Tunes from Japan: Koto and shamisen player Sumie Kaneko presented three recitals in the first week of November — at the Japanese consul-general Masayuki Taga’s residence, at Birla Academy of Art and Culture and at GD Birla Sabhagar, where she was in duet with Tanmoy Bose on the tabla. “The shamisen is made of rosewood and has animal skin on the front and back of the drum. Its ancestor is the sitar,” said the New York-based musician who is also a jazz singer-songwriter. While the shamisen needs protection from humidity, koto is hardy, being made of kiriwood. “In Japan, women store expensive kimonos in kiriwood drawers to preserve during earthquakes,” said Kaneko. Picture: Arnab Mondal

Happy Mix: Guests, staff and well-wishers of The Stadel ushered in the Yuletide spirit by the hotel’s poolside with a cake mixing ceremony on November 25 evening. The festivities started at the Salt Lake hotel with an elaborate process of mixing nuts and dry fruits and soaking them in juices and wine. “It is believed that greater the number of people involved in stirring the ingredients for the Christmas plum cake, the better and bountiful the year ahead is. And when the process is carried out happily in true team spirit, it is also a moment of wish fulfilment,” said Ayan Mitra (second from right), general manager, The Stadel. June Tomkyns and Rita Bhimani joined in.