G M Thomas FRSA FRAS
@japanauthor.bsky.social
Fellow Royal Society of Arts. Fellow Royal Asiatic Society.
I have been sleeping but now awake and I saw this and started to read. Philip Larkin's poem, Aubade, was published in the Christmas edition of the Times Literary Supplement in 1977
December 18, 2025 at 12:14 AM
I have been sleeping but now awake and I saw this and started to read. Philip Larkin's poem, Aubade, was published in the Christmas edition of the Times Literary Supplement in 1977
What have garden sheds and tat got to do with Christmas? Welcome to the UK abomination known as the Christmas Market. This example in Trafalgar Square last year.
December 17, 2025 at 10:07 PM
What have garden sheds and tat got to do with Christmas? Welcome to the UK abomination known as the Christmas Market. This example in Trafalgar Square last year.
You might be amazed to learn this is the Thames in the heart of London. Barnes on the right; Chiswick on the left.
December 17, 2025 at 9:55 PM
You might be amazed to learn this is the Thames in the heart of London. Barnes on the right; Chiswick on the left.
Although they were not neighbours - as they lived on this terrace of houses at different times - I felt there were synergies oscillating between Gustav Holst and Ninette de Valois presence. And of course his music is today used in ballet.
I passed these today. Dec 2025.
I passed these today. Dec 2025.
December 17, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Although they were not neighbours - as they lived on this terrace of houses at different times - I felt there were synergies oscillating between Gustav Holst and Ninette de Valois presence. And of course his music is today used in ballet.
I passed these today. Dec 2025.
I passed these today. Dec 2025.
My virtual Christmas card view for this year. It is part of the series Miyako meisho nijūgo kei (Twenty-five Views of Famous Places in Kyoto). Artist: Morikawa Sobun (1847-1902).
December 17, 2025 at 7:15 AM
My virtual Christmas card view for this year. It is part of the series Miyako meisho nijūgo kei (Twenty-five Views of Famous Places in Kyoto). Artist: Morikawa Sobun (1847-1902).
It is unsurprising that the organisation that mounted OsakaExpo 2025 continues to be inept.
December 16, 2025 at 7:32 AM
It is unsurprising that the organisation that mounted OsakaExpo 2025 continues to be inept.
Quality Street when the tins were big. From the 1950s. (For those not au fait with this Christmas tradition, buying a tin of the Quality Street assortment is still a big part of Christmas in the UK. However more recently the tins have started to shrink.)
December 15, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Quality Street when the tins were big. From the 1950s. (For those not au fait with this Christmas tradition, buying a tin of the Quality Street assortment is still a big part of Christmas in the UK. However more recently the tins have started to shrink.)
The Shikoku mountains Japan. More precisely the Iya Valley area. 2025.
#mountainmonday #landscape #scape
@bskyphotos.bsky.social
#mountainmonday #landscape #scape
@bskyphotos.bsky.social
December 15, 2025 at 3:03 PM
The Shikoku mountains Japan. More precisely the Iya Valley area. 2025.
#mountainmonday #landscape #scape
@bskyphotos.bsky.social
#mountainmonday #landscape #scape
@bskyphotos.bsky.social
How the world turns. I saw something very similar yesterday but it was about 5000 miles away and at sunrise.
December 15, 2025 at 8:25 AM
How the world turns. I saw something very similar yesterday but it was about 5000 miles away and at sunrise.
Released this week in 1971. Way before Ibeza became a thing:
"See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibeza to the Norfolk Broads."
What on earth was Bowie being prescient about? How did he know? Spooky.
"See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibeza to the Norfolk Broads."
What on earth was Bowie being prescient about? How did he know? Spooky.
December 14, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Released this week in 1971. Way before Ibeza became a thing:
"See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibeza to the Norfolk Broads."
What on earth was Bowie being prescient about? How did he know? Spooky.
"See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibeza to the Norfolk Broads."
What on earth was Bowie being prescient about? How did he know? Spooky.
Sure there is perhaps a period halfway through when it momentarily becomes repetitive. And it could have done with a couple of scenes breaking away from the cafe setting. (It does feel like watching a stage play at times.)
Nor did I entirely understand how the past-future dynamic actually worked.
Nor did I entirely understand how the past-future dynamic actually worked.
December 13, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Sure there is perhaps a period halfway through when it momentarily becomes repetitive. And it could have done with a couple of scenes breaking away from the cafe setting. (It does feel like watching a stage play at times.)
Nor did I entirely understand how the past-future dynamic actually worked.
Nor did I entirely understand how the past-future dynamic actually worked.
