Categories
Film

Midnight Eye Update

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The Japanese film guide Midnight Eye has made an update. It includes an interview with director Ishii Teruo, their look at the best films (and worst) of 2004, and a few new reviews.

Categories
Design

Huge Poster

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Jesper sent me this pic he took of the Next Century Modern office/shop in Gothenburg. The poster with the two figures is made up of 30 A4-sized pages.

Categories
Music

The Jpop Tour

Marxy’s look at Jpop records of note has got me doing something I haven’t done in ages: taking an extended look at the video music channels. When I tune into SkyPerfecTV, I quickly cycle through them to see if there’s anything interesting (there never is), and then usually end up going to BBC World or CNN. Here’s the lineup: Space Shower TV, MTV Japan, M-ON, VMC, and Music Japan.

There was something that wasn’t so bad, bud I didn’t catch the name of the band or the song title. Alterna-rock sounding, with the obligatory rap-ish bits mixed in. Then, a few quick hits of new singles, but not enough time to really see if there’s anything worth listening to. Oh, an old Okuda Tamio single. That’s good. Oh no, Hirai Ken, followed up by Utada Hikaru’s “Sakura” — this song seemed like a permanent soundtrack to TV for a while. Oh my god: now it’s the Mika half of the Kano Shimai with her Pink Lady dance moves and absurdly skimpy outfit, her huge boobs struggling to stay in. Now it’s time for a Chemistry wannabe duo. OK, maybe now’s not the best time to be tuning in. I’ll try again tonight.

To be continued…

Categories
Cafes Magazines

Shibuya Cafes

355I picked up the current issue of weekly city magazine OZ because it takes a look at “Shibuya for Adults,” which translates into a look at some really nice cafes, bars, and restaurants in the area. I’ve now got a list of some nice cafes I’ll be checking out next time I’m there: Udagawa Cafe Suite, Spuma, Drole, Conceal.Cafe, Diego, Deux et Neuf Cafe, Tokyo Salonard Cafe: Dub, Daddy Dining Cafe, Phaidros Cafe, and Seat Mania — they also mention Jordi, which I’ve been to and quite like. So that should keep my cafe life busy for a while. Here’s hoping some of them offer free wireless internet! I’m currently trying to shame the Pause owner into offering it — they only offer access though BB Yahoo!
Categories
Design Events

Chairs and Japanese Design

This might be something to actually make you go up to the burbs in Saitama!

Chair design is a discipline that branches out in various directions, including designers thoroughly pursuing the most comfortable model, those envisioning distinctive formal beauty, and all others whose creations evidence an individuality that has wings. Especially among the army of desk-workers are many that are uncompromising and generous only when it comes to picking the right thing to sit on. Anyway, displayed here are chairs ranging from the latest designs to historical models that date back to the Meiji period when the chair was first introduced to Japan. The exhibition also includes sketches and miniatures students at elementary and high schools in Saitama Prefecture made on the theme “my dream chair”. Maybe you can find here the chair of YOUR dreams… (REALTOKYO)

It’s at the Museum of Modern Art, Saitama until March 27.

Categories
Web

Sapporo Radio

I’ve been enjoying the hell out of Momus’ audio blogs — makes me want to create some of my own — and his latest one, “Sapporo Radio,” takes us on another interesting ride. From the Soso cafe to the food porn of Japanese TV, it makes for great listening.

Categories
Music

Jpop Goes Marxy!

Marxy invites us on a tour of what he considers to be 3 classic Jpop albums — the ones you shouldn’t be embarrassed about owning. First up: Puffy’s AMIYUMI.

Categories
TB.Grafico

Stickers

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Somewhere on Aoyama dori.

Categories
Magazines

Icon in Tokyo

previous_019The January issue of ICON (19) has a special feature on Tokyo, and you can read the articles online. Link via Dezain.net.
Categories
Fashion Technology

Where Did Cyberwear Go?

You’d think that Tokyo would be packed with people sporting cool-looking gadgets, maybe some wearable electronics, right? I mean, Tokyo has Akihabara! The Japanese are the king of gadget making! Everyone walks around with their mobile phones, using them like no one else in the world! Maybe it’s the cold weather, forcing everyone to cover themselves up, but I’ve been on the lookout for a couple of days, checking out Akihabara, Shibuya, and Aoyama (as well as Ikebukuro, where I live), and I’ve turned up nothing.

Has anyone spotted any interesting trends in the world of electronics and fashion in the city?