Listen: Vudu Ceremony On Mt. Fuji

21 Mar 2011

Vudu Ceremony on Mt Fuji -- "Sometimes just focusing our thoughts on something, in a positive or unique way, provides the energy for new ideas to manifest themselves in the toughest of times," says Brooklyn-based sound composer Charles Edward Fambro.

On March 3 -- a week before disaster hit Japan -- he released "Vudu Ceremony On Mt. Fuji," a free improv sound composition that taps into the spirits of Haiti and Japan through analog synths, turntables, bass, low frequency oscillators and percussion. With the news from Japan growing more grim, Fambro has decided to donate all download proceeds to the Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund. Recommended for fans of ambient/experimental sound.

[Listen]

Japan is in our hearts

19 Mar 2011

Hello all. Many thanks to those of you who have offered kind words of support and encouragement over the past week. Recent events in Japan have gotten in the way of blogging lately, but we are safe and sound in Tokyo and life is slowly returning to normal. Look forward to more updates here soon.

Japan Earthquake Relief Print --
Japan is in our hearts -- Artist: Josh Geiser

In the meantime, if you would like to support the ongoing disaster relief efforts, please consider making a much-needed donation to the Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Fund. (Small contributions are appreciated, and credit card payments are accepted.)

You can also help by purchasing any of the Japan Earthquake Relief prints by underground artists at the Poster Cause Project. 75% of profits from these prints will be donated to the Doctors Without Borders' earthquake and relief efforts in Japan.

Japan Earthquake Relief Print --
Artist: Saner

Japan Earthquake Relief Print --
Artist: Brent Nolasco

Japan Earthquake Relief Print --
Artist: Oliver Kroa Cramm

Japan Earthquake Relief Print --
Artist: SCARECROWOVEN

Japan Earthquake Relief Print --
Artist: Joe Iurato

[Link: Japan Earthquake Relief Prints]

Decorated gas tanks

10 Mar 2011

Local gas companies occasionally add a touch of character to the giant spherical gas containers that dot the landscape of Japan. Here are a few examples.

Decorated gasholder in Japan --
Nicotan (mascot of Shibata Gas) -- Shibata, Niigata prefecture [via]

Decorated gastank in Japan --
Watermelon -- Tomisato, Chiba prefecture [via]

Decorated gas holder in Japan --
Hikari-chan and Gatto-kun -- Niigata [via]

Decorated gas tank in Japan --
Zen monk-poet Ryōkan -- Tsubame, Niigata prefecture [via]

Decorated gasholder in Japan --
Soccer ball -- Kiryū, Gunma prefecture [via]

Decorated gastank in Japan --
Tokkikki (Niigata prefectural mascots) -- Niigata [via]

Decorated gas holder in Japan --
Ōnyūdō -- Yokkaichi, Mie prefecture

Decorated gas tank in Japan --
Peach -- Akaiwa, Okayama prefecture [via]

Decorated gasholder in Japan --
Ouchi dolls -- Yamaguchi prefecture [via]

Decorated gastank in Japan --
Welcome to Isesaki -- Gunma prefecture [via]

Decorated gas holder in Japan --
"Taisha" wheeled fish toy -- Niigata [via]

Decorated gas tank in Japan --
Morioka Gas character dancing the Sansa Odori -- Morioka, Iwate prefecture [via]

Decorated gasholder in Japan -- Decorated gastank in Japan --
Bunbuku Chagama tanuki -- Gunma prefecture [via] // Origami cranes -- Mie prefecture [via]

Gas holder art in Japan --
Japanese irises -- Niigata [via]

Gas tank art in Japan --
Watermelon -- Takizawa, Iwate prefecture [via]

Decorated gasholder in Japan --
Godai-chan (tourism mascot for the city of Kashihara) -- Nara prefecture [via]

Decorated gastank in Japan --
Kōfu, Yamanashi prefecture [via]

Decorated gas holder in Japan --
Kintarō -- Saitama [via]

Decorated gas tank in Japan --
Flowers and butterflies -- Niigata prefecture [via]

