Brigitte Tanaka is a Paris-based fashion brand attracting much attention of late with exquisitely embroidered bags made with creative, playful designs. The brand is run by two designers, both women — Brigitte Giraudi from France and Chieko Tanaka from Japan. I visited the brand’s store in central Paris, which is adjacent to the historically significant St. Roch Church.When I opened the store’s wooden door and stepped inside, Tanaka welcomed me. The store’s cozy little space is intimate, feeling like a hideaway. It is filled with a variety of items, from refurbished antique sundries to bags and pouches embroidered with images such as the Eiffel Tower and croissants. The brand is comanaged by Tanaka and Giraudi. Tanaka initially worked as an accessory designer in Japan before moving to France in December 2008. She then met Giraudi, who was running an accessory brand. They hit it off and started working together, creating the brand made from combining their names in 2017.The brand’s signature items are organdy reusable shopping bags with beautiful embroideries of distinctive, humorous patterns borne from various inspirations, including general goods stores. The bags have interesting shapes, too. Some have a pocket for flowers, while others are designed to perfectly hold a baguette.“I hope users will enjoy the feeling of carrying art around,” Tanaka said.

What does the ego of a man in power bring about? The 2024 documentary film “The Bibi Files” meticulously seeks an answer to that question. The film has been screened in theaters across Japan since November.Directed by Alexis Bloom, the film focuses on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the corruption scandal that envelops him. It illuminates the link between his inflated ego and the tragedy in the Gaza Strip through leaked police interrogation videos.Authorities indicted Netanyahu in 2019 on charges of taking bribes, breach of trust and fraud. It marked the first time in the history of Israel that a prime minister was indicted on criminal charges while in office. The trial is still ongoing.The film utilizes video footage from police interrogations taken during the corruption investigation and eventually introduces each person caught up in this scandal — from Netanyahu himself and his wife, Sara, to his former aide and the super-wealthy who allegedly offered him luxury items.Retired politicians, journalists and those close to Netanyahu are interviewed and act as the film’s “guides.” One said people need to follow the trial to understand the chaotic situation of Israel today.

A picture book depicting osechi traditional Japanese New Year dishes has been selling well thanks to its detailed illustrations and simple explanations.

DORTMUND, Germany — Berlin-based writer Yoko Tawada was awarded the Nelly Sachs Prize, a biennial prize in Germany for a person of letters who has contributed to the mutual understanding of different cultures, at a ceremony in Dortmund in western Germany on Sunday.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan — A complex combining an art museum and a library has opened in Taichung, central Taiwan, becoming Taiwan’s first facility where visitors can both view exhibitions and read books.The Taichung Green Museumbrary has a total floor area of 57,996 square meters and is located in a 67-hectare park. The museum displays works by artists from Taiwan and abroad, while the library houses a collection of over 1 million books and digital materials. The facility is attracting attention as a hub that offers new cultural experiences and opportunities to engage with books.The building was designed by SANAA, an architectural firm led by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, who are both laureates of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, known as the Nobel Prize of architecture. The facility consists of eight cubes in different sizes, allowing visitors to freely explore the library and museum areas.“I hope the facility grows into a place where people meet and learn,” Sejima said at Saturday’s opening ceremony.Nishizawa commented: “I hope people will cherish and use the place like a park,”

A commemorative exhibition of ceramic dog figurines donated by Princess Hisako of Takamado started on Saturday at the Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum in Seto, Aichi Prefecture.