Category — Go and See

images courtesy National Museum of Art | click to enlarge

For the first time in history, 250-year old paintings by the Japanese artist Ito Jakuchu (1716 – 1800) have crossed the seas to be displayed at Washington DC’s National Museum of Art. Dōshoku sai-e (Colorful Realm of Living Beings), the 27-scroll set of intricately painted subjects from the natural world, are considered a cultural treasure in Japan and are actually being lent to the Museum by Japan’s imperial family to commemorate the country’s gift of 3,000 cherry trees to the U.S., 100 years ago.

The nature paintings are accompanied by Jakuchu’s “Sakyamuni Triptych” – three Buddhist deities that overlook the bird-and-flower paintings to serve as the exhibit’s centerpiece.

The exhibition runs for 1 month only, from March 30 – April 29, 2012. You can see a preview of the actual exhibition over on Yoshi Suzuki’s blog.

“I was always fascinated by the now. The importance of studying now, I felt, was that it was necessary to create the future.”

Kon Wajiro is not exactly a household name – even in Japan – unless you are writing a scholarly paper on architecture, phenomenology and modernity. Wajiro, an architect, designer and educator, is often attributed as the founding father of modernology – the study of modern social phenomena or, in other words, the study of everyday life.

“I was always fascinated by the now,” wrote Kon Wajiro, describing himself. “I was intrinsically attracted to people working, having fun and being creative. The importance of studying the now, I felt, was that it was necessary to create the future.” (translated by S&T)

He’s now the subject of a retrospective at the Shiodome Museum in Tokyo that runs through March 25, 2012. The collection includes architectural sketches of Japanese homes and exhaustive surveys of everyday life that he conducted, compiling lists of things in homes, people’s clothing and possessions. I’m most fascinated with a piece called “Tokyo Ginza Fuzoku Kiroku,” which is essentially an infographic – borderline OCD – of his observations, conducted in 1925, of everyday people and what they wore. The main graphic (seen below) breaks down the ratio of men and women dressed in traditional Japanese or western attire.

image above and images below are stills from the introductory video

Each article is numbered and points you to an appendix, which provides further granularity into his observations, such as the types of bears men had, the type of overcoat worn or the length of women’s skirts.

source: axis magazine | shiodome museum

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Kon Wajiro Retrospective
Shiodome Museum
2012.01.14 – 03.25
10:00 – 18:00 (enter before 17:00)
500 yen general admission

A first look at the new Yayoi Kusama retrospective that just opened today at the Tate  in London. So much great work, all in one place! Wish I was in London to go see this.

Source: @Tate

When it comes to the miniaturization of objects, Japan is second to none. But what I often find the most beauty in, and in turn the crystallization of Japanese aesthetics, is not their miniature electronics or their miniature house wares, but their miniature trees, or an art form well known to all as bonsai. In their first exhibition of the new year, Design Gallery 1953 (located within the Matsuya Ginza department store) chooses the Bonsai as their primary lens to explore the many qualities and beauties of Japanese aesthetics.

And artistic direction by Kenya Hara ensures and exquisite experience. If you’re around, go check out the show, which runs until January 23.

photos by Nacasa & Partners Inc.  | click to enlarge

If there’s one last exhibition you go to in Japan before the end of the year, make it 311: Lost Homes. Co-curated by architect Hiroshi Naito and graphic designer Kenya Hara, the exhibition presents architectural models of several towns that sustained heavy damage from the events that defined the year of 2011 for Japan.

While many visitors may take the opportunity to reflect on the events of 311, the true intention of the exhibition is to reignite the discourse around architecture and design, which was plunged into a state of paralysis following the surreal images of flooding and collapse that flashed before our eyes.

Also on display is Kenya Hara’s project, 311 Scale, which we wrote about when it first launched in July.

311: Lost Homes is on display at the ToTo Gallery Ma through December 24.

Source: @haraken_tokyo

images courtesy japan-architects | click to enlarge

Currently on display at the LivingDesign Center Ozone is a gigantic house-like styrofoam structure designed by architect Makoto Tanijiri of Suppose Design Office. Dubbed “You Make The Rule” [sic], the cavernous structure has seemingly random objects placed throughout its nooks and crannies. Accordingly, it’s intended to question our preconceived notions of household objects, as well as their respective names and intended uses.

But instead of providing any further commentary, Tanijiri encourages the viewerto make their own rules – interacting and interpreting the piece themselves. Therefore, I will happily end this blog post right here.
You Make The Rule is on display through Jan 31, 2012.

source: japan-architects

images courtesy T-Site | click to enlarge

Last week a new retail village quietly opened in the Daikanyama neighborhood of Tokyo. Dubbed Daikanyama T-Site, it’s operated by CCC (Culture, Convenience Club), the parent company of media rental giant Tsutaya. And by “quietly” I’m not referring to physical size – at 12000 sq meters and 3 buildings the place is huge – but rather an odd discreetness that is rare when it comes to such commercial endeavors.

For example, there was no opening ceremony. And I couldn’t find a single press release from the company announcing it. There isn’t even a large sign on site advertising its own presence. The location is also odd. Situated roughly 5 minutes away from Daikanyama station, it can’t compete with the convenience of ekimae (front-of-the-station) retail outlets. And yet it’s regal self assurance is inspiring – so grounded and rounded as if knowing she is held securely in the palm of the neighborhood.

