6/15 UpDate
“What I want to say and my point is that there’s a lot of ways to see the world. Why do we need to choose the way to see in the way we learned it from television? It’s wrong most of the time, man. Have you heard of any good drug story on the news lately? Not a chance. Didn’t news have to be objective? It’s supposed to be “news.” But drug related news is always negative. Wait a minute! I had spent great time with drug couple of times. Let’s hear the whole story of that news. LSD stories are all the same. A tragedy like this one. “A man, who got high on acid, had jumped off from a building thinking that he can fly…” What a stupid guy… If he thought he could fly, why didn’t he try it out by taking off from the ground. This stupid guy had died. One fool gone from our planet. What a shitty tragedy this is. What about positive LSD stories? It’s worth it for news. Don’t you think so? “A young man, who got high on acid, had realized all these things. Every object is energy concentrated with slow vibration, we are all one consciousness that objectively experiencing ourselves, there’s no such thing as death, life is a dream, and we are the product of our own imagination. And next is weather forecast…” Thanks for coming today. Thank you. Good night.”
-Bill Hicks (A stand up comedian)
At Montreal Comedy Festival, 1991
This long quotation is taken by the white comedian, Bill Hicks. His popularity rose in early 90s. He had produced programs in HBO and Channel 4. The above quote of Hicks' is taken from his punch line he did at the set in Canada, which became his breakthrough. I apologize for the detail reveal. Anyway, however he toured around in English speaking countries with his pancreatic cancer, his recorded gig, in which was demanded by his sponsors, were made cut because of his aggressive humor. After the last show in New York on January 6, 1994, he returned to his home, and on February 26 of that same year, he past away.
The skill needed for the trickster to acquire was the performance using body action and words. No hand props, but if needed, it will be restricted to something that exists in everyday life and inevitable, such as chairs and cigarettes. What he has is only a mic and the given time. No music. The rest is on stage. It seems that the show must continue, in front of people.
Chris Rock brought Hip Hop's narrative into the stand up comedy and Dave Chapel broadened the game scale right up. For the season three of the "Dave Chapel Show," he made contract of 3 billion dollars with the Comedy Central. After the second season ended, rumor had spread that he had disappeared and is accommodated in mental hospital in Africa, but he was actually just being in Africa.
In stand up comedy, there is a trend of having a policy, or should I say there are several templates. If it is a 60 minutes show, politics, economy, war, racism, man-woman relationship, media criticism, drug, sex, rock'n'roll, hip-hop, and gossip kind of topics that concern about common sense are taken up, and everything is severely laughed off. They are certainly laughs that include self-mockery because the comedians who are holding the mic in front of the people are also just a person who can never experience the true everlasting sufficiency. The focus, or the morbid nest, in this case, in a sense of eating a man, is one who practice rhetorical cannibalism, mainly players who keep winning the game with their eloquence (more earnestly than how MCs are), as hope at America, the capitalist slavery inc., who spread standardized insanity as sanity. Outstanding stand up comedians have all these elements with them, and they summarize the precious experiences in the ephemeral life. Bill Hicks once said, “Just think that I am the Chomsky who talks about cocks.” They will never be an opinion-leader of the age, but if the musicians, who are usually set up as opinion-leaders, are just the icons found by the age, then stand-up comedians could be called as iconoclasts. “If Christ resurrects, do you think he would want to see the cross again?” This is again the words of Hicks.
Laughter brings humans closer to God. Henry Miller once pronounced this sentence. If God exists, that will mean that we will be infinitely away from God, but tricksters reveal God’s absence. If God is absent, then he shall also be familiar to us. We are nothing but the seeds of God that have no chance to sprout and it is the absence which possesses and is growing the fragments that should be spoken because of not knowing the perfect. Through each of its petty game, living just on the border line between the thin lines of “correct” and “incorrect” that is defined as joy and sorrow being blended. We live as socialized immoral humans that minutely bring in objectivity into subjectivity to grasp the border between sane and insane and continue invisible maneuver against oneself inside subject in object. When we speak about logic of materialistic psyche, that is, when we acknowledge our existence as body and not as mental, we start to recognize that we are not perfect because we are beneath what. Answers that cannot be written down start to flicker with a terrifying speed. This is the meaning of to laugh. Tricksters are maestros in this field.
Trickster is one of personal characteristic and known by everyone. They live inside our heart. Until you decide to choose him, he cannot choose you. He is a free man along with every restriction. He is the man who summarize the age and also the man who leaves out from debates. He is the man who knows the trick as well as the rhetoric in order to carry out mediation and provocation, negotiation and enforcement at the same time. He is a saint who is ordinarily deep in act and a layman who lives in a current of sublimity. Shit. Yo pimps, move your ass. Not only to the gangsters, but let’s listen to the splendid words of tricksters also. “There ain’t such a thing as soul mate. Even James Brown, the godfather of soul mate, ain’t having soul mate. If you got luck in your life, you might find some mates. And that’s all.” We don’t have enough innocence to refute the words that Chris Rock trash talks with his sparkling eyes.
The text with lots of quotation concludes itself with another quotation. Forgive me for my usage of a quotation by Bill Hicks once more time. But it goes like this.
“The world is like an amusement park’s ride. And when you decided to get on, it becomes reality. It’s because we carry that much of mind. This ride goes up and down and simply continues rotating. This is thrilling, cold sweating, eminently colored, annoying, and for a while fun thing. There are people who are on the ride for long time, and they start to question, ‘Is this reality? Or just a ride?’ Others remember (that ride is the reality) and come back and say, ‘Hey, it’s just a ride…’ And we… have killed those people…”
Art is expressing "something you have to do" that is within you, so if your purpose is to become "famous," then quit being in the world of Art. - words that the artist, Yasumasa Morimura mentioned in the interview by Taro Amano in the 7th edition of 2005 "Bijutsu_Techo" (translated freely). This thing, in which its goal is to become famous, is no longer Art but rather public entertainment. However, on the other hand, the world of public entertainment is a keen world that one must devote oneself wholly to become famous. Sun sets in this theater modeled world that is carried out to form a group of fake expressionist, who are just desiring to be a celebrity without any determination, and also weak inevitability on necessity to express something... by that, the former words by Morimura are reverberantly circulating inside my skull, in which became the first step before associated image inside my brain popped up, then penitence. A billion people penitence. He further comments that we are heading towards the situation of even the J-POP type talent-musicians are giving themselves a credit of being an artist. But, I have witnessed every words, that are deeply thought but lightly recited, stab into this state of the clerks at Ura-Hara are being called as “creators.”
One the routes of his way of this thought are I think is an attitude of a certain “contemporary” artist. That is, to say it from the words of modern times in which “major intention” in Art is ordinary, sell-out for hardcore. Mass vs. core. Having thought in this way, a space full of “something one must do” tendency came up to my mind. The name of this space is called, “Dyezu_Experiment.” Settles in a corner of shopping street in Nakameguro, this mysterious space will going to end its history after the exhibition held through June 12 to 20, but grudging the closing, with prominent artists, such as Kami, Sasu, Madasaki, Chico, South, Ease, Ro starr, Mike Ming, Faile, and Shepard Fairey, graffiti writers whose artworks were able to be seen only on streets will be assembled in this exhibition. Of course, the hardcore expression on the genealogy of so-called “graffiti,” in which is influenced by the hip-hop culture as well as other street cultures, shall rather not be linked with the various problem of “Contemporary Art,” because it was brought up in a form of confronting the so-called “Art” and also the element of style-wars is very likely. But, fellows who lively threw their expressions against each other when gathered and stayed there were mostly those who passed over the hype inundation period, in which shall be called, "graffiti bubble," and kept their stance maintained. Inscribed their tag-name in the city and BOMB at whole social system by going beyond the environment called urban. For those who built up their ego with this act, "Dyezu Experiment" was the experimental freestyle battle place that they have been developing.
