311

 At 14:46, seemingly everyone observed one minute of silence in honor of tolls of the last year's devastating disaster wherever you go. We thought one year's ago that we'd reconstructed well, but... reality is we are struggling with plenty of problems, then it's like no proceeding.. In the huge city like Tokyo, life got normal and the inhabitants are looked forgetting about the north. However, there's no short-cut and we need keeping up, instead of all grief .

Mourning for all the people who lost their lives.

The New Routemaster

 Changes always happen all of a sudden whether you believe in immortality or not.
On 27th February, 2012, finally the new bus has been launched on the London streets with its one week delay. It's designed by Thomas Heatherwick who is architect and designer.  In spite of a hybrid engine that the bus has, the design is quite controversial. Actually I got my first glance on a picture of it, I thought it's a Japanese action hero like. lol. However, after checking more pictures, I little bit changed my aspect on it. Now, I think it's quite cool as the design. It's still a double-decker, has wide range doors, signs are legible and also still red!!
London, now seemingly has been proceeding to set up the Olympics. The Olympics symbol is on the River Thames, the town re-installs its infrastructures, of-course the bus too. I really don't care the Olympics and am not interested in it, but I want to go London for just getting on the bus.
 Here in Tokyo, Japan, there is not a bus like London's. Most of it is dull, grayish coloured, single deck bus. Actually, as the engines and technologies are high quality, and for ecology these are well designed. However the outward is not usually playful,  humorous and enjoyable. That's sad especially for tourists, because there is no fun when you get on a bus for strolling around whether you like Tokyo or not.
 I'm just wondering that I went to London and Japan had enjoyable bus.

Transport for London site : http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/15493.aspx

Comedy in Japan

 I talked about sit-coms a bit at the last post, now, let me proceed more about it.
 In Japan, you scarcely may watch a sit-com on TV, whether it's Japanese made or Americans. Actually, over ten years ago, one Japanese made phenomenal sit-com took all attention, then a word "sit-com" was known widely. Despite of that, sit-com style have never stayed on Japanese TV screen. After its sudden finale, it's almost extinguished because many Japanese people usually likes a "drama" style.
 However, despite of that, Japan loves "comedy". At Japanese entertainment industry, "comedian" is a top of the hierarchy. They are everywhere on TV programs and usually they "have" programs, so you may see them whatever you watch. Even thinking about the hierarchy, in America, movie-stars are the top of it, then TV-stars and CM-guys follow. But, in japan, it's totally opposite. CM is the top, and TVs follows. Comedians do everything, and many are earning good reputation among them.
 Then, talking about the style. Most famous and popular one is "Manzai" style which is a stand-up comedy by two persons, yeah it's not a one person. Combination between them is the core and its dynamism is effective. I just couldn't think there is the same thing in all over the world. It's totally unique and the one of great culture Japan has.


Followings are bit tastes of Japanese Comedy.

New Girl

  I love sit-coms all the time. Then my one of life long favourite actress Zooey Deschanel now is on a site-com which is called "New Girl". At now mid February, 2012, it's already been on-aired original number #13 of the series . However, it got over 10m viewers at the first episodes, then the TV company decided its extension to #24. As a fun of her, it's good to hear that the popularity and she gets more admiration as her acting more than before. Actually, each episodes so far is so funny and the characters are succeeding getting attention from viewers. They are  well characterized so.
And fortunately, at April it's going to be on-aired in Japan. I really wish she's got fame in here because it's much easier to describe who's my favourite. lol. And also I really hope it last years and years as a sit-com fun.



New Girl Official WEB-site : www.fox.com/new-girl/

Taiwan Tower

 At 2017, a Japanese designed tower will be finished its construction in Taiwan. The tower is 300 metres high and 10,000 square metres vast. Sosuke Fujimoto who is one of an unique architect in the world won a competition with such a creative renovation for human preconceived idea "21st Century Oasis". What the break-through is its shape of the tower. A tower, when you hear the sound, what would you imagine? I guess many surely imagine "La Tour d'Eiffel" like. Because it's a such beautiful structure ever exist as a tower. I love towers and I love "La Tour d'Eiffel" more among any other towers. Taiwan tower is totally different of the images.
 What amazing is that heights. It's just a 300 metres high! Many newly constructed towers are still competing its heights anyway, but the Taiwan Tower is not. This year 2012, Tokyo proudly opens a new tower called "Sky Tree" which has 634 metres high and claims the highest in the world as radio towers. Such a shame. It's not a marvellous construction but is gross. In 21st century, Japan still enjoys this symbol of capitalism. Would you think Japan is a growing country? Absolutely not. Japan should have been mature enough... however it's not yet to be. But fortunately Japan has the people who designs the Taiwan Tower, It's a good consolation.

 Then, when the time the tower stands, I'll go there for walking through under the tower and look up the island.


Sosuke Fujimoto Official WEB-site : http://www.sou-fujimoto.net/

Asami Kiyokawa

 Whenever the era is, women are so active, smart and powerful. Even they are so sophisticated and delicate more than men on creative fields. For the 21th century, it's more defined and emphasized as like their beauties itself.

 Asami Kiyokawa who is an artist and an art-director introduces her works, which is completely original style with thread. And moreover, she has perfectly defined how beautiful ladies are at the works. I think men haven't done the same thing and never will do. That well skilled lady knows how to produce women and has well done so far.
Following her is to get an inspiration above beauty. There is no reason not to.


Asami Kiyokawa Official WEB-site : http://www.asamikiyokawa.com/

Daikanyama T-SITE

 A new structure at Daikanyama area has opened late last year, 5th Dec, 2011. It's organized by famous retailing chain "TSUTAYA" and arranged as for adults. It's quite an entertainment space. There are of-course CDs, DVDs, books, magazines and some items those selecting for over 20 years old. Also you may notice a lot of import books, antiques and technicals. And what the coolest spot in the store is a coffee-bar at the centre of the compound. You may find comfort and get more inspirations at a seat, because you may borrow iPad2. So, you don't only get knowledges but also may dig it deeper with it.
 Now, you have an another good reason to go to Daokanyama.
It should make you to go.

Daikanyama T-SITE : http://tsite.jp/daikanyama/

Early 20th Century in EU

 Antiques are always throwing us sentimental, nostalgic, bitter and sweet memories, indeed. Even it's not what you know well or a place where you've never been to before or you have.
At Ebisu, Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography is held an exhibition "Street Life -Chronicles of Europe by Seven Photographers-". It may send you a time-trip to early 20th century in EU. And it's really good trip though, especially to see usual lifes. Photographers and some pieces are famous then you may figure out why those are so.

THOMSON John
BRANDT Bill
SANDER August
ANNAN Thomas
ZILLE Heinrich
Brassai
ATGET Jean Eugene Auguste

Exhibition Info : http://syabi.com/e/contents/exhibition/index-1449.html

METABOLISM

 From 17th Sept, 2011 to 15th Jan, 2012 at Mori Art Museum, Roppongi, there is an exhibition called "Metabolism - The City of the Future -" which is about metabolism of architecture.
"Metabolism" is sort of a movement or ideology of not only about architecture but also life-style. People thought that we would live sci-fi habitation and few architects actually designed and built some. After 311, we must consider about rebuilding. Metabolism was not a future, however, now still isn't it? I reckon there are still ideas for future at least.
 You may see the future of the past and get many ideas from the past to a future.
 There is only about 1 week left to go. Moreover, just re-think about it.



When I finished to write this article, I just got a news which is about a person who advocate "Metabolism" passing away.
Kiyonori Kikutake, age 83, designed a lot of famous architectures such as Sofitel hotel, Aquapolis, Shimane Art Museum, Edo-Tokyo Museum and so on so...


 I wish he rest in peace and offer condolences to the family.








Metabolism - The City of the Future - Official WEB-Site : http://www.mori.art.museum/english/contents/metabolism/index.html
Mr. K. Kikutake's Official WEB-Site : http://www.kikutake.co.jp/

Happy New Year 2012!!

 Good-bye 2011 for good, and welcome 2012!!

 Last year, I started this BLOG "WordsWorks". Blogging is just an old style after "twitter" ruling around. However, posting blog was completely new for me, so it's kind struggling. Actually it's still struggling, but I'm gonna post frequently more than last year. That's my willing.

And I wish you are having great kick-start.