Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The First Creator's Demo - Hatsune Miku + Google Chorome
With this second project of google for Miku, the first one is now almost a legendary commercial of google chorome aired during new year's holiday, world viewers can watch all the creating process of Miku's songs and flims. Creators who join this project are called VocaloP (abbreviation of Vocaloid Producer), and they will be showcasing their creating style and actual creating scene directly from the site.
Names of creators are not dropped yet, we only can watch first demo-version on Youtube.
If you can correctly answer the name of the creator of this demo before it'll be revealed on 17th Mar, you can get some kinds of gifts, so you Miku fans must give it a try!!
Other works from this project will be released on Miku's google+ page.
Keep good work Google and VocaloPs!!
(source: eyescream)
Sudo Genki "World Order" joins Fashion Show in Seibu, Tokyo
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| source: SOGO and SEIBU |
Ikebukuro Seibu will hold a fashion show featuring handsome clothing shop staffs working there on 1st Mar. The performance unit "World Order" headed by former professional MMA fithter Sudo Genki will offer an opening act of this event. After the performance, they will join the judge of the fashion content, also a part of the event, along with audience to select the winner.
let's support this awesome group!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Jun Takahashi: My Thoughts on Collaboration with Uniqlo
Since the announcement of this project, I have heard a lot of opinions, both pro and con. Some say they can’t make heads or tails out of {can’t make heads or tails out of: something is too difficult or complicated for someone to understand} UNIQLO’s intention in partnering with UNDERCOVER, and others say they are expecting to see something truly innovative come out of this collaboration of polar opposites. It is only natural to think that opinions would be divided.
More than a year ago, when I first heard this talk, I questioned this project; to be honest, my first thought was “Why us?” It may be my personality, but at the same time, I felt a combination of apprehension and curiosity. At first, just to satisfy my curiosity, I wanted to hear from the people in charge who were really passionate.
Talks began with the reason for the request from UNIQLO, “We want the creations for the Japanese to reach people around the world.” To which I replied, “What should I do?” “What can we accomplish?” “Do we have anything in common, and if so what?” As I asked these questions I found myself gradually becoming interested in this project. We had several more discussions, as a result of which, an idea popped up almost simultaneously from both sides: “clothes for mom, dad and the children; clothes for the family.” We had found our common ground.
As far as children’s clothing is concerned, as UNDERCOVER announced some 10 years ago, because we were unable to balance production volume and cost, we had to sadly give up. My wife, RICO, did the designing. RICO is really fabulous at creating children’s clothes. One of the main reasons why I decided to do this project and resume making children’s clothes was the fact that the line had so many fans. Another big reason was that I wanted to offer our creations to people who until now had never heard of UNDERCOVER. In this regard, we have a bigger footprint than other brands. It would be a wonderful thing to have many people wearing the clothes I had designed. Price-wise and design-wise UNDERCOVER clothing was not for everyone, but now it could be.
That said, if I made such clothes with strong design elements that I have always done, this collaboration would never have come about. The basic idea of Uniqlo is “low priced products everyone can wear.” The role of UNDERCOVER is to add a little spice to that basic principle. You might say that adding a “spoonful of spice” is what this project is all about.
Some people might say that this project is not what UNDERCOVER is about; then again others might say it’s “just right.” Everyone has their opinion, so there are of course going to be pros and cons. The results of my spoonful of spice on our collaboration can be seen on the “uu” site and in our catalog. Designs recognizable by everyone. I thought at that time, what design can I infuse in basic clothing? It’s not going to work if you add too much or remove too much. Where do you stop? The first season was in a manner of speaking a series of trials and errors. The selection of fabrics and colors, cost vs. design, how to stay balanced and edgy. It meant using a totally different headset than before to design clothes for uu that are completely different from UNDERCOVER. It was a really difficult task.
Now all the designs for the second season have been finished. For me, in the second season I was able to finally get a feel for the shape of this collaboration. Last week, we already held the second season individual color sample approval meeting. (The approval meeting is where all the key members of the project, starting with President Yanai, meet to hear an explanation of the new products.) After running through the product descriptions, President Yanai said, “Truly amazing, I’m really impressed!” Looking at the second season, it seemed to me that President Yanai could see the part UNDERCOVER had played in the collaboration. At that moment I felt the question “What should I do for Uniqlo?” was clearly answered. It would appear my idea to “add a spoonful of spice” had been accepted. (I don’t know if 100%, but I just might ask President Yanai the next time I see him).
Whether or not this collaboration will continue in the future has not been decided yet, but in any case a new page in my life has been written. As always, I try my best and never cut corners.
