fish VAMP4 is an essential cargo molecule for activity-dependent bulk endocytosis Nicholson-Tomishima Kinetic efficiency of endocytosisat mammalian CNS synapses requires synaptotagmin I Dual roles of the C2B domain of synaptotagmin I in synchronizing Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitter release Synaptic transmission deficits in Caenorhabditis elegans synaptobrevin mutants Distinct modes of endocytotic presynaptic membrane and protein uptake at the calyx of Held terminal of rats and mice Cargo adaptors: structures illuminate mechanisms regulating vesicle biogenesis Vesicular glutamate transporter 1 orchestrates recruitment of other synaptic vesicle cargo proteins during synaptic vesicle recycling Discrete residues in the C2B domain of synaptotagmin I independently specify endocytic rate and synaptic vesicle size CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Synaptotagmin I is necessary for compensatory synaptic vesicle endocytosis in vivo Preobraschenski Phosphorylation of synaptic vesicle protein 2 modulates binding to synaptotagmin VAMP4 directs synaptic vesicles to a pool that selectively maintains asynchronous neurotransmission Synaptophysin 1 clears synaptobrevin 2 from the presynaptic active zone to prevent short-term depression Vti1a identifies a vesicle pool that preferentially recycles at rest and maintains spontaneous neurotransmission Endophilin/SH3p4 is required for the transition from early to late stages in clathrin-mediated synaptic vesicle endocytosis Sankaranarayanan Real-time measurements of vesicle-SNARE recycling in synapses of the central nervous system Sorting of the vesicular GABA transporter to functional vesicle pools by an atypical dileucine-like motif vGLUT2 heterozygous mice show more susceptibility to clonic seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol calcium-regulated interaction of the synaptic vesicle proteins SV2 and synaptotagmin SNARE function analyzed in synaptobrevin/VAMP knockout mice The SNARE motif is essential for the formation of syntaxin clusters in the plasma membrane Two synaptobrevin molecules are sufficient for vesicle fusion in central nervous system synapses Synaptic vesicle endocytosis occurs on multiple timescales and is mediated by formin-dependent actin assembly Modes and mechanisms of synaptic vesicle recycling Südhof Neurotransmitter release: the last millisecond in the life of a synaptic vesicle VGLUTs: ‘exciting’ times for glutamatergic research Tubular membrane invaginations coated by dynamin rings are induced by GTP-gamma S in nerve terminals A leucine-based motif mediates the endocytosis of vesicular monoamine and acetylcholine transporters depressive-like behaviour and impaired recognition memory in mice with reduced expression of the vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1) Cargo recognition in clathrin-mediated endocytosis 5:a016790 doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a016790 van den Bogaart One SNARE complex is sufficient for membrane fusion van den Bogaart Membrane protein sequestering by ionic protein-lipid interactions The coupling between synaptic vesicles and Ca2+ channels determines fast neurotransmitter release Functional dissection of the interactions of stonin 2 with the adaptor complex AP-2 and synaptotagmin Vesicle-associated membrane protein-2 (synaptobrevin-2) forms a complex with synaptophysin Vesicular proteins exocytosed and subsequently retrieved by compensatory endocytosis are nonidentical Composition of isolated synaptic boutons reveals the amounts of vesicle trafficking proteins STED microscopy reveals that synaptotagmin remains clustered after synaptic vesicle exocytosis dynamin 3- and clathrin-independent pathway of synaptic vesicle recycling mediated by clathrin-independent pathway of synaptic vesicle recycling mediated by bulk endocytosis PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text Uncoupling the roles of synaptotagmin I during endo- and exocytosis of synaptic vesicles Cotrafficking of SV2 and synaptotagmin at the synapse Synaptic vesicle size and number are regulated by a clathrin adaptor protein required for endocytosis Synaptotagmin I is a high affinity receptor for clathrin AP-2: implications for membrane recycling Phosphorylation of synaptic vesicle protein 2A at Thr84 by casein kinase 1 family kinases controls the specific retrieval of synaptotagmin-1 Citation: Mori Y and Takamori S (2018) Molecular Signatures Underlying Synaptic Vesicle Cargo Retrieval Received: 30 September 2017; Accepted: 15 December 2017; Published: 05 January 2018 Copyright © 2018 Mori and Takamori. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited *Correspondence: Shigeo Takamori, c3Rha2Ftb3JAbWFpbC5kb3NoaXNoYS5hYy5qcA== Northwest Asian Weekly March 2, 2017 By Northwest Asian Weekly Girl and Mother and Child” is a public installation by Akio Takamori between Ninth Ave completed his final body of work just a day before dying from pancreatic cancer entitled “Apology/Remorse,” weaves complex concepts together such as the differences between Eastern and Western culture The show runs at the James Harris Gallery in downtown Seattle until April 1 The recurring theme of Japanese leaders and executives publicly apologizing for their mistakes marks many of Takamori’s last pieces some shown with the ideal woman’s body to challenge gender roles in powerful positions “Yellow Man,” one of the pieces from “Apology/Remorse,” is finished with yellow glaze which combines the male head to the female body “He thought it was upending this whole dialogue about patriarchal CEOs on a woman’s body exposing themselves and being very vulnerable by showing remorse,” said James Harris who was Takamori’s friend and owns the gallery where the work will be shown te of the national climate,” said Jamie Walker the director of the University of Washington’s School of Art + Art History + Design Walker worked closely with Takamori and Doug Jeck a master of figurative ceramics and University of Washington (UW) professor “I was looking at Trump and Hillary next to each other on the television we’re going to carry on that for a while,” Takamori said in an interview with the Stranger in December “I feel right now that the world is so unknown but even though Hillary didn’t become president we are looking at the Venus now and realizing that was a man’s vision There’s no return for the old chauvinism way Takamori’s largest piece of work in the collection adds historical context by featuring Willy Brandt who kneeled at the German occupation-era Warsaw Ghetto Uprising monument in Poland It was an act of remorse that was seen as Germany’s first steps to recognizing its past Takamori’s ceramic “Young Woman in White Dress” perches at the top of the Silverberg staircase in the Allen Center at the University of Washington Takamori was born in Japan and trained at the Musashino Art College in Tokyo As an apprentice in Kyushu on the path to becoming an industrial potter he began to question the constraints of industrial ceramics He moved to the United States to study at the Kansas City Art Institute Takamori was an active supporter of local artists and students Walker describes him as a person who lived and breathed art “People felt that they were part of his world through his art.” Walker saw Takamori’s work as a shared experience Takamori would invite people to his studio and talk to them as he worked a Texas-based artist and former student of Takamori’s said her most valuable moments with Takamori were observing him create his work A preview of a few works from Akio Takamori’s “Apology/Remorse” exhibition at the James Harris Gallery “He would ask them what it felt like to be human,” she said in a story she wrote about her experiences with Takamori “The