My friend La La lived in Japan for a year. She documented her time here with illustrations and writings, which has inspired me to do the same. Beginning today, I am going to capture images from around my area on Hon’s new camera.
Here’s what I got on my walk:
These two puppies have been keeping me pretty occupied of late.
Osaka Cafe Lunch is a beautiful little collection of all the cute cafes around my area and beyond. I have been scoping out cafes and finally found a soy latte that didn’t taste like poo, YATTA! (side note: I am lactose intolerant, not just an inner city wanker). And it also features my favourite haunt Enjoy Cafe, where I had my birthday dinner back in August.
And for animation motivation, I picked up a copy of 100 Japanese Motion Graphic Creators for the year 2008. I have decided that a year in Japan is just not complete until I dust off my After Effects and make a decent animation/film. The book comes with a DVD packed, onedotzero styles, with cool videos to get me inspired.
These little treats are published in both Japanese and English, and you can probably pick them up at Kino Books in Sydney if you were interested. xoxo
I only have a few weeks left before the election to visit Obama, Japan. A sea side town only 3 hours from Osaka, this little place has gotten behind the American Presidential Candidate with vigour. Local vendors are even selling ‘Obama for Obama’ T shirts and cakes. I need to go.
Here in Japan, I am still waiting for The Dark Knight, Iron Man and Sex and The City to be released in the cinemas. But we are lucky to be the first in the world to see the new Miyazaki, Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea.
As my Japanese language skills are still rather lacking, and it is only screening in it’s native Japanese, I was taking a risk that I may not understand a thing, (I am still confused about Spirited Away, and I watched that with English Subtitles). But I had a look at the plot on wikipedia, and sat next to my trusted translator Hon, and enjoyed the film.
The film is beautiful, with Miyazaki and his illustrators staying aways from CGI, it is entirely hand drawn cell animation. I think I missed the intricacies of the characters due to language difficulties, but Hon said after that it was his favourite Ghibli film…and that’s a big call. So, I look forward to it being released with English translation, but for now I am satisfied with learning the theme song, posted below as performed on Japanese Television! Kawaii des ne!
I have noticed copies of a series called “Jam Films” at my local video store here in Japan, and was curious enough to hire it the other day. It was great, short films (my favourite) all by different Japanese directors. I love this idea, and have two more DVD sets to watch, yipee!
Here is a trailer for the whole series.
The Japan I see everyday.
Here is a mini photo essay of Hon winning some toys in Japan. They are now hanging up in our apartment as tissue box covers.
My favourite ads in Japan feature the infamous Takuya Kimura of SMAP fame. These guys are everywhere in Japan, television shows, ads, music, and they’ve been around since 1991, now that’s longevity! If you have seen Wong Kai Wai’s 2046, he is the mysterious guest of Faye Wong on the train in the future and her boyfriend in the present.
But these ads are so addictive. They were playing on repeat today in the chemist I was in and now I can’t get him out of my head. I have posted the best one below. We are not sure if he is taking the piss, but we have noticed that it is more acceptable (perhaps because of the lack of Australia’s macho culture) to be slightly over the top in Japan.