Watch this video from Japan...
And check the diver down left!
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
August 14, 2009
July 15, 2009
Harajuku in Paris?
I could not believe my eyes... After the incredible Japan Expo 2009, here comes...
What do you think?
What do you think?
October 28, 2008
October 23, 2008
October 7, 2008
August 29, 2008
Akire to Kame
http://sotinel.blog.lemonde.fr/2008/08/28/kitano-sous-son-beret-dartiste-maudit/
Interesting concept : you can miss your life pursuing the wrong goal.
What are we made for? What is the meaning of life?
Back to these questions. Any clue?
Interesting concept : you can miss your life pursuing the wrong goal.
What are we made for? What is the meaning of life?
Back to these questions. Any clue?
August 12, 2008
Life in Japan, sex
Life in Japan is not alwys what it seems...
You can check this short movie in French
You can check this short movie in French
May 24, 2008
Giard, Agnès
Another knowledgeable lady, Agnès Giard...
I already knew about the book as I had seen it in Lille (France) in a library and I had stared at the front page wondering about all the treasures that she revealed.
I often enjoy the treat of reading her posts or wander on her blog. The post from thursday is about the latest trend of tattooed butts in Japan. Japan and sex make an interesting combination, ne?
I also bought her "L'imaginaire érotique au Japon" (erotic fantasy in Japan) couple months ago.
I already knew about the book as I had seen it in Lille (France) in a library and I had stared at the front page wondering about all the treasures that she revealed. I ordered Agnès Giard's book on the web and asked for a delivery in the company I worked for. Collegues opened the parcel as I was in... Japan. No need to say that I got comments from V and other collegues asking me about the real nature of my leasures as the book is so very documented on "best" (sex) practices. They were shocked by the 'outrageous' and explicit pictures but as they cannnot read, they missed the essence of the pictures. They should have looked with their mind. Anyway, now few people at work have discovered another side of me.
Yes Agnès Giard has an extensive knowledge on sex and Japan. Her book has been acknowledged as a reference. Check here (French).
She is on MySpace also.
unfinished business
May 19, 2008
Manga & Mobile...
When the whole mobile market is looking for new niches, sub-markets or segments... They turn to successful businesses like Manga.
Have a look at this French site and to their 'Manga on Mobile' section.
Their movie about Japan Expo 2007 is to be watched too!
This is where I found one the ultimate softwares for Manga on Mobiles : Celsys
Have a look at this French site and to their 'Manga on Mobile' section.
Their movie about Japan Expo 2007 is to be watched too!
This is where I found one the ultimate softwares for Manga on Mobiles : Celsys
April 15, 2008
Limosin, Jean Pierre
IMDB presents this director.
Dissidenz blog managed to get an interview with Jean-Pierre Limosin.
Tokyo Eyes in 1998
About Yakuza :
Libération, 080409
Libération, 070523
Libération, 070521
Dissidenz blog managed to get an interview with Jean-Pierre Limosin.
Tokyo Eyes in 1998
About Yakuza :
Libération, 080409
Libération, 070523
Libération, 070521
March 11, 2008
March 10, 2008
Iterashai Captain Michael
Today is a very sad day! Captain Michael is gone forever.
PN just called me and told me that our japanese pilot friend had passed away.
Captain Michael was the first pilot who had ever made feel comfortable and safe aboard a plane. The way he mastered the plane from Tokyo to Paris impressed me. On my 3rd trip to Japan, homebound, I knew that turbulences would affect the flight and I was scared to fly back.
But with Captain Michael, I felt experienced hands were taking care of all of us and the plane did not move until we reached paris with stormy conditions. Even then, he was in control. I had never experienced that feeling before.
He cannot be forgotten. He was so delicate... He knew her friend PN was onboard his plane yet he waited until all passengers were asleep and the lights dimmed to visit us and he brought a signed sky map as a gift. We exchanged handwaving before the flight and after too. That was Nov 21, 2006.
I said I would write to ANA's president a letter to express my thankfulness and my satisfaction and gratitude towards excellent service and the best pilot I ever flew with. I never sent the letter. I feel bad.
Now I wonder, how can I fly again? Specially before flying wednesday to Japan?
I'll look by the plane window and I'll think of you. So long, Captain...
PN just called me and told me that our japanese pilot friend had passed away.
Captain Michael was the first pilot who had ever made feel comfortable and safe aboard a plane. The way he mastered the plane from Tokyo to Paris impressed me. On my 3rd trip to Japan, homebound, I knew that turbulences would affect the flight and I was scared to fly back.
But with Captain Michael, I felt experienced hands were taking care of all of us and the plane did not move until we reached paris with stormy conditions. Even then, he was in control. I had never experienced that feeling before.
He cannot be forgotten. He was so delicate... He knew her friend PN was onboard his plane yet he waited until all passengers were asleep and the lights dimmed to visit us and he brought a signed sky map as a gift. We exchanged handwaving before the flight and after too. That was Nov 21, 2006.
I said I would write to ANA's president a letter to express my thankfulness and my satisfaction and gratitude towards excellent service and the best pilot I ever flew with. I never sent the letter. I feel bad.
Now I wonder, how can I fly again? Specially before flying wednesday to Japan?
I'll look by the plane window and I'll think of you. So long, Captain...
February 27, 2008
Kansaijin can measure laughter
"Kansaijin"... When I first heard that japanese word, I refered to PN to get a translation. The Kansaijin have a very strong reputation of beign clever & funny... Their language is different too : instead of "Hirashaimasu", they say "Maido".
The most polite way to speak Japanese, "Keigo", was derived from the Kansai dialect.
Kansaijin is the word to describe the inhabitants of the Kansai region located in the south of Honshu (main island with Tokyo on it).
Today, the concept of a machine that measures both quality and quantity of laugh resurfaced (sources : http://www.pinktentacle.com/2008/02/laughometer-measures-ah/ & Asahi shimbun).
More about Kansaijin on : http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/
The most polite way to speak Japanese, "Keigo", was derived from the Kansai dialect.
Kansaijin is the word to describe the inhabitants of the Kansai region located in the south of Honshu (main island with Tokyo on it).
Today, the concept of a machine that measures both quality and quantity of laugh resurfaced (sources : http://www.pinktentacle.com/2008/02/laughometer-measures-ah/ & Asahi shimbun).
More about Kansaijin on : http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/
December 31, 2007
December 20, 2007
Chinsagu No Hana ["I'd like to be involved"]
Sakamoto Ryuichi's most beautiful song with Okinawa inspired music had me cry a couple times simply because it spoke to me long before I would actually find its title and meaning (it just happened a couple minutes ago and lead me to write this quick post).
This is the feeling I have when I am among foreigner people who 'do not seem to care' about me.
Have you ever experienced that feeling : you can't speak a language that you love and the people around you are talking so much. You feel like you do not belong to the party and nobody cares about you. Of course they do care but they enjoy their culture. Yet you feel lonely like the guy outside the restaurant looking at the people enjoying ; he feels more hungry for company than for the food itself.
Next time it happens to you, focus on the beauty of the language and try to decode some expressions on the faces and in the eyes.
Listen to this beautiful song and raise volume at 2:00 to get the emotional musical background melody. The women's voices give humanity to the song too.
Sadness and yet hope are in this song. I can almost picture a movie scene with a daunted human being who finds the courage to stand up and look at the rising sun with a slow moving smile on their tear covered face.
Chinsagu No Hana, Beauty, Sakamoto Ryuichi
This is the feeling I have when I am among foreigner people who 'do not seem to care' about me.
Have you ever experienced that feeling : you can't speak a language that you love and the people around you are talking so much. You feel like you do not belong to the party and nobody cares about you. Of course they do care but they enjoy their culture. Yet you feel lonely like the guy outside the restaurant looking at the people enjoying ; he feels more hungry for company than for the food itself.
Next time it happens to you, focus on the beauty of the language and try to decode some expressions on the faces and in the eyes.
Listen to this beautiful song and raise volume at 2:00 to get the emotional musical background melody. The women's voices give humanity to the song too.
Sadness and yet hope are in this song. I can almost picture a movie scene with a daunted human being who finds the courage to stand up and look at the rising sun with a slow moving smile on their tear covered face.
Chinsagu No Hana, Beauty, Sakamoto Ryuichi
And on YouTube!
Chinsagu No Hana
Chisagu nu hanaya, chimisashi ni sumiti.
Uya nu yushigutu ya, chimu ni simiri.
Yuyu harasu funi ya, ni nu fa fushi mi-ati.
Wan nacheru uya ya, wan du mi ati.
Tun nu buri-bushi ya, yumiba yumariyun.
Uya nu yushigutu ya, yumin naranu.
Takara tama yatin, migikaniba sabisu.
Asayu chimu migachi, uchiyu watara.
Agari akagariba, shimi nare ga ichun.
Kashira yuti tabori, wa uya-ganashi.
Chinsagu nu hana ya, chimisachi ni sumiti.
Uya nu yushigutu ya. Chimu ni siniri.
The Flower of Balsam, one dyes on one's fingernails.
The words of one's parents, one must dye in one's heart.
Ships sailing the night seas take their bearing by the pole star.
The parents who gave me birth take their bearings by me.
One has to study and to master the name of constellations.
But the lessons taught by one's parents are no mastered by study alone.
Even gems and treasures will rust unless polished.
Polishing my spirit night and days, I traverse this transient world.
When the sun rises, I shall go off to study.
Please plait my hair, my dear mother.
The Flower of Balsam, one dyes on one's fingernails.
The words of one's parents, one must dye in one's heart.
December 4, 2007
keitai shousetsu
Mobile phone novels? I found the news this morning on one of my favourite blogs from Francis Pisani. He found the initial track from Tech Crunch and from this Australian newspaper.
During my trips to Japan I saw all the passengers using their "keitai" [mobile] with an astonishing usage of their fingers whatever the size of the keyboard. Looks like the keitai becomes an extension of their person : key, wallet, TV, eBook, games, email...
Japan is way ahead of technology yet the content/themes of these books is more frightening than the innovative way of publishing.
TO BE COMPLETED
During my trips to Japan I saw all the passengers using their "keitai" [mobile] with an astonishing usage of their fingers whatever the size of the keyboard. Looks like the keitai becomes an extension of their person : key, wallet, TV, eBook, games, email...
Japan is way ahead of technology yet the content/themes of these books is more frightening than the innovative way of publishing.
TO BE COMPLETED
November 29, 2007
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?
November 22, 2007
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.
Check ! The idea behind the name is 'bring all you need with you'. Clever!
Another proof that Japanese words are trendy.
November 20, 2007
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)
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)
November 8, 2007
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
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