Culture Cave

Unique Kabuki Leaves Japanese Audience emotional

The Special Night Event at the Kabukiza Theatre was the highlight of TIFF’s Japanese Classics section. Marking the third year of the event, which TIFF cohosts with Shochiku at the historic theatre in Higashi Ginza. This was the first ever time for a kabuki star to perform in an onnagata (female) role, and the first time that the event featured a Japanese benshi narrator during the film screening. Kabuki (歌舞伎) is a classical dance-drama in Japan known for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers. The individual kanji, or Japanese characters from left to right, mean sing (歌),...

In BALI

  In BALI In Bali I heard music playing when my ears heard complete silence I experienced joy where there was apathy I fashioned zest where there was languor I drew serendipitous friends upon unforeseen loneliness I knew pyramids of light brighter than blinding sunbeams I recounted time that was ever timeless I reached balance in inescapable turbulence I became the observer where I was the observed I discovered my heart`s love for the Universe from the galaxies that loved me In Bali, the answers came to me, in the bland...

Autobiographical Project – “The Blonde Oiran”, Kyoto, Golden Week 2015

  My photographer was the funniest woman to work with, with an Osaka-Ben that was both funny and adorable. We worked well together and did the whole shoot in Japanese, which I`m very proud of considering 2 years ago I could barely speak a word! I was also surprised that they propped my real hair up as opposed to handing me a wig. I loved this shoot compared to the last Maiko/Geiko one, as it shows me in a much more natural light. All credit to the amazing make-up...

The Men on a Mission to Make People Laugh: Peter Bogdanovich and Owen Wilson say the world needs comedy more than ever

  The Men on a Mission to Make People Laugh: Peter Bogdanovich and Owen Wilson say the world needs comedy more than ever     EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH GABRIELLA WHITE MCIJ Location: Tokyo International Film Festival 2014 Event: She’s Funny That Way TIFF Film Premiere Peter Bogdanovich, world renowned and one of the most well-respected figures in the history of Hollywood enters the cinema. I instantly detect an empathy about the man. In the lead up to becoming a film director himself, Bogdanovich started out as a film writer,...

Tokyo International Film Festival 2014 Red Carpet Gallery

The Children of El Nido

March 11th 2012 – A Message to Japan

Thinking of you Japan and all you beautiful people: I will be worshipping and praying in Durham Cathedral later, thinking about, mourning and paying respect to all those affected by last year’s quakes. I am wearing a sakura and as a mark of respect I am putting the Japanese flag up today. Around the world we admire your continued strength and adversity through one of the world’s most tragic and hearbreaking catastrophes. May God bless Japan. Thank you. – Gabriella White, The Culture Cave

British Country makes a comeback

British country is making a comeback. Try out the Glen Kirton Country band album: The Four Forty Nine, not to be missed, for these are absolutely fabulous tunes. The album is available for download on iTunes, Amazon and via the Digimix Records website. Track 2 on the album entitled I love my True Love is currently the most downloaded track, receiving a tonne of airplay in the UK; the song which bounces along merrily holds very original lyrics in the style of American genre but with a British twist, making it a...

Travel: Living and breathing it.

Travel can be a time of absorption. Just last year I was churning out articles for the national and international press. As the autumn leaves began to fall in Western Europe my recurrent thirst for travel and adventure swept me off my feet: paradise was beckoning (as were international projects overseas) and before I knew it I was on a plane jetting off into the sunrise, yes, that’s right- not the sunset quite yet. First stop: 日本. I was off to the land of the rising sun. I have...

Thought of the Day – Happiness!

  Be happy and free – dance around street lanterns barefooted if you want to!   © The Culture Cave 2011. All rights reserved