A new endevor for a new era.
A project only UNDERCOVER can undertake.
“We offer families something positive in these tough times.” That is the thinking behind uu designs. I sincerely hope your family enjoys our clothes.
Jun Takahashi
More than a year ago, when I first heard this talk, I questioned this project; to be honest, my first thought was “Why us?” It may be my personality, but at the same time, I felt a combination of apprehension and curiosity. At first, just to satisfy my curiosity, I wanted to hear from the people in charge who were really passionate.
Talks began with the reason for the request from UNIQLO, “We want the creations for the Japanese to reach people around the world.” To which I replied, “What should I do?” “What can we accomplish?” “Do we have anything in common, and if so what?” As I asked these questions I found myself gradually becoming interested in this project. We had several more discussions, as a result of which, an idea popped up almost simultaneously from both sides: “clothes for mom, dad and the children; clothes for the family.” We had found our common ground.
As far as children’s clothing is concerned, as UNDERCOVER announced some 10 years ago, because we were unable to balance production volume and cost, we had to sadly give up. My wife, RICO, did the designing. RICO is really fabulous at creating children’s clothes. One of the main reasons why I decided to do this project and resume making children’s clothes was the fact that the line had so many fans. Another big reason was that I wanted to offer our creations to people who until now had never heard of UNDERCOVER. In this regard, we have a bigger footprint than other brands. It would be a wonderful thing to have many people wearing the clothes I had designed. Price-wise and design-wise UNDERCOVER clothing was not for everyone, but now it could be.
That said, if I made such clothes with strong design elements that I have always done, this collaboration would never have come about. The basic idea of Uniqlo is “low priced products everyone can wear.” The role of UNDERCOVER is to add a little spice to that basic principle. You might say that adding a “spoonful of spice” is what this project is all about.
Some people might say that this project is not what UNDERCOVER is about; then again others might say it’s “just right.” Everyone has their opinion, so there are of course going to be pros and cons. The results of my spoonful of spice on our collaboration can be seen on the “uu” site and in our catalog. Designs recognizable by everyone. I thought at that time, what design can I infuse in basic clothing? It’s not going to work if you add too much or remove too much. Where do you stop? The first season was in a manner of speaking a series of trials and errors. The selection of fabrics and colors, cost vs. design, how to stay balanced and edgy. It meant using a totally different headset than before to design clothes for uu that are completely different from UNDERCOVER. It was a really difficult task.
Now all the designs for the second season have been finished. For me, in the second season I was able to finally get a feel for the shape of this collaboration. Last week, we already held the second season individual color sample approval meeting. (The approval meeting is where all the key members of the project, starting with President Yanai, meet to hear an explanation of the new products.) After running through the product descriptions, President Yanai said, “Truly amazing, I’m really impressed!” Looking at the second season, it seemed to me that President Yanai could see the part UNDERCOVER had played in the collaboration. At that moment I felt the question “What should I do for Uniqlo?” was clearly answered. It would appear my idea to “add a spoonful of spice” had been accepted. (I don’t know if 100%, but I just might ask President Yanai the next time I see him).
Whether or not this collaboration will continue in the future has not been decided yet, but in any case a new page in my life has been written. As always, I try my best and never cut corners.
A new endevor for a new era.
A project only UNDERCOVER can undertake.
“We offer families something positive in these tough times.” That is the thinking behind uu designs. I sincerely hope your family enjoys our clothes.
Jun Takahashi
The First Starbucks Produced by Hiroshi Fujiwara Opens in Omotesando
Located between Shibuya and Harajuku, Omotesando is the most fashionable street in bustling Tokyo. It's physical configuration is something like Orchard St. in Singapore, but this place is not just about collection of world famous commercial symbols, but has a bunch of people who lead it's culture not from the cozy office in skyscrapers but from street sides where underground culture is born.
Hiroshi Fujiwara is one of the key persons of Street culture in Tokyo. Unlike Nigo or Jun Takahashi, he is not a designer nor an artist. But everything he touch transforms into stylish, something we've accustomed to as cool stuffs from Tokyo.
Starbucks, well known for it's hungry BUSINESS spirit, understandably tries to exploit this core Tokyo street culture scene. Collaborating with Hiroshi, they renovate their existing Omotesando B-side shop and will open the new conceptual store on 31th Mar.
Cozy color tone, relaxing music, special menus exclusive to this store, this space is expected to be a favorite chilling space for shoppers and staffs working for neighbourhood shops.
