Make that Sky Aquarium III: Revenge of the Sky Aquarium!
While I never had the chance to attend episodes I and II, I'm very happy that I was able to close out the aquatic trilogy.
Sky Aquarium is a yearly exhibition held in the uber-luxurious Roppongi Hills Tower in Tokyo. Japan's premier aquarium designers get together and create artistic tank designs using a wide variety of tropical fish.
The "sky" refers to the fact that the display is held on the 52nd floor of the tower, thus enabling visitors to gaze at the illuminated Tokyo skyline while wiggling their index fingers at fish.
Some of the tanks were very cool! Please check out the photos and videos below.
B.E.W.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Election Results (総選挙)
She voted...did you?
Well, the election results are pouring in on TV and, though there was little doubt, it is now clear that the Democratic Party of Japan (民主党) has won a landslide victory.
The DPJ has already crossed the 240 seat threshold needed to wrest control of the country from the more conservative Liberal Democratic Party (自民党). This means it's out with manga-loving Prime Minister Taro Aso and in with Yukio Hatoyama - the man with a tiny neck and giant head.
Like Americans last year, Japanese voters seem to have overwhelmingly embraced the need to "seiken kotai" (政権交代) or "change administrations". Unfortunately for campaign purposes, the phrase "seiken kotai" isn't nearly as catchy as "YES WE CAN!!!"
It will be interesting to watch where Japan goes from here...
B.E.W.
Friday, August 28, 2009
"Art is Explosion!" (岡本太郎美術館)
"Art is Explosion!"
That was the catch phrase coined (and comically shouted) by Japan's most famous and influential abstract artist / sculptor / and all-around artistic personality Taro Okamoto (1911~1996).
Having been inspired by his gigantic mural "Tomorrow's Mythology" in Shibuya Station, I decided to take a visit to the Taro Okamoto Museum of Art in Kawasaki City. The museum is a bit out of the way from central Tokyo, but well worth a day trip if you are interested in viewing some quirky and unique pieces from one of Japan's leading creative minds.
Taro Okamoto dropped out of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts after half a year, only to move to Paris with the aim of becoming a painter. After encountering Pablo Picasso's famous work "Pitcher and a Bowl of Fruit", Okamoto began to walk the path of abstract art.
In his later years, he often spoke at length in interviews about his independent artistic theory of “polarism”, in which all his trademark elements, such as wavy lines, bright colors, and playful figures, came together in direct opposition with each other.
Okamoto's most famous work is his "Tower of the Sun" in Osaka, an artistic image that continues to be extremely relevant in modern Japanese pop-culture (*For one example, please refer to the excellent manga series 20th Century Boys).
Many of Okamoto's larger sculpture works are on public display at locations throughout Tokyo or in other Japanese cities. Though he is no longer with us, his presence lingers on in these wonderful pieces.
B.E.W.
That was the catch phrase coined (and comically shouted) by Japan's most famous and influential abstract artist / sculptor / and all-around artistic personality Taro Okamoto (1911~1996).
Having been inspired by his gigantic mural "Tomorrow's Mythology" in Shibuya Station, I decided to take a visit to the Taro Okamoto Museum of Art in Kawasaki City. The museum is a bit out of the way from central Tokyo, but well worth a day trip if you are interested in viewing some quirky and unique pieces from one of Japan's leading creative minds.
Taro Okamoto dropped out of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts after half a year, only to move to Paris with the aim of becoming a painter. After encountering Pablo Picasso's famous work "Pitcher and a Bowl of Fruit", Okamoto began to walk the path of abstract art.
In his later years, he often spoke at length in interviews about his independent artistic theory of “polarism”, in which all his trademark elements, such as wavy lines, bright colors, and playful figures, came together in direct opposition with each other.
Okamoto's most famous work is his "Tower of the Sun" in Osaka, an artistic image that continues to be extremely relevant in modern Japanese pop-culture (*For one example, please refer to the excellent manga series 20th Century Boys).
Many of Okamoto's larger sculpture works are on public display at locations throughout Tokyo or in other Japanese cities. Though he is no longer with us, his presence lingers on in these wonderful pieces.
B.E.W.
