Tenohira no shosetsu, Kawabata Yasunari

About to leave for Münich this monday, I left the keys on the door as I got more subject to anxiety before flying. When back to my second home, I looked for substitution books to the one I left at my usual home. I could not find what I wanted of course.

So I digged and found the Kawabata book I bought around 2000 : Tenohira no shosetsu [Palm of the Hand stories]. Unread so far... I'll tell you why one day, should I dare.

I did not read it on the plane as I was busy reading the daily press and saving interisting articles. And reading finance magazines (the stock market is the one with turbulences at this time).

But I started reading it yesterday and I took a break from the corportae life and enjoyed the two first stories today. A dark tone writing with explicit or soft tone allusions to death...

I have to read the whole book and then start the book compliling some of his novels and short stories before I can start writing about his approach to litterature. Not that I am entitled to judging, just because I find it enjoyable to share my experiences and understandings in litterature. By the way, how many people do read this blog?

Chichin, Frédéric

Fred Chichin... Another myth has gone. Not worldwide but France lost a guitar player from the 80's hype band "les Rita Mitsouko"

Legend has it that Prince took a sample from Rita Mitsouko's music. Just listen to singing in the shower tonight!

TO BE COMPLETED

Japan is trendy

Bento & Database cannot be mixed?

Check ! The idea behind the name is 'bring all you need with you'. Clever!

Another proof that Japanese words are trendy.

Power of dreams and passion in work?

Just a quick post inspired by 'Star Wars' and 'what color is your parachute'...

In a nutshell, in order to differentiate yourself from the others on the labour market (it can be applied to any other competitive free market, of course) you need to outperform.

If one hates what one does, how can one outperform? Dick Bolles advises readers to use their original passions and turn them into real assets with added value and increased differention power.

A first example of this statement can be foud on http://www.astromech.net/ where people re-create robots inspired by Star Wars.

The best example and a real testimonial can be found in this excellent book by Po Bronson : What should I do with my life? His www.pobronson.com/ is the start of the journey for whoever would think about the meaning of life. Check his blog too! The picture on the book cover is self explanatory and I like it as a photographer. It's a s swift as an icon : you get the whole meaning of the concept in one single picture. That's brilliant.

Eventually, remember the title of the major book from Cesare Pavese : 'this business of living'.

It means that life itself is a full time work. What a concept!

The translation in French is even more powerful (as it is closer to the original Italian title) 'le métier de vivre' since it is understood that you need skills, talents and dedication and eventually hard work to make it 'succesful'.

You can find his picture on findagrave.

Another post I have to work on... Yet I am already busy working on my life.

Tokyo acknowledged world best for restaurants

Guide Michelin is an old 'institution' in France... As such and because the name and red colour guide managed to be trusted after more than a century, we can be confident in their judgement.

As published and subject to controversy it is the first time Michelin has ever pubished a guide for Tokyo restaurants.

I feel lucky to know the best lady guide for Japan with an experienced, delicate and always proven right taste... She took me to the best sushi place in my whole life and also had me experience more restaurants to upgrade my taste : domo arigato gozaimashita PN ;-)

Ikitai (I wanna go) to tabetai (I wanna eat)

Kuki ga Yomenai

Today I found an expression to describes how I am slowly losing grip at work : kuki ga yomenai.


It means litteraly "I can't read the air". The true meaning is that, for instance, when sitting in a meeting and everybody wants to end but one participant will go on, this one cannot read the air. An extension is that one cannot understand what's happening around.


It does apply to my current work situation : I do not understand anymore my environment, my collegues and the company itself.

Yet my question is : what to do when you feel as a drifter? I'm slowly sliding out of this company. But where am I heading to? This is when I would need a crystal ball!

Gambaru

Mogari no mori by Naomi Kawase

Yesterday, I went (alone) to watch mogari no mori in a small cinema . You can watch the trailer here and here (French). There's more to this movie than a simple story and a road movie. It tells about the meaning of life (listen to the shinto monk) : you are alive if you eat and if you feel alive through the people around you.

I love Japanese movies because of the esthetics (the expression of beauty), the language and the culture. This one surprised me as I did not really like it at first but then it slowly grew on me : as the old man (Shigeki) and the young lady (Machiko) got into the forest, I was caught by the movie as the intensity grew. Shigeki shows the way of love, respect and devotion and Machiko, the way of selfishlessness (is that English?) and dedication.

The first element to catch my attention was the quality of the photo. Hideyo Nakano has a very special eye : sometimes on the move to stress the action and most of times like the eye of God on the human beings, calm and steady. The wind blowing on the green vegetables (gree wheat?) reminded me of my time in the army in 1993, at the back of a truck, the only consolation came from the beauty of nature and countryside...

I found out this morning that the movie won the "grand prix du jury au Festival de Cannes 2007".

One of the best scenes was when the lady removed her top and bra to hold the old man in her arms and make him warm : it was sensual (in a clean way) and very moving as she previously lost her baby. Mogari means "end of mourning" in Japanese.

Difficult to explain how touching the movie was. Read more at IMDB.

Another step on the path of understanding the meaning of life and a moment of warmth in a cold world. Another "Food for thought" movie.

Thank you Naomi Kawase