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"Beholding is a countercultural act—it requires us to stop, to receive, and to fully see.” — Makoto Fujimura"Slow art is an invitation to linger, to notice, and to let the world unfold before us." — Makoto FujimuraYou are a beautiful masterpiece. But the practice of living artfully comes slowly, often through brokenness, weakness, or failure. Contemporary artist Makoto Fujimura integrates traditional Japanese styles with abstract expressionism and Christian theology, to explore the beauty that can emerge from the ashes pain and suffering. Both his art and his writing call us to behold the gift of creation, participate in its redemption, accentuating the cracks and fractures in our lives, so that grace might abound.Makoto Fujimura—renowned artist, writer, and theologian—joins Dr. Pam King to explore the deep connections between art, faith, and flourishing. Fujimura shares how his Japanese heritage and study of traditional Nihonga painting have shaped his understanding of creativity as a sacred act. Through themes of brokenness, beauty, and slow art, he challenges us to rethink success, embrace imperfection, and create from a place of love and abundance. Whether you're an artist, a person of faith, or someone seeking meaning in a hurried world, this conversation will invite you to slow down, behold, and embrace the mystery and beauty of life.Mako Fujimura integrates his artmaking, theology, and culture care advocacy into a beautiful expression of thriving and spiritual health. Through his breathtaking expressionist style, distinctively Japanese methods, and his rooted Christian convictions, he's bringing beauty into being, and inviting us to do the same.In this conversation with Mako Fujimura, we discuss:What art is, what creativity means, and the human capacity for making beautyHow we can live artfully through imperfection, brokenness, trauma, and sufferingHow the practice of a gift economy can lead to mutual thrivingThe slow art of pausing, stopping, and beholding that contributes to our mental and spiritual healthAnd the connection between knowledge and love in a life of creativity and artmaking.Helpful Links and ResourcesFollow Makoto Fujimura on X @iamfujimuraView Mako's art at makotofujimura.comMakoto Fujimura's WritingsMakoto Fujimura's BooksNihonga Art and its TraditionsRefractions: A Journey of Art, Faith, & CultureCulture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common LifeSilence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of SufferingArt and Faith: A Theology of MakingEpisode Highlights"Art is fundamentally what human beings create—it is our capacity to make, and in making, we come to know.""Beholding is a countercultural act—it requires us to stop, to receive, and to fully see.”"We worship a wounded, glorified human being—our brokenness is not something to escape but something to offer.""Creativity is not about self-expression alone—it is about giving yourself away in love.""Slow art is an invitation to linger, to notice, and to let the world unfold before us."Show NotesMakoto Fujimura discusses the intersection of art, faith, and flourishingThe importance of beholding in a fast-paced worldHow brokenness and imperfection reveal deeper beautyNihonga painting and the wisdom of traditional Japanese artCreativity as an act of love and gift-givingThe Art of BeholdingWhy slowing down is essential for creativity and spiritual growthThe practice of beholding as a way of seeing the world more deeplyHow art invites us to be present and pay attentionThe connection between contemplation, creativity, and flourishing"Beholding is a countercultural act—it requires us to stop, to receive, and to fully see."Creativity, Faith, and Human FlourishingHow art and faith are intertwined in human thrivingThe spiritual discipline of making and creatingWhy true knowledge is connected to love and experience"Art is fundamentally what human beings create—it is our capacity to make, and in making, we come to know."How community fosters creativity and growthBrokenness, Beauty, and the Theology of MakingThe Japanese tradition of Kintsugi and embracing imperfectionHow Jesus' wounds and resurrection shape our view of brokennessThe gift economy vs. the transactional economy in art"We worship a wounded, glorified human being—our brokenness is not something to escape but something to offer."Learning to see beauty in what is discarded or overlookedThe Practice of Slow ArtWhy slowing down is essential for deep engagement with artHow layers in Nihonga painting reveal new depths over time"Slow art is an invitation to linger, to notice, and to let the world unfold before us."How slowing down fosters healing and deeper connectionThe role of patience and attentiveness in both art and lifeLiving a Creative and Generous LifeHow to cultivate creativity in daily life, even outside traditional artsThe role of community in sustaining creative workWhy generosity and self-giving are essential to true creativity"Creativity is not about self-expression alone—it is about giving yourself away in love."Practical steps for integrating creativity into everyday livingPam King's Key TakeawaysWhether you think of yourself as artist, we're all creative. Mako's message is intentionally not just for artists, but is an invitation for all of us to live artfully—no matter what we do for a living.Because creativity comes in so many different ways, from leadership, to scientific research, to parenting, to cooking, we all have the daily creative capacity to add beauty to the world.And to that end, remember your first love, the playfulness and creativity of giving beauty to the worldA gift economy of beauty offers a radical resistance to consumerism, competition, and comparison.Art and the making of beauty is a part of thriving. And the invitation to live artfully starts with a daily practice of slowing down: pause, stop, and behold. Smell the roses. Consider the lilies.And finally, there's a path to beauty through brokenness. Grace comes to us through failure. And strength is made perfect in weakness.And finally, though the wind may be blowing through our lives, may we all learn to behold the moonlight leaking between the roof planks.About Makoto FujimuraContemporary artist Makoto Fujimura is a painter, an author, a speaker, and an imaginative maker with a gift for theological integration.Mako's message is intentionally not just for artists, because creativity comes in so many different ways, from leadership, to scientific research, to parenting, to cooking, we all have the daily creative capacity to add beauty to the world. Working out of his Princeton, New Jersey studio, his work has been described by David Brooks as “a small rebellion against the quickening of time.” Art critic Robert Kushner placed Mako's art at the forefront of a contemporary movement about “hope, healing, redemption, and refuge, while maintaining visual sophistication and intellectual integrity.”A blend of fine art and abstract expressionism, Mako describes his work as “slow art,” being influenced directly by the distinctively Japanese Nihonga style, which is patient and methodical, using slow drying pigments from ground minerals.Mako's art has been featured in galleries and museums around the world, as well as notable collections in The Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, The Huntington Library in California, and the Tikotin Museum in Israel.From 2012 to 2017, he served as vision director of the Brehm Center here at Fuller Theological Seminary.Mako is the author of several books, including Refractions: A Journey of Art, Faith, & Culture, Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life, and Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering. His most recent is entitled Art and Faith: A Theology of Making. And his next book will be available soon—titled, Art Is: A Journey into the Light. And with his wife Haejin, he's producing a new work on Beauty and Justice.Follow him on X @iamfujimura, and view his beautiful work at makotofujimura.com. About the Thrive CenterLearn more at thethrivecenter.org.Follow us on Instagram @thrivecenterFollow us on X @thrivecenterFollow us on LinkedIn @thethrivecenter About Dr. Pam KingDr. Pam King is Executive Director the Thrive Center and is Peter L. Benson Professor of Applied Developmental Science at Fuller School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy. Follow her @drpamking. About With & ForHost: Pam KingSenior Director and Producer: Jill WestbrookOperations Manager: Lauren KimSocial Media Graphic Designer: Wren JuergensenConsulting Producer: Evan RosaSpecial thanks to the team at Fuller Studio and the Fuller School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy.
Send us a textClayton is a stand up comedian born and rasied in NYC and is producing his first stand up show this Saturday (4/5) at C5BK in Bushwick Brooklyn. We had a great conversation about the difference between Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, catheters and plenty more. Enjoy and come out to his show!Follow Clayton on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/claytonfujimura/ Buy me a coffee! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antoniob06p Follow The Smoking Simian on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesmokingsimian/ Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/antoniothecomical/ Follow Billy on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/23dollarbill/ Share, like, comment and subscribe on The Smoking Simian YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFn3FPnTegakyd9YpoYfsQg Audio platforms - https://smokingsimian.buzzsprout.comSupport the show
Last time we spoke about Fall of Peleliu. As American forces pressed down the Ormoc Valley, General Kataoka launched a counterattack with limited success, and Colonel Hettinger's 128th Regiment clashed at Breakneck Ridge but couldn't capture Corkscrew Ridge. Meanwhile, Japanese troops fortified defenses, resulting in intense fighting along Kilay and Shoestring Ridges. By November 23, the Americans had solidified their positions around Limon, disrupting Japanese supply lines and forcing a shift in enemy tactics. Simultaneously, Colonel Nakagawa's last forces on Peleliu fought desperately. As American flamethrowers targeted enemy caves, Nakagawa, with only a few soldiers remaining, chose an honorable death, marking the brutal end of the battle. American forces eventually secured Peleliu after extensive losses. Hidden Japanese troops would later survive in caves until 1947, finally surrendering. Lastly China's Operation Ichi-Go saw brutal losses as Japanese forces captured Guilin and Liuzhou, killing civilians and decimating Chinese forces. This episode is Operation Capital Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945. By the end of November, General Gill's 32nd Division had successfully secured the Limon area and was prepared to advance south toward Ormoc. However, they first needed to clear enemy forces from Kilay Ridge. At the same time, General Arnold's 7th Division had strengthened its position on Shoestring Ridge and was preparing to attack the rear of General Yamagata's 26th Division, which was moving east to participate in an offensive against the Burauen airstrips. In the north, Colonel Clifford's 1st Battalion had been under heavy pressure in recent days. With the arrival of the 2nd Battalion, 184th Regiment, however, he was now ready to go on the offensive. On December 1, following intense preparations, the Americans launched an attack on the Japanese-held knolls at the southeastern end of the ridge. They captured the first knoll easily but were halted by intense fire on the second. The next day, Colonel Hettinger's 2nd Battalion continued the assault, this time overcoming all resistance and securing Kilay Ridge for the Americans. Clifford's relieved battalion had suffered 26 killed, 2 missing, and 101 wounded, yet estimated Japanese casualties at 900. Meanwhile, by November 30, General Cunningham's 112th Cavalry Regiment had advanced to a ridge roughly 2,500 yards east of Highway 2 and about 5,000 yards southeast of Limon. Here, they encountered a heavily fortified enemy force that held its ground. Unable to dislodge them, Cunningham sent Troop A northwest on December 2 to connect with the 126th Regiment at the Leyte River. Meeting no resistance, the 1st Squadron also began moving northwest, while Cunningham's 2nd Squadron continued its attempts to take the Japanese-held ridge without success. Facing south, Arnold planned to advance northward with two regiments side-by-side, but his offensive would be postponed until the 17th Regiment arrived on December 3. The next day, patrols were sent forward in preparation for a full assault, reaching as far north as Balogo. Meanwhile, the Japanese were finalizing their own Burauen offensive, codenamed Operation Wa, set to launch on December 5. However, the plan was already faltering: by the end of November, the 16th Division was reduced to only 2,000 men, and the 26th Division was still moving slowly to its assembly point. In response, the recently arrived 3rd Battalion of the 77th Regiment, brought to Ipil by landing barges, was promptly sent to support Yamagata. The 68th Brigade, expected to arrive shortly, was to secure the Albuera sector, blocking any enemy advance toward Ormoc. Additionally, General Tominaga planned to airdrop two regiments from the 2nd Raiding Brigade onto the Burauen airstrips to coordinate with the ground attack. Meanwhile, the Imahori Detachment, pushed out of Daro in late November, remained on standby for action in the Ormoc sector as it retreated toward Dolores. At sea, Admiral Okawachi had deployed the seventh convoy of Operation TA, organized