Strokes that they alternatively produce are dropped with impact certainly like the battle break and these that overlap each other becomes multiplex performance like a thick DJ mix so to speak, in which have been making a state that never seen before. This tendency of remix bringing in remix which tunes up to ill and dope direction shall be said as the greatest achievement by the "Dyezu Experiment." Therefore, this time, which becomes last, groove that is produced by those who boosted what is within them like a low boost to gather together will undoubtedly be a thing that deeply reverberate like no other thing have ever reverberated as much. Shake with a heavy sound. Make me dance with heavy beat. Shake your head with the real shit. Blow the added up intended to be Art thing away!
Q. When and how did you launch your magazine? What is the concept of your magazine?
A. The first issue was published in spring of 2001. It started from an idea based on music, graphic, texts, programs, and other various creations that were part of a Web project. At first, what we thought about are to doubt the existing format and probe for what the paper media should be and its system.
Q. What do you see as being important contemporary trends in magazines? What do you think defines what is good magazine?
A. The importance is whether you are aware of the system of how magazine is developed or not. Also, your continuation is more than anything else. Presently, you can easily get lots of different information from all sorts of channels. In the case of magazine, "advertisement" is an important element, and you'll be asked for your stance towards the advertisements.
Q. What makes you happy to continue working in making magazine? How does your creative process work?
A. I never feel happy while I am in the process of making. "Happiness" can be implied at the moment right after completion. I get psychologically lifted at that moment.
Regardless of creating magazines, all matter and its process are products of creation.
Q. If you could be a film character, who would you be?
A. Can't think of one.
Q. What is your last dream you remember?
A. In recent one, there is a pond where carps are swimming in a yard, but with some reason, the pond gets buried. I was digging out (helping out) the carps from the muddy dirt by grabbing the tail of carps like pulling out the Japanese radish.
Q. What is your theme song?
A. I can't particularly think of one. At the work-room, I turn on with shuffles the i-tunes, in which I got the songs from thousands of CD library, so each time inconceivable songs play. From San Ra Arkestra to Sigue Sigue Sputnik. CLASS to Yokohama Ginbae (there is brotherly relationships between the two in cover design). However, this is not the randomness of FM radio or cable, so the important point is that all songs are from my CD library.
Q. Please let me know the latest news from your magazine.
A. We have separated from the original Web project and now we have shifted to deploy only with SAL magazine. We are in the middle of preparation for the renewal. Next issue will be out within the year. The paper magazine "SAL magazine" and online magazine "salmagazine.org" will be the two deployments we take.
(From the mail interview in TOKION No.47)
I wish I could provide you various joys with these three chapters, which starts from this one, as the unscheduled, also reflection, moreover supplement, further promotion of the article, "Masterpiece of THE ALBUM" that I wrote 4 episodes on until two times ago. I am going to introduce the inside story of "THE ALBUM," such as un-used sounds and recording scenes, in the coming chapters. This first chapter will convey you with photographs taken in the on-sale commemoration party of "THE ALBUM (1st)" which will be on sale June 24 at last. No explanatory this time, because it will appear in other mediums, but here has the number one amounts of photographs!
_Kentaro Hamasato(DEVO)+Jiro Ohashi(VJ)
_ALTZ(LIVE)+Naohiro Ukawa's lighting
Photo By Akira Shirane
>THE ALBUM (1st)
Participating Artists: Shintaro Sakamoto(YuraYura Teikoku) / Shutoku Mukai(ZAZEN BOYS) / Keita Ishiguro(ex.ILLDOZER) / Hiroshi Iguchi(THE BWOY) / Yoko Kawamoto / Tomoo Gokita / Hideki Inaba / Mark Mothersbaugh(DEVO) CD Album Sound Producer: Tomoo Gokita Release: June 24, 2005 Format: 112 pages / CD album included Price: 2,520 yen Art director: Hiroshi Iguchi Editor in plan: Kurando Furuya Publisher: BEAMS
by Hiroshi Iguchiby SHiURAPublisher + Editor : Jiro OhashiEditorial Staff : Azusa Iwasaki / Azusa Hitomi / Kurando Furuya / Wataru MurakamiWeb Engineering : Yukinori Sagara(Pre Plant)Contributer : Keita Fukasawa / Massage / nik / soonDesign Adviser : Hideki Inaba
elesal / sim magazine / p rnd / shift / depot / beams T / tgb design / enlightement / tsuyoshi hirooka / unnon / far east recording / now on media / uplink / collider / rocket / progressive form
5/20 UpDate
BEAMS PRESENTS THE ALBUM RELEASE PARTY “THE PARTY”Celebrating the release of art book that includes CD album “THE ALBUM”, manufactured by BEAMS, a party will be held by the artists who participated in this book and plus alpha.
This is a music book that makes you feel music from visuals and remind visuals from music. Considering music magazines as existence to deeply enjoy music, a question towards the style of those present progressive form music magazines that limit the way to enjoy music by reviewing about music and interviewing. It exists like having fun with a photo book, in which you can have fun riffling it, or music that comes into our ears everyday. It is anti-thesis against music, graphic, photographs, and art. A sample of “The Album” will be exhibited on this day and intended to prior-sell specially made event t-shirts.
>Date : Thursday June 2, 2005Place : UNIT, DaikanyamaOPEN : 21:00 START : 22:00Admission: 2,500yenLive: Shutoku Mukai Acoustic and Electronic / The Waf / ALTZDJ : Compuma / PEECH BOY / Rokotsu KIT / SKATETHING / DJ 1 DRINK Keita Ishiguro / DJ Manji Tomoo Gokita / THE POTATO Hiroshi Iguchi / DJ POA etc.LIGHTING : Naohiro UkawaVJ : EXONEMO / Jiro Ohashi SAL magazineURL: http://www.albm.org/, http://www.unit-tokyo.com/en/schedule/archives/2005/06/beams_presents.html
The Second Stage at GG #13, #14In Ginza Guardian Garden, which continues to act mainly in public application exhibition to offer those young expressionists with “place to express” and “opportunity,” is holding an exhibition series “The Second Stage of GG”, of later situation of graduates of “Hitotsubo Exhibition” which reaches it’s fourteenth year.
As for this #13, Kiyoshi Kuroda exhibition, “LATENT INSECT,” is on the run since May 9. While Kiyoshi Kuroda attended Tama Art University, he was accepted in eleventh and fifteenth graphic art “Hitotsubo Exhibition” (1998, 2000). His later activity was spectacular and currently, he is one of the most attractive graphic designers. Putting his theme on “insect being” for this exhibition, he created a new work with staff of his generation that he had worked with before. Not sticking to work that is single layered plane, he presents a new work created with a combination of line drawing and photograph.
Also, from May 23, as for #14, Yasushi Noguchi exhibition, “Relational Dimension” will be held. Yasushi Noguchi was accepted in the third photograph “Hitotsubo Exhibition,” while he was still attending in Musashino Art University. Later, he did not stick to the narrow sense of what you call photograph and he broaden himself to the world of visuals and installations. He centered his points of action in New York University for 4 years, and then he came back to Japan. He mainly works in Japan now and also teaches at Tokyo Polytechnic University and Musashino Art University. The theme he has been working on, relationship between human and city space, will be expressed in various forms such as devices, visuals, and photographs for this exhibition. I would like to experience his works, in which opens to the public of Japan for the first time, by actually inside the devices.