figure that emerged after the last firing was always a surprise each newborn person stepping out of the kiln telling a uniquely raw Takamori’s ceramic work was known for his painterly use of underglaze a clay mixture that adds color or texture to ceramics in many of his pieces in “Apology/Remorse,” he abandoned that familiar style instead using monochromatic glazes in colors like black a potter who studied with Takamori as a graduate student at the UW agreed that Takamori’s work was always evolving “He was the kind of artist we as students aspired to be,” she said When his cancer treatment made him lose feeling in his hands making it hard for him to use clay as his medium he began painting in order to continue creating art yet he completed the body of work,” said Walker “He loaded his last kiln the day before he died.” Brynn can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com Leaf KYOTO Store Locations Found near Zuishin-in Temple in Yamashina Just a minute's walk from Ono Station on the Tozai Subway Line there is a yakiniku restaurant that opened because of a love affair with the people and cattle of Kamei Farm he witnessed firsthand the hard work involved and the importance of receiving life as a gift He opened an Omi beef barbecue restaurant directly from Kamei Farm last fall The Omi beef lunch features beautifully sliced Omi beef along with high-level side dishes such as rice cooked in a silver rice kettle with Koshihikari from Kyoto Tanba and homemade kimchi The Yakishabu and Yaki-Suki set menus are all in the 1000 yen range so you will want to visit several times a month to recharge your energy This is a surprisingly affordable price for the daily specials which include meat from the meat of the day The warm tofu and three kinds of kimchi are all homemade This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page By Seattle Mag May 27 Akio Takamori’s ceramic work reflects a long-term interest in matters of the flesh He often paints blushing red cheeks on his sensuous figures giving the impression that blood has just rushed to the surface of the skin stand with arms crossed over their chests and spell out the words “love” and “lust” with their bodies inspiring a tactile sort of empathy when an arm clasps a knee Here’s an overview of some notable spots and happenings The first Asian American immigrants landed in Seattle in the 1860s just a decade after the city’s founding in 1852 Seattle is plentiful with sites that tell crucial stories about Seattle’s Asian American community whether you choose to learn about historic neighborhoods and buildings in the International District or browse sculptures and paintings at the… Seattle resident Joshua Gidding examines his own white privilege Seattle resident Joshua Gidding attempts to come to terms with his privilege Gidding grapples with the rapidly changing cultural norms in 21st-century America while examining his own racial biases and prejudices As Manhattan Book Review notes: “Old White Man Writing is an introspective deep dive into an eventful life… Local scientist and painter Jill Pelto spotlights climate change in a multi-artist show at Slip Gallery The divide between the arts and sciences is long-fostered and well-documented children are often singled out for their penchant for math or artistic ability and guided toward classes — and later careers — that align with their right or left brain tendencies For Jill Pelto — a local climate scientist Theatre is planning for its 50th birthday next year Karen Lund vividly remembers that sinking feeling she had in the fall of 2023 producing artistic director of Taproot Theatre Co. first realized that the financially strapped midsized professional theatre in the Greenwood neighborhood might not survive The theatre had already weathered the worst of the pandemic Sign up and get Seattle's best events delivered to your inbox every week Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative By Jackie Carberry Business Pyramid Insurance has announced the hiring of two agents who both worked previously at Finance Insurance and Hawaii Medical Service Michael Bennett has been named to the Ocular Surgery News’ Retina 150 an elite group of retina specialists and surgeons Bennett is founder of Bennett Eye Institute “Apology/Remorse,” is now up at James Harris Gallery Noted Seattle ceramic sculptor Akio Takamori, who died of pancreatic cancer in January at age 66 And the eight sculptures and seven drawings in “Apology/Remorse,” at James Harris Gallery make it clear that his artistic vitality was undiminished to the end All the pieces strike notes of contrition in varying ways The largest of the sculptures, “Willy B,” portrays German Chancellor Willy Brandt in a pivotal moment in Germany’s history. In 1970, while placing a wreath on a monument commemorating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising against the Nazis, Brandt knelt and fell silent Thus did I acknowledge the millions murdered.” 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays through April 1, James Harris Gallery, 604 Second Ave., Seattle (206-903-6220 or jamesharrisgallery.com) rather than picturing Brandt in the dark overcoat he wore that day depicts him in what seems to be a Japanese kimono meditative “Willy B” to another sculpture in the exhibit “Apology,” showing a Japanese man in a business suit on his knees with his eyes half-closed and his head bowed The public confessions of Japanese executives who have let their companies and employees down turn up in Takamori’s large ink-on-paper drawings turning away from the microphones pointed at him a standing businessman bows so sharply that the top of his head falls outside the frame of the picture accentuating the effect of someone looking down into his own abyss An untitled “headshot” portrait of a Japanese businessman shows Takamori at his intuitive best It’s a perfect blend of mannerism and naturalism as its bold circles and ellipses of ink combine seamlessly with large looser brush strokes that outline the contours of his head The most unusual pieces in “Apology/Remorse” are six sculptures that place the heads of elderly Asian men on the armless Greco-Roman fertility-goddess bodies The expression on these male faces is sometimes sour or disdainful (two pieces both titled “Remorse”) haughty (“Black Man”) or calmly stonewalling (“Yellow Man”) The pairing of masculine heads with nude female physiques suggests untenable vulnerabilities in these startling hybrid figures If masculine and feminine can’t find a better way of getting along than this Several of the sculptures are rougher in surface and more chance-ridden in glaze application than Takamori’s usual tidy style where “accidental” drips creep down the lengths of the figures “Apology/Remorse” is kept good company by “Trance,” a show of sculptures and paintings by Brazilian artist Efrain Almeida dominate Almeida’s watercolor diptychs and his acrylic-painted bronzes And while they’re naturalistically depicted they seem to carry a metaphorical charge as well as the birds perch on branches or huddle in nests (bird and setting they seem to emphasize the void surrounding them where he places his bright-feathered creatures against vaporous-nebulous backdrops as gray as mist Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser Ariz - The Arizona State University Art Museum’s Ceramics Research Center (CRC) presents a major mid-career exhibition on the innovative ceramic art work of Akio Takamori Takamori has spent the majority of his artistic career in the U.S and is regarded as one of the most inventive and expressive contemporary artists to emerge from American ceramics 2006, Between Clouds of Memory: Akio Takamori A Mid-Career Survey is the first in-depth analysis of Takamori’s ceramic