Archives: ‘Art/Culture’ Category

Mecha art by Naochika Morishita

15 Sep 2010

Hagane Bito, a book of collected works by freelance artist Naochika Morishita, is teeming with illustrations of anime robots. Here are a few.

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Gundam heads

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Daijyushin

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Gundam

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
GM Custom

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Gundam vs. Elmeth

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Jaburo

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Jaburo-2

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Z Mobile Suit-2

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Dom

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Wing Gundam Zero Custom

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
MagiDragon

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Scopedog and Berserga

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Dom Tropen

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
V Gundam RX-93 Nu Gundam (Thanks, Ian!)

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Cockpit

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Scopedog

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
GM vs. Zaku

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Gouf

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
GM Cold District Type

Mecha illustration by Naochika Morishita --
Gundam RX-78-2

[More: OZKai, ! * `n@men!cht ]

Addictive ads, 1894-1954

14 Sep 2010

Here is a collection of Japanese advertisements for drinks and smokes (1894-1954).

Vintage ad --
Hero Cigarettes, 1894

Vintage ad --
Tokio Beer, 1896-1906

Vintage ad --
Chūyū Cigarettes, 1900

Vintage ad --
Peacock Cigarettes, 1902

Vintage ad --
Kabuto Beer, 1911

Vintage ad --
Dai Nippon Brewery Company, 1912

Vintage ad --
Kembang Beer (Sakura Beer export label), 1912-1916

Vintage ad --
Sakura Beer, 1924

Vintage ad --
Umegatani sake, 1926

Vintage ad --
Sakura Beer, 1928-1932

Vintage ad --
Cascade Beer, 1929

Vintage ad --
Yebisu Beer, 1930

Vintage ad --
Minori Cigarettes, 1930

Vintage ad -- Vintage ad --
"Tobacco Profits for National Defense" Week, 1930 // Hibiki Cigarettes, 1932

Vintage ad --
Urara Cigarettes, 1932

Vintage ad --
Kirin Beer, 1933

Vintage ad --
Zuigan sake, 1934

Vintage ad --
Takara shōchū, 1935-1938

Vintage ad --
Gekkeikan sake, 1935-1938

Vintage ad --
"Defense for country, tobacco for society" (South Kyoto Tobacco Sellers' Union), 1937

Vintage ad --
Sakura Beer, 1938

Vintage ad --
Kirin Beer, 1939

Vintage ad --
Anti-black market poster (violators face 3 years in prison, 50,000 yen fine), 1948

Vintage ad --
Message from Japan Monopoly Corporation, 1954

[Sources: Tabako Omoshiro Catalog Zukan (Kodansha, 1987) and Meiji/Taisho/Showa O-Sake No Hōkoku Graffiti (Kokusho, 2006)]

Video: Surreal animation by Naoyuki Tsuji

10 Sep 2010

Here is an excerpt from artist Naoyuki Tsuji's "A Feather Stare at the Dark" (2003), a simplistic, yet hauntingly surreal, hand-drawn animation made from charcoal drawings.


+ Video

A unique characteristic of Tsuji's minimalist style is that each frame is created by partially erasing and redrawing the scene on the same sheet of paper. Traces of the previous frames remain visible as the dream-like action unfolds, creating an uncanny sense of motion and the passage of time.

Video: Inter // States

08 Sep 2010

Inter // States is the latest Tokyo time-lapse piece by photographer Samuel Cockedey. The soundtrack is "Paradigm Flux (Tokyo Cut)" by Woob, from the new "Paradigm Flux" EP (listen).

Medical woodblock prints from 19th-century Japan

06 Sep 2010

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) maintains a collection of 400 health-themed woodblock prints from 19th-century Japan. The collection -- which includes drug advertisements, illustrated instructions for treating and preventing contagious diseases, and visual guides to the human body -- offers a unique look at Japanese medical knowledge in the late Edo and early Meiji periods. Here are a few images from the collection.

