G Tokyo

G Tokyo art event : http://www.gtokyo-art.com/#/op/

I went to an art exhibition in a neighborhood at Roppongi Hills called G Tokyo.  No idea what "G" stands for, but this is an exhibition of up and coming artists both Japanese and others.  Found a couple of unique talents such as Djordje Ozbolt, who was originally from Yugoslavia. (linked here)
His work look like this, for example:

Photo courtesy of Primeira Avenida: http://primeiraavenida.blogspot.com/2008/11/djordje-ozbolt-at-303-gallery.html

Obviously, he already has a big fan base, for there are blog articles about his work, everywhere.  I wanted to buy his book, but too expensive.  Can't wait to see more in the near future!


One of the featured artists was Hisashi Tenmyouya.  He uses traditional Japanese paints, a genre pretty common in the Japanese fine arts world.  I was completely fascinated by his subjects, texture of the paints, and the colors on black backgrounds.

Courtesy the artist and Mizuma Art Gallery and G Tokyo website - pls visit here http://www.gtokyo-art.com/mizumaartgallery.html

Last but not least, Kei Imazu had a very small lovely painting exhibited as a part of Bombay Sapphire funded collection.  The one exhibited there cannot be found online, but her work look like this:

Photo from this blog, and courtesy of the artis and Yamamot Gendai gallery. http://maborosi.yasumina.com/

All in all, it was a great fun!

After that, I strolled around the neighborhood and bought some flowers at my favorite florist.  The shop was literally full of gorgeous hyacinths, so naturally, a few bunches accompanied me home.

 A new season is close...

But it's still cold outside, so we need something for our tummies... like a divine hot chocolate.

On another topic, this guy and I have been bumping into each other quite often.  I have been wanting to ask a permission to take a photo, and today, I found him left alone outside a grocer.
Don't you think a grey short haired dog is the coolest, most fashionable thing?

He also has this very strange and funny expression... definitely something complex is going on in his head.

The best profession in the world

The best way to experience music is to be there on stage with the orchestra. Your whole body resonates with  drums and cellos and trumpets. To experience this, being a conductor beats anything else. I imagine, once you experience it, being on a stage, it's irrevocably addictive and you would do anything in the world to do it again.

Today was the last day of a series of Beethoven Symphony concerts (link to the project site - in Japanese). The event was to play from the 1st to the 9th in four installment, spanning for 2 weeks. It was a magical experience, almost like a journey with the orchestra.

When the chorus hit the highest note, my eyes burned and my heart pounded. My very first "live" 9th. I am incredibly lucky that the first time listening to it live was this occasion. Amazing, amazing.

My seat for 4 evenings was in front rows 3rd floor balcony, which means I was practically sitting right above the stage. The sound felt so textured that I could almost touch it with my hands and tongue.

I'm no expert nor critic, but his symphonies seemed to progress as more pieces were produced. The 1st and 2nd being a little bit nervous, a lot of reference to his predecessors. By the 3rd, he gained confidence and the quality jumped. From the 4th to the 6th, he had more ideas than he could put together as one symphony. Unique melodies after another. The 7th and 8th, he became an expert, skillful master, that he could almost compose an entire symphony with his eyes closed. And I found these two a bit boring.
The 9th, the last piece, came to a completely different stage. Like the Beatles' Abby Road. It was like a music fell from the heaven.

My mind still continues to journey with thoughts on Beethoven, it's hard to return to where I physically am.

Inspire Me

This image of a restaurant had hit me like a lightening.  This is how I want my house to look like.  The warm color pallet, aged beech color timber, glass and steel, a combination of small lighting...

I found a nice (very old ) apartment where the owner is willing to pay for the refurbishment expenses.  The apartment is on a rooftop, and has large planters.  But I am in the middle of "discovering myself" and "looking around what to do next" phase, I can't make my mind up whether to commit to live in Tokyo just yet.

( I can't remember where I found this photo - I tried to track it back but the site address is gibberish.  I am sorry, it's from the below link.  No intention of violating a copy right.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2KZ4lPqq-NVPoPYvEb49ITt8rAiQ1Jz0Gdyfg-YVdaTz6PNA-kaYl-57nL3IGXxk_oWnnLkSvoxGcxf1kqhumucrB-Os7lIePgZCPRcypXZ4FKOWtv74d8nNvrOOWbEDNMh1FqTPtOUF/s1600/gusto.jpg  )

être aux anges

An angel came to me this afternoon with some chocolates wrapped inside it.
Happy Valentines' Day!

Skip my heartbeat

Yotsuya

The series of snow-infested days is keeping me very happy. In fact, over-the-top happy.

Ice cold air brushing my fingertips. Snow flakes. Evening strolls. Moonlight on the ground covered with snow. Long evenings. Quiet, deafeningly quiet midnights. Steams from hot drinks.
These things make my heart skip.

Writing this now suddenly reflected an image of a pack of wolves strolling in a snowy woods in the dark.
Perhaps, I had been one of them in my past lives. Or, maybe it's my after life.
No wonder I am a devoted dog person, and I love Jacob.

When the temperature starts to drop, a bell in high above starts to sound, first very subtle, then stronger and stronger. The bell sounds crisp when the air is frozen. The bell is singing, "be aware, something is going to happen. Be aware, the gods are chanting. A happiness is coming."

Snow is like magic powder, like sprinkles of small happiness.

(I have a theory of temperature and human creativity, but I won't go into that today.)

The Young Victoria

An amazingly romantic, beautiful movie.  Emily Blunt, who played the mean co-worker in the Devil Wears Prada, was very charming and serene.  She successfully portrayed a new Victoria, naive but strong and wise.
I had always been wondering what kind of a queen Victoria was, for it was one of the most prosperous time of the English history.  In my school history books, I remember learning many things about the Elizabeth, but not much about Victoria... Most of the descriptions about her era were dedicated to Industrial Evolution and all that had happened during the period, non politically.
Another reason for watching this film is the gorgeous dresses and the interior decoration.  Makes me want to watch it again.
I love this green dress!

http://periodmoviecaps.blogspot.com/

Movie Synopsis

Fun!

You can't believe I actually went out for running/walking this afternoon.   I walked most of the time, but I probably ran for about half a mile, which is quite extraordinary for me.
But I am not stupid as to overdo the thing I am not used to.  I just want to fit into a pair of jeans sleeping in my closet.  I bought a slightly smaller size (I can wear it but it's a bit tight) some many years ago, intending to loose some weight.  There was a time I unhealthily went thinner (from my chronic disease), but now that my health is better, my weight went back up again.
Anyway, I just want to be fit, I don't want to be thin.  I think those guys who like to marry to thin, fragile women are either DB-inclined or insecure, unless the women are pretty extraordinary. (I know YOU are pretty extraordinary, so please don't be offended.)

OK, I went completely derailed.
I am so happy because I dug up some yarn and started a few projects.  Starting new projects is indeed an inspiring, creative act, pushes me to be imaginative and flexible.
The gray tweed yarn (Beaverslide Dry Goods) has been in my closet for a long time, and I finally found a perfect pattern for it.  It is going to be this blanket when it's done.

There was a feature article on antique blankets in a magazine I borrowed from a library, as well as on a blog by my beloved-knitter/designer Jared Hood (who designed the above UMARO blanket).  What I desperately in need is a beautiful blanket.  One cannot have enough blankets in her house.

Another project is a shawl, called Daybreak, only this time, I am making it with two blue colored yarns.  The ball in the front is actually dark navy, not bright blue.  I don't know when it's going to be completed, but I know it will look great.

It's pretty curious that this Daybreak is also designed by another male knitter from Holland, Stephen West.

Last of all, I am still knitting this mittens.  It's still on the needles because I don't love doing colorwork that much.  I just in need of a good and lovely pair of mittens.

On another topic, I am reading a book called "I just want to take cooler pictures!" (in Japanese), and learned a few new (but basic) tricks.  I never fully understood the use of zoom lens until now.  It's fun.


(Sorry about the "Buy at Amazon!" button.  I hate it, I only wanted to display the cover photo, but they don't allow it.)

Photo Shoot

My father is selling these iPhone accessories as sort of a side business, going back and forth between Shenzhen and Tokyo.  Most of the stuffs are for techy guys so not fun, but I found some really cute ones among the jumbles!
I am trying to help him by utilizing my photo shooting skill, which I have developed over the past few years taking YARN and food photos.  You never know which experience will come handy!
But of course, I don't have a light reflection board nor professional macro lens, so there are limitations.  But I guess it's ok.  It's for my dad anyway.
Whether the result is good or bad, I love sparklee things and it was totally fun!