and graphic art work created between 1976 and the present This hallmark exhibition of 42 ceramic sculptures and nine prints is drawn from the artist’s personal holding the CRC permanent collection and private and public collections nationwide shows the artist’s ongoing search for personal and cultural identity in an era of increasingly global influences and contradictions Takamori’s figurative work is often autobiographical and includes villagers shopkeepers and family members that have been modeled from memory Takamori’s signature “envelope” vessel constitutes a groundbreaking development in American ceramics and coincides with a “golden era” in the 1980s when American ceramic artists let loose a torrent of creative energy with many of the major artists coming out of Takamori’s alma mater Takamori’s work has always remained figurative and expressive of human emotion and sensuality In recent years the dramatic sexual imagery of his vessel forms of the 1980’s and early 90’s have evolved into quieter more contemplative sculptural works that reflect Takamori’s ever-changing relationship to clay Takamori's figures are masterfully executed in porcelain with a deft hand for decoration a marriage of western and non-western influences His use of black lines reminiscent of Japanese wood block prints coupled with an intense expression of the human form have made Takamori one of the most exciting and imaginative artists to emerge from American ceramics Takamori has challenged our interpretation of his work,” said Peter Held an artist flexing time and space to reconstitute an identity caught between clouds of memory.” “Between Clouds of Memory” to present multiple perspectives on the Takamori’s career The richly illustrated book will include commentary from Garth Clark who reflects on his relationship with the artist; Peter Held Seattle and the ASU Art Museum store will distribute the book which will retail for $35 and be available in the fall Between Clouds of Memory will travel to three additional venues: Marylhurst University’s Art Gym to coincide with the 40th Annual National Conference of the National Council on Education of the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Beyond Clouds and Memory Related Events: Akio Takamori: Between Clouds of Memory is one of three contemporary Asian art exhibitions opening at the ASU Art Museum in the fall of 2005 Others include, Regeneration: Contemporary Art from China and the U.S. 24; and Stella Lai: Let’s Stop Pretending the first solo museum exhibition of paintings and installations by the 30-year-old emerging artist born in China and living in San Francisco The ASU Art Museum is a division of The Katherine K The museum’s Ceramics Research Center is located on the northeast corner of Mill Avenue and 10th Street members of the public should call the ASU Art Museum at (480) 965-2787 The ASU Art Museum was named “the single most impressive venue for contemporary art in Arizona” by “Art in America.” It is a division of the Herberger College of Fine Arts at Arizona State University. To learn more about the museum, visit http://asuartmuseum.asu.edu Media Contact:Denise Tanguay 480.965.7144denise.tanguay@asu.edu 2005Stoneware with underglazePhoto credit: Robert Vinnedge Photo Courtesy of Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts 2003Collection of Sara and David LiebermanPhoto credit: Anthony Cunha Bob McDermott and wife Utu stand with Naomi Takamori (right) who recently retired after more than 30 years of dedicated service to Campbell High and other schools When it comes to requesting funds from the state budget I place education and the improvement of our schools as one of my top priorities I’m focusing on ways to expand the capacity of our district schools During recent discussions with one of Campbell High School’s assistant principals we zeroed in on what is needed straightaway Campbell High School needs additional classroom space to accommodate our growing community “My concern is that our projected enrollment in the years to come reveals that our facility is undersized to house additional students,” said Greenland “Our student population is expected to be more than 3,100 next year and the projected numbers by 2016-2017 are said to be near 3,500.” Given the growing competition to secure state funding we have to pick the projects that will do the most good for the community’s children “We know portable classrooms aren’t the best possible solution for our teachers and students but they can be an option,” he continued we do have some areas that could accommodate some portable classrooms.” Capital improvement projects for heat abatement and athletic facilities renovations that were secured during the last legislative session are well underway The current construction project awarded to Campbell High School involves improvements to the football/track field and should be completed by the end of July I would like to mention that the longtime principal of Campbell High School retired at the end of last year and she will be sorely missed I applaud her dedication to the school and our community I pledge to work hard with Campbell’s new principal along with hardworking assistant principal Greenland Bob McDermott represents District 40 – Ewa Call him at 586-9730 or email repmcdermott@capitol.hawaii.gov Vashon Island Visual Artists will hold its Spring Studio Tour It will feature well-known local actors Cate O’Kane and Dedra Whitt tells stories of identity and humanity through his art But that’s part of why George Rodriguez fell for clay He was studying graphic design as an undergraduate in El Paso and thought that ceramics was just about pottery But he took a class anyway and discovered that clay—with all of its possibilities and uncertainties—could become sculpture the Seattle artist who built her career around sculpting the human figure “This was the community I wanted to be in.” in jeans double-cuffed to reveal his colorful socks is working in his two-story corner studio in an old warehouse in Ballard a larger-than-life clown he calls “Candypants” awaits visitors To the left looms a massive kiln large enough for Rodriguez to walk inside It makes it possible for him to create people-sized figures he explains as he pulls open the heavy door and throws his whole body into sliding it down a track and massive and often intricate sculptures has its challenges “It’s always exciting to open a kiln,” says Rodriguez Part of his style centers on ornamentation and detail He hand forms tiny leaves and rosettes and elements to adorn the larger figures he’s creating “Instrumental Divide,” featured nine life-sized mariachi figures and was built around the theme of community you see the unadorned backs of nine figures shoulder to shoulder you’re standing on a tiled plaza with nine mariachi players in elaborate dress In 2009, he received a Bonderman Travel Fellowship that allowed him to spend the following year traveling the world He found inspiration in Japan’s cherry blossoms Peru’s pre-Columbian pottery and China’s Terracotta Army It was a necessary adventure for Rodriguez who often reflects about his own identities—Mexican and American “It made me realize how interconnected we are as human beings,” he says he found himself trying to merge western and eastern styles in his work “So much imagery bridges cultures without even trying.” He took inspiration from communities besides his own ones he wants to celebrate through his own lens Rodriguez’s first solo show was a series of self-portraits One of his next projects evolved away from himself as a subject into a series of people connected by the named George: George Jetson Rodriguez’s work is playful but also thoughtful He created “Narcissus,” a dress covered with yellow flowers in response