David Pilling new book Bending Adversity: Japan and the Art of Survival (Penguin Press, March 2014) offers the author's take on contemporary Japan and how it strives to recover from challenges like its ageing population and natural disasters like the March 2011 earthquake. Title is based on an old proverb. Japanese equivalent of making lemonade out of your lemons. Read an Excerpt here... Flexing brain and muscles for Tokyo Thursdays # 282 Previously: Get 21...

Feria means fiesta in southern France so it is a good bet that Arles will stay up for 3 days during Feria de Paques 2014 (April 18-21). Besides corridas, cow races for amateurs are also on the menu, be agile, alert and ready to run if you think of participating. Full program is Available Online (in French only).