Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article Munakata Shikō (born Sept. 5, 1903, Aomori, Japan—died Sept. 13, 1975, Tokyo) was a Japanese woodblock artist whose vivid works are known for their bold 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 is predicting its biggest year to date when it publishes its annual figures next month just six years after acquiring its first venue Shiko Group is forecasting an even bigger 2025/26 with a predicted turnover of £14m with the addition of more proposed new sites in Manchester and beyond Since 2019 (when its turnover was just £300,000) Shiko Group has gone from strength to strength spanning Manchester and Leeds with its eight flagship venues – Side Street CLH News is published by RBC Publishing Ltd Contributions are welcome for consideration no responsibility will be accepted for loss or damage Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy the publisher will assume no responsibility for any effects All material is assumed copyright free unless otherwise advised The Elephant The online public feud between Rammzy and Mike Mondo has shed light on a dark corner of Kenya’s social media and influencer marketing – the violation of children’s privacy by their parents When in January this year, Ramadhani Oluoch (popularly known as Ramzzy or Rama) – a digital strategist, vlogger and influencer – served a cease legal notice to his ex-wife Shiku Nguru’s current lover and media personality Mike Mondo asking him to stop sharing photos of his children on social media their public online feud prompted an examination of the ‘sharenting’ phenomenon in Kenya Shiko Nguru was allowing her current partner to share pictures of himself and the children.  Sharenting (a term derived from the words ‘sharing’ and ‘parenting’) – the phenomenon of parents sharing news videos and other information about their children online – is not new in Kenya It made its appearance in 2003 with the first legion of Kenyan bloggers there was an explosion of influencers between 2019 and 2023 with one of the fastest-rising ones being child influencers and influencer parents featuring children in their accounts Driven by Kenyans’ appetite for reality TV their popularity has led to brand endorsements advertising campaigns and influencer marketing engagements Kenyans on X – where Ramzzy became the trending topic for a day – expressed their concerns regarding the well-being of the couple’s three children whom they felt had become caught up in the fallout The feud also shed light on a dark corner of Kenya’s social media and influencer marketing – the violation of children’s privacy by their parents Ramzzy and Shiku – one of Kenya’s pioneer YouTubers – live-streamed the birth of their third child on YouTube That video of their unassisted birthing experience was viewed by millions catapulting the couple to vlogging stardom It also obliterated the boundaries of sharenting sharenting had not dared to take the leap from what was then referred to as mummy blogging transforming the young couple into the mavericks of a fledgling influencer marketing industry just as the Kenyan blogosphere was entering its sunset years.  Many of the posts that appeared on The Green Calabash as well as the blog posts and some of the current Instagram posts from the couple’s individual accounts were sponsored by brands the couple shut down the channel that had amassed more than 14 million views pulling down all the videos they had shared of their parenting and homeschooling journey with their three children the couple announced that they had separated While speaking during a media interview Oluoch explained that he wanted his children to grow up without having had their right to privacy infringed Modern influencer marketing on social media started around 2005 with the launch of YouTube Driven by the demand for alternative content social media usage in Kenya has been on a meteoric rise According to Data Reportal’s Digital 2023 report on Kenya, there were 10.55 million social media users in January 2023 representing 19.3 per cent of the total population of 54.56 million and TikTok were the most used social media platforms in that order Currently valued at US$13.9 billion, the market share of global influencer marketing (based on average advertising spend on influencers across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube) has more than doubled since 2019 according to Statista The industry is set to grow to approximately US$24 billion by the end of 2024 As Africa’s digital influence continues to accelerate, Kenya’s social media usage – which ranks fourth in the continent – has been a catalyst. Driven by a demand for more authentic brand endorsements and organic engagement in the last five years, influencer advertising and digital content creation have become a multimillion-shilling industry In 2021, Wowzi – a Kenyan-founded marketplace for influencer marketing – raised US$3.2 million in seed funding With the ad spending in the global Influencer advertising market projected to reach US$2.1 million in 2024 Wowzi – which currently has a physical presence in Kenya Uganda and Tanzania – now plans to expand the reach of its platform and set up operations in Ghana According to insights published by OdipoDev there were 22,000 mentions about influencers in Kenya in 2018 OdipoDev also noted that ‘while influencers have become synonymous with Instagram and Twitter Facebook is where the majority of audiences actively report following influencers’ Although some of the influencer couples appear to have “gone overboard” others have taken a strategic approach and are using influencer marketing to complement their children’s budding careers Lamar Munene became a vlogger at just seven years old influencing was a natural progression from his career as an award-winning child actor and model The 12-year-old has lived his life in front of the camera since he began modelling at the age of three years Aisha Wanjiku – a radio show and TV host – started his Instagram account in 2015 just as he began modelling and doing TV commercials “It was just something that I started going through and realising that it was a lot of fun,” Lamar told me (His mother allowed him to speak to me on the phone during my interview with her.) not until 2019 when he was seven that he began creating his own content for the Alteya & Lamar Channel which he ran together with fellow model and friend Alteya was a review of the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi He soon created his own separate channel – Lamar Munene Channel – and began posting his videos the channel became Lamar’s launch pad into the world of the child influencer.  Lamar posts more on Instagram than on his YouTube channel Lamar shares carefully curated aspects of his life as an actor and model as well as the digital influencer campaigns he gets engaged for Many of the sponsored posts on Lamar’s Instagram feed are campaigns for family brands such as Downy Aisha tells me that she chose to work with the brands as they align with her son’s interests and their family values Aisha grew up in a devout Muslim family in Mombasa and her beliefs also play a part in the choice of brands that she and her son choose to work with.  he did a Ramadhan series for the Egyptian market and we got to travel to Lebanon,” Aisha says of Lamar’s most recent influencer engagement with an Egyptian apparel brand that brand opened a retail shop in Nairobi and once again they got to work together on another campaign Aisha has had such “coincidences” occur before where a brand came initially for social media influencing but then also ended up engaging Lamar for TV and outdoor advertising.      the brands – mostly household brands – will often engage them both Aisha has learnt not to dictate which brands Lamar works with and instead to discuss each potential engagement with him beforehand I can’t fake a smile,” Lamar adds to clarify why discussing each potential engagement is important to him and how he will “sell it”.      Aisha created Lamar’s profiles to give her son a head-start until the time comes when he will be able to manage his social accounts himself Lamar has become a famous brand beyond social media and outside Kenya have the same level of self-awareness or share his outlook about social media – as merely a tool.  “At first I felt a lot of joy,” he told me “But I remembered that it all came from God Not all child influencers are fortunate enough to have a mother like Aisha who understands “the rules of the game and how the game is played” while still keeping their children grounded “It has taken a lot of guidance,” she tells me “Parenting is difficult so I am grateful for the divine guidance.” Aisha does all the content creation and all the posting on Lamar’s Instagram “His accounts are his brand,” Aisha tells me She finds herself reminding her son of this fact constantly in order to keep him safe online Lamar co-manages his page with his mum and they moderate the comments together Sometimes we also do the captions and the music together.” There are some personal things that she keeps away from the public Aisha feels that it is wrong for parents to share very intimate details about their children’s lives There are still certain aspects of our culture and religion that we still hold dear.” Aisha believes strongly in sharing her own experiences with Lamar as a way of safeguarding his mental health and his safety online “Lamar and I have very personal discussions,” Aisha tells me Drawing from her experience as a TV presenter she finds it easy to have conversations with him particularly regarding the media industry which has various parallels with the film industry Aisha was only 19 years old and still in college when she discovered she was pregnant with Lamar she fought to continue her studies in multimedia journalism – a story she has often shared to encourage women not to give up on their dreams Aisha often uses her own life lessons during her conversations with Lamar When it comes to the business aspects of being an influencer Aisha is an old hand She doesn’t use a standard rate card for all their digital gigs as the clients’ needs vary She can charge anywhere between KSh150,000 and KSh200,000 per campaign She also does not keep money matters away from Lamar “He knows about his money,” Aisha tells me the money conversation usually commences once a brand expresses interest in engaging them she has never been tempted to use his money “His education is still my responsibility,” she says Aisha is an outlier in the world of sharenting particularly in the Western world where the phenomenon is undergoing its watershed moment with many parents in this unregulated world being accused of child labour as news reports emerge that children are not entitled to a single cent of what they earn Social media has become fertile ground for marketers looking to push their brands – foods and other household goods family-friendly hotels and travel… And who better to promote them than families or children that have their own dedicated following But not everyone is taken in by cute photos of toddlers on social media Legal and digital security pundits are concerned about what this new craze portends ‘You as the parent are opening the door and allowing but you’re allowing the whole world to enter your home and have access to your child,’ Jentrix Wanyama Ms Wanyama has worked in intellectual property and tech policy research and is a writer and researcher active in the Kenyan tech space She observed that the social media boom has brought with it unique challenges that were not there before ‘We don’t have specific laws touching on digital rights,’ Ms Wanyama says.  “It has been difficult for the law to keep pace with a piece of invention and technological advancement we extrapolate these across the board to also apply to digital spaces,” she says “Some of these laws include the right to privacy as guaranteed in the current Kenyan Constitution we’re seeing that now parental guidance is coming into play,” she tells me the general principle has been that a child’s right to privacy is subject to the parental guidance of the child Ms Wanyama notes that there may be instances where the presiding magistrate or judge may make a ruling based on the best interests of the child in a particular case She gives the example of a case in which one parent wants to share photos of their child online while the other parent is opposed to the idea Such cases have been reported in the Kenyan media, including the case of Ramadhani and Mike Mondo and that of media personalities Dennis Okari and his ex-wife Betty Kyalo while these two cases did not proceed to a full court hearing they would have come before a child magistrate whose ruling would have most likely been based on the principle of the best interests of the child as provided for in Article 53 of the Constitution France and the state of Illinois in the United States have developed specific legislation regarding the commercial exploitation of child stars and child influencers France passed a stern law protecting child influencers on social media that gave judges the right to ban influencers from posting their child’s image altogether the state of Illinois passed a law – the first of its kind in the US – requiring adults who use “the likeness name or photograph” of a minor in paid online content to set aside a portion of the earnings in a trust Italian laws are also poised to clamp down on sharents Washington state is also taking steps to regulate the child influencer industry Ms Wanyama notes that while sharenting in the country has become a commercial endeavour like in the US and Europe “History has shown us that sometimes parents are not the best guardians of the money that their children earn,” Ms Wanyama says “These are regulations that we do not have here.” When it comes to the terms of contractual agreements Ms Wanyama warns parents who do not read the fine print in the contracts particularly concerning the question of how long brands may own and use the images of their children “Sometimes you will have a company/brand own the material that was shot during the campaign in perpetuity and yet the child is not yet five years old That is a permanent digital footprint of your child that they will not have a say in how it’s used,” she observes Besides the question of ensuring adequate remuneration Ms Wanyama also cautions against other forms of exploitation “What is the child expected to do?” She asks “We have seen instances where a child is being told: “Pretend you are X and you are doing Y.’ Some of the things that they may be told to do might lead to exploitation not just financially but even mentally.”                 In her studies on children’s rights and the Internet the privacy of children in the brick-and-mortar world and on online platforms is receiving increasing attention from the courts “The right to privacy of children is the subject of parental guidance of the child; that is the general principle,” Ms Wanyama notes explaining that while parents can share images of their children other people require written consent from the parents before sharing images of the children online The cases that Ms Wanyama speaks of are documented in Honey I Blogged the Kids which addresses the ‘sharenting’ phenomenon and the rising cases of the Kenyan blogging community violating the privacy of children in their reporting looked into those aspects of Kenyan law applicable to publishing content about children online personality rights and the best interest principle But beyond the violation of the privacy of children the case of Oluoch and Nguru has raised other pertinent concerns: child online safety (when children’s photos from Instagram end up on the illegal darknet) what the data is being used for by the social media companies the number of affected minors stood at between 10,000 and 100,000 according to UN estimates A recent exposé by the New York Times revealed “disturbing insights into how social media is reshaping childhood with direct parental encouragement and involvement” The report further revealed that “some parents are the driving force behind the sale of photos exclusive chat sessions and even the girls’ worn leotards and cheer outfits to mostly unknown followers The most devoted customers spend thousands of dollars nurturing the underage relationships” Kenya is having its sharenting watershed moment as the lucrative world of child and family influencers continues to grow in a largely unregulated space But while Kenyan influencer parents may appear to be well beyond the point where they can claim to be unaware of the possible effects their choices have on their children many have yet to reach that point of reckoning Please complete the captcha above and click submit to continue South Leeds Life the bar and kitchen operator behind Fearns and The Canary at Leeds Dock spanning Manchester and Leeds with its eight flagship venues – Fearns and The Canary in Leeds alongside Side Street [co-founder] Jonathan [Ware] and I have looked to create ‘Unique Venues and Unforgettable Experiences’ and much of the success is not only down to our fantastic collection of venues but the hard work of our agile and adaptable team without whom none of this would be possible events specialists WePop and named after co-founder Anthony Ellis’s late mother Yoshiko Shiko Group is now firmly established as one of the most exciting and dynamic names in hospitality in the North This post is based on a press release issued on behalf od Shiko Group South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation or even better taking out a supporters subscription Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Find out how to become a Sponsor here South Leeds Life is regulated by IMPRESS and adheres to its standards code However, if you feel we have breached the code in any way and wish to make a complaint, please submit your complaint, in writing to the editor Our complaints procedure is available here Administrators login Japanese traditional art is synonymous with woodblock prints magnified by the grand masterpieces of Ukiyo-e geniuses Hokusai who all shed light on the