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Ad for Kinder-Puwder, King of Pediatric Drugs -- Morikawa Chikashige, 1880 [+]

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Chasing measles away -- Utagawa Yoshimori, 1862

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Ten realms within the body -- Utagawa Kuniteru III, c. 1885 [+]

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Pills to cure toxic illnesses such as syphilis and gonorrhea -- Artist unknown, late 19th century

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Protective gods help good drugs fight evil disease -- Utagawa Yoshikazu, 1858 [+]

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Hōsō-e talisman print to ward off smallpox -- Artist unknown, c. 1849

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Ad for drug to improve handwriting and reading skills -- Utagawa Yoshitsuya, 1862

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Foods that can be eaten by measles patients -- Utagawa Yoshimori, 1860s

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Pregnancy guide -- Hamano Teisuke, 1880 [+]

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Eye, ear, nose and hand -- Ochiai Yoshiiku, c. 1865

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Defeating cholera -- Kimura Takejiro, 1886 [+]

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Hōsō-e talisman print to ward off smallpox -- Utagawa Toyohisa II, c. 1830

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Three mighty men conquering measles -- Ochiai Yoshiiku, 1870s [+]

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Measles treatment -- Ochiai Yoshiiku, 1862

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Teaching on harmonious body and mind -- Utagawa Yoshikatsu, 1850 [+]

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Measles-themed hand game -- Utagawa Yoshitsuya, 1862

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Illustrated guide to parental obligations -- Utagawa Yoshitora, 1880 [+]

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Shinto god from Izumo province for preventing measles -- Taiso Yoshitoshi, 1862

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Seller of eyeglasses -- Katsushika Hokusai, c. 1811-1814

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Hōsō-e talisman print to ward off smallpox -- Utagawa Yoshitsuru, c. 1849

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Illustrated account of cholera prevention -- Taiso Yoshitoshi, 1877 [+]

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Bodily functions personified as popular kabuki actors -- Artist unknown, late 19th century [+]

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Methods for preventing measles -- Utagawa Fusatane, 1858 [+]

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Defeating measles (personified as a child) -- Utagawa Yoshifuji, c. 1840

Health-themed ukiyoe print --
Pregnant women playing in summer heat (5 heads, 10 bodies) -- Utagawa Kunitoshi, 1881 [+]

[Link: UCSF Japanese Woodblock Print Collection]

Ultra Monster paintings by Toshio Okazaki

01 Sep 2010

A pair of action-packed Ultraman Monster paintings by Toshio Okazaki were published in Shōgakukan's 1979 edition of Ultra Kaiju (Shōgakukan Nyūmon Hyakka Series #97).

Ultra kaiju painting by Toshio Okazaki --
[+]

Ultra kaiju painting by Toshio Okazaki --
[+]

Ultra kaiju painting by Toshio Okazaki --
Alien Guts, Windam, Gyango, Black End, Kingsaurus III, Bemstar

Ultra kaiju painting by Toshio Okazaki --
Alien Icarus, Gomora, Muruchi, Alien Baltan, Alien Magma, Kemular

Ultra kaiju painting by Toshio Okazaki --
Dancan, Giradorus, Astromons

Ultra kaiju painting by Toshio Okazaki --
Gandar, Gabora, Alien Metron, Agira, Antlar, Seabozu, Woo

Ultra kaiju painting by Toshio Okazaki --
Gubira, Takkong, Pestar, Gamakujira, Bemular

Ultra kaiju painting by Toshio Okazaki --
Eleking, Alien Kuuru, King Joe, Zemistiar

Ultra kaiju painting by Toshio Okazaki --
Geronimon, Jirass, Alien Pegassa, Dino-Tank

Ultra kaiju painting by Toshio Okazaki --
Pegassa, Hydra, Black King, Mephilas, Verokron, Starbem Gyeron, Red King, Dorako, Godola

[Source: Ultra Kaiju (Shōgakukan Nyūmon Hyakka Series #97), 1979]

Photos: Good Design Expo 2010

30 Aug 2010

Good Design 2010 --

This year's Good Design Expo, which took place at Tokyo Big Sight over the weekend (Aug 27-29), showcased over 2,000 design-conscious items under consideration for the 2010 Good Design Award. Here are photos of a few items that were on display.

Good Design 2010 --
Goya de Goya: Goya (a.k.a. bitter melon) planter bag that resembles a giant goya (Protoleaf)

Good Design 2010 --
Tomato ni Tomato: Tomato planter bag that resembles a giant tomato (Protoleaf)

Good Design 2010 --
Sola Cube: Botanical materials encased in cubes of acrylic (Sola)

Good Design 2010 --
GreenMarker: Grassy page markers (yuruliku DESIGN)

Good Design 2010 -- Good Design 2010 --
Nature LED bulb (Advanced-Connectek) // QLD-104 coral-inspired LED table lamp (Qisda)

Good Design 2010 --
X-Frame Folding Vehicle alters shape to suit driving style (Nagoya Institute of Technology)

Good Design 2010 --
USB Clip: Tiny USB flash drive that doubles as paper clip (Emami Design)

Good Design 2010 --
Tongue cleaners (Green Bell)

Good Design 2010 --
Kinpachi-Mikan mandarin orange boxes (Kadoya Keshouhin)

Good Design 2010 --
Centry outdoor security robot (Dongbu)

Good Design 2010 --
Pebble salt and pepper shaker set (Kyung Ran Choi)

Good Design 2010 -- Good Design 2010 --
Itamimai rice bags (Itami Sangyo Co., Ltd.)