Decorated gasholder in Japan --
Artist's conception of Nintendo Kirby tanks [via]

Japanese sci-fi art (1972-1985)

09 Mar 2011

50 Watts (formerly "A Journey Round My Skull") has posted a splendid assortment of 1970s and 1980s Japanese sci-fi art from old illustration books and catalogs. [More]

Retro Japanese scifi ilustration --
Pater Sato magazine cover

Retro Japanese scifi art --
Hitoshi Ikematsu book jacket illustration, 1984

Retro Japanese fantasy art --
Noriyoshi Ohrai

Retro Japanese fantasy illustration --
Black Space -- Shuji Tanase, 1982

Retro Japanese fantasy art --
Atsushi Yoshioka

Elfoid: Humanoid mobile phone

04 Mar 2011

Elfoid humanoid mobile phone robot --
Elfoid -- a REAL android phone

Robotics researchers from Osaka University have teamed up with NTT Docomo and Qualcomm to develop a handheld humanoid phone that brings a new dimension to mobile communications. A prototype of the device -- called "Elfoid P1" -- was unveiled at a presentation in Tokyo on March 3.

Elfoid humanoid mobile phone robot --

The Elfoid phone is a miniature version of the Telenoid R1 robot developed last year by a research team led by Osaka University professor Hiroshi Ishiguro. The current prototype measures 20 centimeters (8 in) long, is covered in a soft fleshy urethane skin, and has the same genderless and ageless appearance as the Telenoid. The control buttons are embedded in the chest, which glows green when the Elfoid is in use.

Elfoid humanoid mobile phone robot --
Dr. Ishiguro with Telenoid and Elfoid [Photo by: eSeL.at]

Like the full-sized Telenoid robot, the Elfoid handset is designed to add an element of realism to long-distance communication by recreating the physical presence of a remote user.

Elfoid humanoid mobile phone robot --
[Photo: Ars Electronica]

Equipped with a camera and motion-capture system, the Elfoid phone will be able to watch the user's face and transmit motion data to another Elfoid phone, which can then reproduce the face and head movements in real-time.

Elfoid humanoid mobile phone robot --
[Photo by: d_&_r]

The current prototype is unable to move, but future versions will incorporate tiny motors and parts made from shape-memory alloys, allowing the Elfoid to move its eyes, mouth, neck and arms. Other features will include a temperature sensor, accelerometer, and an easy-to-use voice and gesture based interface.

Elfoid humanoid mobile phone robot --
[Photo by: antjeverena]

The developers hope to have a fully operational Elfoid mobile phone within five years.

[Sources: ATR, Gizmodo Japan, Yomiuri]

Monsters from the Kaibutsu Ehon

03 Mar 2011

The Kaibutsu Ehon ("Illustrated Book of Monsters") is an 1881 book featuring woodblock prints of yōkai, or creatures from Japanese folklore. Illustrated by painter Nabeta Gyokuei, the book is modeled after the influential works of Toriyama Sekien, an 18th-century scholar and ukiyo-e artist known for his attempt to catalog the many species of yōkai in Japan. Here are 25 monsters from the book.

Monster from Kaibutsu Ehon --
Mikoshi-nyūdō -- Monk-like creature that grows taller the more you look at it

Yokai from Kaibutsu Ehon --
Nue -- Chimera-like bringer of misfortune that can fly and morph into a dark cloud

Youkai from Kaibutsu Ehon --
Futsukeshibaba (a.k.a. Hikeshibaba) -- Mysterious old woman in white who extinguishes lanterns

Monster from Kaibutsu Ehon --
Kasha -- Cat-like demon that descends from the sky to feed on corpses before cremation

Yokai from Kaibutsu Ehon --
Noderabō -- Strange creature standing near a temple bell

Youkai from Kaibutsu Ehon --
Waraime (a.k.a. Kerakera-onna) -- Giant cackling woman

Monster from Kaibutsu Ehon --
Daibutsu-kaibutsu -- Mysterious pile of crumbling skulls

See more monsters from the Kaibutsu Ehon »

Fake vintage Japanese ad mascots

01 Mar 2011

Argentina-based artist Juan Molinet has created a series of fictional Japanese ads featuring retro-style characters.