into three echelons to transport supplies and equipment. The first group, consisting of three submarines and one subchaser, departed Manila on November 28 and reached Ipil two days later, successfully unloading cargo but losing one submarine grounded at Masbate. The second group of two submarines left Manila on November 30, unloading at Palompon the next day, although both were later destroyed in a nighttime destroyer sweep. On December 1, a third group of three transports, T-9, T-140 and T-159 and two destroyers, Take and Kuwa, under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Yamashita Masamichi, departed Manila, reaching Ormoc the next day, where they were attacked by a separate destroyer division during the night. The convoy, under Lieutenant-Commander Yamashita Masamichi, was docked at Ormoc City when it was engaged at 00:09 on December 3 by three ships of Destroyer Division 120 under the command of Commander John C. Zahm. The American destroyers attacked the transports as they were unloading but came under heavy attack from Yokosuka P1Y "Frances" bombers, shore batteries, submarines that were known to be in the harbor, and the Japanese destroyers. As a result, Kuwa was sunk and Commander Yamashita was killed. Take also attacked Cooper with torpedoes and escaped, though with some damage. Cooper finally sank at about 00:15 with the loss of 191 lives (168 sailors were rescued from the water on December 4 by Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boats). At 00:33, the two surviving US destroyers were then ordered to leave the bay, and the victorious Japanese successfully resupplied Ormoc Bay once more. This phase of the Battle of Ormoc Bay has gone down in history as the only naval engagement during the war in which the enemy brought to bear every type of weapon: naval gunnery, naval torpedoes, air attack, submarine attack, shore gunnery, and mines. Meanwhile, as the Battle of Leyte continued, Generals MacArthur and Krueger were preparing the crucial invasion of Luzon. On October 3, the Joint Chiefs of Staff approved MacArthur's Operation Musketeer III over a possible invasion of Formosa, which would have required moving along extended and vulnerable supply lines. However, naval commanders feared an Allied convoy navigating the narrow waters of the central Visayas would be vulnerable to heavy air attacks from numerous nearby enemy airfields. This concern prompted the Americans to plan a preliminary operation, codenamed Love. One option involved securing positions in Aparri to provide fighter cover for supply ships, which could then take a safer route around northern Luzon through open seas. MacArthur, however, favored capturing Mindoro to establish airfields that would protect naval convoys en route to Luzon. Although enemy air attacks posed a risk during the initial invasion and resupply of forces on Mindoro, the establishment of these airfields would give the Allies a shorter, safer route to Lingayen Gulf with improved air protection and reduced exposure to the unpredictable typhoon season compared to the northern Luzon route. The Mindoro operation was scheduled for December 5, followed by a large-scale invasion of Luzon with landings at Lingayen Gulf on December 20, anticipating that the airfields on Mindoro would be operational by then. For Operation Love III, Krueger organized the Western Visayan Task Force, which included the 19th Regiment and the 503rd Parachute Regiment, under the command of Brigadier-General William Dunckel. The initial plan involved a combined airborne and amphibious landing on December 5 to secure the San Jose area near the southwest coast, facilitating the immediate use of its airstrips to support the Luzon operations and counter the numerous enemy airfields on the peninsula. However, delays in the development of airfields on Leyte and the ongoing need for air support for Leyte ground forces led to significant changes in the original Mindoro plan. Consequently, the airborne phase was canceled, and arrangements were made for the parachute regiment to be transported by sea. Ultimately, the prolonged development of airfields on Leyte, resulting in insufficient air support, combined with the urgent need to rehabilitate essential naval units, led to a ten-day postponement of the Mindoro operation to December 15. This delay impacted the Leyte campaign significantly, allowing the released shipping to be utilized for an amphibious assault on Ormoc. As a result, on November 23, General Bruce's 77th Division landed on Leyte in the rear areas of the 24th Corps and was readied for this new assault. Krueger decided to deploy this division for a major push to expedite the conclusion of the Leyte campaign. However, we must now shift our focus from the Philippines to recent developments in New Britain. Following the initial landings at Jacquinot Bay, the 6th Brigade was fully assembled at Cutarp by December 16. Their mission was to halt the Japanese forces from moving westward from Wide Bay and to conduct patrols toward Milim. At the same time, the 13th Brigade was tasked with safeguarding Jacquinot Bay against potential enemy advances from the north or south. To the north, the 36th Battalion was positioned at Cape Hoskins, with two of its companies deployed to Bialla Plantation by December 6 to patrol towards the Balima River and counter any Japanese offensives from Ea Ea. Under this increasing pressure, the enemy was compelled to retreat, leaving the Ea Ea-Ulamona region clear. Due to this unexpected withdrawal and the challenges of beaching barges at Bialla, General Ramsay decided to permit the 36th Battalion to advance toward Ea Ea. After leaving a small detachment at Cape Hoskins, the Australians landed unopposed at Ea Ea on January 13, while a New Guinea company similarly landed on Lolobau Island. To the south, half of the 14th/32nd Battalion successfully landed at Sumpun on December 28, moving closer to the Japanese buildup at the northern end of Henry Reid Bay. By January 7, the rest of the battalion had gathered at Sumpun, and by the end of January, they conducted an amphibious operation to set up a new base at Milim. At the same time, the 6th Brigade also started moving into the Kiep-Milim area, completing this transition by February 11. However, we will now shift our focus away from New Britain and turn our attention to Burma to discuss the continuation of Operation Capital. As previously noted, by the end of November, General Slim's 14th Army had effectively chased the retreating Japanese troops to the Chindwin River, while General Festing's 36th Division advanced to Pinwe, tightening the noose around General Katamura's 15th Army from the north. To the east, General Li Hong's 38th Division had successfully encircled Bhamo, and General Li Tao's 22nd Division along with Colonel Easterbrooke's 475th Regiment were progressing along the Bhamo-Myitson road. On the Salween front, General Wei's Y-Force captured Longling and Mangshi, the key targets of his offensive. However, amid the intense fighting at Mangshi, the 53rd Army executed a broad flanking maneuver through the mountains towards the Chefang Pass, where General Matsuyama's 56th Division was establishing new positions. Fortunately for Matsuyama, the Yoshida Force, anticipating this movement, launched a successful counterattack south of Kongjiazhai, effectively stalling the enemy advance long enough for the withdrawing Japanese forces to regroup. Meanwhile, Wei had dispatched the 71st Army to advance along the Burma Road and the 6th Army to break through Mengga, launching a rapid assault on the hastily prepared Japanese defenses on November 24. The 2nd Army chose to bypass these defenses, continuing south towards Wanding. Despite fierce resistance from the defenders, the determined Chinese forces made significant progress in the following days, ultimately compelling the outnumbered Japanese to withdraw to Wanding on November 28. In response, General Matsui's 113th Regiment established a delaying position at Zhefang, successfully repelling enemy attacks until December 1, which provided crucial time for the retreating forces to regroup at Wanding. By that time, however, Wei's divisions were significantly weakened, lacking 170,000 men from their required strength due to a lack of replacements. As a result, the Chinese command decided to postpone their offensive for thirty days while they awaited additional supplies and reinforcements, as well as a decisive victory at Bhamo that would enable Wei to connect with General Sultan's forces. Meanwhile, while the 30th Division advanced towards Namhkam, the 38th Division had been persistently assaulting Colonel Hara's garrison in the final two weeks of November. On 15 November, the 113th Regiment attacked and took the outpost positions south of Bhamo and, although the defenders were successful in twice retaking them, on the 17th the positions were finally relinquished. The enemy force brought increasing pressure on the Bhamo outpost positions on all sides while completing preparations for a general attack on the main core of resistance. In the enemy's preparation for the general attack, concentrations of artillery fire and air bombardment caused severe damage. Planes flying out of Myitkyina, averaged 200 sorties a day between the middle of November and 4 December. Every building in Bhamo was destroyed and all defensive positions were badly damaged. Early in the air bombardment period, fire destroyed most of the rations and food supplies began to run dangerously low. Despite the heavy bombardment, the Garrison continued to fight calmly and effectively. Meanwhile, north of Bhamo, where the Chinese had not moved closer to the city than the containing detachment the 113th had left opposite the Japanese outpost at Subbawng, the 114th was making more progress. That regiment bypassed the Subbawng position on 21 November and moved two miles west along the south bank of the Taping River into Shwekyina. Outflanked, the Japanese quickly abandoned Subbawng and the rest of the 114th came up to mop up the Shwekyina area, freeing advance elements of the 114th to move directly south through the outlying villages on Bhamo. On 28 November the 114th was pressing on the main northern defenses of Bhamo. In this period of 21-28 November the division commander, General Li, did not alter the mission he had given the 113th of entering Bhamo, but by his attention to the 114th he seemed to give tacit recognition to the altered state of affairs. The first Chinese attack on Bhamo itself was given the mission of driving right into the city. Made on the south by the Chinese 113th Regiment, the attack received heavy air support from the 10th Air Force. It succeeded in moving up to the main Japanese defenses in its sector, but no farther. American liaison officers with the 113th reported that the regimental commander was not accepting their advice to coordinate the different elements of the Allied force under his command or supporting him into an artillery-infantry-air team, and that he was halting the several portions of his attack as soon as the Japanese made their presence known. However, the 113th's commander might well have argued that he and his men faced the most formidable Japanese position yet encountered in Burma. Aerial photography, prisoner of war interrogation, and patrolling revealed that the Japanese had been working on Bhamo since the spring of 1944. They had divided the town into three self-contained fortress areas and a headquarters area. Each fortress area was placed on higher ground that commanded good fields of fire. Japanese automatic weapons well emplaced in strong bunkers covered fields of sharpened bamboo stakes which in turn were stiffened with barbed wire. Anti-tank ditches closed the gaps between the lagoons that covered so much of the Japanese front. Within the Japanese positions deep dugouts protected aid stations, headquarters, and communications centers. The hastily improvised defenses of Myitkyina were nothing like this elaborate and scientific fortification. Manned by some 1200 Japanese under Colonel Hara and provisioned to hold out until mid-January 1945, Bhamo was not something to be overrun by infantry assault. Although the Chinese managed to destroy several enemy outposts beyond the fortress town, they were unable to penetrate the formidable defenses established by the fierce Japanese troops. After a significant air and artillery bombardment, the 113th Regiment launched another attack at the beginning of December but once again failed to achieve a breakthrough. In contrast the 114th's aggressive commander had been most successful in the early days of December. With less than half the air support given the 113th and with no help from the 155-mm. howitzers, he had broken into the northern defenses and held his gains. The decision to give the 114th first call on artillery support posed a problem in human relations as well as tactics. This was the first time the 38th Division had ever engaged in the attack of a fortified town. All its experience had been in jungle war. Faced with this new situation, the 113th Regiment's commander seemed to have been at a loss to know what to do. The 114th, on the contrary, had gone ahead with conspicuous success on its own, and now was being asked to attempt close coordination with artillery and air support. Its commander hesitated for a day, then agreed to try an attack along the lines suggested by the Americans. The tactics developed by the 114th Regiment by 9 December took full advantage of the capabilities of air and artillery support. Since the blast of aerial bombardment had stripped the Japanese northern defenses of camouflage and tree cover it was possible for aerial observers to adjust on individual bunkers. So