artistic minds of the world’s greatest pioneers of Impressionism and Modernism Commemorating the 120th birth anniversary of the artist, the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo is celebrating his multifarious works of woodblock prints, hand drawings, calligraphy, oil paintings, book covers, and commercial designs in The Making of Munakata Shiko: Celebrating the 120th Anniversary of the Artist’s Birth exhibition until December 3rd this year The magnificent collection traces the dynamic world of the artist and the diversity of Japanese printmaking Together with Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Aomori Museum of Art the full retrospective highlights influences of three regions—Aomori Munakata became easily fascinated by the sparkling colors of the Nebuta festival and local kite illustrations His first glance at Van Gogh’s Sunflowers left an irresistible mark that instilled a promise to himself to become the Van Gogh of Aomori He worked relentlessly on his oil paintings and mingled with well-known painters Hakkoda (1924) depicts one of Munakata’s early paintings which recounts the climb he and his friends made to Mt The realistic rendering of the panorama from the Mt Iwaki Observatory suggests his apparent tendency towards the naturalistic method of Van Gogh and Cézanne the artist moved from Aomori to Tokyo to further hone his talents and succeed as a professional painter Despite growing up in an impoverished family he struggled after four trials to win the Imperial Art Teiten Exhibition in 1928 with his oil painting Zatsu-en (Freestyle Garden) Surrounding himself with painters and printmakers Munakata gradually diverted his attention to woodblock printing His individualistic style of expressing nature in abstract and decorative forms enforced by the thickness and strength of the lines making him a vital part of the Sosaku Hanga movement He received opportunities to exhibit at the Kokugakai Exhibition in 1936 and another in 1940 when he won the Saburi Award Munakata’s early prints continued to resonate with his personal approach during his Aomori days This is exemplified in Oirase River (C) (1932) single lines that flow like a stream around randomly placed dots the fierce manipulation of black brush strokes against the white background proves Munakata’s ease in the interplay of contrasts to transform the enormous pine tree into splashes of varied movements In Tokyo, Munakata met Japan’s renowned father of modern design and crafts Sōetsu Yanagi This valuable encounter kept him close to the mingei (folk art) movement and a deep understanding of Buddhism and Japanese culture Owing to his numerous visits to Buddhist temples in Kyoto and later on to his move to the spiritual town of Fukumitsu Buddhist religious imagery became prominent in his artworks In The Many Aspects of Compassionate Avalokiteśvara (1938) we see various forms of deities representing the teachings of the Kannon Sutra which highlights Buddha’s metamorphosis into thirty-three bodies The work successfully defines Munakata’s attempt at reverse coloring —a technique that has characterized his aesthetic prowess Yanagi also persuaded Munakata to mount his prints on folding screens as an indoor furniture accent Two Bodhisattva and Ten Great Disciple of Sakyamuni (1939 reprint 1948) exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1956; In Praise of Shokei won the International Print Award also at the same Venice Biennale; The Twelve Guardian Gods of Arts (In Hommage to Hamada Shoji) (1950) shown at the Kokugakai Exhibition in 1950; and In Praise of Great Joy: On Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (1952) displayed at the Japan International Art Exhibition are some of the remarkable folding screens presented in the exhibition a four-piece folding screen three meters high with black clothing arranged alternately in a checkerboard pattern is showcased for the first time in sixty years Munakata began working on the motif of Christ’s apostles after the war intending to create sequential poses and colors of the robes—black and white alternately—to integrate the panels as a unified composition Munakata was not enlisted due to his severe myopia and Fudo Myoo (Buddhist deity) paintings to the navy to uplift their spirits The war’s growing intensity propelled him to evacuate to Fukumitsu The artist developed a fondness for Fukumitsu’s natural scenery He became known for the practice of yamatoga hand-drawn paintings in India ink and watercolors painting fusuma doors and hand-drawn paintings as commissioned by temples upon the invitation of the Rockefeller Foundation and the Japan Society His woodblock prints traversed international boundaries earning him the name of “Munakata of the world.” Munakata concentrated heavily on board paintings which he translated as “listening to the sound of the board and carving out the life of the board.” Many of the boards were made from scraps of wood and were also produced into hand-railed His book illustrations and cover designs were much praised as nostalgic mementos for Japanese Hanga no Michi (1956) was one such book cover art that pronounced the artist’s passion for colors and motifs of nature His expressions of beautiful women in striking colors also became widely known features sunflowers inspired by his trip to India On the side of the vase is Munakata’s self-portrait that appears to declare himself as an alter ego of Van Gogh The colossal exhibition strongly reminds us of the roots of Japanese folk culture and the simple livelihood in local communities that are profoundly embedded in Munakata’s universe of art This article originally appeared on the-star.co.ke Despite a progressive Constitution and many public pledges enforcement of laws designed to fight against gender inequality was inconsistent at best Representation of women in Kenya was lacking—they often contended with unequal political representation harmful traditional practices such as early marriage Civil society organizations (CSOs) and feminist leaders pressed the government to do more on gender issues but they often lacked the resources to coordinate and reach larger audiences President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a dozen concrete actionable steps to end all forms of gender-based violence by 2026 backed by up to $23 million for prevention and response and the establishment of a survivors’ fund “What a difference five years makes.” But it wasn’t just the passage of time People and organizations across the country worked strategically and tirelessly to make these achievements a reality for Kenya’s women as one of this effort's leading influencers Janet Mbugua puts it intentional and bold approach to pushing for equality.” And they did it amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated gender-based violence globally and made the case for action even more dire. Their success offers a roadmap for further progress, not just in Kenya but all around the world what did it take to secure this transformative commitment to change With the Kenyan people electing a new president in 2022 the coalition fears that there is no guarantee that the incoming government will share President Kenyatta’s commitment to gender equality So advocates continue to deepen their engagements with one another to build the infrastructure that will protect these gains As included in President Kenyatta’s commitment they are formalizing the leadership that made this moment possible bringing together county and national leaders into committees that will guide the implementation of these pledges through 2026 It’s the kind of work that proves that Kenya’s gender advocacy community is here to stay the lessons they’ve learned over the past few years: that achieving lasting change requires a collaborative sustained movement on every angle—through government change will happen only when every Kenyan recognizes that these issues affect everyone Cabinet Secretary Kobia captured the spirit and promise of this work: “I am confident that with effective implementation of gender policy and change of attitude among majority of Kenyans we shall secure gender equality and the empowerment of Women in Kenya.” That’s what Kenya is striving toward there’s a vast and dynamic community of advocates leading the way italian studio e-ggs was commissioned by manufacturing brand miniforms to design the light and airy ‘shiko wien’ bed with its characteristic wooden structure and vienna straw headboard the bed evokes japan’s traditional ‘tatami’ mattress raised here on four specular legs to tone down its static appearance and give it a refreshing form.  e-ggs (see more here) presents the ‘shiko wien’ bed for miniforms (see more here) as the latest variation of its ‘shiko’ series launched a few years back the previous designs — ‘magnum’ and ‘wonder’ — emphasize strength and stability while ‘wien’ embraces weightlessness the studio has dictated those differences by endowing each variation with a particular headboard design: square for ‘magnum’ and plump for ‘wonder’ e-ggs has shaped the headboard using the intricate