BI2M is the more recent film, supposedly shot as a single take with the action largely taking place in a cafe and an apartment on a higher floor.
Some disruption to the space- time continuum allows the cafe owner, through a TV and a monitor to see in to the near future. Chaos then ensues.
Some disruption to the space- time continuum allows the cafe owner, through a TV and a monitor to see in to the near future. Chaos then ensues.
December 13, 2025 at 7:52 PM
BI2M is the more recent film, supposedly shot as a single take with the action largely taking place in a cafe and an apartment on a higher floor.
Some disruption to the space- time continuum allows the cafe owner, through a TV and a monitor to see in to the near future. Chaos then ensues.
Some disruption to the space- time continuum allows the cafe owner, through a TV and a monitor to see in to the near future. Chaos then ensues.
Further to my earlier posts on Anne Coates, three photos of her from Pinewood Studios. #letterbxd 📽️
December 13, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Further to my earlier posts on Anne Coates, three photos of her from Pinewood Studios. #letterbxd 📽️
Christmas drinks #2. 2023.
December 13, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Christmas drinks #2. 2023.
"Turn social media profiles to public." This has just appeared on social media issued by the Embassy in the UK. This is just for visa applicants at the moment but it's the first step.
December 12, 2025 at 7:35 AM
"Turn social media profiles to public." This has just appeared on social media issued by the Embassy in the UK. This is just for visa applicants at the moment but it's the first step.
Christmas drinks #1: Lynch Bages 1989 and Warre's 1996.
December 11, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Christmas drinks #1: Lynch Bages 1989 and Warre's 1996.
And this is what I call a proper Christmas dish: spicy pumpkin and lentil soup.
December 10, 2025 at 11:02 PM
And this is what I call a proper Christmas dish: spicy pumpkin and lentil soup.
Now that's what I call a proper Christmas tree.
December 10, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Now that's what I call a proper Christmas tree.
Christmas at Highgrove.
December 10, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Christmas at Highgrove.
Just in time for Christmas. Keiji Sada (#botd in 1926) with his wife and (seemingly unhappy) daughter Kei in an advertisement for Akadama Port Wine. In fact it wasn't a true port but a fortified sweet wine. Dates from 1958 and the brand is still on sale ready to drink with cheese after the turkey.
December 10, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Just in time for Christmas. Keiji Sada (#botd in 1926) with his wife and (seemingly unhappy) daughter Kei in an advertisement for Akadama Port Wine. In fact it wasn't a true port but a fortified sweet wine. Dates from 1958 and the brand is still on sale ready to drink with cheese after the turkey.
After yesterday's storm the sunset was spectacular.
December 10, 2025 at 6:19 AM
After yesterday's storm the sunset was spectacular.
Let's see if Rubio tells Strump to change the sans serif typeface on Truth Social to Times Roman.
December 10, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Let's see if Rubio tells Strump to change the sans serif typeface on Truth Social to Times Roman.
The Ladykillers, that Ealing classic satirising Britain's decline, was released 70 years ago. It was also distributed in Japan. Here are some pages from the movie pamphlet that accompanied the release.
And in the comment is a new #bfi article about the locations.
And in the comment is a new #bfi article about the locations.
December 9, 2025 at 10:35 PM
The Ladykillers, that Ealing classic satirising Britain's decline, was released 70 years ago. It was also distributed in Japan. Here are some pages from the movie pamphlet that accompanied the release.
And in the comment is a new #bfi article about the locations.
And in the comment is a new #bfi article about the locations.
I saw a post recently from an architect that commented if only house design in Japan was better the streets would be prettier. Nakabucho. Marugame. August 2025.
December 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I saw a post recently from an architect that commented if only house design in Japan was better the streets would be prettier. Nakabucho. Marugame. August 2025.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle nominated in the Golden Globes animation category.
The film is an adaptation of a popular Japanese manga of the same name, and the first of a trilogy. The movie has made over $643 million in box-office revenue worldwide, a first for a Japanese film.
The film is an adaptation of a popular Japanese manga of the same name, and the first of a trilogy. The movie has made over $643 million in box-office revenue worldwide, a first for a Japanese film.
December 9, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle nominated in the Golden Globes animation category.
The film is an adaptation of a popular Japanese manga of the same name, and the first of a trilogy. The movie has made over $643 million in box-office revenue worldwide, a first for a Japanese film.
The film is an adaptation of a popular Japanese manga of the same name, and the first of a trilogy. The movie has made over $643 million in box-office revenue worldwide, a first for a Japanese film.