Posted at Open For Design, a quick overview of the most famous, freakish and flashy candidates in Japan's gubernatorial elections last Sunday - i.e. Kisho Kurokawa, Koichi Toyama, Dr. NakaMats, and the Great Sasuke (Masanori Murakawa).
It's been a while since I've posted about the weekly Open for Design blog, which has continued with the monthly themes listed below.
January: Imperfection
> Luck of the draw - New Year's in Japan and the sacred lottery "omikuji"
> Imperfect by design - my first flat in Tokyo and Swedish design team Front
> Imperfect match - the Chanel & Bearbrick windows in Ginza
> Perfectly imperfect - graffiti at the streetwear shows
> Beauty & the Bead - exhibition at the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam
February: Inspiration
> Inspiration Rx - where does inspiration come from?
> Play - Copenhagen's Experimentarium
> Pecha Kucha - technicolour cerebral shake-up
> Hardwired - is there a little bit of "Rain Man" in everyone?
March: Line
> An absurd little bird - my love of cuckoo clocks
> Traditional Japanese Joinery 101
> Staying in the Game - hairlines and retirement in sumo
> La Linea - saluting Osvaldo Cavandoli
...and now April deals with provocation. My post this week, "Hey, that's no way to say good-bye," was spurred on by Keith Richards' chatter about snorting his dad's ashes.
Just in time for spring... new Rezidents wallpaper for the PSP. In three colours - pink, blue and grey. Collect them all!
p.s. Get the first one here.
New fellows in the studio! The puzzle is called "shokka-mania" and includes 21 nacho libres in black that can be grouped in a number of different formations ...
Yesterday's warmer weather brought us to the park for a little birthday picnic, and we were joined by this beautiful egret who rooted through the rushes for its own lunch.
Back in Tokyo's milder weather, looking forward to hanami. In the shops, strawberry candy packaged in cherry blossom motifs.
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday in the US, my post this week at Open For Design is up early. About me, gachapon, and how plastic has heart.
Got this Japanese thimble yesterday. Super deluxe.
Reminds me of a knight’s armour. Or medieval torture device.
click to enlarge
The mosquitoes around me have been on a feeding frenzy.
Looking for a cure for insect bites, I remembered this photo-illustration I did as part of a series of 12 (as “Happy 2006/Greetings from Japan” gifts to friends back home). These are based on snapshots I have taken in Japan.
Unlike in Tokyo, where billboard space is at a premium, small towns seem to keep their advertising up much longer. The mosquito lotion ad (above) was taken in the middle of winter, in a town with one main street.
An ad for a “genki” drink, silkscreened on metal, rusting in a rather inconvenient place.
Would ad execs allow this in the city?
A rain pipe obscures this man’s trilby as well as the product he’s advertising.
Not to worry, we can still see the logo...
Sticker for Asahi draft, peeling off the side of a cart.
This man is obviously violating the rules of propriety. The pointing finger chastises his behaviour as ”BAD!” and warns that ”this is not a toilet.”
Snapped in a Tokyo subway station.
Note: This entry was inspired by the people at pingmag.
