Recently I stumbled upon this interesting and funny Japanese word play called “駄洒落” (Dajare). According to Wikipedia, Dajare is similar in spirit to an English pun relying on similarities in the pronunciation of words to create a simple joke. Below are some of the interesting examples that I found from various websites. Please have a look! 😀
Romaji – Arumi kan no ue ni aru mikan.
Meaning – An orange on an aluminum can.
Trey Ratcliff, also known as Stuck in Customs, a world famous HDR photographer, was recently visited Japan for travel and photography opportunities. And he posted up a set of Japan photos that he took on his Flickr page and all I had to say is the pictures are stunning and almost took my breath away!
Wow, I really amazed by the colors and the textures captured. Have to be impressed by his creativity and unique eye of photography. Below are some of the shots from the set. Be sure to check out more of his other breathtaking HDR photos at Stuck in Customs.
Here I present you the useful Tokyo Train Map! This map is written in Japanese and feel free to download or print it for your own usage. The map will be very useful for people who wants to travel in Tokyo by train. Look at the complicity of the route, but the train system will bring you everywhere!
By the way, you can also use this useful site to check the available train services to go certain places in Japan. Just key in where you are from and the destination you want to go, and it will generate route for you. I used that to confirm my train route and it is really handy!
I had been watching Japanese dramas for a while and definitely I won’t miss out the current season dramas. The current season is Spring season and it actually going to enter the 2nd half of the season. I watched a couple of shows and would like to share which drama I quite enjoy watching it.
First is Shiroi Haru. The story involves around Haruo, a former yakuza member who is just released from prison after completing his sentence. With nine years worth of prison gratuities in hand, he stops at a restaurant to enjoy a good meal, but all of his money ends up being stolen. With nothing left, he spends the night at a net cafe, and he manages to look up his old friend from his yakuza days.
Recently one big news that happened in Japan entertainment industry is the suspicion on public indecency by one of the member of popular music group SMAP, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi. Actually I was shocked when reading the news because his image has been positive, and I really like him. He already made his apology statement the day after being arrested and he said that he was dead drunk and deeply embarrassed on what he had done.
His action was being criticized by many people including Minister Kunio Hatoyama. On the other hand, people with quick business mind starts to produce tee shirt with “What’s wrong being naked” typography printed to put on sale, because he was reported that he said that to a police officer. Well I think he was quite pitiful and hopefully this thing won’t happen again. He has to know, he is a well known celebrity and things like this will sure being made huge by the medias and the chain reactions will appear.
My support to him. FIGHT!
Credits:
Tsuyoshi_Kusanagi – Wikipedia
Tsuyoshi Kusanagi apologizes for alleged indecency – Youtube
Hadaka ni natte nani ga warui – ClubT
Click the picture link above to have a look to the pictures I took when visiting Japan. Well, I was just hanging around Tokyo and the cities around like Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara, Yokohama, Mount Fuji etc. To be honest, a week in Tokyo is so not enough time to explore, but indeed it was a enjoyable trip.
I am really amazed with the train system in Japan because the network is massive and you can just go anywhere in Tokyo by train and foot. It is so convenient and fast. Really like their trains. Not forget about sakura! It was beautiful and unfortunately the time I came to Japan, many of the trees are still not in full bloom yet but well it’s still great.
It is really a nice trip and I met a few Malaysians too and really nice meeting them. Hopefully we will be gathered again some time in future and I shall explore more places besides Tokyo. 😀
Yay! My first post after came back from vacation. During the trip to Japan I went to two big art event in Tokyo, one is 101Tokyo at Akiba Square and Art Fair Tokyo at Tokyo International Forum. Both art fairs are astonishing and I’m really impressed about the quality of the art works displayed and the atmosphere and activeness in art community. Well there is one artist that gave me the most visual impact is Kazuki Takamatsu and his style “Distanfeerism”.
Mr. Kazuki was born in 1978 and was graduated in Tohoku University of Art and Design. When I visiting his booth, I was stunned with the uniqueness of his artwork. From far I thought it was a digital painting, but actually it was hand painted! His works are mainly monochrome based too, and normally featuring a young female character, table lamp, buildings and plants etc.
Actually his painting giving me sense of surrealism and ambiguous depth. The term “Distanfeerism” until now I still don’t really catch the meaning. But indeed his work is one of a kind and cool! More of his information and artworks can be found at Gallery Tomura Page and his own personal site.
All pictures are property of Kazuki Takamatsu.
In 2007, I posted a blog post about 4 Japan web design galleries that worth visiting to introduce web design showcase sites that is from Japan which showcases nice Japanese web designs. Since then, I found more Japan web galleries and would like to add them up to the list.
