Latest news with #Taira
Hamilton Spectator
18-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Squamish artists to be featured in revamped August Jack Motor Inn café
As part of its sweeping renovations, the historic August Jack Motor Inn will soon open a café featuring rotating exhibits from local artists—offering guests more than just a place to stay. Now under new ownership but under the same name, the August Jack Motor Inn is getting an all-around upgrade, and the owners want to show tourists and visitors alike some community talent. The Squamish Chief spoke with the Inn's senior graphic designer and marketing lead, Angela Taira, who shared her insight about the Inn's renovation and the owners' plans to showcase local artists. For context, Taira described how the new owners have 'purged everything' from before, installing utilities such as smart TVs and air conditioning, as well as a community plaza space for events and food trucks. She said a circuit party and a market were held there recently. Now, she said, the inn will be adding a café serving 'wholesome' meals, to create an additional social hub for the wider community, with complimentary pastries and hot drinks available for hotel guests. The café's main feature will be a wall dedicated to local art, to give guests and customers a taste of what Squamish artists have to offer. The plan is to hang their work and possibly make pieces available for purchase. 'The [Inn's] owners are such big fans of community-based events and the arts; this is a way to showcase the Squamish community, and give a bit of an insight to our international guests, and our guests in general,' Taira said. 'When they walk into the [café], they can enjoy their coffee, their food, and then they can also look around and be like, 'Oh, wow, I can't believe there are so many talented artists here, waiting to be discovered.' So yeah, we wanted to dedicate that wall for that purpose.' Taira said the Inn's owners have finished the main construction of the café—there are marble floors and couches on order—but it might be another few months before it opens, and the artwork is hung up. She noted that the feature art wall will not have a finalized design; rather, artists may rotate, and the work may be continually added to, evolving over time alongside the community, and of course, public taste. The Inn, meanwhile, is currently scouting artistic talent, and receiving sample designs, namely from featured artists in the Squamish Mural Walk. 'It's the owners' idea to keep on adding things, but the team is all working together to make it happen,' Taira said. 'In the meantime, we are in communication with the District of Squamish, and they're sending over people in charge of the Squamish Mural Walk. It's funny, because some of our guests are people who are going to be painting for the walk.' Though the wall's main theme will be about supporting local art, Taira emphasized that it is important to maintain diversity within the representation of the Squamish community. 'We don't want to just showcase art about Squamish nature. We don't want a full wall of just [Stawamus] Chief, right? We want a mix of different kinds of styles, different kinds of media. So we're open to many things, as long as it really showcases the spirit of either Squamish or just the people of Squamish, [and] how they want to communicate it through their work.' Taira is currently welcoming samples of artwork and design ideas. Artists may submit their piece or idea to marketing@ The August Jack Motor Inn is located on 37947 Cleveland Avenue. Ina Pace is The Squamish Chief's Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) reporter. This reporting was produced through the LJI, which supports original civic journalism across Canada. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Asahi Shimbun
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Rich heritage rumbles on in quake-hit Akusekijima
The late Toshimi Shimono (1929-2022), a renowned Japanese folklorist and leading authority on the folk traditions of southern Japan, once described the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture as 'a junction of north-south cultural exchange in Japan.' Starting in the mid-1960s, Shimono made frequent visits to this remote chain of 12 small islands, traveling from village to village to gather stories from local elders. He was deeply drawn to the region's distinctive cultural landscape, where southern influences from Amami and Okinawa merged with northern traditions from Kagoshima and the Japanese mainland. His compilation 60 years ago, 'Tokara Retto Minzokushi' (Ethnography of the Tokara islands), remains a valuable resource, offering a detailed account of the history and customs of Akusekijima, one of the islands in the archipelago. It is striking to discover that even in this remote region, legends persist about the 'ochiudo'—the surviving members of the defeated Heike (Taira) clan who fled into secluded mountain villages and isolated islands after their crushing defeat by the rival Genji (Minamoto) clan in the late 12th century. Equally fascinating is the practice of celebrating the new year according to both the lunar and solar calendars. The records also include a vivid description of the 'Boze,' masked deities that appear during a 'Raihoshin' (visiting deity) ritual in Akusekijima. The Boze ceremony is one of 10 Raihoshin-related events in Japan recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Among the collected materials, I was especially drawn to the spirited lyrics of a folk song performed during festive occasions. One verse of the song goes: 'If we don't catch bonito, Akusekijima cannot sustain itself/ Please let us catch them, Ebesu-sama.' Ebesu, also called Ebisu, who is one of the Seven Gods of Fortune in Japanese tradition, is revered as the patron deity of fishermen, luck and prosperity. Another lively line declares: 'Akusekijima—though its name means 'bad stone island'—piles up money at the tsubata on the shore.' In this context, 'tsubata' refers to the water's edge, while 'money' serves as a poetic metaphor for bonito, the lifeblood of the island's fishing economy. According to Shimono's research, Akusekijima had a population of 170 in 1964. Over the past six decades, that number has been cut in half. And following the series of earthquakes that began on June 21, only about 20 residents remain on the island, with others having evacuated, including some from neighboring Kodakarajima. As of 5 p.m. on July 12, more than 1,900 perceptible tremors had been recorded. The initial hope that residents could return in 'about a week' has proven overly optimistic, and the outlook remains uncertain. We can only hope the earth quiets soon but each fresh news alert announcing another quake, such as one registering a seismic intensity of 4 on Japan's 7-point scale, brings renewed anxiety. The folk song closes with the poignant line: 'When we see the ship leave the port, we do so with tears.' May those who left their island in sorrow be able to return home as soon as possible. All we can do now is pray. —The Asahi Shimbun, July 13 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