vienna straw technique — creating a light and natural character for the first time in the series vienna straw is combined with solid ash — both available in natural and black finishes — to further highlight the organic and gentle accents defining the ‘shiko wien’ bed the perforated and deflated appearance of the headboard also favors light and shadow plays —  a detail that can ‘lend character to every room in the home.’ name: shiko wien bed design: e-ggs client: miniforms designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Today's print edition Home Delivery Aomori-born Shiko Munakata’s 1937 work “In Praise of Tohoku” is a visual prayer on the hardship of life in northern Honshu The 10-meter-wide set of folding screens features a dense chaotic wall of semi-abstraction with Amida Nyorai the Buddha of limitless light and compassion The piece shares a grim energy with Pablo Picasso’s “Guernica,” which was created the same year It is a standout work in the retrospective exhibition of one of Japan’s most internationally successful and storied modern artists “The Making of Munakata Shiko: Celebrating the 120th Anniversary of the Artist’s Birth.” The exhibition is a major affair in terms of size and reach having traveled down from the print artist’s home prefecture to The National Museum of Modern Art where it is currently being shown through Dec where Munakata lived between 1945 and 1951.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); 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 From Aomori Station on the JR Tsugaru and Ou lines take the #J32 Aomori City bus and get off at Munakata Shiko Kinenkan Dori AD Munakata Shiko's woodcut prints are immediately recognizable to art fans worldwide block shapes framed by swirling arabesques These are just some of the hallmarks that make a Munakata stand out in any museum Some readers may know him as the jolly-looking man with wavy hair and thick famous for his highly animated style of carving his works In "The Making of Munakata Shiko," a new exhibit at the National Museum of Modern Art near Takebashi Station in Chiyoda Ward, downtown Tokyo museum patrons are treated to a feast of the great artist's work as well as to an introduction to the man behind the masterpieces The first thing one notices as one stands in front of many Munakata Shiko artworks is their size Stretches of paper scroll off along the wall or under glass for yards and yards Huge swaths of black-stamped white tower up from the floor To go to a Munakata Shiko exhibit is to realize that the artist worked on a legendary scale Not all of Munakata's woodblock prints and works in other media are so big Many items in "The Making of Munakata Shiko" exhibition being held at the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo until December 3 and other items of much less than epic size His grand visions gulp down paper by the square foot and keep on sprawling Amid this expansive composition are lines of exquisite boldness and also of vulnerability forms in ink and white that arrest a work's motion even as they propagate it across the created space Take the 1939 print series Two Bodhisattvas and Ten Great Disciples of Sakyamuni Each of the twelve figures is more than a meter in height Munakata's 1953 work The Twelve Apostles is even bigger It stands at a little over three meters and opens to a width equivalent to the height of a tallish man Munakata's expansive artistic vision was born in Japan's northeast. In Aomori the son of a blacksmith and one of fifteen children But Aomori was filled with life and color. The Nebuta Festival for example and the landscapes etched into the fecund earth awakened something in the young Munakata that would take a lifetime to fully flower Perhaps other European artists were also on Munakata's mind. His 1924 painting Mt Hakkoda, for example, is redolent of Paul Cezanne (1839-1906) and Camille Corot (1796-1805) Munakata moved to Japan's capital as a young man determined to make a career out of his artistic vision It was there that a chance encounter with — somewhat ironically — artists and philosophers more interested in tradition than in Tokyo modernity would set Munakata on a path to international renown A June 1937 photograph on display at "The Making of Munakata Shiko" exhibit speaks volumes about Munakata Shiko's artistic development. In the photo, Munakata sits in the front row, arms folded, face framed in his signature dark-rimmed eyeglasses. To his right, arms similarly folded is Yanagi Muneyoshi (1889-1961).  The photo was taken at the Nihon Mingeikan Yanagi believed that art was not the exclusive province of social elites Yanagi and fellow Mingei enthusiast Shoji Hamada (1894-1978) discovered Munakata's work by chance one day after it had been rejected by a major bought some of his works to display in the newly-opened Mingeikan This provided financial and moral support for an emerging artist As "The Making of Munakata Shiko" exhibition volume explains the expanding Mingei network in Japan proved to be a turning point for Munakata's working environment Mingei artists and enthusiasts provided frequent and specific commentary on Munakata's art awakening him to new creative perspectives The human connections Munakata formed through Mingei were invaluable to him an artist from Aomori who later in life created a piece reflecting on having had to learn the Tokyo dialect Munakata stayed for a month or so at Mingei ceramicist Kawai Kanjiro's (1890-1966) home in Kyoto, for example. He also spent time at the Hamada home in Mashiko The Mingei movement welcomed Munakata into the center of a community of like-minded artists Munakata and his family spent the last months of the Greater East Asia War in a small town in rural Toyama prefecture. Kawai Kanjiro, Munakata's Mingei mentor, helped the Munakatas find shelter thanks to the good offices of a Buddhist priest named Kansho Kosaka Munakata was back in the provinces — and also immersed in the Buddhism that spiritually supported him National Museum of Modern Art Chief Curator Hisaho Hanai gave a lecture on Munakata during the special press-only pre-opening event It was held a day before the official opening of the "The Making of Munakata Shiko" exhibition Hanai explained that Munakata is often remembered for his Mingei associations as well as for the worldwide acclaim that he garnered after the war she stressed that the Toyama period was also crucial to the formation of Munakata as an artist Munakata was a believer in Pure Land Buddhism His works from the Toyama years make this explicit the Buddhist spirit that coursed through the Mingei movement flowed with great power into Munakata's art The long war years finally drew to a close, but Munakata stayed in Toyama until 1951 when he resumed his art career in Tokyo. The seclusion of the war and immediate postwar years gave way to global acclaim. In 1956, Munakata won the 28th Venice Biennale. The awards kept coming Munakata became an internationally renowned artist He sojourned in the United States and India and his works were shown in other countries Munakata's ebullient way of working — face pressed down to the wood to accommodate his poor vision humming songs of Beethoven into his flying hands — and the deceptively simple beauty of his work endeared Munakata to art lovers around the world Munakata finally found widespread fame in Japan, too. During what Curator Hanai calls the "postwar publishing boom," Munakata's book cover designs for famous authors such as Junichiro Tanizaki and Kenji Miyazawa established his reputation in his home country Munakata has a long and rich history with Mingeikan But as Curator Hanai noted in her pre-opening-day lecture the National Museum of Modern Art has also put on Munakata exhibitions both while the artist was alive and after his death The National Museum of Modern Art also holds many Munakata pieces the "The Making of Munakata Shiko" exhibit is an opportunity to revisit the work of Munakata It seems fitting that Munakata's retrospective was held at the National Museum of Modern Art for another reason Munakata is forever a son of Aomori, of course. He enjoyed depicting (and dancing in) Aomori's famous Nebuta Festival in all of its brilliant colors. His home prefecture boasts a museum dedicated to his work Munakata's pieces grace halls and other public spaces in the Aomori cities of Hirosaki and Hachinohe while rooted in the Mingei tradition and in his native Aomori soil "sekai no Munakata": "Munakata for the world." Brazil — Munakata's prints and paintings have been everywhere there is a way in which "The Making of Munakata Shiko" does not tell the whole story of the man himself Perhaps this is because of the way he worked the way he gave all that he had to his vocation As I was leaving "The Making of Munakata Shiko" exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art this October I was struck by Munakata's spectacles and a few other personal items on display Those small things that Munakata kept on his person stand in great contrast to the outpouring of creativity from Munakata's soul forever