>The Second Stage at GG #13 Kiyoshi Kuroda exhibition “LATENT INSECT”
Date : May 9 (Mon) ~ May 19 (Thurs), 2005 12:00-19:00 Closed on Sunday and holiday
>The Second Stage at GG #14 Yasushi Kuroda Exhibition “RELATIONAL DIMENSION”
Date : 2005, May 23(Mon) ~ June 2 (Thurs) 12:00-19:00 Closed on Sunday
>Place : Guardian Garden 104-0061 7-3-5 Ginza, Chuou ward, Tokyo Recruit GINZA7 Building B1FEntrance: freeURL : http://www.recruit.co.jp/GG/exhibition/2005/gg_0505.html
“Maho and Cyder=Exhibition”Union exhibition of Maho Shimao and Kasekicyder=, “Maho and Cyder= Exhibition,” is being held at café zone of mona records, Shimokitazawa. The theme is “EXPO” after the the Aichi Expo. The contents are EXPO T-shirts, EXPO tote bag, Expo lunch, EXPO memorial stamps, and so on. There are diverse works, such as Baby and Cyder=’s back jacket, displayed in the store and you can purchase impromptu. Also, you can see the background image of this exhibition at “Shimao Maho no Heya,” of SAL Yogaku MANIA
>Date: 2005, May 1 (Mon) ~ May 31 (Tues)12:00-24:00(Fri,Sat until 5 a.m. of next day)Place: mona records Ina Building 2F 2-13-5 Kitazawa Setagaya, Tokyo URL : http://www.mona-records.com/
SAL Yogaku Mania “Background Image T-shirt series” Vol. 1five Tendo Woodwork Furniture Design Contest 2004 Prized Works Presenting Exhibition
Tendo Woodwork Furniture Design Contest was held last year after 40 years of interval. By trial works and panels, presentation of prized works and those prized works that exists from the past contests, in which was held 6 times in total, are being exhibited at Yamagata Design House. You can see beautiful furniture made with plywood technique that uses rationality and freedom wisely by Tendo Woodwork, in which produced masterpieces such as Butterfly Stool and Murai Stool.
>Date : 2005, May 13 (Fri) ~ June 7 (Tues) 10:00-19:00 Closed on Thurs.Place : Yamagata Design House, Nana Beans 7F 2-7-10 Nanokamachi, Yamagata city Sponsored by : NPO Corporation Yamagata Design NetworkCosponsored by : Tendo Company LimitedInfo : 023-615-7118URL : http://shop.ydn.or.jp/special/index.html
appel “juca+tattaka exhibition”At gallery café, appel at Keido, Tokyo, juca and tattaka from the visual unit, Bit Rabbit that produces art mini magazine, ‘appel,’ are going to exhibit their works for the first time. Works, such as a board and rectangular lumber hanged installation by juca and “sound” and “room” themed plane work by tattaka, are exhibited. Also, on May 20, there will be a live event at the same gallery.
>Date: 2005, May 7 ~ May 26OPEN: 15:00-21:00(Sat, Sun 13:00-) Closed on Fri. *Night event on the last day; until 20:00Place: 5-29-20 Keido, Setagaya, TokyoTEL/FAX: 03-5426-2411Mail : b_rabbit@gb3.so-net.ne.jpURL: http://www.bit-rabbit.com/
>Awkward DJ Nite Date : May 20(Fri), 2005open : 18:30 starts : 19:00Admission: 1,000yen(Need drink order, got special menu)
DJ : DJ Kodomo, Hitoshi Odajima and more VJ : Yasuko Seki, Roka Noguchi, Ages 5&UP Snack Cooking : JucaΔ
Ah-, ah-, can you hear me?
It's a story about what makes us continue to dance.
For example, love, which was found on the summers of 1969 and 1992 at United States and England. I don't remember that summer events, in which unconscious, expound by the power of acid and MDMA, vanished spirally into community fantasy. Gathered crowd shedded their nonemotional tears swaying on the amniotic fluid of bass line and guitar riff and kissed so many times like the navel-connected embryo. There weren’t any chromosome information engraved in me yet in 1969, and I was an impertinent little brat who only listened to rock in the summer of love in 1992. I was never able to imagine myself being in the beautiful figures that keep on dancing at two-thirty in the morning floor. I never knew about the sunrise light that deliquesce our body. I didn’t know until recently that if you walk along the unlimited road that connects the peak time and after hours, there are someone’s name, body temperature, and breath difference. Even though this was the most significant thing.
Prudent rebel that never get contaminated by the current of time, everyday accumulation, and this and that of (under)ground that we continue running in front becomes memory of our lives. We live in the legend of our era.
This is an anecdote of personal legend based on historical fact. Not as a passage of anonymity bleached as “movement” by media, but as the sum of unconscious history renovated by those each and everyone’s face and body temperature, voice and action of those who involve there.
For example, the Dub founded at B1F from all over the world in 2005 and 1984. Casting my memory (referring with turning my face red), in "New Romancer" by William Gibson published in 1984, it was the intonation of graceful Dub that made the main character Keith come back to reality when his consciousness was jacked by the artificial intelligence. In the same novel, Rustaman who jacked into the cyber space refused that what he saw was "Babylon" as he nodded his head with vanity. Also, in the same year this novel was published, Macintosh developed by Steve Jobbs made innovation to the concept of user interface.20 years later, we are finding ourselves in the corner of undistractable Babylon. The speed of our reality surpassed Gibson's words and world view.?However, the intonation of graceful Dub.?This goes on through time without turning old and drawn to our reality again.?The biggest freedom of space and time, that is full-resolved banquet, too beautiful and easily changed, and filled with smoke from the cigarette and smell of spilled alcohol, is at the other side of our standard reality that we have to survive in our life.?or something.?We have fortunately reached to the United Underground Tsuru no Ma by coincidential guidance or inevitable raffle.?What was witnessed there.?Why was everyone dancing. I would like to talk about that.
Osaka. Second day of Tsuru no Ma 7 days. Checked the time and place on flyer, we went up the stoned stairs and melted into that space, I think. It’s a story about the what we easily call as underground organic and autonomous world that is, should have counted, one and only. Organized, booked, designed flyers distributed by crews of all over the world, cocktails mixed on the other side of bar counter, space carefully decorated, packed with guests who are starved with sound and dance, and the DJ who’s the connector of all will form the party. This is not a ceremony but recognition. An unwearied and undevoted trial to confirm a quite ordinary fact that we are in the same time, same place, and same stream. We recognize ourselves by dancing together. That is how the night started. I was to experience the DJ live of Yakko, who brought hundreds of records and machines from Sapporo, with a feel of floating in calm warm water. The crowd danced like a liquid that flows between the BPM. Air damped like consciousness or rather body fading into each other. Yes, this was the place I wanted to come for a long time. Music was the only thing that did not stop inside consciousness that is fading away. The dance became like one of a fluid. It beautifully reflected the sound created by each beats, drop off from a bottle of body, and became a part of water that undulate on the rhythm. The dance continued to flow along with time and at the end of zenith that is repeated so many times, it drifted ashore on the floor where someone with a name was dancing. Finally. At last. Yakko!!! Yakko is a resident of a club called Precious, Sapporo where Boss the MC also dances. His DJ live (which he calls that way) appeared in front of us like one miracle and the night went by endlessly. Disco, Chicago House, Techno, Pops, Rock, anything is fine. He mixed one after the other, burned something that was able to be burnt, and next day he was gone to Tokyo. I heard this from hearsay, but he was the front act of that night but he played until the last although the line up for that day had DJ NORI and other big artists.
