This past weekend I headed out to Ginza to see the “Form of Light” exhibit by Takahashi Nobuyuki and Tamura Satomi. It’s located in the Pola building right next to the Ginza 1-chome station, but it’s an easy 8 minute walk from Yurakucho on Yamanote as well. It opens at 10:00am and closes at 7:00pm every day except the last day (closing time is 5:00pm).

There were maybe 40 vibrantly colored photos in all covering various seasons and themes. I was especially fond of the night-time photographs, but that’s because I’m easily amused by shiny objects and moons that take up half the sky. I’d maybe talk about a few of the photos in particular, but the artists saw fit to use kanji that hasn’t seen the light of day in 600 years to describe their work, and I don’t have a Japanese Rosetta Stone handy.

This particular exhibit caught my eye for another reason - it’s one of the few photography exhibits dealing with nature that are open on Sundays, when I chose to go. And with a price tag of 0 yen, it’s the perfect start to a date. My girlfriend, whose enthusiasm for bright colors and sunsets somehow dwarfs my own, thought it was a great idea. I scored “cultured guy” and “mysterious artsy guy” points simultaneously.

The exhibit ends on 2/26, so I recommend you head down there now if you’re looking for a change of pace, or if you just happen to like photography. You can also check out Tokyo Art Beat for more information on current and upcoming art events in Tokyo.

An ad-woman of lottery.

I don’t buy any lottery these days.
Because, it seems impossible to win the lottery for me.

However, of course, there are many people who buy it. yes, many…many ?

Tokyo station again, near the Yaesu North Entrance.
Wow……Its chocolate-look-wall kiosk. I LOVE IT !

Doujinshi is a fan fic by amateurs written in comic styles. Anything goes on doujinshi, erotic or pornographic mostly, making the chracters play out the writers’ fantasies. In Impending Doujinshi website, you can get a glimpse of the Harry Potter doujinshi series in English. Like Harry in love with Malfoy. Something seriously wrong awaits you..

Akira Ifukube (伊福部 昭）
It was yesterday’s night.
May his soul rest in peace.

If you don’t know his name, you may listen to roar of Godzilla, or a soundtrack of Godzilla film.
I think, most of Japanese people love Godzilla.

Via kungfootv’s flickr photostream

iPods on sale at the local combini (how they call convenience stores here in Japan). Well, this is something I can get used to:

Hot Pepper.

The TV commercials for Hot Pepper, a monthly and free coupon magazine, are a stroke of genius. The basic recipe is a) create or find a scene, b) write a script that matches, but doesn’t match, and c) add Japanese voiceovers.

Example: Horror Movie.

Guy A is obviously either dead or dying and his friends Guy B and Girl A run up to see if he is really dead. Guy B, not dead, shakes Guy A, who could be dead, and shouts something. Girl A, alive, shouts something and Guy B looks at Girl A. Guy B then turns back to Guy A and says something. This process repeats. Standard horror movie fodder. The catch is what is being said in Japanese.

• Guy B to Guy A (Dying or dead.): May I take your order? Gumbo for three, right?
• Girl A to Guy A: Thank you for your order!
• Guy B to Guy A: She’s new, so her timing is a bit off.
• Girl A to Guy A: Table for three! (This is normally shouted for the benefit of the staff.)
• Guy B to Girl A: They are already in and seated. (seated being implied.)
• Girl A to Guy A: How about some potatoes!
• Guy B to Guy A: You have Hot Pepper coupons, right?

Hot Pepper Commercials for your Downloading Pleasure! My personal favorite. He makes another appearance here. Poor guy.

Hot Pepper is published by RECRUIT.

Plethora.

RECRUIT publishes magazines covering a variety of areas:

• Human Resources.
• Learning.
• Housing.
• Domestic Travel.
• Overseas Travel.
• Weddings, childbirth and rearing.
• Automobiles.
• Miscellaneous marketing solutions. Hot Pepper is here.

That’s just about everything, yes?

Technorati Tags: dailylife

Today, on my way to office after a meeting with our customer, I came across a お米ギャラリー東京駅(Rice Gallery in Tokyo Station) inside Yaesu Central Entrance of Tokyo Station.

This is the gallery of rice, Japanese Soul Food :D
They sell several kinds of rice there, for example, red rice, black rice, etc… They also sell cosmetics made from rice.
But, the most fantastic thing is, about 100 Recipe Cards for free there !! Recipes are divide into four-season, using each season’s vegetable or fish or meat.
Unfortunately, these recipe cards are all written in Japanese…but I think it is not difficult to translate them into English, of course much easier to expalin them in person.
So, if you have friends who can read Japanese, there is no problem. Let’s go there and pick cards up ;)

In addition, there is a small Onigiri(rice ball) Shop next to the gallery.
Eating in or Taking away, both available as you wish.

I went to Gyoza Tengoku (Gyoza Heaven or Gyoza Paradise or whatever) on Friday with friend. It was first time I had big gyoza, I enjoyed it very much! Of course I had chuhi too, it plused my happiness.
We ordered cheese, vege and shrimp. All of them were good. I want to try garlic sometime, but maybe everybody on way to home will hate me. heh.It is located about 7mins from Tachikawa station. English menu is available.

you can see duty hour here. http://www.geocities.jp/gyoza1059/

A snapshot of the crowd and environs at the opening party for the Canadian Style event at Cafe Pause in Ikebukuro.