it became practice to attempt the occupation of one small area at a time. First, there would be an artillery preparation. Two 155-mm. howitzers firing from positions at right angles to the direction of attack would attempt to neutralize bunkers in an area roughly 100 by 300 yards. Thanks to the small margin of error in deflection, the Chinese infantry could approach very close to await the lifting of fire. The 105's would lay down smoke and high explosive on the flanks and rear of the selected enemy positions. Aerial observers would adjust the 155's on individual positions. When it was believed that all Japanese positions had been silenced the Chinese infantry would assault across the last thirty-five yards with bayonet and grenade. As casualties increased, Hara's garrison continually weakened under relentless assaults, with the outnumbered soldiers bracing themselves to fight to the last man in defense of Bhamo. Determined to prevent the Bhamo Garrison from meeting the same fate as the Lameng and Tengchong Garrisons, General Honda ordered Colonel Yamazaki Shiro's reinforced 55th Regiment to advance towards Namyu and execute a surprise counterattack to assist Hara's beleaguered troops. Departing from Namhkam on the night of December 5, the Yamazaki Detachment stealthily made their way to Namyu, where the 90th Regiment had recently established its primary position atop Hill 5338. Additionally, General Naka's 18th Division was instructed to support this initiative, with Lieutenant-Colonel Fujimura Yoshiaki's 56th Regiment ordered to move through Tonkwa to join the attack. Due to the enemy's successful Ichi-Go offensive, General Wedemeyer and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek made the decision to withdraw the elite 22nd and 38th Divisions from Burma. They planned to deploy these divisions to defend Kunming as part of the Alpha Plan. Not even the most optimistic Chinese could for the moment interpret that the Japanese thrust was confined to the American air bases in China, and no one on the Allied side could feel really sure where the 11th Army would halt, though the summer uniforms worn by the Japanese suggested to American observers that the Japanese might be outrunning their supply lines. Theater headquarters thus concluded that Chongqing and Kunming were under direct, immediate threat. In response, having adopted the code name Alpha, Wedemeyer first presented a detailed plan to the Generalissimo on November 21. This plan was divided into several phases. The period to December 31 was set for Phase I of ALPHA, in which the Chinese forces in contact with the Japanese in south and southeast China would try to slow their advance. The Americans would assist in demolitions, help plan prepared positions, and give the maximum of air support. American officers would fill liaison and advisory roles with the Chinese Army down through division level. Other Americans would work closely with the operations, intelligence, and supply officers of higher Chinese headquarters. Plainly, the mission of Phase I was to win time within which to complete a concentration for defense of Kunming. In Phase II, Chinese forces would be placed across the principal avenues of approach to Kunming while a central reserve would be built up around Kunming itself. To guarantee the availability of dependable Chinese troops two divisions of the Chinese Army in India would be flown in from Burma, together with the 53rd Army from the Salween front. About 87500 troops would be brought to the Kunming area from less menaced sectors of China. As a result, although Sultan was able to keep the 38th Division and intended to send the 14th Division back to China, General Liao was instructed on December 5 to ready the 22nd Division for airlift to China, with Colonel Easterbrooke's 475th Regiment assigned to relieve them north of Tonkwa. However, before this relief could occur, the Fujimura column attacked Tonkwa on December 8 and effectively pushed back the Chinese garrison. The Japanese continued their assault northward the next morning, but this time, Chinese-American forces were able to stop the enemy's progress. In the following days, Japanese patrols further tested American positions, and sporadic artillery and mortar fire harassed soldiers in their foxholes, but no significant assault took place. While the Chinese withdrew on December 12, American patrols discovered the enemy's apparent assembly areas, leading to artillery fire directed at them. Meanwhile, following a heavy artillery bombardment, the Yamazaki Detachment surprised the 90th Regiment on December 9th. The battalion received a heavy bombardment followed by a Japanese attack which penetrated its lines and isolated its 1st and 2d Companies. This was bad enough, but worse followed the next morning. Colonel Yamazaki massed three battalions in column to the east of the road, and, attacking on a narrow front, broke clean through by leap-frogging one battalion over another as soon as the attack lost momentum. The third Japanese battalion overran the 2d Artillery Battery, 30th Division, and captured four cannon and 100 animals. The battery commander died at his post. Despite this setback, the Chinese remained undeterred, exhibiting a fighting spirit that surprised the Japanese. The 88th Regiment swung its forces toward the Japanese penetration, which was on a narrow front, and since the terrain was hilly in the extreme the Japanese could see Chinese reinforcements converging on the battle site. So vigorously did the Chinese counterattack that one lone Chinese soldier fought his way almost into the trench that held Colonel Yamazaki and the 33d Army liaison officer, Colonel Tsuji. Writing in his diary, Tsuji remarked: "This was the first experience in my long military life that a Chinese soldier charged Japanese forces all alone." The Chinese, comprising as they did three regiments of a good division, could not be indefinitely withstood by the four Japanese battalions. Destroying the four pack howitzers they had captured, the Japanese sought only to hold their positions until the Bhamo garrison could escape. Facing intense pressure from a numerically superior enemy, Yamazaki managed to fend off Chinese counterattacks over the subsequent days, striving to create a favorable moment for the Bhamo Garrison to withdraw. By December 14, with the 114th Regiment advancing into central Bhamo, Hara's remaining 900 soldiers destroyed all their artillery and focused their efforts on the southern front. As night fell, they desperately climbed the steep 50-foot banks of the Irrawaddy and charged the Chinese lines at daybreak. Utilizing the cover of early morning fog, Hara's men successfully penetrated the Chinese positions and began their final retreat towards Namhkam. Once the garrison was safe, the Japanese term for "success" was relayed to the waiting Yamazaki Detachment, which subsequently began to disengage, having suffered 150 fatalities and 300 injuries. The Bhamo Garrison, on the other hand, sustained approximately 310 killed and 300 wounded since the onset of the Allied offensive, with about 870 of the original 1,180 men surviving. At this point, only 50 miles remained between Sultan's forces and Y-Force. Meanwhile, the Fujimura column attacked again on December 13. The Japanese activity had apparently been preparation for attack, and on the morning of the 13th men checked their weapons with care and looked to the arranging of their ammunition in convenient spots. The American positions had the advantage of excellent fields of fire across open paddy fields. Looking toward the south and the west, the men of the 475th could see the dark green mass of leaves, trunks, and brush making the jungle that hid the Japanese assembly areas and, farther back, the Japanese gun positions. Following a ten-minute preparation, the Japanese attacked one American flank at 0600 and the other at 0610. The 475th's fire power met the Japanese as soon as they were clearly defined targets, and stopped the attacks within an hour. At one point a Japanese force of about a platoon tried to cover the open space by a concerted rush only to be cut down with thirty or forty casualties. There were no further Japanese attacks that day. The following morning, the 14th, the Japanese repeated their tactics of the 13th, and that effort too was beaten off, at the cost of several men killed. The 475th's entry into combat had the result on the men noted by observers in many previous wars, for they now spent hours digging themselves in more deeply and improving their positions. The 3d Battalion to the north near Mo-hlaing was subject only to artillery fire. That the Japanese at one point were actually within small arms range of the 2d Battalion while apparently not capable of doing more than shelling the 3d with their infantry guns suggested that the 3d might be able to take in reverse the Japanese pocket that pressed on the 2d Battalion. After two days of fierce combat, Easterbrooke's troops ultimately prevailed, launching a robust counteroffensive on December 15 that secured the Tonkwa area. Following these minor operations, both sides experienced a week of skirmishes around the American perimeter defenses until the final Japanese withdrawal, as the Bhamo Garrison had already been liberated. By the end of the battle, the 475th had lost 15 men killed, while an estimated 220 Japanese casualties were inflicted. Following these developments, Honda reorganized his forces, instructing the 56th Division, along with the attached Yamazaki Detachment, to defend the Wanding-Namhkam sector. He also dispatched the Yoshida Force and the 4th Regiment to reserve positions in Hsenwi while retaining the 18th Division at Mongmit. To the west, after the captures of Kalemyo on November 14 and Kalewa on November 28, General Tanaka's 33rd Division was compelled to establish new positions in the Shwegyin-Mutaik sector. In response, Slim directed the 4th Corps to cross the Chindwin River and seize Pinlebu. The 268th Indian Brigade was dispatched across the river at Sittaung, followed by Major-General Thomas “Pete” Rees' 19th Indian Division on December 4. Meanwhile, the 11th East African Division fought fiercely to expand the bridgehead at Kalewa. For the crossing a ‘Chindwin Navy' was formed, with two wooden gunboats mounting a Bofors and two Oerlikon cannons and two pairs of Browning machine-guns. They were built at Kalewa and named Pamela, after Mountbatten's youngest daughter, and Una, after Slim's. Thus Slim became the only general to have designed, built, christened, launched and commissioned ships for the Royal Navy. Their task was to protect the Inland Waterways Transport's lighters, barges and launches, built by Fourteenth Army's Chief Engineer, Brigadier Bill Hasted, who felled forests to create them and for which outboard motors were flown in. The IEME recovered MV Ontario, patched, caulked and repainted her. In due course IWT craft carried some 38000 tons of stores. The task of establishing a firm bridgehead across the Chindwin was accomplished by the East Africans clearing a series of Japanese positions along either side of Myittha river gorge on December 2 after recce by the Sea Reconnaissance Unit (SRU). As the bridgehead was expanded, bridging equipment for what, at 1154 feet, would be the longest floating bridge in the world was assembled and constructed in sections on the Myittha and floated down to the Chindwin and completed in just 28 working hours between December 7 and 10. Meanwhile Brigadier Mackenzie's 32nd Indian Brigade completed its three-day crossing of the Chindwin at Mawlaik using only two rafts named ‘Horrible Charlie' and ‘Stinking Henry'. Unbeknownst to the British and Indian forces, Katamura had already set his withdrawal to the Irrawaddy River in motion, ordering the beleaguered 15th and 53rd Divisions on December 1 to fall back to Kyauk Myaung and Kyaukse, respectively. On December 4, the 33rd Division began its gradual retreat toward Monywa, leaving the 213th Regiment behind as a rear guard to monitor the enemy in the Shwegyin-Mutaik sector. The 31st Division, now under Lieutenant-General Kawata Tsuchitaro, would cover the retreat from its positions at Kambalu and Shwebo. Consequently, Rees, acting on Slim's orders to take risks for speed, made swift progress through the challenging Zibyu Range, with his advance elements connecting with the 36th Division at Banmauk on December 16. After a lengthy pause regarding the Pinwe situation, Festing's patrols entered the towns of Indaw and Katha without opposition on December 10. From these locations, the 26th and 72nd Indian Brigades were set to move towards Kunchaung, while the 29th Indian Brigade continued its advance along the road to Takaung. Throughout this period, Japanese resistance was significantly less fierce than anticipated. Consequently, just days into the operation, Slim realized that his original strategy to encircle Katamura's 15th Army on the Shwebo Plain in front of the Irrawaddy would be ineffective. If the Japanese were indeed planning to fight from behind the river, the 14th Army would be extended from Tamu and exposed to counterattacks at a critical moment while attempting to cross one of the most daunting river obstacles. A revised strategy was therefore necessary, but Slim had only one card left to play for this situation. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. General MacArthur was now preparing a massive invasion of Luzon. Amidst ongoing air attacks, plans shifted to secure Mindoro for air support. Meanwhile, in Burma, Chinese and Japanese forces clashed over Bhamo, with the Japanese garrison ultimately escaping. It seemed everywhere things were going badly for the Japanese, how much longer would they hold out?
