Anthrow Circus

Tag: Asia

In the Land of the Rising Sun

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANE MALZAHN

While many of the world’s major cities have neighborhoods with certain vibes—think New York’s Upper East Side or London’s Soho district—neighborhoods in Japan’s capital city feel like distinctive towns existing under the collective name, Tokyo.

There’s the sophisticated Ginza district filled with the flagship stores for some of the world’s top luxury brands. The Kappabashi Dougu-gai is nicknamed “Kitchen Town” for its vast selection of cooking utensils and cookware. And there’s the Ryogoku district, the epicenter of Japan’s national sport, sumo wrestling.

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My Neighbors From Myanmar Taught Me to Receive

STORY BY HEATHER M. SURLS

PHOTOS BY HAWA IMAGES, USED BY PERMISSION OF WORLD RELIEF CHICAGOLAND

Years ago, a neighbor gave me a glossy 4×6-inch picture of Myanmar politician Aung San Suu Kyi backed by the red and yellow of the National League for Democracy’s flag. I no longer remember the giver’s identity—at that time my Burmese neighbors numbered in the hundreds—but since the country’s late-January military coup that imprisoned Suu Kyi and others, Myanmar (formerly Burma) has been on my mind.

When I reflect now, those three years among the Burmese were like bootcamp for me, a foundational, immersive course in relating to people different from me. At that time, I didn’t realize this would be a preparatory phase for longer-term work among refugees. I moved in with the idea that I would help them—I did not know how much my neighbors would shape me.

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