For example, two turntables that’s spinning in Japan in 2005. Danceable tracks that’s on that turntables. And tonight, we keep on dancing on the rhythm of blind drunk people from every dance floor’s heartbeat. In the reality arrived by threading through the openings of this whitewash and fantastic story, I am going to conclude this article.
Society that authority lies between every aspect of daily life and strictly regulated by the security system on anything we do.?Oppressed by regulation over regulation, there stands the "children that ought to be feared."?Adult society, that endeavors to supervise everything, judged itself too much, which caused them to be shortsighted. "Children," attack the Establishment's blind spot and command with acting together. Under the regulation society, your fertile sensitivity from your self’s childness will be the strongest weapon of all--.
AHAAHAAN.?This subject again.?Picking my nose with amazed look, it is this outline that is stereotype.?In the present time that is stale even seeing things rationally from fantasy, the border between adult and child had become vague and even the race which the “expressionists” who have gotten “childish” position have to act in the “emancipated conduct” within the limit that is assumed beforehand.?This is what we call the theater type society that is enchanted as the Parthenon earth all over the land.?Everything that is done is displayed on the stage apparatus that are socially provided by extracting the poison out from it LIKE DA frozen mammoth of decayed art exhibition.?I think in the exhibition that was held recently called “NWBA 3” , the point of this exhibition, “uneventful battle field=burn out area,” was meant to be this “social theatrical” ground level.
Putting this notion in our thought, what we realize is that the sense we independently be amused in something is the origin to secret of expressing.?The chairperson of this exhibition ADAPTER was influenced greatly by a statement by Naohiro Ukawa in the column of “POETIC HORIZONS” of “STUDIO VOICE” magazine May, 2001 issue, in which was the concept of “burn out area of creative” by Terence McKenna. This statement leads ADAPTER to the above-mentioned proclamation. What is inherited here is the spirit that we shall show the world what we believe is the most interesting=baddest, and this is the difference from disgusted spectators who sit in the contemporary theater asking, “When will some interesting program start?” with their mouth open like a chick who waits for it’s parents to come for them.?There is the definitive difference between the words here from self-assertion, expression, and personality which are idiotically recited by those who channel-surfing is the only thing to do and group of people who are just being found interested (who think they are being found interested).
Is something you find interesting really just as you think it’s interesting.?What is “humanity” after being staged to find interests. We are in the age that even the mind to feel amusement is ready-made, really burn out area is burn out area. What a fine state of affairs that we need skills to have fun. Those who think the world is not interesting: realize that YOU are the one who is not interesting! There is only one thing to do before denunciation. Have fun like a child!
By this meaning, like the “NWBA,” an attempt by the new site “pogo” , which present works by artists with genre transgression, is very interesting. Under similar expression as the atrocious wrestlers, thought on the net, it is filled with chairperson’s feeling of having fun, also shares the tendency, and furthermore you can purchase artworks from there. How can you “make a space that will make scenery come up on mind?” Isn’t this “scenery” something that stands ahead of “burn out area.” Out of arena riot from burn out area HYPE Theater, no rope electric barbwire netting blast death match of creation, you will be able to see interesting scenery of “children that ought to be feared.”
When thinking about what is cool and what is “sprouting,” it’s end of conversation if we said “sprouting” is “loli-con,” but iconographic analysis to generate “sprouting” is interesting so it draws me in. I am, if anything, can understand “sprouting.” When I see that sort of an image, I can immediately distinguish whether it’s “sprouting” for me or not, and also, I can sympathize with the comments that those general nerds make.
People like me may understand that “sprouting” and “Jim Johnson” are interdependent. Therefore there is this mysterious power enshrined. In that respect, something cool is very intelligent and rational that as it gets cooler and cooler, it is understood not only by the judgment from the “eyeball,” but also by circulating in every corner of brain circuit.
It cannot be denied that this is over schematizing of course, but what makes me want to compare like this is that I often flinch from the “power of unity” that the “sprouting” have. When you go visit the Radio Hall in Akihabara, heat that are evaporating out of the pores in the skin of loli-con’s who are gathered in erotic manga store are loli-con protesting that, “Who cares, because we are ‘sprouting’ with this.” I diss this loli-con protest by saying that, “Yeah, it’s alright, but aren’t you guys just happy because there’s a lot of stuff for your masturbation,” but this don’t matter for them which they anti-dis-loli-con protest with independent loli-con comic on one hand by saying, “It’s nothing about how cool or how uncool it is. Don’t give us that kind of dualism. We just want to jerk off, that’s all.”
Anyway, strength of the lower half of the body is peremptory. When you arrive to that point, people who like cool things have no “unity” among them because they seem to obstinately stubborn their own hobby in addition to top-heavy with ideas. Watching outside from the scene, it seems that it’s only repeating this petty quarrel that has nothing much to choose between them by saying this is real. Whether it’s not good or bad, gain or lose, it’s seems hard to become one of a big trend for this.
While writing these kinds of things, I am regretting myself about I being obstinately stubborn. Until now, I thought that probing into the dialogue between what I see and what I favor was a good thing to do. But now, that kind of thought can be like the straw hut of scarecrow that stands under the summer cumulonimbus cloud in a farm, coincidentally get on top of monks head when thrown it anywhere I felt like it. And then I feel like a miracle, such as when I look up the sky the cloud was shaping the perfect silhouette of Doraemon, would easily happen.
> SKATETHING, Kan Takagi, Soon, Perks And Mini’s “Tearful Monster Party” on salePrice : 2,415 yenURL: http://www.ghetto.jp/shit/
May 7
Went to my parents’ house after a long time of absence. The city of Tochio is almost a ghost town. The number one (?) company in Tochio called Kondo Seisen had gone bankrupt. (01, 02, 03) Literally.
I gave my dad some wines that he requested for a gift. I bought him three bottles; Chateau Latour ’91, Chateau Muton Rothschild ’94, and Opus One.
Bought some food at the nearest grocery shop. I wanted a lot of either fish or chicken bones, but they don’t sell it here in this depopulated city. However, in the last super market we went called “Mitsuke Center,” we were able to buy chicken bones (1 pack for 65 yen). With the spices I brought from Tokyo, I made Paella. There weren’t any blue mussels so used asari clams instead. For other seafood we used frozen seafood mix. And chicken bones with meat, shrimps, and vegetables.
Started cooking from afternoon, starting with soup. Threw chicken bones and celeries, garlic, onions, carrots, and some ragged vegetables from the refrigerator and spices into the pot. Took about three hours to complete the soup. Using a frying pan. I cooked rice and ingredients with some saffron. Afterwards, mixed with the soup that I just made and paella completed. Tasty.
May 8
Next day, went to Koide from Nagaoka and took the JR Tadami line. This is a deep local line that’s famous among railroad manias. Diesel train runs on a single rail along deep emerald greened lake and valley. It’s a railroad that’s indifferent from double-track or electrification. Will waste a whole day if we miss this train, so it was such a tense act. The train only runs three trains a day.
It took about 5 hours to get to the final destination, Aizu Wakamatsu. There were no passengers who rode from the starting station to the last stop other than us. Well, in most sections there weren’t any passengers so it was kind of chartered train for us. When the conductor came to check the tickets, he was amazed by our trip, because most people usually take the West Tokiwa line or a highway bus.
The reason for going to Aizu was that when I was looking at the Internet, I find out that there is a “Saru no Yu” at Higashiyama hot spring in Aizu Wakamatsu’s inner room and wanted to go there. The place we stayed was called Fudoutaki Ryokan. This ryokan had eight floors and was more of a hotel than a Japanese style. However this hotel have some antique look. At the lobby, there lies a thick carpet and the manager of this hotel was there to say, “Welcome.” His tone seemed as though he’s not used to saying it. An employee took over his duty and said, “I’ll take your luggage,” and guided to the room.