Leitura bíblica do dia: Salmo 51:10-17 Plano de leitura anual: Salmos 94-96; Romanos 15:14-33; Já fez seu devocional hoje? Aproveite e marque um amigo para fazer junto com você! Confira: À primeira vista, não gostei da pintura Consider the lilies, de Makoto Fujimura. Era simples e monocromática com um lírio aparentemente escondido no fundo. No entanto, ela ganhou vida quando soube que foi pintada com mais de 80 camadas de minerais finamente moídos em um estilo de arte japonesa que Fujimura chama de “arte lenta”. Olhando de perto, veem-se camadas de complexidade e beleza. O artista explica que vê o evangelho como essa técnica que traz “beleza por meio do quebrantamento”, assim como o sofrimento de Jesus trouxe plenitude e esperança ao mundo. Deus ama utilizar aspectos de nossa vida onde fomos moídos e quebrados e criar algo novo e belo. O rei Davi precisava da ajuda divina para reparar o que suas próprias ações causaram na vida dele. No Salmo 51, escrito após ele admitir que abusou de seu poder real para tomar a esposa de outro homem e providenciar o assassinato dele, Davi ofereceu a Deus seu “coração humilde e arrependido” (v.17) e implorou por misericórdia. A palavra hebraica para “arrependido” é nidkeh, que significa “moído”. Para que Deus remodelasse o coração de Davi (v.10), ele teve de oferecer a Ele os pedaços quebrados, admitir seu pesar e confiar. Davi confiou seu coração ao Deus fiel e misericordioso, que utiliza o que foi moído e o transforma em algo belo. Por: Lisa Samra
Peace Talks welcomes the distinguished Makoto Fujimura to the podcast with an in-depth interview on the meaning of art today's world. Fujimura describes art as a means of slowing down, a discovery of your past, and a way to break the cycle of violence. Fujimura shares with hosts Vanessa Sadler and Suzie Lind stories of his own life which reveal that "...broken pieces can give us something new." You don't want to miss this one!Makoto Fujimura is a leading contemporary artist whose work has been featuredin galleries and museums around the world, including The Museum ofContemporary Art in Tokyo, The Huntington Library in California, the TikotinMuseum in Israel, Belvedere Museum in Vienna, C3M North Bund Art Museum in Shanghai, and Pola Museum in Japan. His process-driven, refractive “slow art” has been described by David Brooks of the as “a small rebellion against the quickening of time.” (New York Times) Fujimura is the author of 4 books: Art+Faith: A Theology of Making, Silence and Beauty, Refractions, and Culture Care. He is a recipient of four Doctor of Arts Honorary Degrees from Belhaven University, Biola University, Cairn University, and Roanoke College. » Subscribe to PEACE TALKS Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-talks/id1590168616About the Center for Formation, Justice and Peace:Justice and peace come from the inside out—from the overflow of a transformed heart. This belief led our founder, Bishop Todd Hunter, to start the Center for Formation, Justice and Peace in 2021. The Center brings together a diverse, interdenominational community of people who want to be formed in love to heal a broken world. Because “religion” is often part of the problem, we've created a brave, Jesus-centered space for dialogue, questioning, creating, and exploration. PEACE TALKS introduces you to women and men who are working to undo oppression, leading to lives of deeper peace for all.*Connect with The Center Online!*Visit The Center's Website: https://centerfjp.orgFollow The Center on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerfjpFollow The Center on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CenterFjpFollow The Center on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centerfjp/Support the Show.
Haejin Shim Fujimura describes her college years as rebellious. While searching for her life purpose she received a calling to raise funds and attend World Vision's® 30 Hour Famine retreat. Haejin witnessed horrific images from the civil war in Sierra Leone, which left fifty thousand dead over eleven years. She wanted to help those terrorized, vulnerable and left behind. After college Haejin pursued her calling to become an advocate for the abused, enslaved, and those born into human trafficking. Throughout law school Haejin's intense, focused, and unwavering personality gave her the resolve to intern with the International Justice Mission. Haejin shared her lowest moment after she was betrayed, stolen from, and assaulted; this soon to be generational steward of justice was completely shattered. She then embarked on a journey of healing and forgiveness. During Haejin's first trip to India, she met children born into brothels, now she had the experience as a legal justice advocate to help. In 2018 Haejin with partners Nelli Kim, and Briana Johnson founded Embers International, to protect, restore, and empower victims of injustice with the goal of ending intergenerational exploitation, and prevent human trafficking. Haejin started her law firm Shim and Associates in 2012, with the intension of leveraging the law to mend broken relationships, uphold core values, and provide a space for attorneys to express their true gifts, and be supported with a work, rest, life balance. I hope you enjoy this inspirational message from this fearless advocate fighting for human justice. We are thrilled and honored to welcome Haejin to this episode of Intrinsic Drive ® . Ms. Shim has extensive experience litigating various civil lawsuits in both federal and state courts. She has represented e-commerce, software, manufacturing, insurance, real estate, hotel, restaurant, franchise, art management, design, beauty, automobile, and transportation companies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals in matters involving commercial litigation, breach of contract, partnership dispute, directors' and officers' liability, breach of duty, personal injury, subrogation, business formation, governance, and trademark. Her clients range from start-ups to publicly traded companies to nonprofit organizations.Ms. Shim is actively involved in the legal industry and the local community. She has served on the Board of Directors of Embers International, Restore NYC, Goldenwood, Open Hands Legal Services, Inc., The Father's Heart Ministries, and Center for Public Justice. Ms. Shim is a frequent speaker at various community and legal organizations to encourage the youth and to promote professionalism. Notably, Ms. Shim was a keynote speaker and lecturer of U.S. nonprofit law at the 2015 International Charity Conference, hosted by South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Council of NPOs Korea, and the National Assembly Forum on Advanced Culture of Philanthropy. Ms. Shim holds a B.A, from Barnard College at Columbia University, and J.D from the Brooklyn Law School. Intrinsic Drive ® is produced by Ellen Strickler and Phil Wharton and Andrew Hollingworth is sound editor and engineer.Created for human beings by human beings. NO GENERATIVE AI USE ALLOWED.
En la sección semanal de Discos Desiertos, con la locutora, productora y actriz Geraldine Hill, conocemos las canciones favoritas y los tesoros sonoros ocultos de la artista plástica Kumiko Fujimura.Suenan Gipsy Kings (Volare), Kodo (Miyake Daiko), Ryuichi Sakamoto (Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence), Fito y Fitipaldis (Me Equivocaría Otra Vez) y Joe Hisaishi (Princess Mononoke Theme Song).
What does it look like to live out the gospel in your profession? How can you make an impact for the Kingdom in the public sphere?In this month's episode of The Connecting Podcast, Paul has a conversation with husband and wife Makoto and Haejin Shim Fujimura.Makoto is a prolific painter and artist who formed the International Arts Movement and was appointed by the president to the National Council on the Arts in 2003.Haejin is an attorney and is the CEO of Embers International, a global organization that seeks to protect, restore, and empower victims of injustice.We discuss their professional ventures and more on this month's episode of The Connecting Podcast.-Most Sundays we are unprepared to offer to our Lord the worship he deserves and open our hearts to instruction from his word. In his newest book, Sunday Matters, Paul Tripp will help you slow down, pay attention, and fall deeper in love with the gospel of Jesus Christ before you walk through the doors of church every week. Get your copy today at PaulTripp.com/Sunday.
What does it look like to live out the gospel in your profession? How can you make an impact for the Kingdom in the public sphere?In this month's episode of The Connecting Podcast, Paul has a conversation with husband and wife Makoto and Haejin Shim Fujimura. Makoto is a prolific painter and artist who formed the International Arts Movement and was appointed by the president to the National Council on the Arts in 2003.Haejin is an attorney and is the CEO of Embers International, a global organization that seeks to protect, restore, and empower victims of injustice.We discuss their professional ventures and more on this month's episode of The Connecting Podcast.-Most Sundays we are unprepared to offer to our Lord the worship he deserves and open our hearts to instruction from his word. In his newest book, Sunday Matters, Paul Tripp will help you slow down, pay attention, and fall deeper in love with the gospel of Jesus Christ before you walk through the doors of church every week. Get your copy today at PaulTripp.com/Sunday.
In this book club episode, we discuss "Art and Faith" by Makoto Fujimura. This was a book recommended to us, and we sort out the parts of this book that we appreciated, and the parts where we would disagree. Fujimura is an artist and a Christian who writes about the theology of making, and how imagination and faith interact. We talk about the Japanese influence in theology, and the struggle to translate not just words but cultural ideas. We talk about our struggle with the word "co-creator" and our love for the word "vocation." We debate our involvement with the work of God, and contemplate how Fujimura breaks down and illuminates the word author-ity. We agreed that his chapter on kintsugi is where this book shines. The taking on of someone else's shame involved in the backstory of kintsugi, and the big theme of redemption of what was broken was profound. We wrestle through this book, and process it together, and ask hard questions--which is what good art prompts us to do. Show Notes: Adam and Eve sculpture we discuss by Munehiro Ikeda. Theology and the Pain of God by Kazoah Kitamori Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Freedom Lessons Album Free 2023 Advent Resources Your God is too Glorious, 2nd Edition 2024 NWA Tickets (May 3-4) Join the 1517 Academy More from the hosts: Gretchen Ronnevik Katie Koplin
Two midshipmen interview Dr. Clementine Fujimura, the Academy's sole anthropologist, about midshipmen culture and traditions, and how they often emerge in response to the unique challenges of student life on the Yard.Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @usnahistoryFor more information about NAHP and the Naval Academy's History Department, please visit https://usna.edu/History/NAHP/
In his wonderful book Art + Faith: A Theology of Making, renowned artist Makoto Fujimura describes the ancient Japanese art form of Kintsugi. In it, the artist takes broken pottery (originally tea ware) and pieces the shards back together with lacquer, threading gold into the cracks. “Kintsugi,” Fujimura explains, “does not just ‘fix’ or repair a broken vessel; rather, the technique makes the broken pottery even more beautiful than the original.” Kintsugi, first implemented centuries ago when a warlord’s favorite cup was destroyed and then beautifully restored, became art that’s highly prized and desired. Isaiah describes God artfully enacting this kind of restoration with the world. Though we’re broken by our rebellion and shattered by our selfishness, God promises to “create new heavens and a new earth” (65:17). He plans not merely to repair the old world but to make it entirely new, to take our ruin and fashion a world shimmering with fresh beauty. This new creation will be so stunning that “past troubles will be forgotten” and “former things will not be remembered” (vv .16–17). With this new creation, God will not scramble to cover our mistakes but rather will unleash His creative energy—energy where ugly things become beautiful and dead things breathe anew. As we survey our shattered lives, there’s no need for despair. God is working His beautiful restoration.
“Risk-taking can lead to restoration only if it's motivated by love.” - Haejin Shim FujimuraIn this episode of Restoring the Soul, Michael is joined by Mako & Haejin Shim Fujimura. They will engage in a conversation covering a wide range of topics, including trauma, the significance of 9/11, the art of Kintsugi, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the critical issue of human trafficking.Mako is a prominent contemporary artist known for his deliberate and reflective approach to creating "slow art." His work, characterized by its thoughtful pace, has been aptly described by David Brooks of the New York Times as "a subtle rebellion against the accelerating pace of modern life." Beyond his artistry, Mako is a respected arts advocate, writer, and speaker, globally acknowledged as a cultural influencer. He has also held the prestigious role of a Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009, where he played a crucial role in shaping arts-related policies and engaging with decision-makers internationally.Haejin, who is married to Mako, is an accomplished international attorney and the CEO of Embers International. She also serves as the President of the Kintsugi Academy, where her mission is to illuminate the darkest corners of existence and aid others in their journey of renewal and recovery.HELPFUL RESOURCES:Episode 13 - Mako Fujimura, “Silence and Beauty, Part 1”Episode 14 - Mako Fujimura, “Silence and Beauty, Part 2”CONTACT RESTORING THE SOUL:- Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!
