28 September 06 - 16:52Kamome Shokudo & Finnish Design - Kamome wa kamome!
Today was very interesting day! I got chance to see my friend, designer Susan Elo. We went to have lunch in restaurant from movie
Kamome Shokudo (Naoko Ogikami 2006). The restaurant's real name is Ruokala Suomi. I was so amazed! It felt just like I was in the movie! Woooooooooooooow. The interior design was a bit different but the similar spirit was there, as portrayed in the movie. The personnel in the restaurant were nice, and the food was good. Everything is normal, good basic food. Just where Tommi used to sit, there was sitting young Japanese woman who wrote her diary. I could almost imagine what she was writing "I'm here now! Really!". The atmosphere was, very special. I highly recommend! The movie, Kamome Shokudo will open in Finland in this Friday.
Right next to Ruokala Lokki, is Susan Elo's design boutique,
Muotoilu Elo. She introduced me her design, a special lights called "Lokki" 鴎. They were so light and airy. They were composed from one thick foldable plastic. User can assemble it by herself /himself, in a little similar way as making origami. They looked like floating gently in midair.
This concept has something truly genuine and sensitive. I could imagine these so well in some young woman's small tatami room in Tokyo, casting their gentle, warm light. If you are visiting Helsinki, do visit Muotoilu Elo. It's just next to Ruokala Suomi. See more:
http://susanelo.com/
ヤーッコ - Japanese Design -
27 September 06 - 13:52Tattooed Life
The fascinating movie "Tattooed life" (Irezumi ichidai) by Seijun Suzuki was truly interesting! The movie had everything, vivid and real characters, beautiful story, and very beautiful women. And not to mention yakuza. Unlike other movies produced in sixties, this movie is honestly Japanese, and for once, this movie doesn't try to copy the Bond movies. No Cadillacs but instead a lot of interesting characters. The movie is made in 1965, and this movie pretty much restored my faith in 60's Japanese cinema.
Especially the scene where the young artist expresses his love to the wife of the man in the village, that was somehow so truly Japanese. There is a lot of visual symbolism, like the wooden sandal of the woman in the mountain river, or the bright red shoes of the villain.
Sadly this movie is neglected yakuza classic, its really hard to find this from anywhere. I highly recommend this - you will be surprised.
See Tattooed Life in IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059320/
ヤーッコ - Japanese Movies -
23 September 06 - 22:21Special slice of Japanese delight
Yet another critical failure of Windows NTFS filesystem: " Oh, is it that time of year again...?"
Loss of several gigs of personal work and files, including a Bachelor's thesis: "No biggie, they've served their purpose already."
Loss of installed software: "Just entertainment freeware. Reinstalling is a drag, though."
Sudden inability to write Japanese with computer: "Oh GOD no no NO! This can't be HAPPENING!! TAKE ME INSTEAD, puhhLEEZE!!!"
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acjama - Japanese Technology -
16 September 06 - 17:43Culture Shock - Cost of Living
Here in Finland the cost of living in Japan has always been very high-profile matter. Comparison of living expences abroad has always shown that Tokyo and Osaka are the most expensive cities in the world. When other cities become more expensive, it is always remembered to mention that Tokyo is right up there. Then how come that Japanese exchange students, who have lived their whole life in Tokyo and gotten accustomed to the (supposedly high) price levels there, come to Finland (where utilities and net connection is often included in the reasonable rent) and very quickly find themselves in a somewhat financial pinch?
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acjama - Japanese Life -
13 September 06 - 00:37New iPod rush expected in Japan
Yesterday Apple published the brand new iPod lineup - Japanese women are bound to be first ones who attack the Apple stores in Japan. When the first iPod mini was published, record sales were made in Japan, and the Mini soon turned out to be the most popular music player among the women in Japan. Second superthin mirrorback iPod Nano wasn't much different in this sense, it soon broke the records again.
The new iPod Nano goes back to the original design of Mini, abandons the polished back and easy to scratch screen with the anonized aluminium.
Also, Apple yesterday published also the new Shuffle. Both of these products are most likely running out from the stores. Those who want to get the color screen nano, now it might be good time to buy. It will be interesting to see how Japanese women will choose to wear the new cool "badge design" shuffle.
ヤーッコ - News from Japan -
08 September 06 - 12:10Letter from Momo- the cat
Hello everyone I'm Momo, a cat one year old. Yes I'm so young then well in shape.. Noriko took me when I was one month. She has been thinking I am belong to her since that day. But I don't think so because she is a friend of mine. I am just living with Noriko. However I never tell it because she may be in a bad mood if she knows it. She is very kind to me so I love her. She is the best.
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ヤーッコ - Japanese Life -
01 September 06 - 12:49Hot Springs iNovel by Steve Zio
This morning I got interesting email from Steve Zio - author of Hot Springs -an iNovel. His book tells about hot springs all over the world. I will write review of his book sometimes soon.
Quoting his site:
"Hot springs are about indulging the senses and living in the moment." Visit Hot Springs iNovel:
http://www.hotspringsnovel.com
ヤーッコ - Japanese Books -