pushing blade and brush into new arrangements of color and line If one wants to know the making of Munakata Shiko one must look to his lifetime of artistic production "The Making of Munakata Shiko" exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art runs from October 6 to December 3, 2023. The National Museum of Modern Art is near Takebaschi Station on the Tozai subway line Jason Morgan is an associate professor at Reitaku University in Kashiwa You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Grape breeder Grapa Varieties has appointed  Shiko Domovitz as its new CEO who held the post for 15 years and will now transition to Chairman of the board the largest table grape growing and marketing cooperative in Israel and has decades of experience in the fresh produce industry With Grapa at the precipice of launching exciting new opportunities to the table grape industry Shiko’s experience will help accelerate Grapa’s growth and development as the company enters this exciting new chapter “I was drawn to join Grapa because of the vision and values the company holds I believe that my experience can contribute to the immediate fulfillment of Grapa’s great potential,” Domovitz said in the statement during the July and August field days in California Grapa is excited to be presenting five new varieties that have completed their commercial evaluation and hold characteristics and traits that the table grape sector is eagerly awaiting Grapa is currently implementing structural shifts and changes by establishing local offices in regions including Egypt and Morocco to ensure closer contact and regional awareness for all of its license holders Fueling this growth is the development of the ARRA Breeding Program The program has successfully been producing very early proven varieties that serve as a perfect solution for the inevitable gap in timing between the finish and start of each hemispheric region these varieties also offer growers an upper hand with shorter growing cycles by which the ARRA Breeding program is proud to support values such as economic and environmental sustainability production stability for growers has become top priority It is key to hold varieties that are adaptable to climate changes and severe weather conditions “We have particularly focused on developing varieties that can withstand extreme weather conditions ranging from tolerance to extreme heat to cold and rain this advantage allows for two annual harvest cycles significantly increasing growers’ returns.” co-founded by Giumarra and the Karniel families together hold a natural collaboration in terms of aligned values with both organizations founded as family businesses bringing generations of agricultural wisdom and knowledge “From the few companies that lead in the table grape breeding industry today Giumarra and Grapa are the only privately owned family businesses but remain loyal to our family values and personal approach.” Shiko Domovitz we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads may adversely affect certain features and functions Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen 2023Weekly Art News Digest: Van Gogh and Pokémon Collaboration Shiko Munakata and Yasuko Toyoshima ExhibitionsCatch up on upcoming exhibitions and art news with a weekly digest from Tokyo Art Beat Left: Pikachu inspired by “Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat,” Naoyo Kimura (1960) ©2023 Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation) The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam houses the world’s most extensive collection of works by Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the museum’s opening it is collaborating with Pokémon from September 28 to January 7 visitors can join Pokémon Adventure while walking alongside Van Gogh’s paintings and discovering the stories behind the masterpieces (*) It is known that Vincent van Gogh greatly admired Japanese woodblock prints He was inspired by the use of flat surfaces with strong colors young students can learn about the connection between Van Gogh and Japan and how inspiration can flow in multiple directions Lesson for primary schoolsLesson for secondary education *The promotional Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat card is no longer available for sale at the museum but is promised to appear soon at the Pokémon Center (United Kingdom, United States, and Canada). See the official website for more details The printmaker Shiko Munakata (1903-1975) was active during the Showa period and is associated with the sosaku-hanga (creative prints) and mingei (folk art) movements Munakata is widely known for his work depicting Buddhist motifs which won him international acclaim and the Grand Prix at the Venice Biennale in 1956 the highest artistic honor by the Japanese government To mark the 120th anniversary of Munakata’s birth this retrospective exhibition travels across three regions that influenced Munakata’s development as an artist and served as his home and studio - Aomori Prefecture Focusing on the relationship between Munakata and each region the exhibition illustrates his diverse activities in various fields to explore the nature of Munakata as an artist To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Chiba Prefecture the Chiba Prefectural Museum of Art will hold Theo Jansen’s exhibition as part of a cultural exchange program with the Netherlands a country with close ties to the prefecture The exhibition will feature over ten wind-powered strandbeests a special event will be held at Chiba Port on December 3 allowing the public to witness the strandbeest in action against the backdrop of Chiba’s coastline The exhibition is scheduled to run from October 27 through January 21 The long-awaited solo exhibition of Yasuko Toyoshima (1967-) is scheduled to open at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo on December 9 Toyoshima has been exploring identity issues and the relationship between the human individual and society since 1990 By reinterpreting the values of school education Toyoshima highlights the “individual” surrounded by these circumstances Her work is becoming increasingly important in an age dominated by stagnation To provide a comprehensive overview of Toyoshima’s artistic career including reinterpretations of earlier works The exhibition is scheduled to run from December 9 through March 10 Fancy claiming a free sample of the Dassai ultra-nourishing facial mask by Shiko The Dassai ultra-nourishing facial mask by chic brand Shiko is now available as a free sample gift if you choose to sign up to the woman&home Beauty Counter The woman&home Beauty Counter offers you the chance to receive complimentary beauty samples curated for you by woman&home’s in-house experts and delivered directly to your door.  Every product you try will be tailored to your skin and hair type After testing you have the option to send us your feedback so we can continue to refine and customize your beauty choices and ensure they are a perfect fit.  Shiko's Dassai ultra-nourishing facial mask is a highly sought-after mask that typically retails at $35 for 5 masks—which is a whopping $6 per mask Dassai sells their ultra-nourishing face mask in packs of five for $35 The facial treatment masks can be used daily The Dassai Facial Mask is infused with Dassai Sake Lee Essence drawn from the lees produced during the brewing process of premium Junmai-Daiginjo Dassai 23 sake Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news expert advice on styling and beauty trends and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered The brand explained that this mask is rich in various acids and vitamins as well as collagen so your skin is rejuvenated after you wear the mask. "Dassai Sake Lee Essence offers a rich blend of 16 natural amino acids and is combined with a luxurious formula of collagen and other skin-loving ingredients that help deliver a smooth The mask can be used every day to moisturize and nourish the skin and is perfect for those with sensitive or irritable skin The brand also explained that this mask is a celebration of Japanese culture "The Dassai facial mask was developed with the wish of sharing Japan’s beauty culture with the world Sake-brewers are widely known to have beautiful hands in Japan The moisturizing power of fermented sake lees imbued with the vitality of thriving microorganisms has been developed into a beauty essence that is truly a pride of Japan." So, what are you waiting for, it's time to sign up to the woman&home Beauty Counter so you can finally try one of these awesome masks for yourself Laura HarmanLaura is the Entertainment Editor for woman&home who primarily covers television Laura loves drinking and eating and can often be found trying to get reservations at London's trendiest restaurants Leave a rating/comment#Prints#Art Week Tokyo#StartingInOct2024RecommendedExhibitsBack to ArticlesSHARE 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 A man wearing a headband and round “milk bottle” spectacles hummed Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 as he carved a woodblock at an astounding speed He was also so fast when sketching outdoors photographer Ken Domon (1909-1990) told him to the effect “You finish your sketch before I can press the shutter on my camera.” an iconic “hanga” (woodblock print) artist who was born 120 years ago on Sept Born to a local blacksmith in Aomori Prefecture Munakata famously declared upon leaving for Tokyo that he would become the “van Gogh from Aomori.” A memorial exhibition of his works is being held in his hometown I visited it ahead of its scheduled opening in Tokyo next month His prints of the Buddha and mythological characters exude raw “The women portrayed by Shiko may look like racy courtesans but they also look like goddesses of compassion,” according to Shoichi Kobayashi I could feel the afterglow of the famed Nebuta Festival held there in August every year And I sensed that the festival must have been the source of inspiration for the vivid colors that characterize Munakata’s works Munakata changed how he wrote “hanga” in kanji He substituted the first character meaning “printing block” for one meaning “a board” to emphasize the need to "listen" to the materials on which he worked the more he tried to go beyond such thinking forget about the carving knife and the woodblock and I must forget about my thoughts and feelings Gone were all boundaries between himself and the rest of the universe I suppose that is a state of awareness that can be attained only by true geniuses who have given themselves completely to the pursuit of their art Munakata’s state of selflessness must have been noticed by his close friend and poet Shinpei Kusano (1903-1988) who penned this piece: “The impoverished young man who came to Tokyo wanting to become van Gogh/ Did not become van Gogh/ But he became the Munakata of the world .. His near-sighted eyes flashing behind his glasses/ He carves/ He carves Munakata Shiko.” 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 VOX POPULI: Van Gogh show in Tokyo owes to one woman’s passion VOX POPULI:AI alarmingly encroaching on the creativity of human writers Rare portrait by Hokusai emerges out of the blue VOX POPULI: Children’s book pulls no punches in depicting cycle of life in Alaska 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 There is no disputing that sumo fans are living through a golden age right now Not in terms of what’s happening inside the ring as Japan’s national sport struggles to find new heroes and lacks high-quality action in a post-Hakuho world.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); it’s outside the dohyō where sumo is experiencing an all-time high In an interesting strategic move, edtech startup Shikho announced that it has opened its first offline Exam and Experience Center in Dhaka's Farmgate area The move comes amid a growing trend where digital players are increasingly eyeing omnichannel play the move is expected to help bridge the digital-physical divide that remains a major challenge for edtech players in Bangladesh and across many emerging markets Farmgate is ground zero for Bangladesh's shadow education with students flocking from across the country to access supplementary academic support at the numerous coaching centers located there Shikho aims to marry Shikho's strengths in digital pedagogy with a tangible experience that makes edtech real for students and parents alike The center will be physical touch point for Shikho services where students and parents will have opportunity to experience Shikho’s “feature-rich learning app and web portal” and students will be able to “participate in physical exams in an invigilated environment” The company says it has plans to open more of these centers across the country.  Announcing the move Shikho founder and CEO Shahir Chodhury wrote on LinkedIn:  we are incredibly excited to launch the very first Shikho Exam and Experience Center in the heart of Dhaka's Farmgate Farmgate is the test-preparation hub of Bangladesh where families send aspiring learners from all over the country so they can have the best chances for success.  Our offline centers will complement the unique comprehensive suite of digital learning services we already offer Alongside access to our feature-rich learning app and web portal students will now have the ability to participate in physical exams in an invigilated environment These centers will also help demystify the power and potential of online learning as students and guardians will be able to visit and have full access to the premium courses on phones and laptops with direction and guidance from Shikho personnel at the Experience Zones but with a student base spread across all 64 districts we have plans to launch these state-of-the-art centers all across Bangladesh!” This is a pragmatic strategic move given the nature of the education market in Bangladesh While edtech has an excellent awareness in the country and parents and students preference for in-person coaching and tutoring are some of the reasons behind this.  We have written about this conundrum before in the state of edtech in Bangladesh:  “The digital divide is going to be another big challenge for the edtech companies that want to scale you can divide the Bangladesh edtech market into two: students and parents who live in urban centers and already have access to the best quality teachers and education; and students who live in suburban and rural areas Many parents would be hard-pressed to pay for an online service when they can access dedicated teachers offline and other benefits that better meet the needs of holistic education for their kids many students and parents are already using an online education service for complementary learning But it is also true that the competition for these students is high and it is a small market TEAM and business models are unlikely to work if an edtech company only relies on urban students.  many students in suburban and rural areas don't have access to data or devices to access online education mobile data remains of poor quality and expensive One founder of a K-12-focused edtech startup tells us that students often count the price of mobile data along with the price of the course which makes the course quite expensive Edtech companies will have to find ways to deal with these challenges.” This much is apparent in current parents and students behavior the conventional path to academic success has long involved supplementing school classes with private tutoring and coaching centers.  While many of these students and parents do consider online learning as interesting and useful they hardly see it as an alternative for offline ones many consider smartphone based online education can potentially be harmful for the attention span and other behavior of their kids.  The offline centers can help Shikho overcome some of these limitations These centers can become important channels for its market education and growth The company can also turn them into hybrid coaching centers if it sees such a strategic move makes sense in the future.  The company rightly identifies that while it has built meaningful traction with its online platform further melding the online and offline realms could unlock even greater potential for the company strategic pragmatism can be the difference between life and death.  Much of the disruption we've seen in consumer technology over the past decade can be characterized as an unbundling of integrated experiences that had long been bundled together out of necessity Streaming unbundled entertainment from linear television packages Ride-sharing apps like Uber unbundled transportation from private vehicle ownership.  we are amidst a great unbundling as edtech startups have made quality instruction accessible online it's become clear that the convenience of remote learning alone is insufficient to fully meet customer needs What we're seeing with Shikho's Experience Center is actually a re-bundling—pulling together the advantages of online and offline Allowing invigilated exams confers credibility that remote assessment lacks offering a hands-on exploratory space for young learners and their parents to experience Shikho's platform first-hand diminishes the opaqueness of the "black box" technological solution.  but the existing edtech model might not hold in markets like Bangladesh Edtech players might be forced to offer something beyond fragmented digital and physical alternatives this experiment by Shikho can offer meaningful learning not only for Shikho but also for other edtech players with similar ambitions in Bangladesh.  A consistent theme we see from successful startups is solutions being purpose-built for the unique needs and contexts of the markets they emerge from Having an understanding of the on-the-ground challenges is indispensable While the opportunity to access high quality teaching for a fraction of coaching costs might sound appealing to a digital native for parents and students it might not sound the same Digital-only education doesn’t really sound real in many instances.  