Lost In Translation

Dinner And An Exhibiton

I went to the new exhibitions, Kasamatrix and Roppongi Crossing at the Mori Art Museum yesterday. They both were quite impressive, Kasama Yayoi has a very poppy and playful art style. The Roppongi Crossing exhibiton was a sort of showcase of many young artists and was more hit or miss, but definitley stimulating and thought provoking.

Afterward, I had dinner in the same building at Xen/Bamboo Bar, which has western food and a Nobu sushi bar inside. I think it has a very stylish interior, which will be of interest to metrosexuals all over. In addition, the food was excellent, the prices were reasonable, but the servings weren't very substantial. Welcome to fine dining.

Shibuya At Night

This is an advertisement at the Young Marui Department store, mecca of youth culture in Shibuya.

This is a picture of Shibuya at night from the Hachiko crossing, the busiest crossing in the world.

Ginza

I really like this picture of Ginza. The building with the spire is an impressivley designed koban (police box). I made another trip to the Apple Store in Ginza today to pickup a battery adapter for travel and those long days where I can't find an outlet to recharge it (the battery charge only lasts 8 hours).

Old Movie Posters

I came across these old movie posters under the trian tracks in Yurakucho today. I went there to get my free mileage ticket to Bangkok. I'll be flying out on Thursday and wil return next Thursday. I would liked to have posted pictures from the crazy Mardi Gras party I went to last night in Roppongi, but I forgot to bring my camera, oh well.

Planet Of The Apes?

No, just the Cornelius statue at the Takanobaba branch of Maruhachi.

Maruhachi

Tuesday night I was out with some old friends and we ended up at a new branch of Maruhachi in Takanobaba, a place I know well from Shibuya.

Is This A Temple?

I think so, but I don't really know. I always pass it on the way to Edogawabashi station.,

DVD Notes: The Samurai Triology

I recently finished watching the Samurai trilogy (Musashi Miyamoto, Duel At Ichijoji Temple, and Duel At Ganryu Island), which I picked up in Bali. I enjoyed it, however after watching all the Kurosawa movies lately, the one thing that really stood out, was the fact that it was in color. I think many of the location shots were very cinematic and impressive. The legendary Toshiro Mifune didn?t disappoint. I guess the novel that this movie is based on is a sort of cultural touchstone akin, I?m told to Gone With The Wind. It is the story of the legendary 17th century samurai Musashi Miyamoto?s progress from undisciplined youth to enlightened swordsman. The first installment won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 1955. Perhaps not as interesting as the Kurosawa movies, but I enjoyed the series nonetheless.

Zenkoku-ji Temple

This well-known temple is in Kagazura near Iidabashi station.

Dave Egger's New Novel In Progress

...is availiable online at Salon.com, I subscribe, but you can register for a day pass to read it. I've only read the first two installments, so I have a bit of catching up to do since they posted the fifth installment today. However, it's pretty entertianing so far, I think he has a great sense of humor, and can sum up realistic characters in a few ilnes. If haven't read any of his other stuff, I'd highly recommend: A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius and You Shall Know Our Velocity.