This is perhaps, in part, due to the considered design, which is the work of Tokyo-based architects Klein Dytham. I love the tessellated Ts that adorn the facades of the main buildings. And the interiors are rounded-out by some fantastic signage by Kenya Hara.

signage by Kenya Hara

Although the main space is Tsutaya Books, it’s complemented by a carefully curated ensemble of hobby/lifestyle shops that include a bar and a café as well as a camera and bicycle shop. And upon closer examination, the whole concept reveals some pretty drastic deviations from any preconceived notion of what a bookstore is. For example, the glaring omission of comic books and study guides, the pinnacle of student culture, replaced by now-defunct magazine titles like Heibon Punch and Taiyo.

It’s as if they went out of their way to say, “sorry teenagers and anyone under 35. There’s nothing here for you. Now move along.”

“Pen Wall” stationary store

“Ive Place” bar

the music floor

art displayed in the space

they even have an amazing looking kids room

In many ways the new concept is a return to their roots, which date back to 1983. The company opted to shrink their hip western character name “Tsutaya” and replace it with the original Japanese “蔦谷.” Whether their strategy and execution to target the middle-age and senior baby-boomers will play out is yet to be seen. However, it seems to me they’re on the right track. CCC’s main customers are currently between age 20 – 30. And with a shrinking population, the company was only destined to relive the 2 ways Ernest Hemingway describes a man going broke: “gradually then suddenly.”

I love this dedicated dog parking

source: @jeansnow pimping the hell out of it on twitter

images courtesy Akihisa Hirata | click to enlarge

Earlier this year a new library opened up in Tokyo’s Bunkyo-ward. Designed by architect Akihisa Hirata, Yoshioka Library is an architecture nerd’s dream come true – an archive of roughly 5000 titles of architecture magazines ranging from popular to obscure. The collection includes Japanese magazines, foreign magazines and even up-and-coming titles like C3 (Korea) and Art4D (Thailand). If you’ve read our previous posts on Hirata you’ll know that he is often inspired by trees – a form he finds highly symbolic because of their intrinsic abilities to offer shade and create resting places for all living things.

The library is often considered a place of rest, concentration or contemplation. And in Hirata’s library, the tree takes root as shelving, extending up through the trunk and branches where the magazines act as leaves. One of the results of this structure is that every issue’s cover, rather than squeezed together with only the binding exposed, is facing outward, making them easy to spot.

Yoshioka Library is a 5-minute walk from Yushima station. It’s situated on the 1st floor of the Shinkenchiku headquarters and  open to the public Wed, Thur and Fri., from 1:30pm – 6:00pm.

source: Akihisa Hirata | Yoshioka Bunko

images courtesy Eding:Post | click to enlarge

To find one of the best cups of coffee in Tokyo all you really need to do is wander off the beaten path. Nestled within a quaint residential (yet high-end!) neighborhood of Omotesando lies Omotesando Koffee – a shop so unassuming that entering it feels like walking into someone’s private courtyard. In fact, simply stumbling upon it is probably a rare occurrence. If 3 college students hadn’t been sitting on the bench outside I wouldn’t have known they were open for business.

all images below by Spoon & Tamago | click to enlarge

The shop, which was opened and is attended by barista Eiichi Kunitomo, has been in existence less than a year but has already appealed to coffee aficionados (and design-conscious coffee aficionados, but more on that below) around Tokyo. And while the current house it occupies is set to be demolished next year, all hope is not lost. Kunitomo plans to relocate his one-man operation of dripping goodness to another location in Tokyo.

The minimalist logo and identity, as well as the box-like steel frame structure are the work of Eding:Post, who worked together with Kunitomo to communicate his concept of impermanence.

(If you’re interested you can read our other posts on Eding:Post)

The steel frame structure, and what’s inside it, represents the essence of what the store is all about. Everything else is simply a vessel, serving many needs but essentially replaceable when the time comes to move one. I look forward to seeing how Kunitomo’s steel box structure, coffee shop and all, evolves and adapts to its future home. As indicated by their website (the URL is ooo-koffee.com), “Omotesando” could just as easily be interchanged with “Sapporo,” “Paris,” “Asakusa” or “Osaka.”

click to enlarge | Roppongi Hills

If you couldn’t tell, I’m all into the lights this holiday season. My relatives that are still living in Tokyo told me about “all the pretty lights” that are on during this holiday season and I decided to do a little googleing. In my mind, parts of Tokyo could easily rival Paris as the “City of Lights.” I found the CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATION stage by Mori Building site that showcases all the decorating and light shows that the Roppongi Hills, Omotesando Hills, La Foret Harajuku, have to offer around Tokyo.

click to enlarge | Roppongi Hills

click to enlarge | La Foret

click to enlarge | Ark Hills

The Omotesando Hills display celebrates Walt Disney’s110 th birthday, along with many limited edition merchandise. The main street of Omotesando is also lined with thousands of lights this holiday season. All these places become hot spots for couples. More information on locations and times can be found at each locations website or by going to the Christmas Illumination site by Mori Building – most of the displays end on Christmas day.

Bonus: Video of the Venus Fort light show that is synchronized to music.

Source: CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATION stage by Mori Building