Tokyo Moves
An excellent short 3 minute YouTube timelapse video of Tokyo by Pat Leezy, with a great soundtrack as well.
I loved this video which reminded me of all the cool places in Tokyo, where we lived for 3 years – miss it so much! Areas include Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku (Kabukicho), Roppongi Hills, Akihabara, Harajuku (Takashita Dori). Cherry blossom and subway stations were also featured.
Watching this video, you can see how crowded the city is, but it somehow never felt crowded to me when I was living there.
The Architecture of Tadao Ando in Tokyo
Similar to Kenzo Tange, Tadao Ando has also been influential architect in Japan. Born in Osaka, he won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1995. Just of a few of his completed projects in Tokyo area are shown here.
1. Omotesando Hills
Omotensando Hills is an upscale shopping complex which was completed in 2005.
2. 21 21 Design Sight
21 21 Design Sight is located in Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi and serves as a hall for a variety of exhibits.
3. Tokyo Sky Tree
Tokyo Sky Tree is the tallest structure in Japan at 634 metres (2,080 ft) which just recently opened. The picture below was taken in 2010 during its construction.
Photo of the Day: Fugu
A distinctive Fugu head adorns the front of a restaurant in Akasaka, Tokyo.
A closer look.
Cold Fish
Cold Fish is a 2010 Japanese serial killer film directed by the controversial filmmaker Sion Sono (Love Exposure). It premiered at the 67th Venice International Film Festival and received the best screenplay award in the Fantastic Features section at Fantastic Fest 2010.
The film is about the quiet owner of a small tropical fish shop whose life and family are taken over by a fellow fish entrepreneur who happens to be a serial killer. Classified as a horror film with lots of graphic blood and gore (you have been warned!), this black comedy shows how the family descends into the depths of murder.
Apparently, the film is loosely based on the exploits of two Tokyo serial killers, Sekine Gen and Hiroko Kazama, a husband and wife duo who owned a pet shop and murdered at least four people.
After Dark
After Dark is a short novel (novella) by Japanese author Haruki Murakami originally published in 2004 in Japan. There has been a number of translations into several languages between 2006-09. Below are a few non-Japanese book covers.
This short story is set in central Tokyo during one night (after midnight to before sunrise) and each chapter has an analog clock depicting the time. Characters include Mari, a young student spending the night reading at Denny’s (where the story opens) and her beautiful sister Eri, who has strangely gone into deep sleep (but not a coma) for the past 2 months, Takahashi, a trombone-playing student who has knows Eri, Korogi, a former female wrestler who is now managing a love hotel called Alphaville and Shirakawa, a salaryman working overnight who beat up a Chinese prostitute at the same love hotel.
Yup, that is a strange collection of characters indeed, with their connections and some weird activities.
Previous books that I have read by Haruki Murakami include 1Q84, Sputnik Sweetheart and Norwegian Wood.
Photo of the Day: Nissan Concept Car
A latest concept car from Nissan is displayed at the Nissan Gallery in Ginza, Tokyo.
Usagi Drop
Usagi Drop (translated into Bunny Drop) is a 2011 Japanese comedy-drama film based on the manga of the same name by Yumi Unita, directed by Sabu and starring Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Gantz, Kaiji, Norwegian Wood). It made its international debut at the 14th Shanghai International Film Festival with good reviews.
The film is about Daikichi, an unmarried salaryman with no girlfriend, who ends up living with the six-year-old illegitimate child of his dead grandfather (what?). This girl is called Rin, and Daikichi suddenly declares that he will raise her himself while his relatives discuss arrangements to put her in a foster home.
Photo of the Day: Rainbow Bridge
A picture of the Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo at dusk.
Norwegian Wood
I just finished reading my third Haruki Murakami (1Q84, Sputnik Sweetheart), a tragic drama titled Norwegian Wood. Published in Japan in 1987, this book has been translated twice – by Alfred Birnbaum (who translated many of Murakami’s earlier novels) in 1989 in Japan by Kodansha, and then by Jay Rubin in 2000 for publication outside Japan (cover shown below).
The novel is set in Tokyo during the late 1960s and the title is based on a Beatles’ song of the same name. The story is about a young 20 year old college student named Toru Watanabe, who develops relationships with two very different women – the emotionally troubled Naoko (girlfriend of his best friend who committed suicide at age 17) and his classmate, the outgoing and lively Midori. Other characters in the book include the playboy Nagasawa and his girlfriend Hatsumi, his strange and funny dorm roommate “Stormtrooper” and Reiko, a music teacher and inmate at Naoko’s sanatorium, who is Naoko’s roommate and plays Norwegian Wood with her guitar.
As with the other Murakami books I have previously read, I enjoyed this book with its interesting characters and rich storyline. I found it very well written. Since the story was set in the late 60s before mobile phones and email, writing letters was the way to communicate.
A film adaptation by the Vietnamese-born French director Tran Anh Hung was released in Japan in 2010. The movie was presented at the 67th Venice International Film Festival.
It stars two of the biggest Japanese actors – Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Gantz, Kaiji) as Watanabe and Rinko Kikuchi (Academy Award nominee for Best Supporting Actress in her role in the 2006 Hollywood film titled Babel) as Naoko. Newcomer Kiko Mizuhara played the role of Midori.
The movie was not bad and was beautifully filmed (especially the winter scenes), but as with film adaptations, some details were missed. The story centered more on Watanabe and Naoko, less on Midori and no mention of Stormtrooper at all.
BBC Global Poll: Japan Has Most Positive Influence in the World
The results of a recent annual poll by BBC World Service rank Japan as having the most positive influence in the world among all countries evaluated. With the turmoil in Europe, EU countries have declined sharply – with Germany overtaken by Japan. Canada placed third in the polls, while the US was eighth. Global views of China (#5) continue to improve in 2012, confirming the trend seen last year.
In the report of the factors shaping perceptions of Japan: “Of those who said the Japanese influence in the world is positive, a strong plurality of 47 per cent says it is because of Japan’s economy, products, and services. Twenty-two per cent cite the Japanese traditions and culture. For those holding negative views, the foreign policy of Japan is the most widely-cited reason that explains their negative rating, a view held by 36 per cent. The Japanese economy, products, and services is the second most-cited reason (20%), closely followed by the Japanese traditions and culture, and the way Japan treats its people (both 19%).”
You can view the complete results in PDF format.