Guensey Wrap

I haven't been able to knit as much as I desire.  This large scarf is one of the project I was carrying around while traveling Hokkaido last month.  The yarn is from Brooklyn Tweed, SHELTER, and it's absolutely gorgeous.  It's light, fluffy, and springy at the same time.  The design is by Jared, too.  I used 4.95 skeins, fully, and did not want it to end.
I want to knit.

お墨付き

とまでは行きませんが、今晩着付け学校で独りで最後まで着てみて、帯の模様も折り目にほぼピッタリ。先生にも「上手くいったね」と褒められました　＾ー＾
根を詰めて通っているせいだとは思いますが、６回にしてはいい感じだと思います。あまり華奢ではなく寸胴でもない体型のお陰で、補正をしなくていいからラク、というのもあります。これまで着物は寸胴の方が似合うのかと思っていたけど、そうではないらしいというのは発見でした。

絹のしっとりとした手触りが気持ちよく、ぴしっと着れたときの背筋の伸びた感じが好きです。

着物関係の小物が気になる今日この頃。根付けのちゃんとした使い方、初めて知りました。
干支のウサギの根付が気になります。。。

 

Social Network (Movie)

Went to watch the movie with my long time buddy on Friday night.  Truly amazing story, great acting, great camera work and directing.  One of the best I've seen in the past year.
And it's the most incredible and unimaginable true story.

My friend was a NYU film major, who has intensive experiences in the actual film making.  It's always fun to go to movies with him, for he sees what we don't see on the screens.  It's similar to chess or igo masters, that they see so much more on their boards than normal people do.  They see stories, battles and futures on them.

I am fascinated by the idea of knowledge enables us to see a whole new picture of things in front of us.  Experiencing and studying give us new lights, depth and infinite details.  That makes us unique and fascinating individuals.

The art

読んでいます。着物の本。ハマったら（短期間は）とにかくとことんやる性格です。

Kimono books, all of them.  I admit that I am more of an academic type - I just want to know everything.

And by the way, the very first picture taken with my new iPhone 4G.

Soul food

Please excuse me for the bad picture.

Last night a friend of mine took me to a Japanese style grill in Hiroo (My Room Kirara). I had french for lunch (A Ma Terrace also very good, at reasonable price) so I requested something lighter for dinner.
You probably can't imagine from the picture above, but the food was amazing! The owner of the restaurant is a lady in her 30s, inherited the place from her father.  You sit around a small fire made with charcoal and grill veggies and meats.  The pieces of veggies are already very delicately salted that you don't need any sauce.  I never imagined that grill restaurants can be that creative.

Love Quilts

Been to Tokyo Quilt Show on Saturday.  It is my dream to live in a house big enough so that I can start making quilts.
The first image was last year's grand prize, so absolutely gorgeous, and I couldn't believe it was real.  The rests were some of my favorites.

Genius Loci

Last night I was absentmindedly watching a popular TV show called Bura Tamori (bura means something like...walking around unpurposefully, and Tamori is a famous Japanese comedian in his 60s or almost 70 years old).  The show is widely accredited for the depth of its contents, although the host is a comedian.  He, and a NHK (national TV channel) reporter, and a historian walk around parts of Tokyo with ancient maps, and they come up with theories of how the area had been developed over the centuries.
A boyfriend of my colleague, who is French, loves this show despite his language barrier (according to my colleague). He said that they should make the show in Paris, too.
So, last night, I was watching the show when they were walking around the area where we now have Haneda (Tokyo) Airport.  Right beside the airport site, there is a red historic-looking bridge that we usually have near temples and shrines, a bridge leading to nowhere.  As it turned out, there used to be a major shrine and lively tourist destination on the site.  The bridge used to be connected to a path leading towards the shrine, similar to what we have in Omotesando (leading to Meiji Shrine).
On the shore, there used to be a waterfront resort and a fishery village, too.
Everyone and everything was evacuated by the US Army, being given just 48 hours notice.
I don't mean to embarrase American people here (those people are long dead by now).  But it's just so unthinkable for a Japanese to take down such a big shrine and pour cement over it.  How do you feel if we go to Vatican and destroy it to build a shopping center?
I wonder if that is because people are often insensitive about other people's religion and gods.  Or whether insensitive people are always insensitive, and that perhaps they even build a shopping mall over Vatican.  Or, perhaps it was the War that made them do it.
Nevertheless, I must admit that, without that incident, we would never have a convenient airport right there.  Tokyo's water front area would never have become so ugly, either.  But I use the airport all the time, so I cannot complain.

I also wonder, how much preservation is good, and how much is too much? 