This is the art piece that Taro Okamoto will forever be remembered for - the 70-meter tall "Tower of the Sun" (太陽の塔). The tower was originally created as the central symbol for Expo 70, the world's fair held in Osaka in 1970. The top picture is the cardboard cutout from the museum. The bottom picture is one I snapped of the actual tower in Osaka.
The tower still stands today, thanks to the many Osaka residents who banded together to protest its proposed demolition. During the Expo, the inside of the tower contained a giant walk-in art piece as well. Current plans are to reopen the tower in 2010 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Expo 70.
"Banpaku BANZAI!!! Banpaku BANZAI!!!"
I genuinely thought pictures were allowed in this final gallery, so I snapped this shot. A museum worker quickly rushed over to scold me in Japanese. Oops!
In any event, this piece is representative of the general feel of Taro Okamoto's larger oil paintings. His abstract use of bright colors, wavy lines, and even cartoon-like characters are all meant to evoke the central artistic concept of "polarism".
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
2000 Yen Note (二千円札)
Banknotes of the Japanese Yen come in three denominations - 1000 yen (~10 USD) , 5000 yen (~50 USD) and 10,000 yen (~100 USD). Smaller amounts are all handled with coins.
Back in the year 2000 however, a 2000 yen note was issued to commemorate the G8 Summit in Okinawa. You can see pictures of the bill below. It's very pretty.
I've never seen anyone pay with these bills in public. My guess is that they are mostly a novelty item, similar to the $2 bill in the United States.
Some Japanese claim that the 2000 yen bills were a failed attempt to boost the economy, since special vending machines had to be made to accommodate the new notes.
I was at the bank today and decided to fool around with the currency converter. This handy machine will break your money into any combination of bills and coins that you please. A few button presses later and...BINGO!...a clean, crisp 2000 yen note to have and to hold.
I'll probably spend it. $2 is fine, but $20 is a bit too much value for a keepsake.
B.E.W.
Back in the year 2000 however, a 2000 yen note was issued to commemorate the G8 Summit in Okinawa. You can see pictures of the bill below. It's very pretty.
I've never seen anyone pay with these bills in public. My guess is that they are mostly a novelty item, similar to the $2 bill in the United States.
Some Japanese claim that the 2000 yen bills were a failed attempt to boost the economy, since special vending machines had to be made to accommodate the new notes.
I was at the bank today and decided to fool around with the currency converter. This handy machine will break your money into any combination of bills and coins that you please. A few button presses later and...BINGO!...a clean, crisp 2000 yen note to have and to hold.
I'll probably spend it. $2 is fine, but $20 is a bit too much value for a keepsake.
B.E.W.
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Happiest Bath on Earth (大江戸温泉物語)
Well, it's officially been one week since I left Ehime Prefecture in Shikoku, and topping the list of things that I miss most are my weekly onsen (hot spring) visits.
I now consider myself an onsen snob. I believe I've earned this title. While I am nowhere near as well-traveled and knowledgeable as seasoned Japanese bathers, I have soaked in my fair share of tubs across Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
I visited over ten different onsen in Ehime Prefecture alone, swapping between two local establishments in To-on City for my weekly Monday night bath. I've bathed in the oldest of the oldest and the best of the best.
As a general rule, there are essentially no onsen to be found in the large city centers of Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo. Though, taking a several hour train ride out of the city may produce a couple of bathing holes. Knowing this to be the case, I simply assumed that my soaking days were over.
Enter Oedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba - Tokyo's premiere bathing amusement park! The name in Japanese is sort of goofy; it translates to something like, "Tale of a Tokyo Hot Spring". Judging by the name alone, I knew this was going to be a bathing experience like no other.
Running off of the amusement park model, the set admission price is a comprehension defying $30. This price lowers to $20 if you choose to bathe after 6 PM. To my surprise, they were running some sort of summer campaign, so I only had to pay $12.
While still undoubtedly on the steep end price wise (for comparison, my local onsen was $3.60), ten to fifteen dollars is not out of the question for a high-end establishment. I would never personally spend $30 for a bath, considering that Funaya, the luxury onsen / ryokan in Matsuyama where the imperial family stayed, only costs $15.
