Nine Years Ago, Japanese Photographer Miyoko Ihara Began Snapping Pictures Of The Relationship Between

Nine years ago, Japanese photographer Miyoko Ihara began snapping pictures of the relationship between her grandmother and her odd-eyed white cat. Miyoko’s grandma Misao found the abandoned cat in a shed on her land and the pair have barely been apart since. Misao named the white cat “Fukumaru” in hope the “God of fuku (good fortune) comes and everything will be smoothed over like maru (circle)”. Fukumaru is always in Misao’s shadow whether she is farming her land, having a bath, eating or sleeping. Now nearly a decade later their friendship and adventures have been documented by Miyoko in a photo book called Misao the Big Mama and Fukumaru the Cat.

from the Telegraph

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Cultural Anatomy: Sokka’s Choker

From what I’ve researched, chokers were traditionally worn by some Native American tribes rather than by the Inuit, who traditionally preferred looser fitting necklaces. But Sokka’s particular choker is identical to traditional Alaskan Inuit bracelets, which are made from walrus or whale ivory.

Which means that Sokka might just be wearing a bracelet as a choker. And I can’t think of anything more perfectly Sokka than using an item for something beyond its intended purpose. I can totally imagine how the whole thing started:

Mother Kya: “One day, when Katara gets married, I’ll give her this necklace that Gran-Gran gave to me.”

Lil Sokka: “No fair! Why don’t I get anything?”

Hakoda: “Sokka, this necklace is for girls only.”

Lil Sokka: “Fine, I’ll just make my own necklace.” *ties his bracelet around his neck and immediately starts choking*

Gran-Gran: *sighs* I’ll get more string…

Gaius yelling with the door open: WHEN WILL YOU LEARN MERLIN THAT YOUR MAGIC IS A SECRET YOUR MAGIC MERLIN THE MAGIC YOU HAVE IS A SECRET MERLIN MAGIC-

The guards outside the chambers passing by: