Tokyo Sky Tree

 Last week, Tokyo Sky Tree, which is the highest broadcasting tower in the world right now, is opened. Also a shopping mall beneath the tower called "Sora-machi", translated directly "sky town", is opened and then millions and millions people has visited in the first one week. Official number of visitors at the both the tower and the mall is 1640000 for the first one week, over 200000 par a day, 85000 is only for the tower. Only what I can say is "Wow!!". I actually visited there this past week-end and saw that crazily packed the mall by people. It's just unbelievable. However, despite of the amount of people, looking at the tower from right under the tower, it's impressive and astonishing besides I don't like that the tower's design.

 If you have a reservation for going to the tower's upper deck or not, why don't you visit to see the ginormous structure.

## Until 10th July, 2012, you need a reservation for going to the tower's upper deck.

 

Tokyo Sky Tree Official WEB-Site :  http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/

There is PUBLIC ART

 After I posted "Where is a public ART?", I checked where actually public art is in Tokyo, then I figured out Tokyo has better amount of it than any other cities have. Some are just buried into huge buildings or simply just difficult to notice because it's usually around dead corners. And there is an another point that mostly the pieces are SCULPTUREs. I love sculptures but I want to see much more variety of art works, especially huge city like Tokyo.  Even if there is the enough amounts and varieties, I still don't think it's enough, because the problem is not about numbers but opportunities. I mean more numbers of young artists get an opportunity to put their works at public. That is a main subject of the problem I believe. Don't you want to check brand-new artists on streets? If it's possible, Tokyo gets better reputation and more attention from all over the world, and becomes a cultural HUB in Asia.

Here is a list of public arts, some are one of famous series, a few my favourite ones and interesting ones.

Enjoy strolling with arts.

@Roppongi

"Maman" by Louise Bourgeois

"Counter" Void by Tatsuo Miyajima

"Invisible chair by rain" by Tokujin Yoshioka

Some around Tokyo Middtown

@Shinjuku

"Love" by Robert Indiana

"Objects" by Roy Lichtenstein

Scruptures by Giulio Paolini

Taro Okamoto's

"Children's Tree" @ Aoyama

"Clock in juvenile" @ Ginaza

"Taro's Atelie" @ Omatesando

"Tomorrow's Myth" @ Shibuya

Eurovision 2012

 Finally the Eurovision 2012 has concluded with Swedish singer "Loreen" winning. Every year I check a winner of Eurovision and some other good artists on the contest. It's really fun to do, because people in Japan scarcely get to know artists around EU, especially new ones.

 In Japan, I mean in Asia, we don't have the same contest despite the Eurovision's long rein. If Asia, maybe with Oceania could do the same, it'd be really exiting and fun.Moreover, it'd be really 

helpful our vulnerable relationship.

 Anyway. I'm going to check through the final contestants again.

 

 

Eurovision 2012 Official Site : http://www.eurovision.tv/page/baku-2012

 

 

Spain's  "Pastora Soler" is my favourite.

 

And the winner is... Such a beautiful song!!

 

Time always flies by!!

 I was supposed to post some entries to the BLOG, but it's a over two weeks blank from the latest entry. Time always flies by... I've written some memos for the BLOG but I haven't summarized them because of lack of time... Anyway, I'll post! Now I'm cheering myself up!

Collecting Beauties

 Just after I posted "Asami Kiyokawa Exhibition 'Bijo-Saishu' @ Omotesando Hills", I went to Omotesando Hills to see her real pieces. And I... just hold my breath by them.
 There were about a handled of the works, then you could see them really close. And all of a sudden, you might be stopped by her breathtaking works!! She perfectly used strings and fabrics, of-course, but not only that, she also used spangles, beads and feathers precisely. Those things were placed certainly on photographs. So, the beautiful pictures get more and more beautiful ever and become phenomenons.
 I hope many people seizes an opportunity to see the details of her marvelous works at her real pieces.




Event Page : http://www.omotesandohills.com/event/ (Japanese)
Asami Kiyokawa Official WEB-site : http://www.asamikiyokawa.com/

Asami Kiyokawa Exhibition "Bijo-Saishu" @ Omotesando Hills

 From this weeks-end to 6th May at Omotesando Hills, Asami Kiyokawa's initial work "Bijo-Saishu", I may translate "Beauty Collection", is at an exhibition.
We may experience her amazing works. So, I wish you to go feeling what BEAUTY is.





Event Page : http://www.omotesandohills.com/event/ (Japanese)
Asami Kiyokawa Official WEB-site : http://www.asamikiyokawa.com/

New in Tokyo 2012

 Spring is for saying good-bye, but also saying hallow to new ones.

In this spring, some things newly come-up in Tokyo. Following list is for newly or re-newly have opened and will open things. Mostly those are shopping complex, and for me "Shibuya Hikarie", I mean the theatre is interesting. It's already three Broadway musicals scheduled, so.

Anyway, I hope you find new things you like from the new things.

/* Opened

16th March
Ginza Komatsu @Ginzza
- Shopping Mall
http://www.ginza-komatsu.co.jp/

13th March
Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu @Kisarazu, Chiba
- Outlet Shopping Mall
http://www.31op.com/kisarazu/foreign/index_en.html

14th April
Okahi Land @Tokyo Station
- Sweets Theme Park
http://www.tokyoeki-1bangai.co.jp/en/index.html

18th April
Tokyu Plaza Omotesando-Harajuku @Omotesando, Harajuku, Shibuya
- Department Store

19th April
Diver City Tokyo Plaza @Odaiba
- Shopping Mall
http://www.divercity-tokyo.com/en/

19th April
Gundam Front Tokyo @Odaiba
- Entertainment
http://gundamfront-tokyo.com/en/


/* Will Open

26th April
Shibuya Hikarie @Shibuya
- Shopping, Theatre and Office.
- A theatre, Tokyu Theatre Orb, will open at 18th July with "West Side Story".
http://www.hikarie.jp/ : Japanese
http://theatre-orb.com/ : Japanese

17th May
Palace Hotel @Matunouchi, Tokyo
- Hotel
- Just beside the Imperial Place
http://www.palacehotelstokyo.com/

22th May
Tokyo Sky Tree @Narihirabashi, Oshiage
- Tower
- 634 meter high tower.
http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/english/

22th May
Tokyo Solamachi @Narihirabashi, Oshiage
- Shopping Mall (included an aquarium)
- Beneath Tokyo Sky Tree into a station.

3rd Oct.
Tokyo Station Hotel @Tokyo Station
- Hotel
- Zero min. from Tokyo station, one of important cultural properties.
http://www.tokyostationhotel.jp/

Where is a public ART?

 This past week-end, in Tokyo, the sun was shine, the sky was purely blue and cherry blossoms are almost fully bloomed despite winds were still little bit chilly. So these indicated the time to do "Hanami".

 "Hanami" is a cherry blossom festival. Many carrying foods and drinks and set them under cherry blossom trees. It's traditional annual thing in Japan.Then, on that kind of weather, I, of-course, love to go outside, so I did. I walked all around the emperor place. Then I just thought "walking under the cherry brossums is pretty fun, but without it...". In New York City, there is a lot of public arts, that makes fun of walking. In Paris, la passages and architectures are like public arts, so those make people having fun during walking too. In Tokyo... where is a public art? I know there is few, actually thinking of size of the city, it's precisely not enough even it dosen't make anyone's fun for strolling. I think Japan should sift to the next step, which cities or towns dedicate more to people as not only governmentl things but social. Thinking more about communitis may make us stronger and tighter than before, and even it makes us to improve communities, I reckon.

Spring Has Come

 Finally spring has come to Japan. Actually winds still tough cheeks with cold-hand, but the sun smiles, flowers stand and cherry blossoms kiss nose.

 These past 2 week-ends, there were winter-cold rainy days yet. However the week-heads looked total spring with warmth and as always I with that situation want to go outside for walking. I chose a place  to go out was one of my favourite place where was a park around the imperial moat. Carrying a sandwich and a coffee gave me a total relaxing time in the park which located at the Tokyo station side of the palace. I love this park, because it remains me Washington park in NYC. Of-course there are differences between them though. In Tokyo, there are no performers and not much a such vast space. So, what the similarity is that situation. In a middle of skyscrapers, I mean surrounded by, you may find calm, silence, slowness or peaceful mind in you despite you'd feel sick and tired of living in huge city.

So, why don't you go outside and stroll with sunshine and find a place you feelin' good.

Birdie -ear pick-

 I love ear-cleaning with ear pick, which is really popular in Japan. Doing it is really feeling so relaxed. So, wherever I go, I always prepare for doing it. At outside I use a cotton-swab, and at home I use a traditional bamboo-ear pick that is really good to use and moreover it's practical.
"Birdie" is self-standing ear pick designed by Japanese designer "Noriko Hashido". Yes, it is standing by its own and looks like a bird, that's the reason why it's called "Birdie". It's so cool and cute. More than that, important thing is its usability. Honestly, It works well!! The grip is suitable to a hand and the texture is not soft but not hard for doing ear pick. I totally love it all of a sudden and completely happy with it.
If you are interested in this well designed tool, please check followings.



Noriko Hashida Official WEB-Site : http://hashidadesign.com/
Birdie Official WEB-site : http://www.plus-d.com/birdie_earpick/