Yesterday, while walking through downtown Fukuoka in search of the small, idiosyncratic details that reward a wandering eye and mind, I came upon this beautifully radiant emblem. Its rays are said to evoke the vigour of the morning sun rising in the eastern sky.

Japan’s name, 日本 (Nihon or Nippon), means “the sun’s origin” – which is the idea behind “Land of the Rising Sun.” Finding that image on an ordinary street felt quietly fitting: a sunburst appearing just when I was looking for something unexpected to help me capture the last few shots of Fukuoka before leaving.