This is why meaningful edtech success at scale will require first principle thinking and building from ground up with the feedback from the market.  And this is why Shikho’s move to embedding physical Centers into communities makes for an interesting experiment The move opens a new scale potential for the company it should allow Shikho to gain a much better vantage into the practical pain points of its target users and the real challenges of edtech in Bangladesh Shikho may ultimately offer an interesting approach for delivering educational experiences—a blend of the virtual and real merging physical and online experiences can help Shikho build formidable competitive barriers The move also comes with meaningful challenges for Shikho Shikho operates on a different cost structure and operational dynamics Customers expect a certain kind of price structure from the company.  Maintaining offline centers would mean significant investment Unless these centers help Shikho significantly improve its ROI they can become a costly strategic burden for the company.  any major strategic move comes with meaningful uncertainties and this applies to Shikho as well Shikho has shown a willingness to take pragmatic risks and change strategy when something is not working The company ran and abandoned a series of experiments and initiatives How Shikho tackles eventual uncertainties regarding its offline operation will determine its success with this offline initiative.  Powered by: Probaho View upcoming auction estimates and receive personalized email alerts for the artists you follow Scholten Japanese Art is presenting for its Winter 2024–2025 gallery exhibition a collection of woodblock prints by a group of preeminent Japanese sosaku hanga artists This exhibition calls back to the surface a hidden gradient of software art development since the 1990s and links it with a material and historical turn in digital art of the present Aomori-born Shiko Munakata’s 1937 work “In Praise of Tohoku” is a visual prayer on the hardship of life in northern Honshu the premier luxury hospitality service provider in Lagos hosted the Roundtable on Destination Africa a high-level gathering aimed at promoting African tourism destinations Industry stakeholders and business leaders came together to discuss critical issues relevant to the sustainability of Africa’s tourism sector brought together experts from various fields The roundtable discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities facing the African tourism industry with a particular emphasis on the role of Nigeria and the wider West African region Nigeria’s Pivotal Role in African Aviation highlighted Nigeria’s pivotal role in Africa’s aviation sector “Nigeria is a crucial market for us,” Shiko said “It offers multiple high-yield business opportunities and we have seen a significant uptick in leisure travel in recent years.” Shiko noted that Kenya Airways has responded to this growing demand by increasing the number of daily flights to Nigeria and ensuring adequate capacity to cater to the needs of both business and leisure travellers play a crucial role in promoting business and facilitating leisure travel across the continent Despite the growth and opportunities in Nigeria’s aviation sector Visa issuance remains a significant hurdle with the process often seen as bureaucratic and expensive “This is something we have escalated to the relevant authorities and our stakeholders,” Shiko explained Simplifying the visa process could encourage more travel within the continent Another challenge facing Nigerian air travel is the perception of safety and reliability Kenya Airways is actively working with industry stakeholders to change these perceptions and promote a positive image of African cities “We are committed to ensuring the safety and comfort of our passengers,” Shiko said “We are working hard to change the narrative and show that African cities are safe and welcoming.” Eko Hotels and Suites: Transforming Hospitality in Lagos Director of Sales and Marketing at Eko Hotels and Suites discussed the hotel’s innovative approach to enhancing the travel experience in Lagos Eko Hotels has invested heavily in creating a tourist destination within its hotel community The onset of COVID-19 pushed the hotel to think outside the box shifting focus from purely corporate clientele to leisure travellers as well “December is a busy period for us,” Gbadebo noted highlighting the influx of Nigerians in the diaspora returning home for the holidays Eko Hotels aims to capture a portion of the diaspora’s spending which often goes to destinations like Dubai “There needs to be a conversation that harmonizes a strategy to keep this diaspora money within the continent,” Gbadebo emphasized Eko Hotels’ location in the heart of Victoria Island makes it an attractive destination for both business and leisure travellers The hotel has not only focused on offering luxurious accommodations and dining experiences but also ventured into content curation to offer unique travel experiences This approach aims to make visitors more aware of the benefits of spending their money within Africa enjoying the rich culture and vibrant atmosphere Nigeria has to offer Tropical Christmas Wonderland: An African Holiday Celebration Beyond its strategic location and luxurious amenities Eko Hotels & Suites boasts another jewel in its crown – the annual Tropical Christmas Wonderland this event transforms the hotel into a wonderland for families and a grand venue for social gatherings The event has taken a bold step away from traditional Western Christmas themes in recent years Gbadebo shared the evolution of this event which has since embraced a distinctly African narrative “The conversation started two years ago during the Prideland edition when we deliberately started choosing to tell African Christmas stories,” Gbadebo recalled Eko Hotels has developed themes that reflect African traditions and stories merging universal Christmas themes with unique African elements the event will focus on “the Africa of the future,” continuing to build on the success of previous editions and offering visitors an immersive experience that celebrates African heritage and innovation The Tropical Christmas Wonderland promises to be a grand celebration of African culture and hospitality reinforcing Eko Hotels’ commitment to promoting African tourism and creating unforgettable experiences for visitors As Africa continues to emerge as a global tourism destination events like the Roundtable on Destination Africa and the Tropical Christmas Wonderland highlight the potential and promise of the continent’s diverse and vibrant travel industry Eko Hotels and Suites stands at the forefront of this movement THISDAY is published by THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LTD. Nigeria with offices in 36 states of Nigeria the Federal Capital Territory and around the world It is Nigeria’s most authoritative news media available on all platforms for the political professional and diplomatic elite and broader middle classes while serving as the meeting point of new ideas culture and technology for the aspirationals and millennials The newspaper is a public trust dedicated to the pursuit of truth and reason covering a range of issues from breaking news to politics sports and community to the crossroads of people and society You can email us at: hello@thisdaylive.com or visit our contact us page Youtuber and influencer Shiko Nguru is set to make her authoring debut with her book titled Mwikali and the Forbidden Mask The book which is set to be launched next year features a story about a 12-year old girl called Mwikali whose life takes a different turn when she discovers that she is a descendant of legendary ancient East African warriors called the Intasimi Warriors this fiction book will be published by Independent children’s publisher The book which was acquired from Lisa Edwards of Redwood Tree Publishing in a three-book deal is being edited by former Amnesty International publishing co-ordinator Christofere Fila and award-winning spoken word poet Oluwaseun Matiluko Shiko who was super excited about this project stated “I am beyond thrilled to have found a publishing partner that values diverse voices and is just as excited as I am to share the richness and beauty of East African mythology with the world.” which is the home of authentic Kenyan vlogs on matters parenting and lifestyle boasts of having a legion of loyal followers who have made this one of the most popular Kenyan YouTube channels Get your weekly vibe delivered directly to your inbox Bloomsburg’s Fisher and California’s Shaheen named Pitchers of the Year Kutztown’s Katlin Arbogast is the PSAC East Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season while Bloomsburg’s Shavaun Fisher is the PSAC Central Pitcher of the Year and California’s Lauren Shaheen is the PSAC West Pitcher of the Year marking the second straight year that a Vulcan hurler has claimed the award for the top pitcher in the Western Division Kutztown’s Katie Lynch is the PSAC East Freshman of the Year while IUP’s Stefanie Poates is the PSAC Central Freshman