Overflowing with captivating content, Magda Rittenhouse‘s poignant piece on Ryuichi Sakamoto, the “godfather of electronic music”, brought tears to my eyes. Li Zizi’s Chinese flower paintings are breathtaking. There are also compelling features on jazz, punk music, and the rich history of Noh and the new “Noh”. This issue is a delight to explore. You’ll enjoy reading articles exploring Japanese emoji meanings, profound reflections on Nikkei community experiences, and haiku, as well as fantastic reviews courtesy of Patrick McCoy, Leanne Ogasawara, Kala Ramesh, David Cozy, and other esteemed writers. Trust me, this issue is a must-read gem.

My review of ‘Honeybees and Distant Thunder’ by Riku Onda is on page 114. Here’s a snippet of that review: