Posted in Japan, art and photography on Oct 21st, 2006 1 Comment »
The Autumn Exhibition of the Miho Museum features art critic and book binder Aoyama Jiro (1901-1979). Aoyama was born with a silver spoon and collected antiques from his early teens. But the man who was in the envious position that he never had to work had a sharp and critical eye and was generally praised […]
Posted in art and photography, intercultural on Oct 14th, 2006 No Comments »
PingMag has an interesting article on the ingenious forms advertisements in Tokyo’s train stations can assume to attract the attention of commuters. Advertisements are everywhere in Japan and companies have to make an effort to get noticed. Ten types of ad-tricks are identified, from plastering over a whole station or train, to mega-stickers, give-away goodies […]
Posted in crafts, art and photography, intercultural, kyoto on Aug 5th, 2006 No Comments »
Ema are votive plates dedicated to shrines and temples. Usually, they consist of a flat piece of wood decorated with a picture. People buy them during shrine and temple visits, especially at the New Year, inscribe them with wishes for a prosperous year and hang them on special racks as petitions to the gods. Common […]
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 art and photography, museums on Jul 31st, 2006 No Comments »
A lost sketchbook / travel diary by ukiyo-e artist Hiroshige has recently surfaced in the United States, as the Daily Yomiuri Online reports. Called Koshu Nikki Shaseicho (“Diary and Sketches of Koshu”), it is only one of two sketchbooks in existence by Hiroshige, so it is an important find. The sketchbook dates from November 1841 […]
Posted in Japan, crafts, art and photography on Jul 16th, 2006 No Comments »
This summer, two interesting temporary events in the field of Japanese art are held in Tokyo, both fitting in the category “restored art.”
The first concerns a rediscovered mural by 20th century avant-garde painter Okamoto Taro called The Myth of Tomorrow. This work measuring 5.5 by 30 meters was created in 1968/1969 for the walls of […]
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 culture, history, art and photography, travel and places, museums, intercultural on Jun 17th, 2006 1 Comment »
The Tsubouchi Memorial Theater Museum, Waseda University was established on the occasion of the 70th birthday of the critic and playwright Tsubouchi Shoyo (1859-1935), the first translator of Shakespeare’s complete works into Japanese and founder of the Department of Literature of Waseda University. The façade of the building is modeled on the Fortune Theater of […]