First in Assam, transwoman marries man after a decade of struggle
1 2 3 4 5 6 Guwahati: As 'Pride Month' concludes on Monday, Taira Bhattacharjee, a transwoman from Guwahati, made history by marrying Bikramjit Sutradhar, a man from the same city. This union between two best friends, after a decade of struggle, marks Taira as the first transwoman from Assam to tie the knot with a man, signifying a significant milestone for the LGBTQ+ community. Taira and Bikramjit legally registered their marriage on May 26 at the office of the District Commissioner (DC), Kamrup (Metro). Their social marriage was held on June 2 at the Ugratara temple. Taira, originally named Biswajoy, underwent sex reassignment surgery (SRS) in 2019. "Before the surgery, I always felt like my soul was trapped inside the wrong body. Since my childhood, I was always bullied or looked down in school, college and even in university just because I could not control my feminine nature, even though I tried hard to hide my true self. The more I grew older, the more I became an introvert and under-confident. I always wanted to study well, but due to constant mental pressure, I could not focus on anything," says Taira The turning point in Taira's life came in 2006, when she met Bikramjit through a mutual friend. "One day while sitting inside my car, I told Taira that we should commit suicide since my family opposed this relationship, but then she consoled me and told me that she had finally gained her confidence to face life and she wants to undergo medical transmission, so to end our lives at this moment is not the right thing to do," Bikramjit said. The couple now actively uses social media to advocate against gender discrimination, counter social stigmas, and promote inclusivity. Filmmaker and LGBTQ+ leader Milin Dutta celebrated the occasion on his Facebook post, stating, "So happy to witness the first trans official wedding in Assam, a big milestone, congratulations to Taira and Bikramjit. Thank you for setting the path for many more to follow, for many more to hope and dream. Congratulations to the whole Queer community." It's important to note that recent legal developments in India have clarified rights for transgender individuals, including the right to self-identify their gender and marry individuals of the opposite gender, regardless of surgical intervention. The Supreme Court, during the NALSA vs Union of India (2014) case recognized transgenders as the "third gender" with fundamental rights.
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC's Tatsuro Taira 'looking forward again' after shock of first career loss
UFC's Tatsuro Taira 'looking forward again' after shock of first career loss Tatsuro Taira was hard on himself after suffering the first loss of his UFC and professional career. After going unbeaten in his first 16 fights, including a finish over former title challenger Alex Perez, Taira (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) lost a split decision to Brandon Royval in the UFC Fight Night 244 headliner last October. Although he earned his fourth-career UFC bonus, Taira didn't take the loss too well. "It was a tough, five-round fight," Taira told MMA Junkie Radio through an interpreter. "I was only thinking about winning the fight and going next to the title fight. So, I was very shocked, I was depressed, but now I'm just looking forward again, and I'm only looking to get that title shot soon." The 25-year-old Japanese fighter will look to rebound when he takes on Amir Albazi (17-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) in a UFC Fight Night main event on Aug. 2 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. "He's physically very, very strong," Taira said of Albazi. "But I think I can imagine myself either getting a submission on the ground or getting a win by knockout." Taira isn't sure about title implications with a win over Albazi but sees the fight as a must-win situation. "I'm coming off a loss, he's also coming off a loss, so ranking wise it's (No.) 5 vs. 3, and we're both in a jeopardy position, and we both cannot lose this fight," Taira said. "I won't necessarily think the next fight will be a title fight, but a big fight for both of us (and) definitely cannot lose."
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC books Amir Albazi vs. Tatsuro Taira main event
UFC books Amir Albazi vs. Tatsuro Taira main event Flyweight contenders will collide in the UFC Fight Night main event Aug. 2 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Both looking to bounce back from losses, Amir Albazi and Tatsuro Taira will meet in a five-round bout. Two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the matchup to MMA Junkie after Iridium Sports Agency, which represents Taira, announced it Wednesday on social media. Albazi (17-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) recorded his first UFC loss in November when he was defeated by unanimous decision by Brandon Moreno. The defeat came after wins over Malcolm Gordon, Zhalgas Zhumagulov, Francisco Figueiredo, Alessandro Costa, and Kai Kara-France. Taira (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) lost a split decision to Brandon Rovval in October – his first UFC defeat. Prior to the loss, Taira defeated Carlos Candelario, C.J. Vergara, Jesus Aguilar, Edgar Chairez, Carlos Hernandez, and Alex Perez. With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Aug. 2 includes:
