Kagoshima Prefecture is the southernmost prefecture of the island of Kyushu, and a haven for natural beauty, deep history, and immersive culture. With a population of slightly over 1.5 million people, Kagoshima Prefecture is also the 10th biggest prefecture of Japan, and the largest in all of Kyushu. Famous for its pottery that made its way around the world, active volcano that occasionally coats the city in ash, and a revolt during the Meiji Period, Kagoshima is a must see for anyone visiting Kyushu.

14 February marked the UK release of COTTONTAIL, a film directed by Patrick Dickinson and starring Lily Franky as Kenzaburo, who travels with his family to England in order to spread the ashes of his wife Akiko at Lake Windermere in the Lake District. A story on loss, family mending, and self-discovery, COTTONTAIL takes viewers on an emotional journey between Japan and England. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with the star Lily Franky and the director Patrick Dickinson to discuss the film.

The Sapporo Snow Festival, one of the largest snow sculpture festivals in the world, transforms the city into a winter wonderland each year with hundreds of breathtaking snow and ice sculptures. The construction process is, in many ways, just as awe inspiring as the festival, however it is near impossible for visitors and even locals to get a glimpse behind the curtain. With that in mind, last year I decided to make a documentary following a snow sculpture team for several months to understand the ins and outs of how these towering snow creations are put together.

Kaitlyn Ugoretz, an instructor and associate editor at the Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture in Nagoya, takes us through a journey of the many different colours of torii gates you can find in Japan!