Fake vintage Japanese ad character by Juan Molinet --
Osaka's Marshmellow Kid

Fake vintage Japanese ad character by Juan Molinet --
Nagoya Sweet Salami Co.

Fake vintage Japanese ad character by Juan Molinet --
Sumitomo Calamari Ice Cream

Fake vintage Japanese ad character by Juan Molinet --
Cheesus by Hokama Good Cheese Co.

Fake vintage Japanese ad character by Juan Molinet --
Kyoto Seafood Processing Co.

Fake vintage Japanese ad character by Juan Molinet --
Satoyama Whistle Co.

Fake vintage Japanese ad character by Juan Molinet --
Hokaido Industrial Sushi Food Co.

[Link]

Photos: Costumed runners at Tokyo Marathon

28 Feb 2011

Some 36,000 runners took part in the 2011 Tokyo Marathon yesterday, including a number of people in costume. Here are a few photos. [Via: Fuzz and Fur, jimgris, Jet Daisuke, Long, hashiee]

Costumed runner at Tokyo Marathon 2011 --
Tentacled one [Photo by: Fuzz and Fur]

Costumed runner at Tokyo Marathon 2011 --
Usavich and Darth Vader [Photo by: jimgris]

Costumed runner at Tokyo Marathon 2011 --
Doraemon [Photo by: urasimaru]

Costumed runner at Tokyo Marathon 2011 --
Kappa [Photo by: jimgris]

Costumed runner at Tokyo Marathon 2011 --
Jesus [Photo by: jimgris]

Costumed runner at Tokyo Marathon 2011 --
Kinnikuman [Photo by: Jet Daisuke]

Costumed runner at Tokyo Marathon 2011 --
Frog [Photo by: Fuzz and Fur]

See more photos of costumed runners »

Pachimon playing cards

23 Feb 2011

In the early 1970s, the Kewpie Corporation (maker of Kewpie brand mayonnaise) produced a deck of promotional playing cards featuring various pachimon kaiju (imitation monsters modeled after creatures from popular movies and TV shows).

Pachimono playing cards -- Pachimono playing cards --
1 -- Kyuradorosu (vampire monster)/ Height: 5 meters/ Weight: 800 kilograms/ From Chiba
2 -- Kashuasu (pollution monster)/ Height: 10 meters/ Weight: 3,000 tons/ From Osaka

Pachimon playing cards -- Pachimon playing cards --
3 -- Gohoho (ice monster)/ 18m/ 10,000 tons/ From the South Pole, moved to Tokyo
4 -- Altamegaro (space monster)/ 35m/ Weight unknown/ From Alta W, planet 5

Pachi playing cards -- Pachi playing cards --
5 -- Deredoron (pesticide monster)/ 20m/ 10,000 tons/ From Tohoku
6 -- Tapikurosaurus (ancient monster)/ 35m/ 9,000 tons/ From Kyushu

Pachimon playing cards -- Pachimon playing cards --
7 -- Elekipurosu (electric humanoid)/ 25m/ 15,000 tons/ From Kurobe Dam
8 -- Meji (space wolf)/ 16m/ 5 tons/ From Meteoroid R

Pachimono playing cards -- Pachimono playing cards --
9 -- Eru (space monster)/ 32m/ 18,000 tons/ From the planet Pegasus
10 -- Puradon (space monster)/ 32m/ 5,000 tons/ From Galaxy W, planet 8

Pachi playing cards -- Pachi playing cards --
J -- Mambaa (monster fish)/ 20m/ 15,000 tons/ From the Arctic depths
Q -- Oapiaa (proto-Saharan)/ 6m/ 1 ton/ From the Sahara Desert

Pachimon playing cards -- Pachimon playing cards --
K -- Alien Achiira (space monster)/ 15m/ 9 tons/ From the planet Achiira, moved to Japan Alps
1 -- Methanoron (pollution monster)/ 28m/ 30,000 tons/ From Tokyo-Kawasaki-Yokohama area

See more pachi-kaiju playing cards »

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