Good Design 2010 -- Good Design 2010 --
Itamimai rice bags (Itami Sangyo Co., Ltd.)

Good Design 2010 --
Metaphys Cortina humidifier (Gourmandise Inc.)

Good Design 2010 --
LOVE packing peanuts (minna + TooR Inc.)

Good Design 2010 --
Lightweight milk bottles (Toyo Glass)

Good Design 2010 -- Good Design 2010 --
Tread-Walk: Treadmill-controlled personal mobility robot (Waseda University)

Good Design 2010 --
Underwater camera housing (Sigma)

Good Design 2010 --
Cartoon Box: Trixi Box - Sushi (Grupo BdeB)

Good Design 2010 --
Zou-san cutter: Elephant-shaped tape dispenser (Nichiban)

Good Design 2010 --
Bags made from recycled brewer malt waste (Kouhei Okamoto)

Good Design 2010 --
Rainbow-colored toilet paper made from 100% recycled paper (Felissimo)

Good Design 2010 --
Candles modeled after traditional Japanese confectioneries (Pegasus Candle)

Good Design 2010 --
Candles modeled after traditional Japanese confectioneries (Pegasus Candle)

Good Design 2010 --
Docomo SH-02B Marimekko mobile phone (Sharp, NTT)

Good Design 2010 --
Bone Float: Bone-shaped pens that balance/rotate on stand (Zero Seiko)

Good Design 2010 --
Kaori honey wine (Minenoyuki Ltd. + Miyagi University)

Good Design 2010 --
Sony Vaio

Good Design 2010 --
t-pod

Good Design 2010 --
Angled drinking glass to minimize neck movement

Good Design 2010 --
Wooden bicycle (Sano Magic)

Good Design 2010 -- Good Design 2010 --
Wooden bicycle (Sano Magic)

Good Design 2010 --
Wooden bicycle (Sano Magic)

Good Design 2010 --
Art Setouchi publicity fans

Good Design 2010 --
TOFU DX professional makeup sponge (CrossMarket Inc.)

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo scenery

19 Aug 2010

The illustrations of TokyoGenso (a.k.a. Tokyo Fantasy) depict a post-apocalyptic Tokyo devoid of people and overtaken by nature.

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Shinjuku skyline [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by TokyoGenso --
Tokyo Big Sight [+]

Tokyo in ruins, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Rainbow Bridge [+]

Tokyo in ruins, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Moai statue at Shibuya station [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Kabuki-za Theater, Ginza [+]

Tokyo apocalypse, illustration by Tokyo Fantasy --
Mode HAL iKO Building, Shinjuku [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by TokyoGenso --
Poster for "The Book of Eli" (Japanese title: "The Walker") [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --  Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Gundam // Tokyogenso Robot

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Tokyo Sky Tree [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Sofmap Akihabara [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Haneda Airport [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Cover of Liberal Time, September 2010

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Akihabara [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Saigō Takamori statue, Ueno

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Poster for "The Book of Eli" (a.k.a. "The Walker) - Osaka version [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Osaka street scene - Tsūtenkaku Tower [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Osaka street scene - Billiken [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Osaka street scene [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Hato Bus [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Tokyo Monorail [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --  Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Shibuya station (Fukutoshin Line) // Seibu Shibuya

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
"Manneken Pis" statue at Hamamatsuchō station

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Ueno [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Tokyo Tower [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Shinjuku station [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Hanayashiki amusement park, Asakusa [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
McDonald's [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Yoyogi station [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Nakano station [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Akihabara [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Shibuya [+]

Post-apocalyptic Tokyo, illustration by Tokyo Genso --
Wako Building, Ginza [+]

[Links: tokyogenso blog, pixiv, deviantART]

Hello Kitty spectacle in Tokyo Bay

17 Aug 2010

Gundam videographer darwinfish105 has captured some dazzling footage of the 8-meter-tall laser-shooting Hello Kitty spectacle at Odaiba Beach, which has appeared as part of a campaign to promote tree-planting activities in Tokyo.


+ Video

The event, which features periodic light and water shows, will continue through August 22.