In my opinion, Japanese websites are nice, clean and functional. I think it’s good to study how they construct the website, dealing with white spaces and typography treatment. Although we can see that there is certain cliches in them but I think perhaps for Japanese, those format are the most functional to them? Below are the 5 web design galleries that I want to introduce today.
Remember this song “Chiisana Koi no Uta (小さな恋の歌)” ? It’s a love song sang by MONGOL800 and it became widely known because of the drama Operation Love. The song was released in year 2001 and actually it also sang by other artists as cover song, and I found six of them.
Although they are singing the same song, but each of them portray the song differently with different singing style and music. Some are quite light and easy and some are sorrow. Below is the music list of the covers as well as the original version. So, which one do you like?
小さな恋の歌
作詩：Kiyosaku Uezu 作曲：MONGOL800
広い宇宙の数ある一つ 青い地球の広い世界で
小さな恋の思いは届く 小さな島のあなたのもとへ
あなたと出会い 時は流れる 思いを込めた手紙もふえる
いつしか二人互いに響く 時に激しく 時に切なく
響くは遠く 遥か彼方へ やさしい歌は世界を変える
ほら あなたにとって大事な人ほど すぐそばにいるの
ただ あなたにだけ届いて欲しい 響け恋の歌あなたは気づく 二人は歩く暗い道でも 日々照らす月
握りしめた手 離すことなく 思いは強く 永遠誓う
永遠の淵 きっと僕は言う 思い変わらず同じ言葉を
それでも足りず 涙にかわり 喜びになり
言葉にできず ただ抱きしめる夢ならば覚めないで 夢ならば覚めないで
あなたと過ごした時 永遠の星となる
ほら あなたにとって大事な人ほど すぐそばにいるの
ただ あなたにだけ届いて欲しい 響け恋の歌Romaji
hiroi sekai no kazu aru hitotsu aoi chikyuu no hiroi sekai de
chiisana koi no omoi wa todoku chiisana shima no anata no moto eanata to deai toki wa nagareru
omoi wo kometa tegami mo fueru
itsushika futari tagai ni hibiku
toki ni hageshiku toki ni setsunakuhibiku wa tooku haruka kanata e
yasashii uta wa sekai wo kaeruhora anata ni totte daiji na hito hodo sugu soba ni iru no
tada anata ni dake todoite hoshii
hora hora hora
hibike koi no utaanata wa kizuku futari wa aruku kurai michi demo hibi terasu tsuki
nigirishimeta te hanasu koto naku omoi wa tsuyoku eien chikau
eien no fuchi kitto boku wa iu omoikawarazu onaji kotoba wo
soredemo tarizu namida ni kawari
yorokobi ni nari
kotoba ni dekizu
tada dakishimeru
tada dakishimeruhora anata ni totte daiji na hito hodo sugu soba ni iru no
tada anata ni dake todoite hoshii
hora hora hora
hibike koi no utayume naraba samenaide
yume naraba samenaide
anata to sugoshita toki eien no hoshi to naruhora anata ni totte daiji na hito hodo sugu soba ni iru no
tada anata ni dake todoite hoshii
hora hora hora
hibike koi no utahora anata ni totte daiji na hito hodo sugu soba ni iru no
tada anata ni dake todoite hoshii
hora hora hora
hibike koi no utaEnglish Translation
On wide blue Earth, just one of many in a large universe
These little thoughts of love will reach the small island where you areSince we met, some time has passed
The pile of letters that express my thoughts has also grown
Before we knew it, we were echoing one another
At times, intensely.. and at other times, painfullyThe echo travels far, far away
A gentle song can change the worldLook, the one who is precious is already right beside you
I just want this song to reach you
Look, look, look
This song of love will echo far and wideYou notice that the moon shines over even the darkest streets we walk together
Without ever letting go of the hand in mine, I firmly pledge an eternity
In the depths of eternity I know that I’ll say those same words once more, my feelings unwavering
But even that won’t be enough, and the words will turn into tears, and then a joy that can’t be expressed in words
I’ll just hold you tightly
I’ll just hold you tightlyLook, for you, the one who is precious is already right beside you
I just want this song to reach you
Look, look, look
This song of love will echo far and wideIf this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up
If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up
The time I spent with you will become an eternal starLook, the one who is precious is already right beside you
I just want this song to reach you
Look, look, look
This song of love will echo far and wideLook, the one who is precious is already right beside you
I just want this song to reach you
Look, look, look
This song of love will echo far and wide
Recently I came across this interesting video of photo collages of Japan that was taken by Eric Testroete during his trip to Japan for about three weeks. The photos was presented in a quick way together with the great music which makes it like a stop frame motion. Very inspirational and real. The photos can be found here. This video makes me wanted to go Japan already.