to people saying his self-portraits were narcissistic Those who look inside the dress see themselves in a mirror Rodriguez is represented by the Foster White Gallery and his work can be found at two sites on the UW campus A version of his 12-piece series based on the Chinese zodiac hangs in the Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science and Engineering but his version uses creatures of Central and South America in place of the Chinese animals traditionally featured While Rodriguez is popular among collectors in the Pacific Northwest his reputation is now spreading across the country the National Council on the Education of Ceramic Arts recognized him as an emerging artist And he is currently an artist in residence at Temple University in Philadelphia His latest project is a continuation of his animal series “El Zodaico Familiar.” This version is a collaborative effort with Rodriguez’s sculptures embellished by Mexican and Chicanx/Chicane artists—including a jeweler and a poet—whose birth years correspond with the masks they’re helping create The exhibit opens June 19 and will run through late October at the Whatcom Museum Email: magazine@uw.edu Paul RuckerPublisherJon MarmorEditorHannelore SudermannManaging EditorShin Yu PaiStaff WriterCaitlin KlaskDigital EditorJason ClarkArt DirectorAbout UW MagazineUW Magazine is published four times a year in March A quarterly e-newsletter with additional digital content is emailed in October Subscribe and manage your subscription. © 2025 University of Washington | Seattle, WA © 2025 University of Washington | Seattle, WA Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a lethal histologic subtype of lung cancer. Although the Commission on Cancer recommends pathological examination of at least 10 lymph nodes dissected (LNDs) for resected early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, its survival benefit of LNDs in patients with early-stage SCLC is unknown. The National Cancer Database was queried for SCLC patients with clinical stage I-II and clinical N0, NX disease per AJCC 7th edition who had undergone lobectomy between 2004 and 2017. Overall survival of SCLC patients by the number of LNDs was compared using Log-rank tests. Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed. Although we are reluctant to recommend a definitive “optimal number” of LNDs, our findings suggest the prognostic and therapeutic roles for performing ≥3 LNDs in patients with early-stage SCLC who undergo lobectomy. Volume 12 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.962282 This article is part of the Research TopicSmall Cell Lung Cancer: New Drugs and StrategiesView all 15 articles Objectives: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a lethal histologic subtype of lung cancer Although the Commission on Cancer recommends pathological examination of at least 10 lymph nodes dissected (LNDs) for resected early-stage non-small cell lung cancer its survival benefit of LNDs in patients with early-stage SCLC is unknown Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried for SCLC patients with clinical stage I-II and clinical N0 NX disease per AJCC 7th edition who had undergone lobectomy between 2004 and 2017 Overall survival of SCLC patients by the number of LNDs was compared using Log-rank tests Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed and 36 (2%) of 1,584 patients with early-stage SCLC had ≥10 The sequential improvement in the HRs was no longer evident if the number of LNDs exceeds 4 Patients with ≥3 LNDs (n = 1,422) had a significantly longer overall survival than those with <3 LNDs (n = 162) (hazard ratio for death: 0.76 Multivariate analysis revealed that ≥3 LNDs was an independent factor for predicting overall survival (hazard ratio for death: 0.76 Conclusions: Although we are reluctant to recommend a definitive “optimal number” of LNDs our findings suggest the prognostic and therapeutic roles for performing ≥3 LNDs in patients with early-stage SCLC who undergo lobectomy Due to the rarity of SCLC patients who are candidates for surgery the required extent of thoracic lymphadenectomy for early-stage SCLC has not been comprehensively investigated The aim of the current study is to examine the prognostic significance of the number of LNs dissected (LNDs) in patients with early-stage SCLC who receive curative lung resection The NCDB is a joint project between the CoC of the American College of Surgeons and the American Cancer Society. The CoC’s NCDB and the hospitals participating in the CoC NCDB are the source of the de-identified data used herein; they have not verified and are not responsible for the statistical validity of the data analysis or the conclusions derived by the authors. The data is considered as hospital-based rather than population-based (16) The access to the NCDB participant use file was granted to T.K Based on the use of only de-identified data the study was exempted by the Parkview institutional review board Figure 1 Study flow diagram of case eligibility Kaplan-Meier curves by the number of LNDs were compared using the log-rank test The associations between the number of LNDs and clinical demographics were assessed by chi-squared test and Fisher’s two-sided exact test where appropriate Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed using JMP® 14.0 (SAS Institute Inc. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant The sequential increase in the nodal upstaging was suggested if the number of LNDs increased Table 1 Patient characteristics of resected clinical stage I-II (AJCCv7) small cell lung cancer (n = 1,584) Table 2 Patient characteristics of resected clinical stage I-II (AJCCv7) small cell lung cancer according to number of lymph nodes dissected (n = 1,584) The OS was significantly influenced by the number of LNDs (P = 0.0178) Figure 2 The Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival in early-stage small cell lung cancer patients who underwent curative lobectomy according to the number of lymph nodes dissected (≥ 10 vs Figure 3 Hazard ratios for death by the number of lymph nodes evaluated are shown Figure 4 Kaplan-Meier curve of overall survival in early-stage small cell lung cancer patients who underwent curative lobectomy according to the number of lymph nodes dissected (≥3 vs Table 3 Multivariable analyses of overall survival in patients with resected clinical stage I-II (AJCCv7) small cell lung cancer the appropriate cut-off for the minimal number of LNDs in early-stage SCLC may be less than that in NSCLC Although we are reluctant to recommend a definitive “optimal number” of LNs evaluated our findings suggested the prognostic and therapeutic roles for performing ≥3 LNDs in patients with resectable SCLC The recommended number of surgical LNDs for early-stage SCLC has never been investigated in the past clinical trials. This is due to the rarity of early-stage SCLC patients who are candidates for surgery. According to the previous report, stage I disease accounts for less than 5% of patients with SCLC, and patients with disease in excess of T1-2, N0 did not benefit from surgery (18) Given that highly selected SCLC patients are candidate for surgery future randomized trials investigating the required extent of thoracic lymphadenectomy for early-stage SCLC may not be possible Although our study was a retrospective study the largest cancer database enrolled a total of 1,584 patients with resected SCLC and suggested that at least 3 LNDs is recommended for early-stage SCLC this is a retrospective study in association with a bias from surgeon’s decisions Surgeons may take more LNs in the middle of surgery if the LNs look suspicious of metastases our study showed that patients with ≥3 LNDs had a significantly longer OS than those with fewer LNDs the bias arising from surgeons’ choice may not significantly contribute to longer OS in patients with fewer LNDs in the current study NCDB is lacking in the information about how surveillance was conducted Further advanced study is needed to reach the definitive conclusions our retrospective analysis using the largest cancer database showed for the first time that patients with ≥3 LNDs had a significantly longer OS than those who had undergone fewer LNDs suggesting prognostic and therapeutic roles for performing ≥3 LNDs Further research is warranted to validate these findings The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Materials Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author Written informed consent from the participants’ legal guardian/next of kin was not required to participate in this study in accordance with the national legislation and the institutional requirements ST contributed to the interpretation of data TK contributed to all of the ideas of the current study and methods of analyzing the data EP supervised the writing of the manuscript All authors significantly contributed to this study All authors read and approved the final manuscript We thank Mindy Flannagan and Mototsugu Shimokawa for statistical assistance The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.962282/full#supplementary-material Supplementary Figure 1 | Pathological nodal positive rates ([pN+ cases] divided by [pN+ cases + pN0 cases]) according to the number of lymph nodes dissected (≥ 10 vs Supplementary Figure 2 | Kaplan-Meier curve of overall survival in (A) T0-2 and (B) T3-4 small cell lung cancer patients who underwent curative lobectomy according to the number of lymph nodes dissected (≥3 vs Supplementary Figure 3 | The Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival in early-stage small cell lung cancer patients with pN0 who underwent curative lobectomy according to the number of lymph nodes dissected (≥ 10 vs Non-small cell lung cancer: current treatment and future advances Trans Lung Cancer Res (2016) 5:288–300 CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Treatment of stage I and II non-small cell lung cancer: Diagnosis and management of lung cancer 3rd ed: American college of chest physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines ESTS guidelines for intraoperative lymph node staging in non-small cell lung cancer Eur J Cardiothorac Surg (2006) 30:787–92 Randomized trial of mediastinal lymph node sampling versus complete lymphadenectomy during pulmonary resection in the patient with N0 or N1 (less than hilar) non-small cell carcinoma: results of the American college of surgery oncology group Z0030 trial J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg (2011) 141:662–70 and site of recurrence after mediastinal lymph-node dissection versus systematic sampling after complete resection for non-small cell lung cancer Ann Thorac Surg (2005) 80:268–74; discussion 274-5 A randomized trial of systematic nodal dissection in resectable non-small cell lung cancer A randomized phase III trial of lobe-specific vs systematic nodal dissection for clinical stage I-II non-small cell lung cancer (JCOG1413) Effectiveness of radical systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer: results of a prospective randomized trial 9. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Small cell lung cancer . Available at: https://www2.tri-kobe.org/nccn/guideline/lung/english/small.pdf Google Scholar Rationale for a minimum number of lymph nodes removed with non-small cell lung cancer resection: Correlating the number of nodes removed with survival in 98,970 patients 11. American College of surgeons CoC quality of care measures 2020 surveys. Available at: https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/cancer/ncdb/qualitymeasurescocweb Google Scholar PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Survival outcomes with the use of surgery in limited-stage small cell lung cancer: should its role be re-evaluated Surveillance epidemiology and end results evaluation of the role of surgery for stage I small cell lung cancer The international association for the study of lung cancer lung cancer staging project: Proposals for the revision of the clinical and pathologic staging of small cell lung cancer in the forthcoming eighth edition of the TNM classification for lung cancer 16. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Non-small cell lung cancer . Available at: https://www2.tri-kobe.org/nccn/guideline/lung/english/non_small.pdf Google Scholar The effect of advances in lung-cancer treatment on population mortality A prospective randomized trial to determine the benefit of surgical resection of residual disease following response of small cell lung cancer to combination chemotherapy Lymph node evaluation by open or video-assisted approaches in 11,500 anatomic lung cancer resections Ann Thorac Surg (2012) 94:347–53; discussion 353 and distant metastasis in completely resected pathological stage-I non-small-cell lung cancer Number of metastatic lymph nodes in resected non-small cell lung cancer predicts patient survival Number of lymph nodes and metastatic lymph node ratio are associated with survival in lung cancer Ann Thorac Surg (2012) 93:1614–9; discussion 1619-20 Surgical assessment and intraoperative management of mediastinal lymph nodes in non-small cell lung cancer Which n descriptor is more predictive of prognosis in resected non-small cell lung cancer: the number of involved nodal stations versus the location-based pathological n stage The IASLC mesothelioma staging project: Proposals for revisions of the n descriptors in the forthcoming eighth edition of the TNM classification for pleural mesothelioma Incomplete intrapulmonary lymph node retrieval after routine pathologic examination of resected lung cancer Missed intrapulmonary lymph node metastasis and survival after resection of non-small cell lung cancer Use of a surgical specimen-collection kit to improve mediastinal lymph-node examination of resectable lung cancer Audit of lymphadenectomy in lung cancer resections using a specimen collection kit and checklist Komiya T and Powell E (2022) Clinical impact of number of lymph nodes dissected on postoperative survival in node-negative small cell lung cancer Received: 06 June 2022; Accepted: 17 October 2022;Published: 21 November 2022 Copyright © 2022 Takamori, Komiya and Powell. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) *Correspondence: Takefumi Komiya, dGFrZWZ1bWlAYnVmZmFsby5lZHU= CONCORD — Lena Takamori’s “Woman with Suitcases” holds one bag in her left hand you know her stance — how the body adjusts to the weight it carries They might be Afghan refugees; perhaps they’re fleeing a climate catastrophe Her father’s sculptures were wry commentaries on the human condition Two landscapes — “Grove View,” an intimate little copse and “Double Cloud,” with two dramatic downpours rooting clouds to earth — add to the sense that Takamori’s figures are out in the world Her subtle attention to the body’s experience makes the show affecting She paints fluid shadows along the pale stoneware of “Woman with Suitcases,” inflecting the leaning figure with more weariness She attends to small gestures and small details in “Bending with Backpack,” the way the weight of the pack shifts as if reassuring herself of her place there holding an arm up so we can peer under the blanket she is not in bed but sleeping on some cot Grounding her figures in the body’s experiences We see in them our own stories of all we carry At Lucy Lacoste Gallery, 25 Main St., Concord, through Sept. 25. 978-369-0278, www.lucylacoste.com Cate McQuaid can be reached at catemcquaid@gmail.com. Follow her on Instagram @cate.mcquaid. Home Delivery Gift Subscriptions Log In Manage My Account Customer Service Delivery Issues Feedback News Tips Help & FAQs Staff List Advertise Newsletters View the ePaper Order Back Issues News in Education Search the Archives Privacy Policy Terms of Service Terms of Purchase Work at Boston Globe Media Internship Program Co-op Program Do Not Sell My Personal Information Article 1 of Japan’s Imperial House Law states clearly that only a male from the male imperial lineage can inherit the Chrysanthemum Throne This excludes the daughters of male emperors from becoming emperor themselves even if women were allowed to become emperor the emphasis on the “male imperial lineage,” or patrilineal succession would preclude any children of female emperors also from ascending to the throne This law prevents the child of the current emperor Despite around 80% of the Japanese public supporting this policy change resistance remains among some conservatives there are concerns that if Princess Aiko were allowed to become emperor on the basis of inheriting the “male” bloodline from her father this might pave the way for matrilineal succession to also be embraced if Aiko’s first-born child is also a girl Many Japanese citizens feel that the position of the emperor having been passed down the generations based on male lineal succession “unbroken for ages eternal,” is based on an ancient tradition and therefore something Japanese should take great pride in a Shintō scholar and imperial household expert wonders whether patrilineal succession really was the historical norm in Japan Takamori is also an opinion leader of a movement focused on making Princess Aiko the emperor in the future. Along with the manga artist Kobayashi Yoshinori, he spoke at the July public event, “Making Aiko the Imperial Heir.” Takamori sets the scene by sharing his view: “Mythology is more than a set of stories What makes Japan stand out from other countries in this sense is the existence of a female supreme deity rather than a male one.” That deity is Amaterasu Ōmikami—the Sun Goddess, the ruler of the heavenly realm, and the source of Japan’s imperial tradition. The Kojiki (trans Records of Ancient Matters) and other ancient texts also frequently refer to women as the founders of various ancestral clans in addition to Japan’s imperial family Takamori believes that this shows “ancient Japan was not originally a patriarchal society Women not only played an important role in transmitting the imperial lineage but held relatively high positions of influence in society as well.” Takamori Akinori speaks at the “Making Aiko the Imperial Heir” public event In terms of historical record, we know of the existence of eight female emperors at the start of Japan’s historically significant Asuka period There were also female emperors during the Edo period (1603–1868) China’s first female emperor was also its last; Wu Zetian officially ruled China for 15 years during an interregnum of the Tang Dynasty (690–705 CE) Three queens ruled the Silla Kingdom (57 BCE to 935 CE) that dominated most of the Korean Peninsula at its height “Japan historically was not a country that went out of its way to preclude females from becoming the emperor.” Takamori also emphasizes the importance of consanguineous marriages between blood relatives in Japan’s imperial lineage This effectively meant that emperors often inherited the throne based on both paternal and maternal bloodlines or “dual lineage.” It was also not automatically the case that the male lineage was given greater precedence in succession discussions If the maternal line allowed a closer connection to the main branch of the imperial line then matrilineal succession could be used to legitimate an imperial heir This nevertheless begs the question of why Japan went 860 years from the end of the Nara period (710–94) to the beginning of the Edo period without a female emperor Takamori explains that this was “due to the steadily increasing influence of ancient China on Japan’s elite culture.” Takamori believes that by the time China started to have a major cultural influence on Japan “Throughout the 550 years of the Spring and Autumn (771–481 BCE) and Warring States (481–221 BCE) periods China’s politics was beset by continuous Men were responsible for protection against external enemies while women were tasked with maintaining the private and home spheres This resulted in a society where whoever possessed superior strength would dominate.” Japan’s adoption of Chinese practices from around the ninth century onward came alongside the introduction of male “chauvinistic” attitudes and actively avoided putting a female on the throne Japan eventually decided to adopt a similar approach leading to the demise of the ancient Japanese practice of accepting female emperors and maternal lines of descent.” the practice was effectively reconstituted when two women became emperors This was despite Japan’s de facto ruler being the shōgun (ostensibly a military commander or generalissimo) and societal stability being enforced through hierarchical relationships between samurai and their lords these two emperors would have nominally possessed higher status than Japan’s male Tokugawa rulers Most notably, Emperor Kōkaku (r. 1779–1817) ascended to the throne from a recently created cadet branch of the imperial family This was the fourth time in Japan’s history a cadet branch was established to provide an imperial successor if the “main bloodline” died out Kōkaku was later careful to link his own lineage with that of the main bloodline by marrying his predecessor’s daughter his appeal to legitimacy was based on a “dual lineage” connection Meiji leaders promulgated the Constitution of the Empire of Japan (Meiji Constitution) and the Imperial House Law in 1889 In both documents we see the first official codification of patrilineal succession in Japanese history The recency of this norm was made clear in a new book by Tokoro Isao Tennō no rekishi to hōritsu o minaosu (Rethinking Imperial History and Laws) Arguably the leading scholar on Japan’s imperial household Tokoro observes: “Until the Meiji era there was almost no discussion or clear statement that the succession to the throne would exclude women and be limited to the paternal line.” Article 1 of the Meiji Constitution stipulates that “The Empire of Japan shall be reigned over and governed by a line of Emperors unbroken for ages eternal,” while Article 2 specifies succession be limited to “Imperial male descendants.” While many believe this to be an ancient tradition the phrasing focusing on lineal succession “unbroken for ages eternal” was actually coined by the statesman Iwakura Tomomi terms like “patrilineal succession” had not been used until the Meiji era during the Meiji era there was also controversy over what the Imperial House Law should say about succession and whether a female emperor and matrilineal succession were acceptable options there was also concern that narrowly limiting eligibility for succession to the paternal line could destabilize the future viability of the imperial lineage several legislative drafts recognized both the possibility of a female emperor and dual lineage succession Inoue Kowashi (later director general of the powerful Legislative Bureau) argued strongly for limiting succession and eventually prevailed Takamori explains Inoue’s reasoning: “It was based on his perception of Meiji cultural attitudes being characterized by the idea of ‘male superiority’—in the phrase of the day Inoue asserted that allowing both men and women to ascend to the throne could potentially introduce confusion.” sovereignty resided in the Japanese emperor Inoue believed that “if a female emperor married a man this would raise the question of who would actually be superior Meiji leaders judged that patrilineal succession alone would allow the imperial household to function into the future neglected the spirit of “dual lineage” norms that respected the role of women in the forging of Japanese traditions.” Meiji leaders located the source of imperial sovereign legitimacy in the idea of “lineal succession unbroken for ages eternal.” While the existence of female emperors was well known Takamori explains that Meiji leaders dealt with the issue by simply claiming that past female emperors were little more than “successors to the paternal line.” Takamori argues that this was post-facto logic retrofitted to support Meiji preferences for patrilineal succession Since there were many consanguineous marriages it might have seemed plausible to claim that the male bloodline was the decisive factor in succession we must not overlook the fact that a dual lineage succession approach was consciously adopted and lineage was routinely traced through both maternal and paternal lines.” 