Image: Foxkeh's Blog

Via APC Magazine

First check out this video:



In this video the Batsu Symbol (X) is obviously used. Now it would be interesting which was first, the gesture or the written symbol. Interestingly we - or is it japanese as well? - also know the (○) symbol as a gesture for saying that something is good.

I already talked about these symbols last year. And as the launch of the PS3 just happened some days ago, this explanation here is interesting as well.

The Miura-Ori Map

Folded maps are merciless to the user who makes the slightest error in returning them to their compact form. Pt the Tokyo ICA meeting Koryo Miura and Masamori Sakamaki from Tokyo University's Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science demonstrated an application, of space science which transforms the ergonomics of map folding.

[...] The key to an alternative system of may folding lies in the ancient Japanese art of paper-folding, origami. One of the most common origami effects is to use a variant on concertina folding to produce a slightly ridged surface composed of a series of congruent parallelograms, by a variation on concertina folding.

See also:
Zarte Häute fein verpackt (about Miura-Ori in german)
Photo of Miura-Ori Map

Via Techon

Image: Koga Harue: Merry May*

Kodomo no Kuni

The Picture Book Gallery No. 2 Exhibit centers around some 300 illustrations published in the Kodomo no kuni picture book magazine during the first decade after its inauguration in 1922.

Earlier-established journals had featured literature and music for young children, but Kodomo no kuni was the magazine of this type to support the education of young children with focus on art.

* Paul Klee is not far.

Pausetalk

PauseTalk is a regular series of events that take place at Cafe Pause (2-14-12-1F Minami-Ikebukuro, 03-5950-6117) on the first Monday of every month, with a start time of 19:30. The idea is to create a forum where Tokyo-based creatives can get together and discuss their own projects, as well as cultural currents of the city. If you're interested in joining us, attendance is open to one and all. The next PauseTalk happens June 5

For more information or to confirm your attendance, please contact Jean Snow, or visit jeansnow.net.

Heute ist endlich das japanischen PSP Spiel Katamari Damacy (siehe frühere Posts) eingetroffen, das ich bei Lik-Sang (siehe Post auf mobile.kaywa.com) vor einigen Wochen bestellt hatte.

Christoph und ich wären am liebsten sofort ins visuelle Eldorado von Katamari Damacy eingetaucht.

Siehe auch:
Katamari Damacy am Compi spielen (nicht vergleichbar mit dem Game)
Katamari Damacy Desktops


Wieso blogge ich das?
Weil ich immer wieder erstaunt bin, welch hohen Grad an visuellem und spielerischem Reichtum die japanische Alltagskultur erreicht hat und wie bescheiden und ernsthaft sich unsere dagegen ausnimmt.

Japanische Plakate heute bis 23.04.2006 in der PINAKOTHEK DER MODERNE (Design), München. Zur gleichen Zeit und am gleichen Ort gibts auch noch Bilder aus Araki's Frühwerk: Nobuyoshi Araki, Tokyo 1969-1972, 1973

Die aus 28 Diptychen bestehende Arbeit »Tokyo Sexteen« bildete die Originalvorlage für das in kleiner Auflage erschienene, seit langem vergriffene Buch »Tokyo« aus dem Jahr 1973. In dieser frühen, noch konzeptuell ausgerichteten Arbeit stellt Araki jeweils in einem Bildpaar Straßenszenen aus dem Alltagsleben in Tokyo und inszenierte erotische Fantasien einander gegenüber.

Und noch was:
Das Buch Urban Sign Design. Tokyo zeigt hunderte von Bildern aus Tokios Strassen mit Schildern aller Art. In dieser Hinsicht ist sicher auch der IHT Artikel Tokyo vs. Shanghai: A style standoff interessant.

Einer der Höhepunkte am diesjährigen Comic-Festival in Angoulême war die Werkschau von Kotobuki Shiriagari. Link zu seiner Website: www.saruhage.com

Siehe auch:
Aniki Manga-Wissensdatenbank
Strapazin über Shiriagari
(siehe auch das Strapazin Special Manga-Heft)
しりあがり寿 (Wikipedia.jp)

JAANUS is the on-line Dictionary of Japanese Architectural and Art Historical Terminology

This dictionary contains approximately 8000 terms related to traditional Japanese architecture and gardens, painting, sculpture and art-historical iconography from approximately the 1st century A.D. to the end of the Edo period (1868). Terms from related fields such as lacquer, ceramics, textiles and metalwork have been included where they are considered to be of general interest and/or impact on the principal fields of architecture, painting and sculpture. These definitions are not translations from any one Japanese monolingual dictionary, but have been collated from a range of specialist sources and scholarly publications, and from direct observation and study. Many have never before been defined in English.

Via The Kotatsu School: Interview with Akira Yamaguchi

Via Pockyrevolution