Almost everyone I talked to about Japanese design had been referring to Kyoto as the origin of the traditional WABI-SABI feeling. Therefore I had to go on a side trip to Kyoto. SOICHIRO was so kind to give me company and guidance trough Kyoto’s cosy streets, the stunning temples and delicious restaurants.
We took the SHINKANSEN express train on Sunday morning and arrived in Kyoto at noon. Until our departure in the late Monday afternoon it didn’t stop to rain.
A SIDE TRIP TO KYOTO
April 11, 2010 Tokyo
We stayed at an old RYOKAN built in 1909 with tatami-matted rooms, communal baths, small Japanese garden in the courtyard, sliding doors and lovely owners who told us stories about the house and the visitors while serving green tea and breakfast.
RYOKAN
April 11, 2010 Tokyo
After a long stroll through Kyoto’s kitchen, the narrow NISHIKI passage lined by more than hundred small shops selling Japanese sweets, fresh seafood, vegetables, and very cute baby sardines and shrimps simmered in saltwater and dried in the sun called CHIRIMENJAKO, we went for lunch with a huge appetite nearby the market. READ MORE
LITTLE MONSTERS
April 11, 2010 Tokyo
The full bloom draws to a close. The cherry blossoms scatter under every tree and cover the streets in pink.
CHERRY RAIN
April 11, 2010 Tokyo
A bowl of rice seasoned with AKA SHISO, a purple-red mint with a strong flavor compared to that of mint or fennel. READ MORE
A BOWL OF RICE
April 11, 2010 Tokyo
The approach to the red temple along the steep and busy lane of the HIGASHIYAMA district was as atmospheric as the view above the hillside of the eastern mountain. On the way up we paused in a tea room and had the thick and strong green tea with cherry flavored sweets. READ MORE
KIYOMIZU-DERA
April 11, 2010 Tokyo
SATORU YAMSHITA is the founder and creative director of the magazine PLUS EIGTHY ONE (http://plus81.com).
PLUS 81
April 9, 2010 Tokyo
SHUN KAWAKAMI introduced me to the Japanese fashion designer TARO HORIUCHI for whom he has created the corporate identity and the interactive portfolio (http://tarohoriuchi.com).
TARO HORIUCHI
April 9, 2010 Tokyo
JOPSU RAMU and TIMO HUHTALA are creatives from Helsinki and friends of SHUN KAWAKAMI. They worked together on a TV design project for the Finnish TV channel NELONEN (http://vimeo.com/7681282). READ MORE
MUSUTA Ltd.
April 8, 2010 Tokyo
SHUN KAWAKAMI was about to print his beautiful illustrations for the GIULIANO FUJIWARA exhibition in Milan when we ran into him at the WOW studio. READ MORE
ARTLESS
April 8, 2010 Tokyo
At 09:15 pm we knocked at the door of the design studio BLUES. After dinner SOICHIRO invited me to join an idea presentation for a beer brand. HIROSHI KAMAMURA opened the door and let us into the small design studio. READ MORE
A VERY ORDINARY MEETING
April 7, 2010 Tokyo
A while ago I was looking for a specific template for my portfolio on WordPress and found a nice one called TANZAKU which means a small card for writing poems. However I faced a tiny problem and tried to work it out by myself but failed. READ MORE
HANAMI PARTY (PEOPLE)
April 4, 2010 Tokyo
YUYA OZAWA suggested to see a life act of NAOITO, one of the artists he is managing and a good friend of his. So we were heading southwards for Enoshima in the early Sunday afternoon.
Enoshima is both a small island and a tiny seaside town in the bay of Sagami which is two hours drive away from Tokyo. The island is dedicated to Benzaiten, the goddess of everything that flows such as water, words, music, and knowledge. It’s nature and the good vibrations attract a lot of surfers, artists, and musicians. It has this certain touch of California feeling.
GODDESS OF THE FLOW
April 4, 2010 Tokyo
GO MATSUMOTO works as a movie producer at Warner Music Japan. He is a good friend of YUYA and once in a while they work together on some projects. As a VJ he was supporting the live act of NAOITO.
GO MATSUMOTO
April 4, 2010 Tokyo
MAIKO KISHI is a singer and song-writer based in Tokyo. Briefly we talked before the show. However I was very impressed by her strong personality (sheltered in a fragile body) and her beautiful clear voice.
She used to live in London where she has founded her band Magnolia in 1998. She has released recently her first solo album (http://kishimaiko.com).
MAIKO KISHI
April 4, 2010 Tokyo
While the guys have been practicing and setting up the equipments for the show I got to know P who was taking care of the kids of the band members. P is PICOLA AKIKO. NAOITO and P have been a couple for almost four years. READ MORE
P
April 4, 2010 Tokyo
NAOITO is a singer and songwriter and lives with his girlfriend PICOLA AKIKO in the charming hood of Nakameguro. READ MORE
NAOITO
April 4, 2010 Tokyo
YUYA OZAWA works as record producer and runs a Japanese music label called groundriddim (http://groundriddim.com) with his partner. He is father of a little cute boy with whom he plays American football in his free time. Besides he likes music that makes people happy and has a very sunny spirit. READ MORE
YUYA OZAWA
April 2, 2010 Tokyo
HANAMI means literally flower viewing and when the blossoms starts to flourish people gather in parks and enjoy the ephemeral beauty of the cherry blossoms. READ MORE
HANAMI PARTY (LOCATION)
April 2, 2010 Tokyo
We drunk traditional Sapporo bear and ate very tasty Sashimi and Tempura (deap fried vegtables, seafood, and chicken).