Established in 2016 and led by artists Daniel Chew, Ten Izu, and Tin Nguyen, CFGNY (short for Concept Foreign Garments New York) challenges stereotyped narratives around identity.

Japan’s Coast Guard Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department has released a free Minecraft map built from real submarine topographic data. Players can explore the seabed from Tokyo Bay to the Mariana Trench, including detailed areas such as the Izu Islands and Iwojima ridge. The terrain is scaled for better navigation, and the map includes a coordinate lookup tool that generates teleport commands to specific real-world locations. It is available for both Java and Bedrock editions and focuses on exploration rather than survival gameplay.

In 1854, the Treaty of Peace and Amity was concluded following negotiations with Commodore Perry, and it made Shimoda one of Japan’s first open ports. To commemorate the dawn of U.S.-Japan relations, the Black Ship Festival has been held every May since 1934. Featuring such participants as the U.S. Navy band and diplomatic officials, the festival is cherished as a hallmark of spring in Izu, celebrating the enduring friendship between our two nations. Look for @USAmbJapan this year.