Os gizes de cera do Diego estavam revoltados, fizeram protestos, através das cartas. Diego só queria brincar de colorir e que seus gizes de cera fossem felizes, então teve uma idéia.
It's YOUR time to #EdUp In this episode, recorded LIVE from Element451's 2023 ENGAGE Summit in Raleigh, North Carolina YOUR guest is Ty Fujimura, Chief Product Officer at Element451 YOUR host is Dr. Joe Sallustio Listen in to #EdUp! Thank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp! Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - Elvin Freytes & Dr. Joe Sallustio ● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp Experience! We make education YOUR business! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edup/message
What hidden truths can an artist's perspective reveal about our world? And how can beauty often emerge from the depths of brokenness? Join us as we dive into a captivating conversation with renowned artist Makoto Fujimura, delving into the significance of art in capturing the essence of who we are.We also ponder the role of art in providing hope during bleak and uncertain times, drawing inspiration from artists like Frangelico, J.R.R. Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis who created masterpieces amid darkness. Makoto shares his insights on the concept of Kintsugi, a powerful reminder brokenness often proceeds beauty. Together, we examine how cultivating creativity and remaining fully present in the moment roots us to our true purpose. Don't miss this fascinating episode that will challenge your perceptions and uncover the deeper magic surrounding us in art and faith.Topics:Art, faith, and the deeper magicCreating beauty in bleak times"What books have had an impact on you?”"What advice do you have for teenagers?"Makoto Fujimura is a leading contemporary artist whose work has been featured in galleries and museums around the world, including The Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, The Huntington Library in California, the Tikotin Museum in Israel, the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, and the C3M North Bund Art Museum in Shanghai, China. His process-driven, refractive “slow art” has been described by David Brooks of the New York Times as “a small rebellion against the quickening of time.” Fujimura is the author of 4 books, Refractions, Culture Care, Silence and Beauty, and Art+Faith: A Theology of Making. Fujimura is the recipient of the 2023 Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Life as well as the American Academy of Religion's 2014 “Religion and the Arts” award. From 2003 to 2009, Fujimura served as a Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts. He has also received notable recognition as a speaker, with one address selected by NPR as among the 200 “Best Commencement Addresses Ever” and by CNN as one of the top 16 “Greatest commencement speeches of all time” and is a recipient of four Doctor of Arts Honorary Degrees from Belhaven University, Biola University, Cairn University, and Roanoke College.Socials! -Lessons from Interesting People substack: https://taylorbledsoe.substack.com/Website: https://www.aimingforthemoon.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aiming4moon/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aiming4MoonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/aiming4moonTaylor's Blog: https://www.taylorgbledsoe.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6
Are an Enneagram 4 and an Enneagram 8 compatible? While both bring a fierce intensity to the world, they each bring different gifts to the table. Helen Palmer describes their match up, as “a partnership of intensity acted out by fight, flight fascination, and flare. Each feels somewhat awed by the other. Eights feel themselves to be coarse and blunt in comparison with the elegant and socially adept romantic. From their side, Fours can be utterly magnetized by the socially shameless boss. It can be a real cliffhanger.” In today's episode, artist and author Makoto Fujimura and his wife, Haejin enter the Typology studio to talk about the importance of establishing their friendship first, their different approaches to battling darkness, and how they are putting together a partnership that is greater than it's individual parts. You'll learn: What they admire most about each other How they navigate and balance their individual intensity Ways they've learned to utilize their individual gifts to honor their partnership Makoto Fujimura is a world-class contemporary artist whose process driven, refractive “slow art” has been described by David Brooks of New York Times as “a small rebellion against the quickening of time”. Robert Kushner, in the mid 90's, written on Fujimura's art in Art in America this way: “The idea of forging a new kind of art, about hope, healing, redemption, refuge, while maintaining visual sophistication and intellectual integrity is a growing movement, one which finds Makoto Fujimura's work at the vanguard.” Haejin has extensive litigation and courtroom experience defending and prosecuting over 400 civil lawsuits in both federal and state courts. She is admitted to practice in NY, NJ and PA. She has represented manufacturing, insurance, software, e-commerce, franchise, real estate, hotel, restaurant, design, automobile, and transportation companies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals in matters involving contract, partnership dispute, directors/officers liability, corporate governance, business formation, trademark, personal injury, general/premises liability, and subrogation. She also has represented various companies as Outside General Counsel. Haejin is actively involved in the legal and local communities and serves on multiple charities. In 2015, Haejin was invited by Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korean government to speak on U.S. nonprofit corporation law. She has also spoken at various community and legal organizations to encourage the youth and promote professionalism. To learn more about Mako or to find the exact date and location of his new exhibit coming to Nashville this fall, follow him on social or visit his website at https://makotofujimura.com. https://makotofujimura.com - hello@makotofujimura.com YouTube - @makotofujimura3020 Culture Care Creative Academy Kintsugi I Am Culture Care Instagram - @iamfujimura Facebook - @makotofujimuraart Twitter - @iamfujimura Haejin Shim Fujimura Website LinkedIn Instagram
What's it like to be a voice actor in Japan? Award-winning voice artist and VO coach Yukiko Fujimura shares about the Japanese voice over industry, a day in the life in her studio and what it's like to work with clients in dramatically different time zones. You'll also discover interesting facts about studio culture in […]
Peter Wehner's former office was the White House. He served in the Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush administrations, as Deputy Director of Speechwriting and later Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives for President George W. Bush. Now, he's a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, and a contributing editor for The Atlantic. He's been in the halls of power, and he writes for publications of prominence. So why has Peter been in exile? In this powerful episode, Curtis talks to his old friend about what it's like to have a role in the unfolding drama of American history, to believe your most important moments are in the past, and to walk out one's faith in complicated times.Show Notes:Global Giving - Turkey and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund: Two powerful earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria early Monday morning, killing more than 19,000 people and injuring thousands more. People are trapped and homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure have been destroyed under layers of rubble. Your donation to the Turkey and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund will provide emergency relief and fuel long-term recovery efforts in Turkey and Syria.Project Hope - Save Lives in Turkey and Communities in Crisis: Devastating earthquakes in Turkey (Türkiye) and Syria have left tens of thousands of families in desperate need of medical help and basic supplies. Our emergency response team is on the ground and working quickly to save as many lives as possible.Died: Steve Hayner, Former President of InterVarsity and Columbia Seminary, Christianity Today: This is a death notice for Steve Hayner, “one of the baby-boomer generation's most influential evangelical leaders, has died. He was known for his presidency at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and later at Columbia Theological Seminary.”Remembering Steve Hayner, InterVarsity: This reflection from Intervarsity about their former president states, “Steve became president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in 1988, near the end of a turbulent decade in which InterVarsity had five presidents. “Steve brought pastoral care, healing and hope to a community that had undergone much trauma,” said Alec Hill, Steve's successor and InterVarsity's current president.”"Painting As a Pastime" by Winston S. Churchill; “The perfect antidote to his 'Black Dog', a depression that blighted his working life, Churchill took to painting with gusto. Picking up a paintbrush for the first time at the age of forty, Winston Churchill found in painting a passion that was to remain his constant companion. This glorious essay exudes his compulsion for a hobby that allowed him peace during his dark days, and richly rewarded a nation with a treasure trove of work.”“President Donald Trump? Just Say No,” by Peter Wehner: This 2015 article describes Pete's unwillingness to embrace the new GOP candidate who would ultimately become President of the United States.“The GOP and the Birther Trap,” by Peter Wehner: This 2011 Wall Street Journal article describes Wehner's take on a fringe conspiracy theory that was then front and center in American politics: the claim that President Barack Obama might not be a natural-born American citizen.“Why I Will Never Vote for Donald Trump,” by Peter Wehner. This 2016 New York Times explains why Pete did not find Donald J. Trump suitable for the Oval Office.Creating Beauty in Exile: Mark Labberton: Mark Labberton, president of Fuller Seminary, reflects on the themes of exile in scripture and what it means to live a “faithful exilic life” in a culture shaped by fear and violence.Exile: A Conversation with N. T. Wright, Edited by James M. Scott, by N. T. Wright; According to N. T. Wright, the controlling narrative that shaped the thinking of Jesus and Paul is this: “Israel had grievously sinned against Yahweh and suffered the judgment of exile from its land. But even though Israel had returned, the majority of Jews of the second temple era regarded themselves in paradoxical exile under Roman rule and still awaiting their full restoration. It was this crisis of exile that reached its climax and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ.”Makoto Fujimura on Faith and Art by Dan Clendenin, Journey with Jesus: “Makoto Fujimura is a leading contemporary artist whose process driven, refractive “slow art” has been described by David Brooks of the New York Times as ‘a small rebellion against the quickening of time.' Robert Kushner, in the mid 90's, has written on Fujimura's art in Art in America this way: ‘The idea of forging a new kind of art, about hope, healing, redemption, refuge, while maintaining visual sophistication and intellectual integrity is a growing movement, one which finds Makoto Fujimura's work at the vanguard.'”The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth by Jonathan Rauch: Disinformation. Trolling. Conspiracies. Social media pile-ons. Campus intolerance. On the surface, these recent additions to our daily vocabulary appear to have little in common. But together, they are driving an epistemic crisis: a multi-front challenge to America's ability to distinguish fact from fiction and elevate truth above falsehood.
