Our friends at Fanfare/Ponent Mon -- who brought us that understated masterpiece, The Walking Man -- now bring us a fresh treat.  Initiated by the powers that be at the French Institutes and Alliances in Japan, who, along with the French Embassy, bankrolled the visits of nine French comics creators to Japan in order that they be inspired to create eight of the works we have here.  The other half -- eight more pieces -- were supplied by Japanese natives (one of whom, the editor, Frédéric Boilet, is a French ex-pat residing in Japan).  Together, these sixteen pieces provide a kaliedoscope of views of Japan today; and not just Tokyo.  This project was designed with a geographically broad view:  the entire country, from the southern tip at Amakusa to the northern metropolis of Sapporo, is on display here.  Creators include manga master Jiro Taniguchi (author of the aforementioned masterwork, The Walking Man), Joann Sfar, of The Rabbi's Cat fame, François Schuiten & Benoît Peeters, Kan Takahama, Fabrice Neaud, Little Fish, Aurélia Aurita and nine others.  This is an excellent anthology of comics work at the same time as it is an engaging cultural survey.  Of equal interest to readers of contemporary comics work and students of Japan, this is a sure fire must have for anyone who is both.