Jean Snow [.net]

Author: Jean Snow

  • City Pop

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    On top of that fantastic Shinichiro Yokata mix I mentioned the other day, I’ve also been musically obsessing over “city pop” of late, after I came across this piece. Just let all the YouTube mixes on that page guide you through the smooth sounds of 80s Japan. Kinda goes well with my current 1986 movie…

  • The New Japan Times

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    I posted last week about the redesign of The Japan Times, and today (April 1) saw the publication of the first regular issue sporting the new look. A big otsukare to Andrew and his team on the fresh new design.

  • Japan by Car

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    “Japan by Car” is a series of illustrations — and soon to be a book — by Japan-based illustrator James Gilleard.

  • Meikyoku Kissaten

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    I definitely knew about Lion in Shibuya, but this Japan Times piece introduced me to a few other meikyoku kissaten (“musical masterpiece cafes,” or classical music cafes), like Renaissance in Koenji and Violon in Asagaya. Would love to check out these places.

  • Shinichiro Yokota

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    Here’s a great mix of tracks by Shinichiro Yokota, courtesy of Fact. Don’t know Yokota? Read this fantastic feature on the collaborative work of Yokota and Soichi Terada (of the Far East Recording label). I can easily imagine dancing to this at the old Space Lab Yellow in Tokyo (which I probably did).

  • The Japanese House

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    There’s a show on at the Barbican right now entitled “The Japanese House: Architecture and Life after 1945.” What especially grabbed my attention when I saw mention of it — it’s featured in this Monocle radio show — is that it apparently includes a full-scale recreation of Ryue Nishizawa‘s Moriyama House (pictured), which just so…

  • Nintendo Logos

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    As Steve Lin wrote in this tweet, here’s a “visual history of Nintendo logos courtesy of a recruiting brochure they sent to interview candidates.” Absolutely love these.

  • Blue Velvet

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    You know when you remember really liking a movie, but then 20 years or so pass, and you wonder if you’ll still like it? I’ve always had fond memories of Blue Velvet, and I’m a fan of David Lynch’s work in general — and Twin Peaks is my favorite TV series of all time. So…