Makoto Fujimura, world-famous contemporary painter with global cultural influence, talks about his art, his thinking and writing about Shūsaku Endō's novel Silence (1966), and his work on Martin Scorsese's film Silence (2016). I ask him about Scorsese's long collaborative friendship with Akira Kurosawa and his participation in Kurosawa's Dreams (1990). Mako also describes his work with his wife, Haejin Shim Fujimura, for Embers International and Kintsugi Academy, protecting and serving women and children in the brothels of Mumbai who are in danger of exploitation and trafficking. Both in the lives of the suffering poor and in the trials of struggling Christians, Mako sees redemptive beauty that he compares to the Japanese art of kintsugi in which broken vessels are lovingly restored with gold and lacquer and to our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is always pictured with His five wounds. Embers International website. Silence (2016), official trailer Art & Theology: Mr. Fujimura explains 'Kintsugi Theology' Mr. Fujimura's essay, 'Kintsugi Generation' Mr. Fujimura's paintings, 'The Four Holy Gospels' David Brooks about Mako Fujimura, The New York Times, “Longing for an Internet Cleanse” Michael John Cusick with Mako Fujimura, Restoring the Soul Podcast, “Silence and Beauty: Part I, Ep. 13, and Part II, Ep. 14,” and again, “Kintsugi Reflects Life, Ep. 193” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Makoto Fujimura, world-famous contemporary painter with global cultural influence, talks about his art, his thinking and writing about Shūsaku Endō's novel Silence (1966), and his work on Martin Scorsese's film Silence (2016). I ask him about Scorsese's long collaborative friendship with Akira Kurosawa and his participation in Kurosawa's Dreams (1990). Mako also describes his work with his wife, Haejin Shim Fujimura, for Embers International and Kintsugi Academy, protecting and serving women and children in the brothels of Mumbai who are in danger of exploitation and trafficking. Both in the lives of the suffering poor and in the trials of struggling Christians, Mako sees redemptive beauty that he compares to the Japanese art of kintsugi in which broken vessels are lovingly restored with gold and lacquer and to our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is always pictured with His five wounds. Embers International website. Silence (2016), official trailer Art & Theology: Mr. Fujimura explains 'Kintsugi Theology' Mr. Fujimura's essay, 'Kintsugi Generation' Mr. Fujimura's paintings, 'The Four Holy Gospels' David Brooks about Mako Fujimura, The New York Times, “Longing for an Internet Cleanse” Michael John Cusick with Mako Fujimura, Restoring the Soul Podcast, “Silence and Beauty: Part I, Ep. 13, and Part II, Ep. 14,” and again, “Kintsugi Reflects Life, Ep. 193” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies
In Japanese culture there is a beautiful practice called Kintsugi, which translates roughly to “golden repair”. This is how it works: when a piece of ceramic breaks, like a teacup or plate, instead of gluing the broken pieces back together so that the cracks are hidden, a special gold or silver adhesive is used so that the fractures are emphasized and even celebrated. In this episode, Zach Davis spoke with Makoto Fujimura, an artist and writer who has reflected deeply on the meaning of kintsugi and more broadly about the relationship of art and faith. In their conversation, they explore how beauty can help us draw near to God, the role of creativity in bridging our differences, and how we can live with hope even in times of despair.Makoto Fujimura is a leading contemporary artist whose art has been described by David Brooks of New York Times as “a small rebellion against the quickening of time”. Fujimura is also an arts advocate, writer, and speaker and was recently awarded the Kuyper prize for his religious engagement in matters of social, political, and cultural significance. He is the author of several books, including Art+Faith: A Theology of Making.
On this week's episode, Francine sits down with Dr. Hitomi Fujimura, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the York University in Toronto, to unpack her research on Karen Baptists, the resurgence of Karen national identity, and the historicity of claiming national identity. Stay tuned till the end for some wonderful movie and reading recommendations! Lightning Round: 03:38 Research and lecture summary: 14:45 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 36:30 Dr. Fujimura's Top Recommendations: Belonging Across the Bay of Bengal by Michael Laffan (link) Stateless Short Film on Youtube (link) The music on the podcast is from "Me and Some Friends", a musical project by a group of friends at Cornell, to experiment with how the beautiful timbres of Gamelan music can meld with hypnotic guitar parts to create a contemplative and unique experience. Check them out here.
In this episode we're talking about Kintsugi & Justice with Haejin Shim Kintsugi, who is a lawyer who runs her own law firm in NYC, Shim & Associates, and an entrepreneur who has started four businesses, including Academy Kintsugi, which uses the Kintsugi method to teach people about the beauty of mending our brokenness to create something new as an act of co-creation that honors the originally created work. Over the course of our conversation, Haejin explains the history and purpose behind the art form in Korean and Japanese cultures, and shares wonderful reflections about how this artistic approach to broken vessels influences her legal practice. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Amber Bowen, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Stephanie Kate Judd.
Makoto Fujimura is an internationally recognized artist who has developed a unique fusion of traditional Japanese painting, Nihonga, with abstract expressionism. A leading writer, speaker, and thinker on the intersection of art, faith, and culture, Fujimura published Art and Faith: A Theology of Making, with Yale University Press in 2021. In this conversation, Fujimura shares his story and his wisdom on how art is a way of becoming human, how it can help us live with suffering, and even reveal the divine world in everyday life. Topics covered include Miyazaki's vision of a post-atomic Japan, how William Blake's Jerusalem transformed the young Fujimura's life, and why the Western separation of nature and culture is foreign to Japan.
Welcome back, friends! This week I tell Emily about yet another unsolved case - that of Hisashi Fujimura. This case takes place in 1931, several hundred miles off the coast of the eastern United States, between New York and Nova Scotia. Was it an act of malice? An accident? A case of wanting to start anew? Join us as we discuss the possible outcomes and what may have actually happened. Shout out to Sips of Crime, a true crime podcast hosted by Michelle and Kandi. Please listen to their trailer at the top of the episode - you can also find them all over social media at sipsofcrime, and on their website at www.sipsofcrime.com. Listen to them everywhere you get your podcasts. This week's mocktail is complements of Mocktail Party written by Kerry Benson, MS, RD and Diana Licalzi, MS, RD. Emily bought this book for me recently and I absolutely love it! A big thank you to the authors, Kerry and Diana, for allowing me to share this recipe with you. Please check out their books for more mocktail recipes! Aperol-less Spritz Serves 4 Ingredients 2 sprigs fresh thyme 4 sage leaves 2 tsp lemon juice 1C orange juice 1/2C grapefruit juice 1/2C pomegranate juice 1/2C white grape juice 1tsp apple cider vinegar 2C seltzer Steps 1. Muddle the fresh thyme and sage with the lemon juice in the bottom of a pitcher. 2. Add the remaining ingredients except the seltzer to the pitcher. Stir - this can also be done ahead of time! 3. Fill four glasses with ice and divide the mixture among the glasses. Top with seltzer - about half a cup. 4. Garnish extra herbs and orange slices. Sources https://newspaperarchive.com/cedar-rapids-evening-gazette-and-republican-aug-29-1931-p-1/ https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-light-mar-05-1939-p-59/ https://newspaperarchive.com/jefferson-city-post-tribune-jul-20-1931-p-11/ https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-dc-washington-evening-star-aug-18-1931-p-1/ https://newspaperarchive.com/fairfield-daily-ledger-aug-18-1931-p-1/ https://newspaperarchive.com/el-paso-herald-post-aug-20-1931-p-2/ https://newspaperarchive.com/madison-wisconsin-state-journal-aug-20-1931-p-10/ https://cabinliners.weebly.com/belgenland-first-class-1928.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Belgenland_(1914)#1931_showboat_cruises https://www.ggarchives.com/OceanTravel/Brochures/RSL-1924-SteamshipBelgenland.html#gsc.tab=0
Japanese-American artist Makoto Fujimura says, "We have a language for waywardness, but not a language for coming back home.” What does this mean? Anna Mason, art major at Hillsdale College, joins us to explore Fujimura's art series The Four Gospel Frontispieces, confirming for us once and for all that God approves of abstract art! What is "slow art" and why is it so important in modern times? What does Fujumura mean by "generative reality"? We talk about the history of Christian art going all the way back to medieval illuminated manuscripts from Iona, but wait till the end of the episode where Trinity brings us back home at the last possible second! Check out "The Four Gospel Frontispieces" on Fujimura's website: https://makotofujimura.com/art/the-four-gospels-frontispieces In our next episode, we will be discussing Billy Joel's 1977 hit song "Vienna." Questions? Comments? E-mail us at unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com, visit our website atunreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com, or say hi on Instagram @unreliablenarratorspodcast. Theme music is "No New Words" by Caleb Klomparens. Check out his music at https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse Access the 2022-2023 Stoa Mars Hill list here: https://stoausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Mars-Hill-Topics-2022-2023-1.pdf)
At first glance I dismissed the painting Consider the Lilies by Makoto Fujimura as a simple, monochromatic painting featuring a lily seemingly hiding in the background. However, the painting came alive when I learned it was actually painted with more than eighty layers of finely crushed minerals in a style of Japanese art known as Nihonga, a style Fujimura calls “slow art.” Looking closely reveals layers of complexity and beauty. Fujimura explains that he sees the gospel echoed in the technique of making “beauty through brokenness,” just as Jesus’ suffering brought the world wholeness and hope. God loves to take aspects of our lives where we’ve been crushed and broken and to create something new and beautiful. King David needed God’s help to repair the brokenness in his life caused by his own devastating actions. In Psalm 51, written after admitting to abusing his kingly power to take another man’s wife and arrange the murder of her husband, David offered God his “broken and contrite heart” (v. 17) and pleaded for mercy. The Hebrew word translated “contrite” is nidkeh, meaning “crushed.” For God to refashion his heart (v. 10), David had to first offer Him the broken pieces. It was both an admission of sorrow and trust. David entrusted his heart to a faithful and forgiving God, who lovingly takes what’s been crushed and transforms it into something beautiful.
Mako's paintings have been described as a rebellion against the speed of the internet and an antidote to time. In fact, the New York Times refers to his work as a form of “Slow Art”. Rather than using conventional paint, Mako uses various pulverized minerals, applied layer by layer to create huge finished works that can only truly be seen and appreciated when the viewer is able to slow down and observe the painting for longer periods of time. It can take over 10 minutes to begin to see the multi-dimensional qualities of one of Mako's works. He takes inspiration from both traditional Japanese and contemporary American art.Although Mako's art is intrinsically full of beauty and joy, it explores the themes of trauma, brokenness and healing. He and Ty both have the experience of having lived in New York City during 9/11 and its aftermath, and also of building a ground zero teahouse that served as an exhibit gallery for local artist to share their expressions of grief and loss as the city healed from tragedy. But how do we translate this into dollars? Where does capitalism fit in when we're talking about art, meaning, personal expression and communication? This is where the conversation gets interesting! I'm so glad to be able to have Mako and Ty together in the same conversion, because they represent two different manifestations of this idea. Since Ty is in the business of helping people monetize their creativity, and as a creative person himself, he has lots of insight into this area. In fact, while Ty and his father seem to be opposites in many ways, it's interesting to see how they actually think alike when we're talking about values and what's important in life.I hope this episode inspires you to take another look at what it means to be creative, and maybe to even get a fresh perspective on the world with all its different angles and dimensions.LinksYou can explore the work of Makoto Fujimura here.Learn more about Ty and his work here and here.Timeline[2:31] Mako introduces us to the concept of pulverized minerals in his form of slow art.[3:49] The mulit-dimensional aspect of Mako's paintings is best seen in person when you can view them from all angles and take time with them.[6:25] Mako's paintings are an homage to American expressionism as well as ancient Japanese artistic traditions. [11:06] Mako describes the experience of straddling two different cultures simultaneously, and how living in New York City affected him and his work.[14:36] Ty shares his experience of growing up in the city and now raising children there. He and Mako talk about their 9/11 teahouse collaborative art project.[21:04] Mako's work explores themes of trauma, brokenness, and life and death.[23:35] Art as therapy and communication[30:00] There is no need to push yourself to create during trauma. Sometimes it's okay to do nothing. But you can wait and hope for transcendence and rebirth.[33:50] Creativity is not trivial just because it doesn't always translate into business. Your creativity is something that people need.[40:23] How does creativity fit into the model of capitalism? Mako talks about the ‘gift economy'.[44:03] Creating a transaction around a work of art shows the value of that work. Decentralizing art only hurts the middle man, not the artist or the consumer.[47:00] Ty explains why he created Cantilever, and how it functions as an operating system for running a creative business.[52:20] Technology as an artistic medium[56:33] Ty and Mako discuss what they have learned from each other, and how the so-called ‘unproductive' moments in life are what contribute to creativity.[1:03:45] The assumption of scarcity vs. the assumption of abundance.