A parlormaid was standing by in the room, and took over the employee’s duty from there. She greeted us putting her three fingers on the ground and said, “Welcome to our hotel.” She was a woman who looked like Akiko Nomura (Ms. Taki from Okakura @ Wataru Seken Wa Oni Bakari). Thinking she leave us at once, she starts serving us Japanese tea. She spills some hot water on the table while she pours them into the cup from the pot. Does she really usually serve tea like this? After a strange interval, I asked, “When shall we have supper by?” She replies, “Supper will be ready by six thirty. Well, please be sure to finish eating by around seven.” Excess courtesy.
The time was just past six, so I thought we could go for a walk before sunset or go into the hot spring. Therefore I asked, “Is it too late if we eat after eight o’clock?” but no answer from her. Her eyes look smiling, but she seems to be sullen. I judged the atmosphere and said, “We’ll be down at the cafeteria by seven thirty.” She told us, “We’ll call you up when the supper is ready.” But we haven’t decided whether we go for a walk or get into the hot springs, so I answered, “We’ll go there on time so there’s no need for you to call us.” Finally she leaves the room. But the spilled hot water is still on the table.
Maybe she was expecting for a tip. But tip in ryokan is unusual. Therefore, I certainly didn’t give her any tip. But a few groups out of 10 groups might be given her tips. There was this atmosphere with us.
It seems as though there’s nothing around here so we decided to get into “Saru no Yu.” Hot spring was tasteless, odorless and colorless. After around seven when arrived at the room, fixed telephone rings. It was from the parlormaid that was here while ago and said, “The supper is ready.” Bit of loathsome premonition.
She was a part timer. She might be wishing to clear away the dishes because her job won’t be over until our suppers are done. I can understand her intention. Barely making to the cafeteria, which was about twenty matt size, at seven thirty, all the lodgers seemed to be done with their supper because the waitress was cleaning up the dishes (From the number of dishes their cleaning up, I assume there's 5 groups of lodgers including us staying at this ryokan. Only 5 groups in this huge ryokan). Our dishes are the only dishes that are left. Very strong loathsome premonition.
The usual parlormaid serves us rice with smile on her face. She explained about the dishes one by one. Lastly she left us with a smile on her Ms. Taki from drama face, "Enjoy your meal and take your time."
However, she sits straight 5 meters away from us where the rice cooker is and firmly looking at us. When we meet our gaze she tells us, "Please have as much as you want." Refilling the rice and serving teas was her job also. There's BGM or television turned on. If there was other lodgers her it might be not as bad, but I can feel a heavy atmosphere with this no sound at all. Our conversation becomes in whispers unconsciously. We regret that we disobeyed her in coming here on appointed time. When I looked at her for the second time, she was looking at emptiness towards the wall. Maybe because she had nothing else to do, she turns on and off her lighter, making the "click" sound, if it works or not. The meal wasn't that great, but in this environment I won't have any appetite.
Pulling ourselves together, we went to the vending machine to buy some beer to drink in our room. But, this beer was not chilled. Either just supplemented or the temperature is setted up low. There was only 1 out of 2 elevator that was on work. Maybe saving the electricity. This is a huge hotel so the amount of electricity used is considerably large. Saving electricity is certainly a important thing to do. Going back to our room, we opened the fixed refrigerator to cool our beers. When I touched the pet bottled tea, in which we put in there when we arrived here, it was warm. It's not chilled at all. Something is wrong! I put my hands in the freezer but it was normal temperature. Cannot be! The power source line wasn't plugged in. For real!
Man. There ain't no ON/OFF buttons in this refrigirator! Normally, fridge's power is on. Alright, maybe the power source line of this ryokan is unplugged most of the time, but the line in the room, you plug that thing in before the lodgers arrive! A monlogue. Following this, I would like to say that for rice, next to each dishes you prepare a container for rice and self-serve! Another monologue (with a goosebump tone).
May 9
Next day, returned to Tokyo. As a matter of fact, there is a hot spring bathhouse near my house. It's called Oedo "Higashiyama Onsen," in which has the same name as the one in Aizu. This strong salty hot spring is brown salty sodium, in which is the characteristic of Tokyo's hot spring. Going to Aizu wasn't necessary. I found out that something I search for exists near me
by Hiroshi Iguchiby SHiURAPublisher + Editor : Jiro OhashiEditorial Staff : Azusa Iwasaki / Azusa Hitomi / Kurando Furuya / Wataru MurakamiWeb Engineering : Yukinori Sagara(Pre Plant)Contributer : Keita Fukasawa / Massage / nik / soonDesign Adviser : Hideki Inaba
elesal / sim magazine / p rnd / shift / depot / beams T / tgb design / enlightement / tsuyoshi hirooka / unnon / far east recording / now on media / uplink / collider / rocket / progressive form
5/5 UpDate
“NOVELTY DESIGN” on saleThe book that editorial department of SAL magazine had took part in editing, “Novelty Design,” was published on April 8. This book is worked up as enterprise novelty product, first attempt in the category of practical design publications, and is composed with many novelties and interviews brought together with the help of various designers and enterprises. In those novelties and interviews you can peep into the nature of design and ideas that are loaded in there, careful calculations against the promotion-effects, and thoughts toward strategies. Also, a set of 5 blank CD-Rs, produced by SAL magazine’s art director Inaba Hideki as novelty for the novelty book, are now being distributed in the order of purchase when you buy this book at large-scale bookstore, such as Aoyama Book Center, or at Amazon. The main store of Aoyama Book Center, situated in Roppongi, is displaying the goodies that were printed in this book until April 22.
>Participants (Designers & Enterprises)
Hiroshi Itoh (Groove Visions) / Masaru Ishiura (TGB design.) / Hideaki Komiyama (TGB design.) / Sekiyuriwo (SALVIA) / Takuya Oonuki / Naohiro Ukawa / Naoki Satoh (ASYL design) / Atomi / Tenprint / GRAPH / Shinchosha (Yonda? campaign) / Beams / Tower Records(NMNL) / Nike Japan / Tycoon Graphics (TYGUN) / Shiseido (MAJOLICA MAJORCA)
>DESIGNER’S SOURCE BOOK “Novelty Design”
Release: April 8, 2005 Price: 2,500yen (w/tax) Edit: DSB PROJECT Format: B5, 162 pages ISBN: 4798108421 Publication: Shoueisha
CANADA vs JAPAN LIVE PAINTING EXPOLive painting battles between Canada and Japan are being held at Ai-Chikyu Expo from April 13. 2 artists from Canada who take action in diverse fields and 9 painters from Japan battles 1 on 1 in 45 minutes. Kiyoshi Kuroda, who is the man in the news recently by producing the splendid wall graphic at Shinjuku Southern Beat project, Hikaru Suzuki, who’s original style and world view is worldly famous, Must One, who is well known with his “Neko-man” and other promising artists will be painting.
>Artists
Sun Pearl / Michael Nichol Yugranurse / Kiyoshi Kuroda / Michikuro (DYNAMO/MHz) / D[di:](DYNAMO/MHz) / Wet Side a.k.a. Baiyon (Brain Escape Rec.) / Hikaru Suzuki (wordpublic) / kami / yamao (DOPPEL) / monmon (DOPPLE) / Must One (ISENEEHIHINEE)
>Date : 2005, April 13 ~ April 20(15:30-), May 8 ~ May 15(14:30-) Place : EXPO 2005 Aichi, Japan - Japan-Canada Pavilion (2005 Aichi-EXPO Global · Common 2 Canada House Outdoor Site Stage) Promoter : Majeskyuru Plan/Director : Oh Ye! Canada, Canada Government house
SUPER CREATORS’ ARENA TWOFlea market held by the creators who represent the scenes in Art, Fashion, Music, and Design opens again for the second time at ROPPONGI HILLS. About 50 creators participate. This event is entrance free and can shop with one’s free will and also exhibits creators’ own treasures that are “cannot be sold” and “treasures which was never allowed to be brought to the public.” DJ plays, live paintings, auctions will be held also. Bringing you a lively place for you to negotiate face to face with creators on price.