People have reclaimed lands and have made enormous amount of changes to our landscape, historically.  The changes are part of the life and death of cities.  It's not fair to say those Edo-era reclamation works were good but current construction works are not. 

These lands in green (near Tokyo) used to be all water surface until a few centuries back... Image courtesy of: http://suido-ishizue.jp/kokuei/kanto/chiba/ohtone/0102.html

I think it's important for us to build up consensus or a kind of judging standard regarding what are essential to the culture of our cities and what can be changed.  It requires long-term public debates, not so much more academic papers.

Focus

昨日着付けのレッスン中に、多分年下である厳しい先生に何度も言われた言葉：「他の部分を気にするのは後で良いから、今やっていることに意識を集中して」。わたしの人生全般において当てはまる言葉だと思うので、覚えておこう。

A kimono instructor I had yesterday was far stricter than others, though she looks younger than myself.  She told me during the lesson, "Focus on what you are doing at this very second, worry about other parts after that".  I kept looking around the entire parts and tried to check the balance, for there are lots of places you have to hold on to while tying belts and strings. 
I think the word applies to my life, not just for wearing kimonos. I should learn to focus.

Books on my Kindle

As I have promised some time ago, some notes on the books that I'm currently reading.  I also carry around a few other books, but today the focus is on Kindle books.
Above, my first Kelly Link book, Pretty Monsters.  I remember reading about the author in the special issue on Science Fiction novels of Esquire magazine.  I was interested, but I got an impression that she was a horror fiction author.
The reason I picked it up was because I saw a paperback edition at a bookstore, and it (paper) felt so nice in my hand.  It took some time for me to decide that I should not buy the paperback, but instead I should buy a kindle edition.
I only finished a half of it, but it is hard to put down.  The first story, Wrong Grave, is about a boy who accidentally dug up a wrong grave in order to get a piece of poem back from his dead girlfriend's grave.  I especially love this paragraph:

"If Miles (the boy) had Googled "poetry" as well as "digging up graves", he would have discovered that his situation was not without precedent.  The poet and painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti also buried his poetry with his dead lover.  Rossetti, too, had regretted this gesture, had eventually decided to dig up his lover to get back his poems.  I'm telling you this so that you never make the same mistake."

Her writing is so unique and imaginative that it touches my inner creative soul.  In Japan, you say "it touches my violin string".  A violin, of course, is not a Japanese instrument, but we have something larger and similar in mechanism.  You get the idea, right?


I just bought this book, after reading the author's article on Harvard Business Review.  (Lance Bettencourt)
His article on customer service innovation was insightful that his book must be good as well.  It got a great review on Amazon, either.


I found out that English edition of the Bible is free on Kindle.  I downloaded that I can read it sometimes to enhance my vocabulary.  There are several versions, and I can't figure out how they are different...

Hot Wine

Hot wine, or vin chaud, is my favorite winter drink.  I always order it whenever I eat out on freezing evenings.  But you can make it quite easily too - just drop several pieces of cloves and a cinnamon stick (I only use half of it if it is just for me), some fruit (orange or apple) and wine.  I learned that some people drink it with white wine, too.
As much as you want to make it sugar-free, it is a good idea to add at least a spoonful of honey.  Also, don't boil it too much!
Voila, a winter specialty.  Exactly what I need tonight.

Kimono

Something old (my mom's kimono), something new (a sash and a ribbon), something borrowed (the belt obi borrowed from a relative), and something blue (the sash).  My attire for a friend of mine's wedding (not mine).

I met an old lady in front of a second-hand kimono shop in the neighborhood.  The shop owner stepped out and there was a plate hanging on the door saying: "please call me at this number if you need anything urgently"  The lady said that the owner was supposed to be back 10 minutes earlier.  She looked very much like my great aunt who passed away last year.  It made me want to cry.
We were not particularly close, the aunt and me.  She was occasionally mean to my mom, but I liked her in an inescapable relatives way.
She didn't have any child of her own, so she treated us like her grandchildren in her sunny days.  She was thin and energetic and pretty loud, always made me feel ashamed at fancy restaurants.
Once I peeked her big closet.  She had lots of bags and shoes in matching colors, unlike myself.  I always buy brown leather bags although most of my shoes are black.  And I always regret it later.
Kimono shop was the kind of place you could bump into her.  She used to always dress up nicely.

Happy New Year! 謹賀新年

明けましておめでとうございます。本年もどうぞ宜しくお願いいたします。
Happy New Year!  Wish your year be like a piece of hand-made orange peel dipped in smooth dark chocolate!

