Ian Kikuchi
@curatorian.bsky.social
Historian & curator at the Imperial War Museum in the UK - history of war, conflict and IWM collections, with digressions into #judo and #videogames. 日本語を勉強している。Posts are personal views.
Pinned
Ian Kikuchi
@curatorian.bsky.social
· Nov 6
Starting a thread (or possibly a thread of threads) to capture things I post from time to time.
I would definitely ensure my paper had a couple of minutes of fluff at the end, just to make sure I got chased off by the bear. 📄⌛🚪🐻
I propose to make universal the old policy of the Blackfriars conference at the American Shakespeare Center:
If you do not end your paper on time, you will be forced to exit, pursued by a bear. Literally, a bear will come take your paper from you.
If you do not end your paper on time, you will be forced to exit, pursued by a bear. Literally, a bear will come take your paper from you.
February 16, 2026 at 8:38 AM
I would definitely ensure my paper had a couple of minutes of fluff at the end, just to make sure I got chased off by the bear. 📄⌛🚪🐻
As someone who's been skiing precisely once, and who had just maybe begun to get the hang of it after a week, the freeski big air event is boggling my brain.
February 15, 2026 at 8:20 PM
As someone who's been skiing precisely once, and who had just maybe begun to get the hang of it after a week, the freeski big air event is boggling my brain.
Give it to impoverished curators. One, in particular.
What would be the most socially useful way to spend a billion dollars?
What would be the most socially useful way to spend a billion dollars?
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Give it to impoverished curators. One, in particular.
Reminded that as long ago as 1939 the UK passed the Cancer Act, which banned the advertising of claimed cures for cancer. I think we should be equally tough on anti-vaxxers.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Health officials are racing to contain a growing measles outbreak in London, which has struck down dozens of young children and affected 7 schools and a nursery.
UKHSA has warned an outbreak across London could see 40,000 - 160,000 cases:
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
UKHSA has warned an outbreak across London could see 40,000 - 160,000 cases:
www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcar...
London measles outbreak: more than 60 children infected
Cases are spreading between children in Enfield as the virus exploits low MMR vaccination rates, medical experts say
www.thetimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Reminded that as long ago as 1939 the UK passed the Cancer Act, which banned the advertising of claimed cures for cancer. I think we should be equally tough on anti-vaxxers.
Hell is not hot enough.
Russia killed Alexei Navalny with frog toxin, UK and allies say
Russia killed Alexei Navalny with frog toxin, UK and allies say
Former opposition leader’s death while in Arctic jail at age of 47 result of mixture of diseases, according to Moscow
The Foreign Office has blamed the Russian state for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, which it said was the result of poisoning from a dart containing frog toxin.
The frog poison – called epibatidine – is said to have been used when Navalny, 47, died suddenly on 16 February 2024. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 14, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Hell is not hot enough.
Recently digitised - Indian tanks of the Scinde Horse are filmed on patrol in Damascus, capital of Syria, in June 1945. They cross the Barada river and pass the Sulaymaniyya Takiyya mosque. #filmcataloguing #ww2 #history
Full film: IWM JIN 78 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Full film: IWM JIN 78 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
February 14, 2026 at 7:01 AM
Recently digitised - Indian tanks of the Scinde Horse are filmed on patrol in Damascus, capital of Syria, in June 1945. They cross the Barada river and pass the Sulaymaniyya Takiyya mosque. #filmcataloguing #ww2 #history
Full film: IWM JIN 78 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Full film: IWM JIN 78 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Today the Imperial War Museum announced the acquisition of Dame Vera Lynn's Second World War archive, inc her diaries, personal items and hundreds of letters between Lynn and her fans. Really delighted for my colleague Simon for his outstanding work on this collection.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Dame Vera Lynn's wartime notes reveal her comfort for families
Imperial War Museums acquires her wartime archive, with some objects going on display this spring.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Today the Imperial War Museum announced the acquisition of Dame Vera Lynn's Second World War archive, inc her diaries, personal items and hundreds of letters between Lynn and her fans. Really delighted for my colleague Simon for his outstanding work on this collection.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Ian Kikuchi
'Dresden Burning - Death March, Winter 1945'
Edith Birkin
1990
acrylic on board
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Edith Birkin
1990
acrylic on board
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
February 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
'Dresden Burning - Death March, Winter 1945'
Edith Birkin
1990
acrylic on board
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Edith Birkin
1990
acrylic on board
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Reposted by Ian Kikuchi
Tonight in 1945, British and American bombers begin a series of raids against the German city of Dresden. The bombing and ensuing fires kill more than 20,000 people.
This footage of the second British raid was taken from a Lancaster of No.463 Sqn RAAF at 14,500 feet.
Film: #IWMcollections OPX 257
This footage of the second British raid was taken from a Lancaster of No.463 Sqn RAAF at 14,500 feet.
Film: #IWMcollections OPX 257
February 13, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Tonight in 1945, British and American bombers begin a series of raids against the German city of Dresden. The bombing and ensuing fires kill more than 20,000 people.
This footage of the second British raid was taken from a Lancaster of No.463 Sqn RAAF at 14,500 feet.
Film: #IWMcollections OPX 257
This footage of the second British raid was taken from a Lancaster of No.463 Sqn RAAF at 14,500 feet.
Film: #IWMcollections OPX 257
I am very bored of this rain. 🌧️🌧️🌧️
February 13, 2026 at 7:47 AM
I am very bored of this rain. 🌧️🌧️🌧️
Recently digitised - near Taunggyi in the Shan States of Burma, Indian troops fire 3-inch mortars against Japanese forces, July 1945. #filmcataloguing #ww2 #history
Full film: IWM JIN 88 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Full film: IWM JIN 88 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
February 13, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Recently digitised - near Taunggyi in the Shan States of Burma, Indian troops fire 3-inch mortars against Japanese forces, July 1945. #filmcataloguing #ww2 #history
Full film: IWM JIN 88 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Full film: IWM JIN 88 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Many thanks to Ryan for this nod.
February 12, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Many thanks to Ryan for this nod.
Listening to Alastair Campbell talk about Japanese politics and being driven to distraction by his constant over-pronunciation of SANNNNAAAAEEEE TAKKKAICCCCCHHHHHIIIIII.
February 12, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Listening to Alastair Campbell talk about Japanese politics and being driven to distraction by his constant over-pronunciation of SANNNNAAAAEEEE TAKKKAICCCCCHHHHHIIIIII.
Reposted by Ian Kikuchi
I tried to take a photo of a grasshopper on my windshield, but now it looks like a gigantic bug destroying the town.
February 10, 2026 at 6:10 AM
I tried to take a photo of a grasshopper on my windshield, but now it looks like a gigantic bug destroying the town.
Genuinely refreshing to briefly have a timeline dominated by British political insanity rather than the ugly American kind.
February 9, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Genuinely refreshing to briefly have a timeline dominated by British political insanity rather than the ugly American kind.
Astonished* to see that this has located my dot in a nebula called 'British Military History Enthusiasts'
*actually this is spot-on.
*actually this is spot-on.
February 9, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Astonished* to see that this has located my dot in a nebula called 'British Military History Enthusiasts'
*actually this is spot-on.
*actually this is spot-on.
Any chance of a pay rise or no?
February 8, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Any chance of a pay rise or no?
February 7, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Recently digitised; at Yazagyo in Burma, US light aircraft are used to evacuate casualties from the 11st (East African) Division. #filmcataloguing #ww2 #history
Full film: IWM FUB 11 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Full film: IWM FUB 11 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
February 7, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Recently digitised; at Yazagyo in Burma, US light aircraft are used to evacuate casualties from the 11st (East African) Division. #filmcataloguing #ww2 #history
Full film: IWM FUB 11 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
Full film: IWM FUB 11 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
I take into my arms more than I can bear to hold
I am toppled by the world
a creation of ladders, pianos, stairs cut into the rock
a devouring world of teeth where even the common snail eats the heart out of a forest...
I am toppled by the world
a creation of ladders, pianos, stairs cut into the rock
a devouring world of teeth where even the common snail eats the heart out of a forest...
February 5, 2026 at 6:16 PM
I take into my arms more than I can bear to hold
I am toppled by the world
a creation of ladders, pianos, stairs cut into the rock
a devouring world of teeth where even the common snail eats the heart out of a forest...
I am toppled by the world
a creation of ladders, pianos, stairs cut into the rock
a devouring world of teeth where even the common snail eats the heart out of a forest...
Something particularly Chelsea about a primary-school-aged boy wearing brown corduroy uniform shirts and carrying a Rijksmuseum Rembrandt umbrella.
February 5, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Something particularly Chelsea about a primary-school-aged boy wearing brown corduroy uniform shirts and carrying a Rijksmuseum Rembrandt umbrella.
Trying to do some work but out of my study window a large and beautiful red kite is swooping and diving over my neighbours' back gardens in pursuit of pigeons, and clearly nothing is going to get done until this raptor gets his lunch.
February 5, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Trying to do some work but out of my study window a large and beautiful red kite is swooping and diving over my neighbours' back gardens in pursuit of pigeons, and clearly nothing is going to get done until this raptor gets his lunch.