Visitors to Oedo Onsen Monogatari are required to wear a yukata. You can see the "festive" design I chose below. One point of confusion is that guests initially go into a changing room. Now, in 100% of the onsen I've visited up until now, this is the place where you would get naked, shove your clothes and personal belongings into a locker, and go through the curtain into the main bath.
At Oedo Onsen Mongatari however, what lies on the other side of the curtain is not the bathtub, but rather the sickeningly hyper-stylized Disney-esque Japan Plaza - filled with prize booths, theme restaurants, employees in costume, and just about every stereotypically Japanese image you can cram into the decor.
Thus, I very nearly made the mistake of announcing my arrival with a naked stroll through the promenade. I was not alone in my over-experienced blunder. I saw one Japanese man and son actually make their naked way well past the curtain, only to rush back into the changing room in shock. We were the true bathers.
Upon careful inspection of the sign, guests are asked to don their freakish yukata and first stroll around the premises before making their way to a separate changing room and entering the main bath.
Finding the entrance to the actual bath was equally confusing. Since everything in the plaza was so overdecorated with fake temple facades and torii gates, it was a bit like wandering around Epcot stoned. A friendly ninja finally pointed me in the right direction.
The actual bath itself is genuine in layout and design, if not in water quality. A particular onsen's water quality is immediately evident due to the feeling it produces on your skin (not to mention the taste - and yes, you should sample the taste). In addition to feeling clean, the best onsen water will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth after a bath.
Unfortunately, the water at Oedo Onsen Monogatari was supersaturated with sodium. It seemed like they were just pumping salt water into the various tubs. Consequently, my skin felt flaky and dry after exiting the bath.
Being the lover of traditional Japanese bathing that I am, I cannot recommend Oedo as an onsen. The argument could be made that the establishment is a tourist destination first and a public bath second.
While the sight of gleeful foreigners frolicking about in their yukata, licking cones of green tea ice cream was enough to make me silently throw up in my mouth, I'm willing to concede that if a family only has one week to spend in Tokyo and are searching for something "traditionally Japanese" to do...
I'll stop just short of an endorsement. Just so long as that same family keeps in mind that not all public baths look like they were ripped straight from the set of Memoirs of a Geisha.
B.E.W.
I now consider myself an onsen snob. I believe I've earned this title. While I am nowhere near as well-traveled and knowledgeable as seasoned Japanese bathers, I have soaked in my fair share of tubs across Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
I visited over ten different onsen in Ehime Prefecture alone, swapping between two local establishments in To-on City for my weekly Monday night bath. I've bathed in the oldest of the oldest and the best of the best.
As a general rule, there are essentially no onsen to be found in the large city centers of Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo. Though, taking a several hour train ride out of the city may produce a couple of bathing holes. Knowing this to be the case, I simply assumed that my soaking days were over.
Enter Oedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba - Tokyo's premiere bathing amusement park! The name in Japanese is sort of goofy; it translates to something like, "Tale of a Tokyo Hot Spring". Judging by the name alone, I knew this was going to be a bathing experience like no other.
Running off of the amusement park model, the set admission price is a comprehension defying $30. This price lowers to $20 if you choose to bathe after 6 PM. To my surprise, they were running some sort of summer campaign, so I only had to pay $12.
While still undoubtedly on the steep end price wise (for comparison, my local onsen was $3.60), ten to fifteen dollars is not out of the question for a high-end establishment. I would never personally spend $30 for a bath, considering that Funaya, the luxury onsen / ryokan in Matsuyama where the imperial family stayed, only costs $15.
Visitors to Oedo Onsen Monogatari are required to wear a yukata. You can see the "festive" design I chose below. One point of confusion is that guests initially go into a changing room. Now, in 100% of the onsen I've visited up until now, this is the place where you would get naked, shove your clothes and personal belongings into a locker, and go through the curtain into the main bath.
At Oedo Onsen Mongatari however, what lies on the other side of the curtain is not the bathtub, but rather the sickeningly hyper-stylized Disney-esque Japan Plaza - filled with prize booths, theme restaurants, employees in costume, and just about every stereotypically Japanese image you can cram into the decor.
Thus, I very nearly made the mistake of announcing my arrival with a naked stroll through the promenade. I was not alone in my over-experienced blunder. I saw one Japanese man and son actually make their naked way well past the curtain, only to rush back into the changing room in shock. We were the true bathers.
