Shinjuku Skyscraper District

Shinjuku is a major commercial and administrative centre, with a train station that is the busiest in the world. Most of Tokyo´s skyscrapers are located in the Nishi Shinjuku district. This view is seen from Aoyama Dori, 5th floor. Skyscraper construction in Shinjuku didn´t start until the 1970s.

To the left you see the modern building NTT DoCoMo Yoyogi Building by Kajima Design. It´s 272m tall (tip) and built from steel. In the background you see Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building no I (1991). It houses the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which governs Tokyo as a whole. It measures 243 m and was designed by Kenzo Tange.

Happy Halloween!

Q. What kind of street does a ghost like best?

A. A dead end. 

Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo

Infinite Renew by Mariko Mori

Mariko Mori, 森 万里子 was born in 1967 in Japan. She studied at Bunka Fashion College and later at Chelsea College of Art and Design, London. She currently lives and works in New York.

Common themes in Mori´s work are the juxtaposition of Eastern and Western culture. She works in photography, digital imaging and also abstract sculptures and installations with a Zen like aura, inspired by theoretical physics. The Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo turned meditative with her latest carte-blanche exhibition Infinite Renew, consisting of 8 pieces. (until January 5, 2014) 7 pieces have been created especially for the show and 5 of those were supported by Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo. Enjoy!

The Infinite Energy triptych is a series of three high tech spirals. The visitor is connected from the floor to the ceiling  through a camera/LED real-time monitored set up.

Infinite Energy I, II, III, 2013, Fiberglass, mirror, LED, real-time control system, 1900mm x 7800mm. The lights change colours depending on how the visitors move.

“The sculpture series of Renew follows the Möbius form and reflects the common form of existence, from the primal particles to the multiverse, the never-ending circulation of life and death.”

Renew I, 2013, Fiber glass, 868mm x 1181mm x 1890mm.

Renew II, 2013, Fiber glass, 1195mm x 1935mm x 567mm

Birds II, 2012, Lucite, 460mm x 915mm x 340mm 

Butterfly, 2013, Polyurethane, 1000mm x 633mm x 400mm

La Festa Mille Miglia 2013

Yesterday was a wonderful day and I went for a stroll along Omotesando. It was still t-shirt weather, that is, if you´re not Japanese. In Harajuku La festa millie miglia with lovely veteran cars was just about to begin. Ready, steady, go! Hope you´re all having a great weekend.

Japanese Tearoom – chashitsu

The chashitsu is an architectural space designed particularly for the Japanese tea ceremony. Associated with the tea room are chabana, the flower arrangements, shoji – sliding windows and doors of wooden lattice covered in translucent Japanese paper, tatami mats of rice straw, the tokonoma alcove and most of all, the simple style. 

The tokonoma is a built in space where items such as calligraphic scrolls and flower arrangements are displayed. This tearoom has the function of a reception room. 

 

Hydrangea

Hydrangea or hortensia bloom roughly around May to July during the rainy season in Japan. Most are shrub like and one to three meters tall. This mophead flower with its large round flowerhead was in bloom the other day in our neighbourhood. 

Box is popular as ornamental plant, particularly for topiary because of its leaves and evergreen foliage. Instead of box, this hydrangea, which took about a week to dry, makes a nice table decoration. 

Yoghurt Icecream

Midnights are spent watching Jamie Oliver´s 15 Minute Meals, dubbed into Japanese. To catch Oliver´s intensity, the Japanese dubbing resembles the Duracell bunny, you probably get the idea…  Although I at times would like to think of myself as the kitchen wiz, there´s no way I could whip up a meal and keep a clean kitchen in only 15 minutes. 

Something possible to do in only 5 minutes though, probably less, is this delicious ice cream made from natural yoghurt, frozen berries, a touch of honey and a sprig of mint.

You´ll need: (serves 4-6 people)

500g frozen berries (and fresh berries for decoration if you like)

500g natural yoghurt

1 tbsp honey (or to your own taste, I have used both runny and more solid)

A few sprigs of fresh mint as decoration (or put in with the rest of the ingredients)

* Put the natural yoghurt and honey into a blender. Whiz.

* Add the frozen berries and whiz again until it’s all combined.

* Decorate with fresh berries and/or fresh mint leaves.

Ready to serve. Enjoy!

Ikebana – Japanese Flower Arrangement

Sogetsu School, freestyle.

Have a great weekend!

The Tale of the 47 Ronin – Sengakuji Temple

 

One of the most famous tales in Japanese history, the Tale of the 47 Ronin, is based on a true story. During the Tokugawa era, the same as the Edo period (1603-1868), Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and 300 regional daimyo (territorial lords). The shogun was the highest military official and ruled in the name of the emperor. It was the daimyo who employed the samurai warriors, who had to accept and follow a strict code, bushido. Vital were loyalty to one’s master and no fear of death.

In 1701, envoys were sent to Edo (Tokyo) by the emperor in Kyoto. Two daimyo, Asano and Kamei, were assigned to look after the emperor’s envoys. To make a long story short, the daimyo were disrespected by the shogunate official Kira because he found their gifts poor. Finally, Kamei’s retainers paid off the official for better treatment of the daimyo, while Asano was continuously treated poorly. Finally, Asano had enough and drew his sword after having been publicly humiliated. The law was strict. Although the official was only slightly harmed it was strictly forbidden to draw a sword inside the castle. This meant seppuku (harakiri, ritual suicide) for Asano, who not only lost his life but everything when taken away by the shogunate.

Samurai were supposed to follow their master into death rather than being degraded into masterless ronin. Asano had 320 warriors of whom 47 decided to strike back with a vengeance.

This is the well where Oishi rinsed the blood of Kira’s head, to later put it on Asano’s grave.

Oishi was their leader and he started to misbehave by drinking and spending money on prostitutes to play the part, he even went as far as to divorce his wife and send his family away only to protect them. Patience was key when the ronin planned their attack. To put Kira off guard they took on various jobs and one married into the family who had built Kira’s house to get access to information. In December 1702, time had come to strike. They attacked Kira’s mansion from the front and rear but Kira fled. It took the ronin about an hour to find him hiding in the coal shed. Oishi offered Kira Asano’s sword, the very same he had used to commit seppuku. As Kira didn’t have the courage, Oishi beheaded him.

All ronin survived and they had killed forty of Kira’s men. They walked to Sengakuji Temple where their lord was buried.Here they stayed and waited to be arrested. All were ordered to commit sepukku as there was no pardon. However, the fate is not entirely clear as rumour has it that one was spared due to his young age and lived a long life to later get buried alongside the others.

Oishi has his own little shelter for the grave.

Starring Keanu Reeves, the tale of the 47 ronin, will also appear as a fictional account in the American fantasy action film (2013), 47 ronin.