under the angel’s trumpet

this is romina. she is a painter and artist who threw a party in her backyard in long beach around christmas of 2014. she is grasping a stem from the brugmansia plant … the angel’s trumpet. like romina, the angels trumpet comes from south america. it is known for its use as a psychedelic […]

tianyu music festival: style and fashion at china’s version of coachella

the tianyu music festival is held over three days in lijiang, china. that’s here: musicians come from across china to perform in the ‘country side’. current chart-toppers, indie metal bands, electronic dj’s, famous artists that your chinese parents remember from their youth and traditional musicians playing some of the world’s oldest musical instruments (see portraits: lijiang […]

fugestu-do. oldest sweets shop in LA’s little tokyo.

Fugestu-do is family owned and operated since 1903. It is one of the few businesses in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo to survive Japanese-American Internment during WWII. read the full story here: https://msmlska.com/2007/02/02/you-are-what-you-eat-what-food-has-to-say-about-a-culture/ The counter at Fugestu-do sells a variety of Japanese confections. Fugesto-do’s specialties are Japanese wagashi including the mochi pictured here. Owner Brian Ktio […]

obon festival. lahaina, maui, hawaii

Photos taken at Lahaina Hongwanji Mission and Lahaina Jodo Mission and originally published in Bamboo Offshoot, August 2007 issue. A prayer is said before the Obon dance begins. Lahaina Hongwanji Mission. Tavi Viela (8) sits in the dressing room after putting on a kimono. Lahaina Hongwanji Mission. Volunteers cook chow fun. Lahaina Hongwanji Mission. Obon […]