>Creators
Gugi Akiyama / Taku Anekawa / Hajime Anzai / Yasushi Ide / Eri Utuki + Wisut Ponnimt / Jiro Ohashi / Shinko Okuhara / Office Samasama / Nanpei Kaneko / Miho Kinomura / Takeshi Kumagai / Masataka Kurashina / Kiyoshi Kuroda / Yuhi Komiyama / Miu Sakamoto / Yutanpo Shirane / Dainippon Type Organization / Koji Takamiya / Double Six / Yukinori Dehara / Devil Robots / Takayuki Teramoto / Tokyo Alice / Noboru Tomizawa / Mai Ninomiya / Nagi Noda + Uchu Country / Maki Nomiya / Koji Nomura / Yuka Hamano / Kao. Hirao / Itaru Hirama / Akiko Hiramatsu / Nobuto Fukutsu + flask / Michael Lau / Mizuki Madoka / Mikan / Renji Murata / Michihiko Yanai / Masako Yamasaki /Uichi Yamamoto / Masayuki Yui / Jun Yokota / ATAQUE / D[di:] / Ed TSUWAKI / go relax E more / Keitarrow / My Sweet Museum / SUNDAY-VISION / TRITON GRAPHICS
>Date: 2005, April 28 (Thurs)~29 (Fri) 11:00-17:00Place : Roppongi Hills ArenaEntrance free Info : 03-6406-6611
SAL Yogaku Mania “Background Image T-shirt series” Vol. 1Series 1 of “background image t-shirt series” by the mobile site “SAL Yougaku Mania,” which SAL magazine also takes part in production of contents, are on sale by the name of KasekiciderΞ version t-shirts. 2types of shirts are on sale this time, in which they are t-shirts that have KasekiciderΞ’s original character “Baguton” largely printed on the chest and polo shirts that have small embroidered badge of Baguton on the chest. And also Shimao Maho and Dainippon Type Organization version are coming out soon! They’ll be sold on the website of BEAMS T from April 14 (Thurs). Further more, there is a small tag on these t-shirts which are made with printed texts that refers with “SAL Yougaku Mania,” and also back numbers that can only be read in “SAL Yougaku Mania,” such as columns and recommends. This small tag has 14 variations and 1 type is distributed per 1 related shop.
>Bakuton t-shirt Price : 5,040yen Size : XS / S / M / L Color : White
>Bakuton polo shirt Price : 6,090yen size : M / L Color : White / Navy
TODD JORDAN First Time Visit to Japan Solo ExhibitionFirst time to visit Japan solo exhibition by a professional skater and a photographer, TODD JORDAN from NY is happening at Nakameguro, DEPOT. TODD JORDAN lives in NY and is a professional skater and a photographer, being sponsored by “NIKE and CREATION SKATEBOARD” and “Supreme TEAM.” As a freelance photographer, he is well known as he offers photographs mostly to magazines such as “VICE”, TOKION”, MASS APPEAL”, “LODOWN”, SKATEBOARD MAG”, “TRANSWORLD SKATEBOARDING”, and so on. In NY, he participates in various art shows such as “Point and Shoot”, “Photographs of love and Desire”, “MagazineArt Show.” As you can see from the sponsors for this exhibition, in which they are “NIKE” and “aNYthing,” he is highly thought for the currently attractive photographer in NY.
Photographs exhibited at DEPOT are all recently developed. The objects in the photographs that are exhibited for this exhibition are mostly people who surround him, such as his ex-team mates from “ZOO YORK” and his friends from his life in NY. It is expected to exhibit installation using his credential TODD JORDAN skateboard. And also, DQM X TODD JORDAN model skateboard (limit of 50), aNYthing X TODD JORDAN exhibition limited edition t-shirts, 4.T.W. X TODD JORDAN X BEAMS T exhibition limited edition t-shirt will be sold at the DEPOT and BEAMS T. Further more, celebrating Todd Jordan’s arrival to Japan, Daikanyama UNIT Saloon will be throwing down a night before exhibition party called “THE TODD JORDAN EXHIBITION PARTY.”
>Date : 2005, May 5 ~ May 22Place : Daikanyama UNIT Saloon B3F The House Bill, 1-34-17, Ebisu-nishi, Shibuya, Tokyo Entrance : \700 DJs : Toshio Nakanishi (PLASTIC SEX) / Kan Takagi / SKATE THING / DJ QUIETSTORM / WHITEFOLKS / SHU-G(HOME BASS RECORDS) / TAKAO(NICO/VIOLENT GRIND / KURO(VIOLENT GRIND) / YUICHIRO(VIOLENT GRIND / KAMABAN) / TOYO-P(JVC FORCE TYO) / BAMBOO BOY(JVC FORCE TYO) Live : COM. A(ROMZ)×ISHIURA(TGBdesign.) / THE LP VJ&Art : DADA KINGS Live Painting : Sakamaki Toshinori a.k.a. Sense. vs NEWSTENCH DANCERS : JVC DOLLZ SPONSORS : NIKE SB / DZM / 4.T.W. / frank151 / freshness / aNYthing / BEAMS TΔ
Parties must continue.
As long as there’s BPM, we must keep on dancing. In this first generation of highly information-oriented society that we have studied as reality, we must keep on feeling the comfort and awkwardness at the same time, or else the world will stop. We are in the latest position in the family tree of culture that has branches and leaves that grow intricately. This tree makes nothing of ceasing for many years and continues to grow as it celebrates the accomplishment at each one point. Think about a wall painting, in which it might never be seen by anyone, drawn deep inside an unknown cave. It was four teenagers who discovered the Lascaux wall paintings in France drawn by Cro-Magnons. These teenagers were able to meet the manifestation of expressions that do not aim for any joke or praise that slept for 17000 years. These works were made without assuming who’s the viewer will be, although they were visual and filled with insanity.
Now, what would be the discovery for the teens after 17000 years from now. Lascaux wall paintings were discovered inside a crack of rock that happened to expose on the ground. Where would the wall paintings that we haphazardly draw on time find this crack of rock. How will be this analyzed by whomever and what will they read from this enhancing information, this consecutively increasing cluster of bits. Would it be put up with a mediocre interpretation such as existence itself is the message, or rather reach to them as exclamation. Sensing the disconsolation of the rare tracks that will gradually be swallowed up by the stream of sounds, that might futilely connect few generations at best.
However, the party must continue.
How simple it is to connect the infinitely scattered stars with outrageous line to form constellations. To draw a line that should've never been imagined, considerate magic so to speak. Otherwise, tyranny freedom. Reckless liberation. There's no mutual relationship among the stars what so ever. Just because from our perspective that the stars adjoin one another, with the help of our imagination, we connect the most farthest stars with most shortest lines..... How in the world do you think they're separated, you chump! There isn’t much difference between when we look up at the starry heavens and seeing people's lives go by. It's just that constantly moving constellations are there. In our limit of expand and contract of imagination, the mad state, the ecstasy for the mad party people, where we can arrive for the first time by deviation, should never be overpowered by the limited time to sterile enjoy on dance floor and probe for the new start that disguise the landing points of dance steps along to some billionth measure of drum loop that reverberate under the redrawn nonsense constellations.
