Mainichi Newspapers columnist Tokiko Kato's dialogue series "Tokiko's Kiss" is a popular monthly early-month feature. Top photo shows a shoot with guest author Makoto Shiina.
Quiz: where was it? Yes—Mainichi HQ, the Palaceside Building rooftop. Shot Aug. 19 in midsummer heat. Shiina's tanned arms and white T-shirt feel summery; the lawn is lush.
In the talk, travel-loving Shiina shares Mongolia and Iceland episodes and meetings with locals. On happiness, he noted Iceland's high well-being despite economic crisis:
"Japan looks prosperous yet feels unhappy. In Iceland, annual deaths by suicide are so few they're barely discussed. National happiness is a vital measure of wealth."
That page =photo right—monochrome, sadly.
"Tokiko's Kiss" runs in the women's page "Onna no Shinbun," which has a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/gakko.sato) posting previews including behind-the-scenes shots.
November's guest is former Shiga governor Yukiko
Kata.
A Sept. 3 Facebook preview =photo left says:
They opened with Beauvoir's The Second Sex, read in student days, then debated a society where women thrive. Kata's message "A society with diverse choices to live authentically!" stuck. Rooftop shoot under threatening rain—bright as students chatting after class.
Scheduled for Nov. 3 during the holiday. Look forward to it.