of the Year marking the second straight year that a Crimson Hawks has been named the division’s top newcomer Edinboro’s Marissa Pullo is the PSAC West Freshman of the Year which marks the second straight year that the Fighting Scots have had a major award winner in the West after former standout Dana Webb was named the Player of the Year last season The head coaches of the three respective divisional champions are this year’s Coaches of the Year West Chester’s Diane Lokey is the PSAC East Coach of the Year Bloomsburg’s Jan Hutchinson is the PSAC Central Coach of the Year and California’s Rick Bertagnolli is the PSAC West Coach of the Year which claimed a share of the PSAC East title along with West Chester led the way in the East with five first team selections and six overall All-East picks Leading the way was outfielder Maria Schiavo and Arbogast who both end their careers as four-time All-PSAC selections Arbogast is a four-time first team all-conference pick while Schiavo is on the first team for the second straight year after being a second team pick in her first two years West Chester junior outfielder Erin MacNamee is on the first team for the third straight year Bloomsburg and IUP each tied for the most overall selections with seven apiece Bloomsburg led the way on the first team with six selections led the way as she ends her career as a four-time all-conference selection three times as a first teamer and once on the second team IUP junior pitcher Erin Holloway is now a three-time all-conference pick as she dots the first team for the second time in her career after being a second teamer last year California led all PSAC teams with eight overall all-conference picks in the West including five first team picks to lead all Western Division teams is on the first team for the second straight year as just a sophomore Slippery Rock’s Jessica Kortz made the first team for the second straight year and ends her career as a four-time All-PSAC selection The West team also had the most freshman of any of the three teams as four freshman were selected to the All-West teams including two to the first team in Slippery Rock’s Jenna Geibel and Edinboro’s Ashley Black Freshman of the Year Pullo from Edinboro compiled the second-most votes of any player on the ballot but only made the second team as the player with the most votes was Russell the Player of the Year who plays the same position Under the guidelines for selecting the All-PSAC softball teams under the three-division format the top vote-getter at each position is honored on the first team in each division The second team is made up of the next top six vote-getters as well as the pitcher with the next-most votes Ingersoll earns the East Player of the Year award after helping lead the Golden Rams to a share of the PSAC East title and the No 1 seed out of the East in the PSAC Tournament a senior transfer in her second year with the Golden Rams co-leading the PSAC in batting average and leading the league in both home runs and RBI She also led the PSAC in hits with 76 and total bases with 141 and was also among the league leaders in doubles with 17 She struck out just 15 times in 157 at-bats and compiled an .898 slugging percentage and a .563 on-base percentage Shiko earns the Central Player of the Year honor after helping the Huskies to their first PSAC championship since 2002 She led the PSAC in both runs and triples with with seven She was also 11-for-12 on stolen bases and committed just five errors in the field in nearly 130 chances Her .389 batting average was second on the team Russell is the PSAC West Player of the Year after helping lead the Vulcans to a PSAC West championship and a runner-up finish in the PSAC Tournament She ranked among the league leaders in home runs with 11 and total bases with 105 Arbogast earns the PSAC East Pitcher of the Year honor for the second straight year after another standout season in the pitching circle in which she went 24-10 with a 2.10 ERA in 240 innings She was third in the PSAC with 243 strikeouts Fisher is Bloomsburg’s first Pitcher of the Year since Ashley Lynn was the East Pitcher of the Year in 2008 Fisher was the Huskies’ top pitcher on their run to the PSAC championship in wins with 29 as she compiled a 29-4 record She tossed 11 shutouts and also recorded two saves while holding opponents to a .188 batting average She threw two no-hitters and two one-hitters on the season Shaheen is California’s second straight West Pitcher of the Year a second team All-PSAC West honoree this year no Cal player had ever won a PSAC Pitcher of the Year award Shaheen ranked among the league leaders in ERA at 1.34 and went 19-4 with 136 strikeouts in 141.1 innings the East Freshman of the Year was one of the top hitters for Kutztown this year as the freshman as she was second on the team in hitting at .342 She was also second on the team with 39 RBI and was tops on the Golden Bears in both doubles (17) and total bases (97) Poates is the second straight IUP player to earn the PSAC Central Freshman of the Year following teammate Marissa Leslie last year The freshman led the Crimson Hawks this year in home runs with nine and also hit .324 with 31 RBI Her .657 slugging percentage was also second on the team Pullo is Edinboro’s first PSAC West Freshman of the Year since April Hurd in 1998 Pullo co-led the PSAC with a .484 batting average She was also among the league leaders in stolen bases with 18 in 19 attempts Lokey is the PSAC East Coach of the Year for the second time in the last three seasons Lokey guided West Chester to a share of the PSAC East championship and the No 1 seed out of the division in the PSAC Tournament The Golden Rams also advanced to last weekend’s PSAC championships series Hutchinson is the the PSAC Central Coach of the Year in this her final season as head coach after a long and distinguished career This is the seventh PSAC Coach of the Year award of her career after she led the Huskies to their first PSAC championship since 2002 and a 44-5 overall record this year as well as a perfect 14-0 mark in Central division play Bertagnolli is the PSAC West Coach of the Year for the second straight year after leading the Vulcans to their second straight West title and a runner-up finish at the conference tournament This is his 10th career PSAC Coach of the Year honor Earlier this year, character TD Ahmed Shalaby released one of the stretchiest rigs we’d seen in quite a while isn’t quite as extreme – but it’s probably more widely usable A more conventional-looking cartoon character Shiko comes with complete face and body controls His bodily proportions can be deformed at will Download the free Shiko 3ds Max character rig from Ahmed Shalaby’s website How does HP's rackable graphics workstation compare to a desktop system in real-world rendering and CG tests Create ruined and post-apocalyptic industrial environments with Epic Games' new Derelict Corridor Megascans Sample project New version of the veteran graphics benchmark for testing workstations reflects recent changes to CG software and industry pipelines Free Photoshop scripts convert high-res planetary textures to UDIMs for use in VFX and animation Decoded's frustration-saving add-on adds new features to Blender's camera system now including a new auto-focus system for renders Big update to the effects plugins for video editing and compositing apps adds AI matte generation and GPU acceleration on AMD hardware CG Channel is part of the Gnomon group of companies We use cookies to improve your site visit. Find out more Following the rumors about a possible not very friendly departure from "Shiko kush luan" as a result of an alleged conflict with the moderator and author Luana Vjollca the actor Rezart Veleshnja reacted through a post on Instagram Stories He published an article written by the RDA News portal the articles of which are distributed on a page called "Klanifornia" which has more than 25,000 followers but it is unclear whether it is a page managed by the humor program with the same name on Tv Klan "Ha ha ha his name is Luana o ti çun you have this site and you get 40 thousand lekë per month to make fake news," he wrote about the article where Luana's name is confused with that of Marina And there is no hassle except when I was busy Created by Shiko Munakata (1903-1975) is internationally celebrated as a 20th-century master of Japanese woodcut prints including first prize at the 1955 Sao Paulo Biennial and the Grand Prix at the 1956 Venice Biennale.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Munakata moved to Tokyo at the age of 21 with hopes of becoming an oil painter but later shifted his focus to woodcut prints which often feature motifs from traditional Aomori culture and references to historical poetry as "paintings that emerged from inside wood plates." This exhibition draws from works housed at the Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art and includes the artist's acclaimed series "Two Bodhisattvas and Ten Great Disciples of Buddha" (1939) Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division.