Hakone

I went to Hakone over the thanksgiving weekend via the odakyu sen. Unlike the states we get Monday off. Hakone is known for hot springs and autumn foliage, seafood, clear views on Mt. Fuji, and all that good stuff. Interestingly it also operates the worlds busiest ropeway/gondola. Something that everyone does here is eat the black eggs that they boil in the natural springs. Luckily the day we went was amazingly clear as my friend explained that it is usually 90 percent foggy or cloudy. Didn't get a chance to try the hot springs but we got free foot baths. Scalding hot foot baths.

Grub

People have been asking me what I've been eating here in Japan. I tell them I usually cook. Here are two meals from two consecutive days. Usually the same deal. Rice, miso, half raw egg, salad, and some kind of protein, accompanied by green tea.

Butterfly

I realized I didn't talk about my first day or work. I met all the designers, who don't speak english so i have to rely a hundred percent on my own japanese, my japanese dictionary app on my ipod, and hand motions. The dude who sits in front of me is the main designer for Neon Genesis Evangelion, doing posters, dvd covers, packaging, ads, etc. The guy next to me is one of the head designers and designed the layout for Utada's This is the One. I was not impressed with that Cd jacket and now I understand why. Jk. I wont bring it up. I started by working on some postcards promoting A Love Movement and editing and preparing images for web uploads and other uses etc.



After work was a reception party at the Ginza Graphic Gallery for Japanese Desginer Kitagawa Iissei. His company GRAPH runs a very impressive business card service. Aoki, the creative director then treated us to a korean bbq dinenr that totaled over 300USD for 5 of us. Good start.



I think being here and watching things happen is the greatest, especially meetings with Aoki, who makes all the decisions eventually. The other designers are just tools I guess working almost 12 hours a day 6 days a week. Not something I'm that into. But they experience a lot of pressure as they represent one of the most charsimatic firms in the country. They also need to worry about representing Aoki himself. As advanced as Japan is in Design and Innovation, culture still has a strong underlying presence.

Murakami

Today at work I took the first trip to the 9th floor of the building where all our accounting, management etc is taken care of. This place just literally had art lying around on the floor. Here is a silver foiled original Takashi Murakami print. This could buy me a motorcycle.



Another Murakami is the writer Haruki Murakami who's avant-garde novels and short story collections have been thankfully all translated into English. I have read 6 of his novels now the most recent one being Sputnik Sweetheart. All have reoccuring themes such as the presence of music, cats, disappearances, relationships with older women, greek islands, etc. I felt that I identified a little more with the main character of Sputnik Sweetheart. Some parts were just spot on. For example, one chapter began with the main character describing his day that involved picking up a few books at the Kinokuniya in Shinjuku and then taking the Chuo-sen back to his places at kunitachi. I was friggin reading this book at the Kinokuniya in Shinjuku and I take the Chuo-sen back home, not to Kunitachi, but my friend Rika lives there. I can't help but feel somewhat happy when events coincide like that. Books like that give special meaning to the places you visit.

River Cat

This is pretty cool. China's Yangtze river was once the cause of severe flooding that caused annual damage to surrounding towns. Thus came about the creation of this dam, and the task of relocating entire towns onto higher ground. The old towns are now underwater.

This is an elevator for boats going up the dam. There are 4 chambers, each taking an hour to pass. the first chamber fills up to the water level of the next allowing the boat to move on. This got old after the first hour.

San Xia, or Three Gorges is probably my favorite part of China so far. Unfortunately I came a little early so the autumn colors have not yet arrived. Still a sight to behold. If I were not part of a tour, I would have preferred some more hiking.

Red Flag

At the end of the week was our plane ride to Shanghai which was quite dreaded. My arrival was surprisingly different from when I first arrived 7 years ago. The contrast from Japan was very apparent in everything from service, cleanliness, and mannerisms. One thing I do like about China though is that you could walk down one road and feel like you are 10 years ahead of everyone and turn into an alley that takes you back to 1978. Shanghai is now in the midst of heavy construction for the World Expo next year, that should do well following the success of the Olympics in Beijing last year. Patriotism is also high following the 60th anniversary. I think these are good oppurtunities for the country to clean up its act for the sake of international appeal. Better late than never. Blocking blogger and youtube, however, does not help much at all.