707–715; a female emperor counted as Japan’s forty-third monarch in the traditional list) was succeeded by her eldest daughter had imperial blood as both of his parents were Emperors under the Ritsuryō legal system of ancient Japan Emperor Genshō was legally the imperial princess (naishinnō) and the claim to the throne based on being the “daughter of the reigning emperor.” The contemporary understanding was that her claim to the imperial throne came through the maternal line There were also the earlier cases of Emperors Tenji (r 668–671; number 38 in the count) and Tenmu (r who oversaw the Taika Reforms of 645 before his ascension to the throne Tenji’s and Tenmu’s father was Emperor Jomei (r From that it could be assumed that their succession was based on the paternal line the brothers were a clear case of “dual lineage” given that they came to the throne immediately following their mother—and after their mother had ruled twice 642–645; 35) and Saimei (655–661; 37) Female emperors also played important historical roles Emperor Suiko’s reign (592–628; 33) marked the Asuka period of “enlightenment” based on the introduction of Buddhism while Jitō’s reign (690–697; 41) marked the completion of the aforementioned Ritsuryō system of national laws Takamori also observes that “Emperor Genmei initiated and oversaw the monumental task of transferring the imperial capital from Fujiwara-kyō to Heijō-kyō” the completion of which marked the beginning of the Nara period “From this alone we can see that the view that female emperors had few notable achievements and simply placeholders is biased.” and most nobles were reduced to commoner status The rules of succession became narrower still as a successor to the throne would now have to be the “legitimate” son of an emperor and his official wife Prince Hisahito of the Akishino family is the only member of the younger generation of the imperial household eligible to succeed to the throne This puts the family in danger of extinction A 2005 report written by an expert panel tasked by the administration of Prime Minister Koizuim Jun’ichirō to consider changes to the Imperial House Law was clear in saying what needed to happen: “It is essential to pave the way for a female and/or matrilineal emperor.” Sonobe Itsuo a former Supreme Court justice who served as deputy chair of that expert panel argued in a recent commentary that “resistance to allowing a female or matrilineal emperor is likely rooted in a sense of disdain based on the idea that women cannot be trusted with important tasks The Imperial House Law is not some eternal entity warns that “the very existence of the imperial family is at stake We do not have the luxury of continuing to insist on patrilineal succession.” He reiterates that appeals to tradition miss the point that patrilineal succession “is based on a male chauvinistic view influenced by the practices of ancient China The fact that women cannot currently be what the Constitution calls the ‘symbol of unity’ of their own country and people is unacceptable We must face the fact that this viewpoint is contemptuous of women far removed from the original tradition of Japan and is ultimately at the root of the crisis in the imperial household.” On renewed political attention in the Diet to this issue Takamori recommends that the Japanese people “keep a close eye on how changes to the Imperial House Law are debated They shouldn’t hesitate to raise their voices if deliberations do not ensure ‘stable succession’ to the imperial throne in the future.” Banner photo: Princess Aiko enters the Akasaka Imperial Palace to celebrate the birthday of Empress Emerita Michiko on October 20 The Last Samurai (2003) was a historical epic loosely set during the last great Samurai rebellion of the Meiji Restoration It is important to note that the movie is not intended to be historically accurate in the sense of portraying an exactly specific time or historical figure it compresses and blends together many aspects and characters from the time prior to the Restoration until the end of the Samurai he is loosely based on French soldier Jules Brunet Brunet fought in the artillery division and won the French medal Légion d’honneur for his services Sent to Japan by Napoleon to help modernize their army When the French allied Shogunate was overthrown leading eventually to the Meiji Restoration Brunet fought in a series of losing battles in an attempt to restore the Shogunate the main character is grounded in historical precedent The timelines in the film are generally accurate Having Algren as a soldier who was involved in the civil war and wars against the Native Americans may seem like a stretch but the dates line up to make it plausible though Algren is presented as a being a part of the Great Sioux War in 1876 giving less than a year between that and the Japanese rebellion Though plenty of the costumes and scenery are farfetched most of the look of Meiji Japan was fairly accurate Scenes of Algren walking through the streets both before and after his stint with the Samurai do a great job in showing the rapid and disjointed modernization Men seemed to either choose formal European fashion or traditional Japanese garments The modernization of the military is also shown quite well the conscripted Japanese armies were slightly ineffective they quickly molded into an effective and modern professional army many little aspects of the film are compiled from true historical events and presented as true as possible The last charge of the Samurai is fairly accurate considering how fantastical it appears in the film In true history the Satsuma Rebellion was finished as the remaining samurai decided to charge at the imperial army and were cut down and killed to the last man Some of the little details such as the outlaw of swords for the samurai class and outlaw of top knots were true to the period very few Japanese people would have known even basic English It is minor and they do try to limit the apparent knowledge of English but more Japanese with subtitles would have been more realistic the overall American involvement is much larger in the film than in reality Major European powers provided the overwhelming majority of modernization to Japan The armor in the movie is quite impressive; it creates an imposing sight that contributes to the routing of the unprepared Imperial army and a later scene between Algren and Taka revolves around putting armor on In reality the Samurai armor had been abandoned simply because it didn’t stop bullets the real life leader Katsumoto is based on actually wore his Imperial officer’s uniform for many of the engagements of the rebellion It is easy to see why the director decided to include the armor however Though