Tag: ‘Tokyo’

Time-lapse video of slightly darkened Tokyo

19 Apr 2011


+ Video

By fading back and forth between scenes of pre- and post-quake Tokyo, this time-lapse video by YouTube user darwinfish105 shows how the metropolitan nightscape has been affected by Japan's ongoing power shortages and conservation efforts.

Electricity conservation posters

22 Mar 2011

In Tokyo and surrounding areas, signs of electricity conservation are visible everywhere. Rolling blackouts are in effect, train services have been scaled back, stores and businesses are using fewer lights, advertising signs and escalators have been switched off, and even some pachinko parlors have cut their hours of operation. On Twitter, a community of graphic designers has sprung up to create posters encouraging people to save power. Residents of eastern Japan are encouraged to print them out and post them where they live and work. [Link: Setsuden via GaijinPot]

Japanese electricity saving poster --
Everyone save electricity

Japanese electricity saving poster --
Please cooperate in conserving electricity

Japanese electricity saving poster --
Save power and carry on

Japanese electricity saving poster --
Let's conserve electricity! Switch OFF!

Japanese electricity saving poster --
Turn OFF the power. Now anybody can be Santa.

Japanese electricity saving poster --
Power saving!

Japanese electricity saving poster --
The amount you turn off will light someone else up.

Japanese electricity saving poster --
Please conserve electricity.

Japanese electricity saving poster --
Save electricity. Save somebody.

Japanese electricity saving poster --
Save electricity. Switch off.

Japanese electricity saving poster --
The light you turn off will light up a smile.

Japanese electricity saving poster --
Now conserving power

Japanese electricity saving poster --
The quickest aid you can provide now is electricity.

Japanese electricity saving poster --
Saving energy & open for business

Japanese electricity saving poster --
Open for business in power saving mode!

Japanese electricity saving poster --
Conserve electricity to prevent massive power failures!

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 »

Video: Siberian tiger ‘escapes’ from Tokyo zoo

23 Feb 2011

A person disguised as a Siberian tiger ran wild through Tokyo's Tama Zoo yesterday in an exercise to prepare zookeepers for dangerous situations involving escaped animals.


+ Video

Yesterday's dramatic simulation involved a Siberian tiger that escaped its pen following an earthquake. The mock animal wandered freely through the park, attacking zoo workers and visitors before it was surrounded with nets, shot with a tranquilizer dart, and transported back to its cage.

Theatrical exercises involving people in animal costumes are conducted each year in Tokyo at either Tama Zoo or Ueno Zoo. In addition to providing hands-on experience with capturing escaped animals, the drills force zookeepers to administer first aid, usher visitors to safety, and coordinate with local emergency services. Here are a few videos of past exercises.


+ Rhinoceros - Ueno Zoo, 2004


+ Polar bear - Ueno Zoo, 2002


+ Orangutan - Tama Zoo, 2007


+ Tiger - Ueno Zoo, 2010



+ Zebra - Ueno Zoo, 2008

Video: GAL-O Sengen

02 Feb 2011

Tokyo hip hop artists Policeman pay irreverent tribute to the gyaruo youth subculture in a funky animated video for "GAL-O Sengen," a track from their "Keisatsu" album due out later this month. Directed by AC-Bu.


+ Video

Photos: Bosozoku parking

19 Jan 2011

Here's a peek at a few of the bōsōzoku-style custom rides spotted in the parking lot at the Tokyo Auto Salon custom car show last weekend, via Flickr user brunnnno.

Bosozoku car photo by brunnnno --

Bosozoku car photo by brunnnno --

Bosozoku car photo by brunnnno --

Bosozoku car photo by brunnnno --

Bosozoku car photo by brunnnno --

See more bōsōzoku-style rides »

LED-powered Harajuku smiles

17 Jan 2011

A commercial promoting the Laforet Grand Bazar winter sale in Harajuku (January 20-24) features a mob of people with flickering LED-illuminated smiles who overrun a dramatic love scene reminiscent of a popular '90s-era TV show.

Geee - Harajuku Love Story --

The ad -- entitled "Geee / Harajuku Love Story" -- makes use of wirelessly-controlled Mouth LED technology developed by artists Daito Manabe and Motoi Ishibashi.


+ Video

Here is a rough translation of the dialogue that takes place as the smiling mob approaches.

[Man]: We can make it work. I'll do my best.
[Woman]: Will you come to see me if I get lonely at night, no matter what?
[Man]: I will go immediately. I'll fly.
[Woman]: Will you come and pick me up if I call you from Mt. Everest?
[Man]: I'll fly there right away.
[Woman]: Will you bring me hot nabe soup if I ask for it?
[Man]: I will. I'll bring a year's worth.
[Woman]: What if I asked you to take me to the moon?
[Man]: That might be difficult...
[Woman]: That's not good enough.
[Man]: But I can make you happy.

The commercial appears to have been inspired by an earlier project by Manabe and Ishibashi entitled "Party in the Mouth," which featured a mob of women with glowing LED smiles wandering the streets of Tokyo at night.


+ Video

Here is some video from the Laforet website:


+ Video

Video: Tokyo drainage tunnel cruise

25 Oct 2010

The Tamori Club late-night variety show recently took a boat cruise through a system of drainage tunnels beneath central Tokyo.


+ Video

Here are a few highlights of the trip.

1:00 - The boat approaches the tunnel entrance, located on the Kanda River next to Mansei-bashi Bridge near Akihabara. The drainage tunnel -- known as the Ochanomizu Diversion Channel -- runs 1.3 kilometers and rejoins the river upstream near JR Suidobashi station. The tunnel is not designed for boat traffic.

2:10 - Tamori tests the echo inside the tunnel.

2:25 - The painted numbers indicate the distance in meters from the entrance.

2:35 - The tunnel measures about 8 meters from floor to ceiling. The water level easily reaches the ceiling after a heavy rain.

3:00 - The boat approaches a round section of tunnel dug with a shield machine. This portion of the tunnel is 8.8 meters in diameter and 760 meters long.

3:50 - The passengers view the rails of a ceiling-mounted crane system used during construction. The crane was used to erect a water barrier to keep the construction area dry.

4:00 - The boat passes a floodgate tunnel on the left.

5:00 - The boat passes a sign reading "Eidan Ochanomizu Station." This type of sign was placed in the tunnel during construction to indicate the nearby infrastructure. Due to its proximity to the subway station, this part of the tunnel is built with extra reinforcements.

5:30 - The boat passes a similar sign for Ochanomizu-bashi Bridge.

5:55 - The boat passes a similar sign for Century Tower, a 19-floor office building.

6:00 - A smaller tunnel branches off to the right. The tunnel is too small for a boat, and the guide is not sure where it leads.

6:50 - The round section of tunnel opens up into a large chamber. During construction, this was a vertical shaft used to lower the shield machine underground. The rails of a ceiling-mounted crane system are visible overhead. A ladder leads up to a manhole on the street.

7:50 - The exit comes into view. Another tunnel continues past the exit for another 1.6 kilometers.

8:30 - The boat exits the tunnel and continues up the Kanda River.

9:30 - The boat passes a pipe pumping water out of the leaky Suidobashi subway station (Mita line).

11:00 - The boat enters another tunnel (Suidobashi Diversion Channel No.2), which runs for 500 meters.

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).