Honestly, China has much creative potential if everybody just lightened up a bit. Rather than dwelling on how great your country was in the past, one should think about the future. I understand that this is what they've been doing, and they've come a long way. But people are still part of an oppressed culture who as a result are left with the mindset that its ok to lie cheat and steal. The world does not need pirated goods, and the world does not need toys with lead in them. I'm not sure I was ever proud to be of Chinese descent. I don't identify with much of China's sensibilities at all. However, I do feel the need to contribute somehow in its development. Specifically in missions. China may be extremely young with regards to globalization and capitalism and it shows.

Tokyo 2

Day 3 was another busy day all over Tokyo. Starting from morning we met with the Iino family. Mr. Iino was another of my grandma's students from 30 years ago, and his wife and daughter, Rika. He was formerly at Mitsubishi in China and is still working for another company there. This is already one of my favorite families in the world. I haven't even met the son, Hirota, in person yet, who lives in Australia, and I already like him too. It's pretty rare for me to like entire families.




They decided to take the day off and take us for a small tour. First stop was Hozo-Mon Gate, which I think was home to some Shogun back in the day. There was also temple where people were getting their fortunes told. Afterwards was lunch at a ramenya followed by a boat ride down the Sumida River to the tokugawa family garden.





Somewhere along the way, Mr. Iino asked me where I was staying and I told him I didn't know yet but could probably stay at a Weekly Mansion in Akasuka. He then proceeded to tell me about this empty apartment they had and asked if I wanted to live there...free of charge...! It was supposed to be for Rika when she got married but that has not happened yet. Obviously, I said yes. Tokyo, being the most expensive city in the world also has expensive rent. A one person apartment would easily be over two thousand US dollars a month. They might as well have tossed down four thousand on the table for me to take.



The apartment is located in Musashi Sakai, a quiet neighborhood only 20 minutes away from Shinjuku Station by JR. It's fully furnished, with traditional tatami rooms, a deep bathtub, and a nice view of Mt. Fuji on clear days (leftside) . I don't know what else to say...

Introducing

The second day of my arrival, I met with Nagayoshi Sumida, who is president of the Sankei Shimbum, aka the Fujisankei Communications Group. I used to watch Dragonball on Fuji TV as a kid.That's a big deal. My grandma was his chinese teacher like 30 yrs ago, that's how this came about. He took me to the Graphic design company that he found for me to intern at in the Chuo-ku district. There I met Katsunori Aoki, which is now another highlight of my young design career. Major awards won: Japan Graphic Designers Association ( JAGDA )New Talent Award, Japan Magazine Advertising Grand Prize, Tokyo Typodirectors Club award, Transportation Advertising Gold Prize, Tokyo Art Directors Club Prize, Tokyo Typodirectors Club Members' Prize. Also judged and lectured at a number of international design events. Aoki is the Founder and Creative Director of Butterfly Stroke Inc. They are a graphic design firm who have worked with clients such as, Nike, Sony, Honda, Coca-Cola, Benneton, Kirin, Suntory, Docomo, Fields Mobile, Yomiuri Giants, as well as graphics and album covers for Japan's R&B queen Utada Hikaru. That is also a big deal. BTF also has their own line of media, and toy products, such as kami-robo and copets.






Afterwards was dinner with my family and the Sumida family on the top floor of Tokyo's press building. I honestly can't comprehend just how many oppurtunities I've been blessed with here in Tokyo. I couldn't have been able to find a better start than interning here under one of the world's most charismatic creative directors in one of the capitals of the world. I can't help but think I'm pointed in the right direction. Thanks God.

Tokyo

It's seems like years since I last had an oppurtunity to update this. Even now, I am submitting this entry via my computer a work. Interestingly this is quite difficult as I really have had no oppurtunities to use english as well. For those of you who don't know, I am living in Tokyo for the next two months, interning at a design firm. More about that later.

My first week in Tokyo might as well been that of a millionaire. Just that first week though, too much luxury is not good for the soul. The extravagance began with the Tokyo's newest addition to its string of 5 star luxury hotels; the Shangri-La Tokyo, located on the top floors of the Trust Tower in the sophisticated Marunouchi District. Here is the view at evening and sunrise.





5 star rooms don't always come with 5 star showers. I've always wanted to try one of the ceiling ones with a window instead of a wall. Obviously, in an effort to get my money's worth, I took advantage of the unlimited free Voss norewegian artisian water. Within the hotel was the most expensive breakfast I've ever had as well as the most expensive club sandwich. Service is what you would expect with every employee bowing upon your every arrival and departure from the building.





Within walking distance was Tokyo main station for access to the JR, subway, and Shinkansen, the Ginza district, and the Imperial Palace.