Ryuichi Fujimura, a Sydney-based Japanese dancer, had a fateful encounter with dance in Sydney 30 years ago, when he was 26. Mr Fujimura ditched his career in Japan and moved to Australia to dance more. - 2014年から始まった8年越しのプロジェクト、自らの人生を振り返る三部作が完成します。
In this episode, Makoto Fujimura reads an excerpt from “Burnt Norton” by T. S. Eliot. Fujimura is a leading contemporary painter whose work fuses abstract expressionism with traditional Japanese painting styles. He is also the author of several books, including Art + Faith: A Theology of Making, out now from Yale University Press. https://open.spotify.com/episode/22qWbZwSKOZFHnuq7jxzb2 T. S. Eliot was an influential modernist poet, playwright, and literary critic born in St. Louis in 1888. His late masterpiece, Four Quartets, is a collection of four linked poems partially inspired, in sound and structure, by Beethoven's late string quartets. “Burnt Norton,” the first poem in the series, was written while Eliot was living in England in 1935. “Burnt Norton” by T. S. Eliot appears in Four Quartets, published by Ecco. Art + Faith: A Theology of Making by Makoto Fujimura is available now from Yale University Press. Keep up with Fujiumura – and explore his recent visual art – on his website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. We feature one short listener poem at the end of every episode. To submit, call the Haiku Hotline at 612-440-0643 and read your poem after the beep. For the occasional prompt, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Subscribe on RadioPublic, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher.
How is art an inroad to our experience of God? How does making things give us a more tangible knowledge of the love of God and the joy of being a human in God's image? What role do imagination and creativity have in a full-orbed theology? Our guest has some profound thoughts on these things. We are deeply honored to have renowned artist Makoto Fujimura on this episode of the Reintegrate Podcast. Mako Fujimura is a leading contemporary artist in what is called the "slow art" movement. As a Japanese-American, he studied art at Bucknell University and then studied traditional Japanese painting in the doctorate program at the Tokyo University of the Arts. His art is a fusion of fine art and abstract expressionism utilizing the techniques of ancient traditional Japanese art. His art has been featured widely in galleries and museums around the world including collections in The Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, The Huntington Library, and the Tikotin Museum in Israel. In addition to being a leading contemporary painter, Mako is an arts advocate, writer, and speaker who is recognized worldwide as a cultural influencer. Among his books are Refractions: A Journey of Faith, Art, and Culture (NavPress, 2009), Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life (InterVarsity Press, 2017). His latest book is Art and Faith: A Theology of Making (Yale University Press, with a foreword by N.T. Wright, 2021). Fujimura founded the International Arts Movement in 1992, now called IAMCultureCare, which oversees the Fujimura Institute. He recently initiated Culture Care Creative which nurtures artists and creative catalysts, academics, and professional advocates to provide a sanctuary in which to gather, learn, collaborate, and create, including the Acadamy Kintsugi. See Mako explain and illustrate Kintsugi in this YouTube video. Purchase Makoto Fujimura's books from independent Christian booksellers Byron and Beth Borger at Hearts & Minds Bookstore. You can order online through their secure server or call 717-246-333. Mention that you heard about these books on the Reintegrate Podcast and get 20% off! >> Thanks for listening! Your hosts for the Re-integrate Podcast are Dr. Bob Robinson and David Loughney. Go to re-integrate.org for the latest articles on reintegrating your callings with God's mission and online resources for further learning. You can also find out about a Bible study book that you can use in your small group or individual devotions: Reintegrate Your Vocation with God's Mission. On Reintegrate's podcast page, you'll find more episodes and ways to email us to comment on this podcast.
Jedd sits down with Haejin Shim Fujimura - lawyer, human trafficking advocate, and entrepreneur - and explores how the ideas and practices we talk about in each episode of J&IL apply in every sector – including business, medicine, homelife…and even a New York City law firm. Hear more of Haejin at the CAFO 2022 Summit in Atlanta https://cafo2022.org
Shownotes:Chris is joined by contemporary artist Makoto Fujimura, author of Art + Faith: A Theology of Making. His book explores the role of creativity in the spiritual life, and it draws upon quiet disciplines such as awareness and waiting. The meditative space that Fujimura creates for prayer and praise breaks open new avenues to seek the never-ending depths of God's beauty and grace. Sophisticated and intellectual, Fujimura's art has been praised as a vehicle for hope, healing, redemption, and refuge.Fujimura explains how the power, mystery, and depth of art drive us to ask deeper questions. He introduces his spiritual discipline of “slow art,” speaks to the nuances of tradition, and ponders the ways art can liberate us in our cultural context. Fujimura gives us space to identify where we meet Jesus in both making and consuming. This conversation speaks to the healing gift of art as culture care, rather than a commodity.Series Info:Christians spend a lot of time talking about what is true or exploring goodness, but we do not spend as much time exploring beauty, aesthetics, and the arts. In a world full of content curated to our specific taste, we need more time and space to fill our souls with the kind of art that breaks open our curiosity and makes us come alive. Where does God meet us in the beauty of our imagination? How does art and culture shape our desires and longings?In this series “Art and Culture,” we'll talk about imagination, memory, culture making, and memoir writing. We will have three guests guide us through the relationship between art, faith, life, story, trauma, healing, place, and nature. We pray that these conversations allow breathing room for deeper introspection, greater awareness of the natural world, and space to explore the depths of the imagination.Resources:Follow Makoto Fujimura on the web:https://makotofujimura.com Check out Makoto Fujimura's book Art and Faith: A Theology of Making here:https://culturecarecreative.com Learn more about Makoto Fujimura's art here:https://www.waterfall-gallery.com/makoto-fujimura Read Makoto Fujimura's biography here:https://imagejournal.org/artist/makoto-fujimura/ Follow Mako on social media:https://www.facebook.com/makotofujimuraart www.instagram.com/iamfujimura https://twitter.com/iamfujimura
Jordan Raynor sits down with Haejin Shim Fujimura, Attorney, to about the wild story of how a painting served as a wardrobe-like portal into the Kingdom, seeing Adam and Eve as lawyers before the Fall, and how she sees her work fighting human trafficking AND her work as a civil litigator as Kingdom work.Links Mentioned:Haejin Shim Fujimura on LinkedInHaejin Shim Fujimura on InstagramShim & AssociatesJordan RaynorThe Creator in YouI Am Culture CareEmbers InternationalInternational Justice MissionSurprised by HopeArt and Faith: A theology of MakingSeeking God's Face: Praying with the Bible Through the Year
Our first guest of Season 2 is Makoto Fujimura, an internationally recognized artist, and author. His paintings are made in the “Nihonga tradition, a form dating back to medieval Japan and emphasizing the beauty of materials— gold leaf and finely ground mineral pigments.” His most recent book “Art+Faith: A Theology of Making” was published by Yale Press in 2021. In our conversation, we discuss the book in earnest as he shares his insights into artmaking in connection with God for those who claim faith and for those who do not. Makoto's own Christian faith and his dedication to creating visual art throughout his life have led him to an overflowing amount of insights into the studio as a sanctuary and place of connection with the Divine. He offers insights into why we all need to create in order to heal ourselves and our world, but moreover to join in God's plan for creating a New Creation. From 2003-2009, Mr. Fujimura was a Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts and has 4 Honorary Doctor of Arts Degrees, from Belhaven University, Biola University, Cairn University, and Roanoke College. He is also the founder of the organization IAM, the International Arts Movement. This is where I had the honor of meeting and working with Mako back in the late 1990s into the early 2000s and it is an honor to reconnect here within this recording. The Stolen Hours Podcast is… A media collection of conversations with creatives across the Arts. Season 2 of this collection's theme is: Creating to heal, connect, and build community across the divide perpetuated by too many in politics, religion, and culture. Cover Art Photo Credit: Wind Rider Productions --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thestolenhourspodcast/message
Artist and author Makoto Fujimura is on the Creatively Christian podcast, interviewed by Andrea Sandefur. In this conversation, Makoto discusses our opportunity to honor our brokenness through our making. He also answers listener questions about how artists can address culture, what it means to inhabit a divided world, and stillness in the creative process. Makoto Fujimura is a leading contemporary artist. Fujimura graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell University, then studied in a traditional Japanese painting doctorate program for several years at Tokyo University of the Arts with several notable artists. Fujimura's art has been featured widely in galleries and museums around the world, and is collected by notable collections including The Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, The Huntington Library as well as Tikotin Museum in Israel. As well as being a leading contemporary painter, Fujimura is also an arts advocate, writer, and speaker who is recognized worldwide as a cultural influencer. A Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009, Fujimura has also written the books Refractions, Culture Care, and Art + Faith. This episode can also be found on YouTube. Guest photo credit: Windrider Productions Show Notes The following resources were mentioned in the show or are useful resources recommended by the guests. Links might be marked as affiliates, meaning we earn a commission if you buy through the link. "The Gift: How the Creative Spirit Transforms the World" by Lewis Hyde [Affiliate]"Art + Faith: A Theology of Making" by Makoto Fujimura [Affiliate]Free Art + Faith Readers Guide "Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life" by Makoto Fujimura [Affiliate] Learn More About Our Guest You can follow this guest on several platforms, including: Makoto's Website: https://makotofujimura.com/Culture Care: https://iamculturecare.com/culture-care Credits Support this show and get access to exclusive content by donating at Patreon.com/CreativelyChristian. This show is produced by Theophany Media. The theme music is by Bill Brooks and Andrea Sandefur. Our logo is by Bill Brooks. This show is hosted by Brannon Hollingsworth, Andrea Sandefur, Dave Ebert, and Rachel Anna. Jake Doberenz produces. Follow Theophany Media and the podcast on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Makoto Fujimura, world-famous contemporary painter with global cultural influence, talks about his art, his thinking and writing about Shūsaku Endō's novel Silence (1966), and his work on Martin Scorsese's film Silence (2016), as well as his work with his wife, Haejin Shim Fujimura, for Embers International and Kintsugi Academy, protecting and serving women and children in the brothels of Mumbai who are in danger of exploitation and trafficking.Makoto Fujimura's website: https://makotofujimura.com/Embers International website: http://www.embersinternational.org/Silence, official trailer: https://youtu.be/IqrgxZLd_gEArt & Theology: Mr. Fujimura explains 'Kintsugi Theology': https://artandtheology.org/tag/makoto-fujimura/Mr. Fujimura's essay, 'Kintsugi Generation':https://makotofujimura.com/writings/kintsugi-generationMr. Fujimura's paintings, 'The Four Holy Gospels': https://youtu.be/9eeGbVXM4fY
Makoto Fujimura is a world-renowned artist often counted among the preeminent figures in the “slow art” movement. Yet Fujimura also has a deep connection to the sciences: he double majored in animal behavior and art during his undergraduate degree at Bucknell University and his father Osamu Fujimura was an influential speech scientist. In this live episode recorded at the 2022 BioLogos Faith & Science Conference, Fujimura reminisces on the roles of art, faith, and science in his childhood; discusses the relationship between these practices today; and presents his vision on how caring for culture can help revive our sense of enchantment with the world by bringing together disparate ways of knowing God's world. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum. Images from the live recording are available at our website. You can still register for a virtual pass to the BioLogos Faith and Science 2022 conference to see this conversation live. Take a survey to let us know how we're doing.