年末年始、妹夫婦の家で満腹なほど赤ちゃんと犬犬と遊び、実家で脳ミソが蕩けるほどTVを見（といってもBS Hiのイタリア特集）、同僚のホームパーティーで楽しみ、なんとなく順調な滑り出しでした。
年賀状が一枚も出せませんでした。下さった方、どうもごめんなさい。来年は頑張ります。

My new year holidays went by in a blink - playing with my baby niece and dogs, watching TV and taking looong naps, enjoying a party at one of my colleagues' place.

引き続き体調が良いこともあり、楽しい計画が目白押しで全く仕事に集中できない今日この頃（昨日が仕事始めだけど）。今年は旅をし、旅をし、引越しをし、毛糸を消費し、本を読み、そしてなにより「造りだす」一年にしたいです。
My mind is still full of things that I want to try and places I want to visit this year, and I am having difficulty adjusting myself back in office.  I will go on a journey, take lots of short trips, move into a new place, attack my stash yarn, take adventure through great books, and above all, I want to create things.
I don't have any particular plan yet, but I feel that I cannot continue to work for an insurance company anymore.  It started to feel awkward.  The awkwardness may go away.  Though it may not.

急遽海外で着物を着ることになり、年末から着付けに通い始め特訓しています。お正月、実家で独り練習を試みましたが、途中で分からなくなり腕が後ろに上がらなくなり、挫折（そして横から口を出す母と喧嘩（笑））。でも２度目のレッスンでは最後まで辿り着きました。なんとかなりそう！
着物を着ることになってから色々と本を読んで研究しています。日本の美意識が詰まった着物の色合わせ、ため息が出るほど美しく、すっかりハマりそうです。

As reported earlier, I promised one of my best friends to wear a Kimono for her wedding in 3 weeks.  I started taking lessons a week ago (yes, you need to learn to wear them, like you learn how to drive).  I tried to practice on a new year's day, struggled, and my arms got too tired and I gave up half way.  It's so hard, yet a great fun.
I am reading a lot about kimonos these days.  The aesthetics of the art of kimonos is very different from that of modern fashion, and there are lots to learn.  There are many ugly ones out there, but the good ones are just so breathtaking.

ここ１〜２週間でもうひとつハマったもの、それはベートーヴェン・ウィルスという韓国ドラマです。評判通りの面白さ。「のだめ」のようなダメダメオーケストラの青春ストーリーですが、おふざけとウンチクが少なく、もっとマジメに人間ドラマです。のだめと違い豆知識は身に付きませんが、使われている音楽の音の良さ、アレンジの良さが気持ちよく、もっと素直に音楽に惹き込まれた気がします。
折しも、トリフォニーホールで「ベートーヴェン・プロジェクト」という企画が２月にあるのを発見。４日にわたりベートーヴェンの交響曲を１番から９番まで全部聴けるという奇跡のようなプロジェクトです。今日早速４回セットのチケットを購入してきました。リハも見せて貰える企画なのですが、なにしろオフィス・アワー真っただ中なので、仕事を３０分くらい抜け出すか悩み中です。楽しみ〜！
I am also into a Korean drama called Beethoven Virus.  If you like Asian dramas, I recommend this one.

韓国繋がりで、日経ビジネス・オンラインの連載を見つけました。隣の国でも日本と全然違って面白い。

それから今読んでいるKelly Linkの小説も、毎朝夕電車を乗り過ごしそうな面白さ。（これはまた別な機会に。）

９月にわたしの人生を変えてくれたSAW、今年のスケジュールがアップされ申し込み日が公開されました。今年も行きます！

最後に、今日見つけて腰を抜かした編みものプロジェクトを紹介。わたしもこんなの編みたい。
http://cauchycomplete.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/i-umm-knit-a-blanket/
I found this blanket project on Ravelry was completely knocked out.  I love love love it - I wish I could make one myself!

新年なので日本語でスタートしてみました。 なんとなく、集中の出来なさが伝わったでしょうか。
Last but not least, SAW registration will be open soon.  I decided to go back in September again.  This time I will extend my stay in New Hampshire and spend a few days with a friend, drive around New England, visit some Virginia Lee Burton places, and will take a letterpress class.  I can't wait!
So lots and lots of things to plan and to do, I can hardly concentrate on one thing right now.  I think I need a year off from work.  If I don't create now, I may burst or drown and die.