And the party must continue.
Hardcore Punk and House music encounter and compete over the sound speed in the same party. Using the vocab of previous era, unity has carried out with something unconceivable way in previous era. It seems that culture is not heading for splitting up but rather uniting. For example, I still remember the period when Drum'n'Bass was still a new music. Jamaican immigrants in England mixed the doubled speed Reggae beats with reggae/dub bass line and started to rock the badly craving for intoxication ravers. I still do vaguely remember this moment, just before the trend of pop music consumed this music for industry’s dream. Subdividing was not the process of intricate. By seeing the unity that’s happening in the present parties, it is able to figure out that subdividing is culture’s act of self-purification. Even it becomes a legend that’s only shared by the scale of 300 people. Legendary nights that’s realized by each crews and communities become restored to personal legends, become memory of life, and then become reverberation sounds to events that will be organized further in the future. These reverberated sounds become the trigger for the next new output sounds. In this reality that’s being accelerating, there’s no need to wait for 170000 years to make them legend. After 20 or 30 years, any kind of music will be unfaded wall paintings, re-editing carries out, and gives a 2005 sound system drive. Inversely to the increasing information, sounds have only short time to become wall paintings. What the teens in 2005 get from this is not the passion for the music at the time they were created, but like the warmth that transmit even after the time has gone by. Same temperature that ride on top of different contexts get measured by dance floors, bedrooms, and festivals worldwide and we encounter novel déjà vu at that moment.
Party must continue.
Though affected by actual harms such as communal fantasy, flash back, over dose, event that happen in the world alienated by mass culture continues, innocent rebel that’s shared by the underground residents. While hearing that the party last weekend already became a legend, I am going to put a period in this essay in the party that’s still on.
Needless to say that last half of the 90’s was the last prosperity of the world of culture ~ subculture, I think. “Last” will be used to this because there aren’t any up surgical or equaled event since then. This pessimistic thought is kind of big giveaway sale, in which “expression” that used to be patent declined to “universal” stance because of Internet diffusion, which caused the youngsters to raise lame illusion such as “works I made are ‘creative’. And this and that, all are personality,” even though should be patient about how ill the inner side is, I think. Due to involvement with reform of self-perception, it’s been a set with self-pursuing, such as psychology and vagabond, and from that point until now, the media is filled with nothing that follows facts with sympathetically positive “messages” like, “ be as you are.” Therefore, there’s a misunderstanding of the word “personality” here and also words like “expression” and “creative” not just released into a fertile field of mass of people, but merely diffusing penetration, ended up as a sorrow for Hype-cation.
Personality is not about individual difference. However, unconsciously penetrating to us with the J-POP like lyric that loops like mantra, “Be as you are ~,” caught “expression” vicinity with further crisis. No doubt that human’s wealth is diverse and it’s a complex system filled with various potentialities. But without accompanying any introspection or self-warning, mere individual difference lay upon the public. On top of clammy hand-rolled white rice that is groundlessly thought out “unexpected” tool, negligence is put on and served with a big smile as “sushi.” This sushi never goes beyond hand-made quality, in which in fundamentally not “originality.”
……With this kind of perception, then where does “personality” come from now on. Every creativity get die, and in 2012, simultaneously with Maya-period’s end Solar system rush into photon belt…. Can we act something good.
A series of artifacts, “KAMINENDO” in design office nendo was one the hints to this. They are in their mid 20’s and have a potentiality to go up the stardom, but what should be seen especially is their dexterous way to present and work out their artworks. In the works they design, products from graphics, CI to architecture, how they’ll be acknowledged and taking part in people’s life is thoroughly managed, tinged with a barely noticeable amount of it. There’s similarity with Naoto Fukazawa’s works looking from the affordance point of view, but what should be praised about nendo’s works are how lightness and tenderness. Although color and materiality have consistency in their works, there is more lively flesh and delicate sensitivity. Not minimal, but simple. They have simplicity not as in pattern but in tenderness. From this result, what we feel from their personalities are contrary to something that’s produced from the limit after “self-pursuing,” or something that encourage you with empathizing the excessively illmatic side to sympathize self-affirmation. However, on the other hand, it feels like they have completely overcome and digested that tendency of subculture-creative big release festival, in which no choice but to “express” the pathetically naïve self. Therefore, “personality” was made undersized and tedious from the level of gifted talents that are praised to mass individual differences, but putting this situation as obvious, without any special projection they have gone up to the level where this is smelled within the “individual difference.” Of course this is the result of nendo’s very well established teamwork and skillful design manipulation, although they transcended the binomial antagonism; “personality” vs. anonymous, something that’s embossed and something that’s sliced off. Certainly, there is in here, “be as you are.” For the reason that it gets satisfied before escaping into the excessive desire for “personality.” And “KAMINENDO.” Look at this feel of material and editorial, this is the series of artwork that make us reconsider about the relationship between “personality” and “design.” Although clay being the clay, it is not an artwork that is made in the class of drawing and manual arts. Something that has a touch of humanness smoothly accustomed inside soft and pleasantness is the perfectly fixed nendo.
It’s April already. Was it yesterday? It’s getting warm and cherry blossoms in my neighborhood are looking quite beauty. (But, I got no time for cherry-blossom viewing… No time for it for many years now, I guess. I don’t remember much about my last viewing.)
April 7 (Thurs.), a.m.
I’m on the Nozomi train to Shin-Kobe. Maybe around Shizuoka? For today, 2 shots at KISS FM, 2 ~ 3 at ? Station in Kyoto, then arrive at Osaka at Night? Ye~s. We’re in the middle of promoting President’s NEW ALBUM “FLASH.” I joined with President at Shinagawa station when we depart, and there was Dengeki Network at HIKARI train, one before ours. We were just with Dengeki in last Saturday’s (4/2) FUJI television program called “FACTORY (This time’s line up were Dengeki, INCREDIBLE BEAT BOX=AFRA and others, PLASTIC SEX=Tycoon Tosh, and a new band formed centering Maki Nomiya, etc.) Dengeki were amazing… It was certainly “Don’t you children try to do what they do” sort of thing. In “FACTORY,” for the first time President and Ms. Yuka=YUKALICIOUS with Mr. Akumi in guitar performed “MILKYWAY.” As DJ play gone by, AFRA came in, and lastly Mr. Tosh and Nomiya broke in! Naohiro Ukawa was the VJ. It ended with “MY SHARONA.”
It’s going to be OA at SKY PERFECT TV 4/2(Sat.) 23:00~25:00, FUJI TELEVISION(8ch) 26:30~27:30.
A day before the shooting, April 1, was the first day of “FLASH TOUR” and was held at Shinkiba, AGEHA. There were like 2000 people including guests! and it was great, terrific. (It was my first time in AGEHA) These days, President’s DJ and Mr. Ukawa’s VJ is really getting great.
April 6 (Thurs)
It’s been a while since I last visited (Yoshihiro)Hanno’s residence and chatted for a while. We talked about recent electronic music circumstances/environment, circulation, etc… Oh yes, Mr. Hanno’s NEW album will be dropped in May 25!!!(TOSHIBA EMI) This time he first decided the conceptual part and then all Japanese lyrics, sang by all Japanese singers with Mr. Hanno style Pops. I haven’t heard his sounds yet, but his original Mr. Hanno world and nothing but Mr. Hanno’s ONE AND ONLY can be experienced with this new album for sure! Guest vocalists: Haruomi Hosono, Hanaregumi, Ikuko Harada(Clammbon), Miu Sakamoto, Yoshie Nakano(EGO WRAPPIN’),Shione Yukawa, etc.
