Posted in Japan, architecture, art and photography on Aug 4th, 2006 No Comments »
After writing my A New Victory about the Narita temple, I found the article Naritasan Shinshoji and Commoner Patronage During the Edo Period on the web, written by Patricia J. Graham of the University of Kansas.
I encourage you to read the whole article, but here are a few points I have picked up in addition […]
Posted in architecture, intercultural on Jul 31st, 2006 No Comments »
In Europe you will not easily find any imposing skylines (but we have those cosy red-tiled roofs), while in Asia skyscrapers are shooting up one after another. Italian Luigi Diserio has made a list of his 15 favorite skylines and no wonder that 6 of the 10 best ones can be found in Asia.
No. 1 […]
Posted in architecture, travel and places, design, museums on Jul 12th, 2006 No Comments »
In the Middle Ages, all Japanese cities imitated the then capital Kyoto, which resulted in a large number of “small Kyoto’s,” as lovely Tsuwano; in the Edo-period, the model was Edo, so we have numerous small Edo’s as, for example, Kawagoe. Now the model is Tokyo and all cities in Japan seem bent on imitating […]
Posted in architecture, art and photography on Jun 28th, 2006 No Comments »
A new design center (21_21 design Sight) is now under construction at Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi and if you look at the big names of the participants it promises to be very exciting when it opens in 2007. For starters, the architect is Tadao Ando, who continues to delight us, as with his recent Chichu […]
Posted in architecture, art and photography, design on Jun 27th, 2006 No Comments »
The Ginza, Japan’s major upscale shopping district is full of interesting galleries and design shops as well. On Gridskipper I found this suggestion for a design tour through the area, from the Ginza Graphic gallery to the International Forum.
[Inside the huge hall of the Tokyo International Forum. Photo © Ad Blankestijn]
Some Ginza suggestions (non-design) I […]
Posted in crafts, nature, architecture, history, art and photography, travel and places, museums on Jun 23rd, 2006 1 Comment »
Long before it became known as the site of Tokyo’s international airport, Narita was famous as the temple town that grew up around the imposing Narita-san Shinshoji Temple. One of eastern Japan’s most important temples, Shinshoji is approached along a street lined with shops, restaurants and inns. Although the main hall is modern concrete construction, […]
Posted in architecture, travel and places, gardens, intercultural on Jun 4th, 2006 No Comments »
The Furukawa Gardens were laid out in 1914 by the head of the Furukawa Zaibatsu, one of Japan’s earliest business groups. The British architect, Josiah Conder (1852-1920), was asked to design a Western-style house and garden in front of it; the Japanese garden was designed by the prominent Kyoto garden architect Ogawa Jihei.
The house - […]
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