The Japanese art of Kintsugi has been around for centuries. As earthquakes frequently rocked Japan, tea masters found that lining the cracks with gold not only mended the pieces, it made them more beautiful and more valuable than the originals. Lawyer Haejin Shim Fujimura reminds us that God's love mends His children the same way. Haejin shares her work as an advocate for the oppressed, particularly with women and children living in poverty in India, and shows that fighting for the wellbeing of the oppressed aligns with God's vision for our lives. Quotes “We really wanted to intervene on behalf of these children because without an intervention, they really don't have any hope for the future. So our goal is to ultimately protect these children so that human trafficking can be prevented, the exploitation of intergenerational violence can be stopped.” —Haejin Shim Fujimura “We wanted to bring the breath of life into the lives of these little embers who are dying flames. And we can share that breath that we receive from the Holy Spirit, from Jesus, with these children so that they can also become a flame.” —Haejin Shim Fujimura “If you can imagine a pottery that has been fractured, but now it's mended and it's beautifully colored and decorated with gold, now you can see the fracture, but you don't see it as something ugly or something terrible. But you see it as something that has become beautiful because this pottery has so much value and now has a new life and it looks different from the original.” —Haejin Shim Fujimura “We ask God to help us love our neighbors as ourselves. And that includes all of these people that God brings to our life together. So I think that is the undergirding, the very basic principle that informs all the decisions that I make about my work and all the things that I do.” —Haejin Shim Fujimura Haejin Shim's LinksEmbers International Website Embers International Instagram Embers International Twitter Embers International Facebook Haejin Shim's Instagram Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeEmbers International Kintsugi Connect with Sally Lloyd-JonesJesus Storybook Bible Facebook Jesus Storybook Bible Instagram Sally's website Sally's Facebook Sally's Instagram *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*
*** Please note that this episode contains depictions of violence that some people may find disturbing In this episode, we discuss with Mokoto Fujimura his book Beauty and Silence, a part memoir, part art exploration, and part reflection on the book Silence. Silence is set in the 17th century about two Portuguese Jesuit priests who traveled to Japan, a country hostile to their faith. The priests were captured and eventually forced to witness unimaginable cruelties that tested their own faith. The author of Silence Shusaku Endo grew up in Manchuria and Japan. Mokoto Fujimura graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell University, then studied in a traditional Japanese painting doctorate program for several years at Tokyo University of the Arts. His bicultural arts education led his style towards a fusion between fine art and abstract expressionism, together with the traditional Japanese art of Nihonga and Kacho-ga. Fujimura's art has been featured widely in galleries and museums around the world. As a Japanese American, Mr. Fujimura grew up in Sweden, Japan, and the US. More information on Mr. Fujimura's new book Art + Faith: A Theology of Making: https://culturecarecreative.com/ More information on the book Silence and Beauty: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D1NCYVA/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2 Visit our blog for more details on the interviewer and interviewees at https://tckvof.wordpress.com/ Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/tck_vof/ Music: Eastern Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3692-eastern-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Picture: https://images.app.goo.gl/dpF9pQsg2haHqthY6 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tckvof/message
“Risk-taking can lead to restoration only if it's motivated by love.” - Haejin Shim FujimuraOn this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes Mako & Haejin Shim Fujimura. Today, they will discuss a number of topics ranging from trauma, 9/11, Kintsugi, the Covid-19 pandemic, and Human trafficking.Mako is a leading contemporary artist whose process-driven, refractive “slow art” has been described by David Brooks of the New York Times as “a small rebellion against the quickening of time”. He is also an arts advocate, writer, and speaker who is recognized worldwide as a cultural influencer. A Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009, Fujimura served as an international advocate for the arts, speaking with decision-makers and advising governmental policies on the arts.Married to Mako, Haejin is an international attorney and CEO of Embers International. She also serves as the President of Kintsugi Academy. Her life mission is to bringing light into the darkness and help others being remade in order for them to recover.HELPFUL RESOURCES:http://www.embersinternational.org/https://kintsugiacademy.be/en/Episode 13 - Mako Fujimura, “Silence and Beauty, Part 1” Episode 14 - Mako Fujimura, “Silence and Beauty, Part 2”
Hello and welcome back to the UserFlows Podcast. UserFlows is a show where we talk about UX Design and UX Careers. You should listen to this show if... You are a student of user experience or product design. You are a professional who is considering a transition to the field or if you're just someone who's interested in UX design and wants to learn a bit more about it. In each episode, I'll interview a successful, working designer in order to discover how they found the field and have managed to thrive in this highly competitive landscape. We'll break down the steps they took in order to land their first jobs, dive into the mistakes they've made while building their careers, and hopefully teach a bit about the processes, tools, and best practices that have helped them in their own design journey.If you haven't already, please subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify or anywhere else you listen to podcasts. I'll be releasing a show about every other week or so. If you'd like to be a friend to the show. Leaving a review and comment on iTunes would be very much appreciated. Share a link to this show with your friends and those interested in UX design. Feel free to recommend topics you'd like to hear discussed and if you have any questions about Design, Design Careers, or anything else for that matter, you can DM me on Instagram @userflows.live.Today I'm speaking with Ty Fujimura, CEO of Cantilever Web Design and Development. Ty is an extremely thoughtful designer and design leader. His career purpose (I mean, look at that, he actually has a career purpose) is to unite creativity and business. Cantilever is a mission-driven company and its mission is to harness the power of “Digital Hospitality". A term I absolutely love, it means they believe websites are spaces that users inhabit, not billboards they see from a distance. Ty is currently focused on building a great environment for Cantilever's staff to thrive and deliver outstanding results for their clients.In our conversation, we dive a little bit deeper into what Digital Hospitality means to Ty, his team, and their clients. Cantilever is a remote-first team so we talk a bit about remote working best practices for the rest of us just toying at remote working. How to make time to let designers design and some of his thoughts around building a successful design culture.I can not thank Ty enough for sharing his time and ideas. If you'd like to learn more about Ty and Cantilever. You can connect with Ty on Twitter @tyfuji or by visiting cantilever.co. If you're a soccer fan, Ty also hosts a fantastic podcast We The Peeps focused on US Soccer, USMNT the World Cup and is an irreverent take on US Soccer. USMNT Gold Cup, CONCACAF Nations League, and World Cup Qualifying. Give it a listen.TM
On this episode of Hope Unabridged, Kasey and Angie dive into the world of art, faith, and the theology of making with leading contemporary artist, Makoto Fujimura. As well as being a leading contemporary painter, Fujimura is also an arts advocate, writer, and speaker who is recognized worldwide as a cultural influencer. You will not want to miss this captivating episode! Makoto Fujimura's Website: https://makotofujimura.com Makoto Fujimura's Social Media Handle: @iamfujimura Hope Unabridged is hosted by: Kasey Brennan (@thejoyfulwild) and Angie Elkins (@angiebrownelkins) Music by: Robert Elkins
Chris is joined by contemporary artist Makoto Fujimura, author of Art + Faith: A Theology of Making. His book explores the role of creativity in the spiritual life, and it draws upon quiet disciplines such as awareness and waiting. The meditative space that Fujimura creates for prayer and praise breaks open new avenues to seek the never-ending depths of God's beauty and grace. Sophisticated and intellectual, Fujimura's art has been praised as a vehicle for hope, healing, redemption, and refuge.Fujimura explains how the power, mystery, and depth of art drive us to ask deeper questions.He introduces his spiritual discipline of “slow art,” speaks to the nuances of tradition, and ponders the ways art can liberate us in our cultural context. Fujimura gives us space to identify where we meet Jesus in both making and consuming. This conversation speaks to the healing gift of art as culture care, rather than a commodity.Follow Makoto Fujimura on the web:https://makotofujimura.com Check out Makoto Fujimura's book Art and Faith: A Theology of Making here:https://culturecarecreative.com Learn more about Makoto Fujimura's art here:https://www.waterfall-gallery.com/makoto-fujimura Read Makoto Fujimura's biography here:https://imagejournal.org/artist/makoto-fujimura/ Follow Mako on social media:https://www.facebook.com/makotofujimuraart www.instagram.com/iamfujimura https://twitter.com/iamfujimura
The British poet Edward Thomas once wrote an exquisite little poem in which he described a simple, towering plume of smoke rising from a train as “so fair it touched the roar with silence.” In my own encounters with the art of Makoto Fujimura, our guest today, I've been overwhelmed, too, by a silence so deep, it roars and arrests the gaze of anyone who pays it attention. But this is what beauty does. It holds a fragile power to generate meaning and recognition. It resists commodification and crass pragmatism, and invites those who behold it to stop and linger a while. Reading Fujimura's new book, I was reminded often of the story in the gospels about the woman who came to Jesus with an alabaster jar and poured expensive perfume on his feet, to the displeasure of the disciples. What the woman at Bethany did made no economic or earthly sense. It was an excessive act with no instrumental value. But she saw Jesus as her beloved and knew that he was worth the offering. She took the perfume, itself a finite good, and made it something of infinite value. As the art and writing of Fujimura suggests, these sorts of acts ought to arrest our attention, so that we can model their beauty in our own lives and callings.
Making an assumption about another's life transition led to an uncomfortable parting when Dr. Clementine Fujimura was an academic Department Chair at the U. S. Naval Academy. Dr. Fujimura discusses a situation she would have handled quite differently regarding a colleague. She also talks about how to be a more effective leader with any age group.
God is Love, and we are to love. Love creates, so the question for us is "What are we making today?” Find Makoto on YouTube as well! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsSA6s3LCMyFbDdtIXdKvyQ/videos
Hey guys! It is Aiko with Schwagirl. I am an American English pronunciation coach and business coach based in Hawai'i. Welcome to my show “Schwagirl”. This show is for Japanese people who speak English as a second language and are working in an English environment. I am focusing on mindsets and entrepreneurship because they are important when it come to working in a new environment and learning new things. I speak English as a second language. I came to the US when I was 23. I had a hard time in the US because of my thick Japanese accent. If you are going through a hard time, don't give up your dreams and goals. And I hope this show will encourage and empower you! –Who is Aiko? In this episode, I invited Miho Noguchi and Fujimura Yukiko from Voice Over Japan. They provide a voice over course and from 2020 January, they provide an ever green voice over course. In the interview, they shared why they wanted to create an online course, how they planned and launched, their advice on how and when to create online courses. Creating online courses is a new way of working where anyone can work from anywhere anytime. Enjoy the episode! Voice Over Japan Course Info: https://voiceoverjapan.mykajabi.com 藤村由紀子さん(局アナとして8年のキャリア) https://yukikofujimura.wixsite.com/japanesevoice ツイッター @bilingualmc ブログ https://ameblo.jp/bilingualmc/ 野口美穂さん(初代Google Map GPSの声のお姉さん) https://bilingualmc.jp ツイッター @mihonog ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 無料動画ダウンロード:英語コーチが働く時間を減らして収入を増やす3つの方法:https://aiko-hemingway.mykajabi.com/free-workshop ビジネスコース、発音コース情報(発音プライベートコーチングは1年待ちです):https://hatsuonkyosei.com/ Kajabi28日間無料トライアル(このリンクを使ってサインアップした英語コーチに「コーチングや集客に使えるKajabiの機能まとめ」を送ります):https://app.kajabi.com/r/uFNcA2Az/t/2tglb5zx Follow me on twitter @aiko2232 Follow me on FB @hatsuonkyosei 2020年2月から英語コーチのビジネスコミュニティを始めます!18日まで特別価格でのオファーです。ビジネス仲間と励まし合いながらビジネスを構築していきたい方を募集しています:https://aiko-hemingway.mykajabi.com/offers/cRyqucY7/checkout