Collaboration with ONEOWNER RECORDS, AOKI takamasa is intending to release a NEW 12inch domestically towards the end of May. It’ll be released by Nocturne in foreign countries. Below 3 are tracks included.
>see that girl brand new track that’s low beat groove with AOKI him self’s chorus hook.
>superstrings 76+ Updated mix! More emphasis on beat from the original “superstrings 76” included in the album “simply funk”
>dancing queen Original version included in the album “simply funk”
April 8 (Fri)
Tomorrow will be “FLASH TOUR” at Osaka, UNDER LOUNGE!
Related to this is 1) from daisyworld discs, his new “KERR” is substantial, the small papa of Osaka, “eater.” Next 2) continued from last week, INCREDIBLE BEAT BOX with AFRA. Last but not least, FANTASTIC PLASTIC MACHINE. In addition to this, VJ Naohiro Ukawa. And I’m on the train to Kyoto.
Sonar2005 (The biggest music and art festival in Europe held at Barcelona, Spain)
It seems that few people are going to be there, Harakami*Takatani(dumb type), DJ BAKU, AFRA, and 2~3 other Japanese artists.
June 6(Fri) @ sonar park. President will be performing with atom™ as TOWATOM like the one he did @ sonar sound Tokyo 2005 of last year. When they’ll be performing is uncertain, but they’ll be performing at sonar at night.
“FLASH TOUR” is until June 12 @ Liquidroom and will go on with every weekend pace. 13 acts. In between, there’s Nagoya, diamond hall on June 6, so that’ll be 14 acts in total. What I concern the most is President’s health… I wish we do are best and “FLASH” very well!
In conclusion, (nothing to do with this but…) Mr. Higashi! Thanks for the 9 years!!!! Let’s do some crazy things again sometime in the future!!!!
Peace!
I apologize for this personal matter, but the second version of figure doll of the web character “relax boy” made for the relax magazine in 2000 will be on sale on April 20. It’s been 2 years already since the last version of relax boy (TIME CAPSULE) had the most sales in the history of this series (370 thousand dolls). TIME CAPSULE series by Yujin, will be renamed as RELAZ BOYZ, and proudly announce you that April 20 is the day to start selling them worldwide.
Like last time, Tamanoi the design artist and I made these cute little dolls with hardship. Also, Vestax’s character that carries QFO, designed by DJ QBert, will be appearing too.
Many people might think, “Why QBert?” so I’ll explain why. When we were at Hawaii for the special features for relax, I showed QBert the first series of the relax boy when I was introducing my friend to him. But I found out that he already had a piece. Also, “Only one DJ90 turntable and a mixer is the same style as QBert!” With this opportunity, this next version came up. Collaborating with my friend’s brand KICKS/HI and LEILOW HAWAII, X-LARGE, xla, MILK FED, KANGOL, they also took part in this. Post chief-editor Okamoto and photographer Takashi Honma’s photo establish small pamphlet included inside the GACHA-GACHA box.
Celebrating this new release figure dolls, there is an exhibition going on right now on portrait of RELAX BOYZ by six artists (Keiji Itoh, Ken Hamaguchi, TGB design, Chokkaku Shibuya, NEW STENCH) at DEPOT.
>RELAX BOYZ EXHIBITION 2005.04.05 TUE – 04.17 SUN [CLOSED MON] AT DEPOT Open: 17:00~22:00 Closed: 11th (MON)
Appearance of iPod is generalizing the music to be distributed in data format. Market on downloading music data is gradually spreading. There are people who even say there is no need for packages for music. Graphic design is something that data itself basically don’t circulate nor move anyone’s feelings. There are not many people who merrily open up illustrator data one after another. Graphic design is not for the screen display, but the design data of it gets send to printing factory, made and processed into various materials, then made into a package. It will be circulated for the first time after data is made substantial this way.
Graphic design was formerly called as advertising art or commercial art, and graphic designers were formerly called as designers. Designers who were carried out by some kind of purpose, differently from artwork, aggressively committed to the society and economy. This purpose can simply be said as “design for sale.” The purpose is somewhat altogether too outspoken but it isa fact.
Graphic designers are design specialists and also commercial art specialists. It is the outcome of creation, which has a precise purpose that goes with economic activity before mentioning about one’s expression or sensitivity. The power of graphic design is impressed when these are experienced.
Graphic design, as in visual expression that fully exposed the quality of artist, is a place for people to express freely, and also a place people can join in freely. Self-expression that is lively carried out there, looks tremendously fascinating from exterior. Anyone can become an artist or a creator in that ground.
This book is a utility book in which proposes expertise and ideas, setting thesis on novelty goods, in other words sales promotion products. Sales promotion products are goods that usually get into user’s hands before they become merchandises. Moreover for free mostly… Novelty goods that do not follow cash exchange and further more just thrown out to the world like a commercial for the product are similar to TV commercial or advertisement. Confrontation among budget, lot, and payment date, in what way can the creativity be posed. That is considerably high demanding work. In making novelty goods, it inquires how much one comprehends about the product as a subject for sales promotion, and also it inquires the utmost communicating ability between the client and manufacturer. There is no place to freely express, nor unveil one self’s expression or sensitivity here. We are in the situation filled with countless number of mediocre expressions due to countless number of creators in their persisting originality or quality of artists. In order to liberate the quality of creating in this present situation, it is indispensable to have reasonable knowledge, experience, communicating ability, and designing ability. This is absolutely in the field of profession. Moreover, as for prerequisite for professionalism, it is matter of course to have quality for artist and originality even before speaking about it.
This book is a series of examples and essays that challenges to the possibility of creation by opening our eyes to the origin of graphic design, the servant of capitalism. I think those actualized matters made in the scene and the quality of artists and originality that deeply ingrain from there is the very genuine. Design for sale!
(From preface of the book, “Novelty Design.” Shoueisha)
Converting music into data and file exchanging is nothing new now. For music albums, quality as matter is becoming important. As we appreciate to the conveniency of inundation of MP3 culture, is not the respect for sound losing? This kind of common awareness is building up among users. There are booklets and cover jackets for the CDs and LPs to communicate the attractiveness of sound, but we consumers have been listening to music as from music source, but also from attractive of matter and the cover works that musicians incarnated from their senses.
However, there are music that are created by those who I don’t even know their faces and music that I have never seen their cover jackets are archived in my PC. This is the music consumption of present time. To tell the allure of those kinds of artists’ form of expression, except for sounds, this book takes a form of art book that features an original CD album. Sound and visual cannot exist apart from each other, and the expressions created by artists, not limiting to sounds, gives us diverse visual images that entertain us. For example, self-portrait photograph of artists, live, and drawings and graphics made by them. The goal of this book is to enhance the charm of the ALBUM itself by the coexistence of direct output of vision, in which those who express excellently have, and designers who’s occupation is graphic.
A book to make you feel sound from visual and to remind art from sound. Considering music magazines as existence to deeply enjoy music, a question towards the style of those present progressive form music magazines that limit the way to enjoy music is to review about music and interview. This book is also an anti-thesis against those stereotyped music magazines.Δ
Publisher + Editor : Jiro OhashiEditorial Staff : Azusa Iwasaki / Azusa Hitomi / Kurando Furuya / Ryutaro UchiyamaWeb Engineering : Yukinori Sagara(Pre Plant)Contributer : Keita Fukasawa / Massage / nik / ShiuraDesign Adviser : Hideki InabaSpecial Thanks : Kana Satomi / Mayako Sakaino
elesal / sim magazine / p rnd / shift / depot / beams T / tgb design / enlightement / tsuyoshi hirooka / unnon / far east recording / now on media / uplink / collider / rocket / progressive form
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