the film shows an early decisive victory for Katsumoto’s army the reality was that nearly all of the rebellions were doomed from the start Samurai rebellions often started with a quick organization and surprise attack on a target that was often successful but once the imperial armies became involved the rebellions were often decisively crushed One of the worst omissions of the film is the mixed motivations of the Samurai The Samurai were indeed a noble warrior class Samurai’s occupied a position of power and wealth and the modernization of the Meiji Restoration meant the introduction of an army of conscripts drawn from the poor This essentially put the Samurai out of the job and elevated a class that the Samurai historically abused to an almost equal level For comparison it would be like the peasant class of Medieval Europe very suddenly occupying the role of knights The Samurai had a code of honor very similar to European Chivalry known as Bushido it was rarely followed exactly by the vast majority Samurai had a long history of squashing the lower classes and the main motivation of their rebellions was to hold on to their power and wealth the depiction of Samurai putting up any kind of fight with medieval weapons is quite absurd Along with the fact that the Samurai did not wear their traditional armor they also did not restrict themselves to traditional weapons In fact one of the early actions of the Satsuma Rebellion was the attack of a weapons stockpile and almost all of the Samurai would have had some sort of firearm though it is quite likely that swords and spears were still in use as backup weapons Though the inclusion of Ninjas was an exciting moment in the film Ninja’s had fallen out of use centuries before and would not have been present in any sense Though the hand claws and throwing stars were true the average Ninja’s arsenal Overall The Last Samurai has to be viewed with the understanding that it is a compilation of several events and figures of Japanese history and that it was made for American audiences The average viewer has seen Samurai armor and likely would have been disappointed if it was not seen in the movie was known to be one of the most dedicated practitioners The movie’s blending of history was intentional and keeps some aspects of the story from being completely unrealistic By William McLaughlin for War History Online William Mclaughlin is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE View upcoming auction estimates and receive personalized email alerts for the artists you follow The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City announced that it has established an archive for The Lawrence Lithography Workshop Flatbed is proud to announce its annual Flatbed Community Press members group exhibition the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State debuted a new building designed by Allied Works and landscape architect Reed Hilderbrand who previously designed Denver’s Clyfford Still Museum Japanese advertising corporation Dentsu Inc has signed a new investment and multilateral business cooperation agreement with Tel Aviv-based media tech firm Imprint a company that specializes in digital marketing The statement did disclose any financial details on the matter Israeli SaaS company Optimove said Dentsu was planning to set up an innovation division headed by manager Masakazu Takamori to address a number of markets Takamori is currently in Israel to scout for Israeli startups for investment and collaboration opportunities and is being hosted by Optimove Optimove also signed a partnership with the Japanese advertising corporation enabling the company to make use of its online marketing tools The cooperation between the two companies takes place amid Optimov’s entry into Asia The company said it is in the process of opening offices in Singapore Takamori is currently holding meetings in the Optimove offices to explore the possibility of cooperation and with the goal of enabling Israeli technologies to reach Japan and Asia Senior executives from companies like Otonomo and Vayyar Imaging were on hand for the meetings “Dentsu considers the strategic partnership with Imprint as both an investment and a tremendous opportunity We’re delighted to be boosting Israel’s hi-tech sector to obtain innovative technologies and new services that Israeli companies have to offer,” Takamori said in the Imprint statement “We will continue to actively seek new opportunities for the Japanese and broader Asian markets We anticipate that the cooperation with Imprint will constitute a basis for the growth of the current transaction as well as various future business developments.” The deal with Imprint is Dentsu’s third investment in Israel. In 2015, Dentsu acquired Israeli online marketing performance agency abaGada Internet for an undisclosed amount The agency became part of the Dentsu Aegis Network the company’s group of of multinational media and digital marketing communications agencies with headquarters in London and serves as its iProspect digital marketing branch in Israel Earlier this year, Audioburst, an Israeli-founded, California-based startup that developed an AI-based voice search platform, announced it had raised $10 million by strategic investors that included Dentsu and car maker Hyundai Audioburst said it planned “to build a new market for personalized audio as an effective advertising channel for brands in Japan” with Dentsu Imprint CEO Mark Goldblatt said Dentsu investment is a “key to our strategic cooperation in Japan and around the world Dentsu is a global superpower in digital advertising and it sees an opportunity for exposure for the Israeli industry which has been underway for almost two years is already generating results for both companies.” Imprint is a digital communications and social media marketing company using cutting edge technology to find key audiences and facilitate personal networking in online communities around the world Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Houbunsha / Hoshikuzu Telepath Production Committee Illinois anime convention Anime Central announced on Friday that voice actress Natsumi Takamori will attend this year's event for her first North American convention appearance She has performed theme songs for such anime as The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls, Brave Witches, Denki-Gai, Hōkago no Pleiades, Jewelpet Twinkle, Pretty Rhythm: Dear My Future Source: Press release Fans cheer as the beloved Takamori phoenix-reaper duo finally does a long-awaited read-along of “Bloom Into You” Hololive English’s Kiara Takanashi and Mori Calliope did a read-along of the Nio Nakatani manga “Bloom Into You.” Back in December of 2020, Calliope started a read-along of the manga “My Dad is the Queen of All VTubers?!“ which led to the fans giving more recommendations for other read-along streams it wasn’t until months later that a superchat that was sent to Kiara mentioned “Bloom Into You” as a suggestion.In the live stream held on August 10 021 Kiara and Mori took on their roles as characters Toko Nanami and Yuu Koito respectively They also tried to match the voices of the side characters as they read along the stream had already reached over 130,000 views Nakatani-sensei already gave viewers a treat along with an invitation to watch the said stream: 『やがて君になる』英語版(Bloom Into You)をホロライブENの森カリオペさん @moricalliope と小鳥遊キアラさん @takanashikiara のお二人で朗読してくださいます、すごい！　日本時間今夜23時からの配信です！https://t.co/rChuq7wta9 pic.twitter.com/yUcdBrzi75 fans mentioned that Yuu and Touko share similarities to the two talents’ dynamic The stream comes after Kiara’s successful convention appearance at Dokomi Anime and Japan Expo in Düsseldorf, Germany.More major VTuber updates are coming your way on Anime Corner