STORY

Communities & Initiatives

Culture Is Oxygen. — Wilson Claude Balda and His Small Laboratory in ...

A few minutes from Saint-Paul station, at 17 rue François Miron in Paris’s 4th arrondissement, a large carriage gate opens onto a courtyard. Beyond it, a gallery. Rare Gallery Paris 4. The sign is modest. But inside, three spaces across two floors hold paintings, photographs, sculptures — and sometimes music. Quietly, or with energy, they surround whoever enters. The person who built this space,...

2026.05.23

Human Stories

David Beaulieu — A Life in Many Acts

The Light of a Storyteller “Paris is my city.” He says it simply, without ceremony. And walking alongside David Beaulieu through the streets of Paris, you understand exactly what he means. David is a French actor based in Paris. Trained at the Cours Florent, one of France’s well-known drama schools, he first took to the stage at 16 and acted until 28. Life then...

2026.04.05

Creative Works

Calligraphy as a Bridge Between Sensibility and Space — Calligraphy A...

Chihiro Nakamura.She never studied under a master. Yet from childhood, the moment a brush touched paper, something in her came alive. Year after year, works made for school assignments and summer projects were recognized with awards — not because she had been trained, but because the sensitivity was simply there, waiting. A career in design followed. But when the time came to speak as...

2026.03.14

Creative Works

Yuki Nishi | Designing the Light of “Fun”

A Childhood Vision That Became Reality Yuki Nishi, a game creator based in Saitama, Japan, has been captivated by the “architecture of play” since his elementary school days. While his peers were immersed in the experience of playing, Nishi was already deconstructing the mechanics behind the screen. This early fascination led him to produce original games during university, eventually securing a position at a...

2026.03.01

Communities & Initiatives

Sharing the Spirit of Rakugo: Le Gang du Zabuton

Le Gang du Zabuton (RAKUGO.fr): Bringing the Art of Japanese Rakugo to Life in France Based in Paris, Le Gang du Zabuton / RAKUGO.fr is a performing arts group dedicated to introducing the traditional Japanese storytelling art of rakugo to French-speaking audiences. By blending deep respect for Japanese culture with a distinctly French sensibility, the group presents rakugo in a way that feels both...

2026.02.15

Communities & Initiatives

The Real Karate Kid: Discover the Birthplace of Ryukyu Karate in Okinawa

Where Karate Was Born — A Living Archive in Okinawa Before karate became a global discipline, before it entered Olympic arenas and Hollywood films, it was something quieter. Something rooted in the red soil of a small southern island, passed from hand to hand, breath to breath, generation to generation. That island is Okinawa. And the man who has dedicated his life to preserving...

2026.02.15

Communities & Initiatives

Naginata: A Japanese Martial Art Connecting Tradition and Modern Prac...

Introduction Naginata is a traditional Japanese martial art that combines discipline, elegance, and cultural heritage. Originally developed in Japan centuries ago, it has gradually spread internationally. France, in particular, has played a significant role in establishing naginata practice in Europe, creating an active community that continues to grow today. Origins of Naginata in Japan The naginata is a pole weapon traditionally used by samurai...

2026.02.15

Communities & Initiatives

Learning to See Through Contrast: Hiroshima High School Photography Club

Archive Feature Learning to See the Contrast — A Student’s Discovery at Notre Dame Seishin Photography Club In a photograph of a building, a student captured the interplay between shadow and light. When asked what made the image compelling, she responded simply: “I found the contrast between the dark and bright areas interesting.” It was not a dramatic statement. It was precise. And in...

2026.02.15