Upon careful inspection of the sign, guests are asked to don their freakish yukata and first stroll around the premises before making their way to a separate changing room and entering the main bath.
Finding the entrance to the actual bath was equally confusing. Since everything in the plaza was so overdecorated with fake temple facades and torii gates, it was a bit like wandering around Epcot stoned. A friendly ninja finally pointed me in the right direction.
The actual bath itself is genuine in layout and design, if not in water quality. A particular onsen's water quality is immediately evident due to the feeling it produces on your skin (not to mention the taste - and yes, you should sample the taste). In addition to feeling clean, the best onsen water will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth after a bath.
Unfortunately, the water at Oedo Onsen Monogatari was supersaturated with sodium. It seemed like they were just pumping salt water into the various tubs. Consequently, my skin felt flaky and dry after exiting the bath.
Being the lover of traditional Japanese bathing that I am, I cannot recommend Oedo as an onsen. The argument could be made that the establishment is a tourist destination first and a public bath second.
While the sight of gleeful foreigners frolicking about in their yukata, licking cones of green tea ice cream was enough to make me silently throw up in my mouth, I'm willing to concede that if a family only has one week to spend in Tokyo and are searching for something "traditionally Japanese" to do...
I'll stop just short of an endorsement. Just so long as that same family keeps in mind that not all public baths look like they were ripped straight from the set of Memoirs of a Geisha.
B.E.W.
Here is the entrance to the main bath.
I'm not quite sure why they put up the shimenawa (straw rope). Usually these are present at holy Shinto sites. Perhaps because it looks "Japanese"? In fact, this whole gate looks more like a temple entrance than a bath entrance. Tourists probably can't tell the difference.
This mural by famed Japanese artist Taro Okamoto (1911~1996) was unveiled last November at its new permanent home in the main concourse at Shibuya Station. Okamaoto's most famous work is his "Tower of the Sun" sculpture in Osaka.
This mural, entitled, "Tomorrow's Mythology", depicts the exact moment of the atomic bombing. It was originally commissioned in 1967 by a Mexican luxury hotel. After the hotel's development went under, the piece became lost in storage for years.
Guess where the mural was restored before it made its way to Tokyo? To-on City in Ehime Prefecture - the very place I USED TO LIVE!!!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Akihabara Update (アキバアップデート)
Since Akihabara is probably my favorite place in all of Japan, I always make a trip to the game / toy / perversion mecca to window shop and see what's new. Since it's the tail end of the summer tourist season, everywhere in Tokyo is absolutely jam-packed with people. Perhaps I'm a bit hyper sensitive to this, having just come from the countryside.
There's not much new in ol' Akiba. Sony recently announced redesigned PS3 and PSP systems, but since those won't launch in Japan until September and November respectively, much is quiet on the hardware front. Perhaps next month's Tokyo Game Show will bring some exciting surprise announcements from publishers
On the software side, Square-Enix's Dragon Quest IX continues to be the top-selling game across the country, having sold well over three million units since its release last month. Other hot games include Monster Hunter Tri and Wii Sports Resort, both for Wii.
Japan's national election is in exactly one week. There's a very real possibility that the Democratic Party of Japan will beat out the LDP for the first time in a decade.
I half expected to see Prime Minister Aso dressed in cosplay on an Akiba street corner, preaching about the global significance of Japanese popular culture.
B.E.W.
There's not much new in ol' Akiba. Sony recently announced redesigned PS3 and PSP systems, but since those won't launch in Japan until September and November respectively, much is quiet on the hardware front. Perhaps next month's Tokyo Game Show will bring some exciting surprise announcements from publishers
On the software side, Square-Enix's Dragon Quest IX continues to be the top-selling game across the country, having sold well over three million units since its release last month. Other hot games include Monster Hunter Tri and Wii Sports Resort, both for Wii.
Japan's national election is in exactly one week. There's a very real possibility that the Democratic Party of Japan will beat out the LDP for the first time in a decade.
I half expected to see Prime Minister Aso dressed in cosplay on an Akiba street corner, preaching about the global significance of Japanese popular culture.
B.E.W.
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