The theme of this renovation is "nature and relax". This is a first time Starbucks invite producers from outside the corporation, and first time for Fujiwara to produce cafe a design, too. "I feel I'm impressed by Starbuck's corporate spirit of ambitiousness to try something totally new such as 'Break the rules'. This place is one block inside the busy Omotesando street so it's relaxing although the fact that it'a very urban place." Hiroshi said. He's also involved in the selection of BGM and menu. His favorite menu is Shaken Orange Jasmine tea (\420 - approx $5) made from a blend of herb tea and fresh fruit juice.
Starbucks and Hiroshi will continue their collaboration and will be extended to Mug design or live music event etc.
(source from Fashionsnap)
Read more...
Hiroshi Fujiwara is one of the key persons of Street culture in Tokyo. Unlike Nigo or Jun Takahashi, he is not a designer nor an artist. But everything he touch transforms into stylish, something we've accustomed to as cool stuffs from Tokyo.Starbucks, well known for it's hungry BUSINESS spirit, understandably tries to exploit this core Tokyo street culture scene. Collaborating with Hiroshi, they renovate their existing Omotesando B-side shop and will open the new conceptual store on 31th Mar.
Cozy color tone, relaxing music, special menus exclusive to this store, this space is expected to be a favorite chilling space for shoppers and staffs working for neighbourhood shops.
The theme of this renovation is "nature and relax". This is a first time Starbucks invite producers from outside the corporation, and first time for Fujiwara to produce cafe a design, too. "I feel I'm impressed by Starbuck's corporate spirit of ambitiousness to try something totally new such as 'Break the rules'. This place is one block inside the busy Omotesando street so it's relaxing although the fact that it'a very urban place." Hiroshi said. He's also involved in the selection of BGM and menu. His favorite menu is Shaken Orange Jasmine tea (\420 - approx $5) made from a blend of herb tea and fresh fruit juice.
Starbucks and Hiroshi will continue their collaboration and will be extended to Mug design or live music event etc.
Starbucks Mug Cup with the logo of Omotesando B-store exclusive to this store will go on sale from 27th June.
(source from Fashionsnap)
Kengo Kuma Meets Starbucks
(via Architizer)
Kuma Kengo (Kengo Kuma in Anglo name order) is a Japanese famous architect, who designed this unique Starbucks shop in Dazaifu, Fukuoka. His obsessiveness of Paticlization has long been obvious from his works such as Hiroshige Museum, Asahi Broadcasting HQ, or River/Filter. Personally his best work is Hiroshige museum by far, but in each work he aimed at different goals so it's difficult to tell from object itself without context.I always think what separate designers and Architects... it's difficult to put into words but Kuma's work tells that difference the best for me. Architects like him, They always care the context of the city. This shop is faced to the approach to the iconic shrine Dazaifu-Tenmangu, so he tried to add traditional structure here, but at the same time, try to diffuse it into the typical cheap Japanese cityscape. The frame of this shop is identical to the archetype of Japanese low-budget city housings, among which this tiny architecture fits in.
Two back gardens and a cherry tree are put in this narrow deep land plot expecting to be a community space for the local people and who come to visit the shrine.
So far this is the best-designed Starbucks in Japan.
Slideshow - click to start
Hatsune Miku Google Chrome Theme "Tell Your World" Full Version finally released!!
Hatsune Miku made my heart by this song...
I have something to deliver you....(Kimi ni todoketaimonoga....)
A full length Music Video of The famous tune from Google Chrome commercial, which has on aired nationwide in Japan, has finally, finally been released just one day before the release of Livetune's new album "Tell Your World EP".
This video is a collaborative work of several top creators. See the colorful tone, sharp move, dreamy effect, we can't expect more from this video. The good news is the first limited edition of "Tell Your World EP" is packed with DVD of music videos in the album.
Began from the New Year Holiday's Google Commercial to NHK's special program to various TV programs, Miku suddenly starts growing beyond the small online world of Youtube and Otaku community to mainstream. Maybe or most probably we can see her the Japanese version of Grammy award at this year end?? But before that, what about London Olympic??? YAY.
(source: Natalie)
Tracklist
| 1. | [CD] Tell Your World | [Disc 1] TELL YOUR WORLD |
| 2. | [CD] Far Away | [Disc 1] FAR AWAY |
| 3. | [CD] Star Story | [Disc 1] STAR STORY |
| 4. | [CD] Half Step | [Disc 1] HALF STEP |
| 5. | [CD] Fly Out | [Disc 1] FLY OUT |
| 6. | [CD] ジュビリー | [Disc 1] JUBILEE |
| 7. | [CD] Tell Your World (Panda BoY Remix) | [Disc 1] TELL YOUR WORLD |
| 8. | [CD] Tell Your World (open the scenery rmx by fu_mou) | [Disc 1] TELL YOUR WORLD |
| 9. | [DVD] Tell Your World -Music Clip- | [Disc 2] TELL YOUR WORLD |
| 10. | [DVD] Tell Your World -Trailer movie- | [Disc 2] TELL YOUR WORLD |
Slideshow - click to start
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
M.A.G. - Miko Action Game for Smartphones
"巫女 Miko" is a Japanese word describe a woman who can communucate with the spirit world of Gods, but in modern days, this word almost always means a woman who work at Shinto shirine, for example those girls who wear stunningly clean and beautiful traditional clothes, sit at the counter of shirine's office as a receptionist, sometimes help visiters buy goods. Exactly the girls you see in the blow picture.
Not to mention, Miko is a famous object for Otaku's craving, because overlapping of sacred elements and esthetics of Japanese traditional attire stirs up something in their minds. Yes, you can guess it's a kind of forbidden adore.
"M.A.G", the title of this exciting simple scroll action shooting game, is an abbreviation of Miko Action Game.
Read more...
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| Girls work at a shrine's store selling religious goods on New Years Eve |
"M.A.G", the title of this exciting simple scroll action shooting game, is an abbreviation of Miko Action Game.
Toaru Majutsu no Index Alarm App for iPhone
Cute Amine Girls games, or Moege are all about (virtual) interaction with Anime girls. Whether it's a high school drama style sweet story or SF style or an ancient saga in which usually players embark on a mission to defeat an evil empire like Final Fantasy in it's early days, what we (or I..) expect is how well the game satisfy or provoke something sexual in us with whatever stories...
But, of course not all Anime fans have sexually quirks. Just like putting intricate figure dolls on your desk shelf, you just want having fun talking to, cooking with the girls, or maybe you want them to wake you up in a dull morning...
This is again an alarm-clock app of a character from a famous anime called 'Toaru Majutsu no Index (A Forbidden Tome of A Certain Magic or A Certain Magical Index)'.
As you don't wake up and keep the girl from having breakfast (because she has to wake you up, you know she is so loyal), she is getting hungry and angry. For some reason she describe how she is hungry in numbers, like "I'm 22.5 % hungry!!". This number indicates how long you took to wake up after the alarm. Somehow her reaction may tempt you to try to leave her until she gets 100% hungry...
This app is priced at 600yen(apprx $7.5), which is a bit expensive or a right price (it also has a voice library and stock wallpapers)? How do you think?
*I could't confirm this app is available in U.S. iTunes.
Read more...
But, of course not all Anime fans have sexually quirks. Just like putting intricate figure dolls on your desk shelf, you just want having fun talking to, cooking with the girls, or maybe you want them to wake you up in a dull morning...
This is again an alarm-clock app of a character from a famous anime called 'Toaru Majutsu no Index (A Forbidden Tome of A Certain Magic or A Certain Magical Index)'.
As you don't wake up and keep the girl from having breakfast (because she has to wake you up, you know she is so loyal), she is getting hungry and angry. For some reason she describe how she is hungry in numbers, like "I'm 22.5 % hungry!!". This number indicates how long you took to wake up after the alarm. Somehow her reaction may tempt you to try to leave her until she gets 100% hungry...
This app is priced at 600yen(apprx $7.5), which is a bit expensive or a right price (it also has a voice library and stock wallpapers)? How do you think?
*I could't confirm this app is available in U.S. iTunes.
Friday, March 09, 2012
A Photographer - Mount Fuji 1
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| Spring Lakeside |
Since this is a broad topic, I write several posts on different topics of Mountain faith and culture of Fuji. Make sure to check out articles come later ;)
In this post I introduce you to the photographer who had been obsessed with Fuji for his whole life. His name is Okada Kohyo.
Okada Kohyo
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| This photo "Yamanami - Mountain Wave" was exhibited at British Museum in 2006, as an image of Japan |
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| Kohyo - Koh yoh - Red Sunlight |
Kohyo, who started photographing Fuji while he was a university student had been a contracted photographer for Tokyo metropolitan government. At the request from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he held a number of exhibitions abroad, letting world know the word Fujiyama.
It is said that Kohyo took 380thousands (gasp!) of original photos of Mount Fuji. But among these none could reach the goal set by himself. He boasted, 'None of my pictures are what I can call Masterpiece', and called Mount Fuji 'My Girl'.
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| Mount Fuji is printed on current 1000 yen notes and previous 5000 yen notes. |
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