tokyo underground

hurrying, scurrying here and there we rarely stop to think about the subterranean design of the city, what  lay underfoot. taking a ride on the toei subway, odeo line one can get the feeling that they are really down in the depths of the city, sometimes an eerie feeling (especially if you get into a conversation with Anna about the sarin gas attacks in the tokyo subway, while click clacking through the confined tunnels).

gwen stephanie sings about the underground malls of harajuku, commuters cram into the underground subway system of tokyo. but there is an underground far deeper than most imagine. far beneath the gucci heels on the footpath, the bon jovi hairstyles and the overworked commuters...there is a space that is rumoured to offer a sense of peace that is unique to the human ear and spirit.



no, this is not a scene from the latest sci-fi blockbuster, this is not a generated image of the future

this is the submerged world beneath the saitama prefecture and extends through the tokyo underground.

this is the g-cans project, a buried structure that works to avoid the city and suburbs going under, during flash flood season. the site is really worth a look. adds another mysterious element to the city.

http://www.g-cans.jp/photo/index.html

train trinkets

the hippest accessory for the tokyo trainspotter or daily commuter. a sleek looking yamanote line pin. available at any good junk vending machine.

definitely a practical fashion item...if you forget which stop you are supposed to getting off at, no worries - don your sparkling yamanote line pin, a dashing reminder.

the yamanote line is possibly the most important connecting train circle in tokyo, with trains departing in both directions every two minutes.

international relations

Psychologists and academics, the world over have long tried to analyse and explore the issues that arise when two people from opposite ends of the cultural spectrum, get together to create a loving bond.

I think you will agree, that it would be difficult to find a more succinct exploration than this one; written by a friend's student...

About my friend's husbands > >I met a friends other day. >Her husbands are the people from Turkey and Muslim. >SocMy friends is Buddhist. >She said " I got married him very happy!" >But , It was said that a meal and prayer were very serious. >Because, He can not eat pork and alcohol. >Therefore , neither she nor pork is eaten and alcohol can not be drunk either. >She loves pork and alcohol!! >Sometimes, she is drinking alcohol secretly to him. >Another is the Koran. She said "A meaning is not understood well". >I heard her talk and considered, Although it was also hard by the same Japanease to live together, >I thought , It is serious to marry the man of different country and relingion.

tokyo shock

what are you scared of? for me it used to be spiders, plane crashes and failing. now it is this...

" a 70% chance that a magnitude 7 earthquake will clobber tokyo in the next 30 years"

"39 000 vending machines are expected to be knocked over"  ???

metropolis #563

for anna

want to be a forever udon lover.

i am a amateur udon (traditional japanese noodle) lover. under my deep spirit of inquiries the curry udon (udon with curry soup) was born in my kitchen. have been dreamed it must be superficially delicious if curry and udon eaten at home got together with.  foundations or professionals is not the matter in the cooking. mother of the curry udon is the amateur udon lover's creativity and the sensetive tongue. always want to face with udon at the view of amateur. believe a delicious crosses the border.

i am the cooking name udon lover.

venetian blinds...i mean masks

what's happening?

Alejandro Jaimes-Larrarte

Masks and other realities

Carnivale di Venezia

January 15 - February 28, 2005

BICE at Caretta Shiodome 47th floor

This captivating exhibition, created by international photographer Alejandro Jaimes-Larrante, celebrates the carnival of Venice. Showcasing (Alex's) earlier work, set in breathtaking surroundings; this 47th floor restaurant/ art space comes alive with the spirit and mystery of the venetian carnival as captured by the artist.

wrapped up

buy a hair dye - get a bag full of leftover plastic waste.


at last count japan had a population of 127 333 002. that's alot of people for a little island. an island with a total area of 377,835 sq km.  to put that into perspective, australia currently has a population of approx. 19 913 144, mingling on an island with a total area of 7 686 850 sq km. provided i calculated it correctly, that works out at about 33 people per sq km in japan. in australia, every couple can have there own square km.


anyway enough with the stats (not one of my best subjects), this story is really about the logic behind the excessive product packaging in this country, this tiny little island, this soon to be 'wrapped in plastic' nation.


i am no environmental activitist and could hardly be considered a greenie (although i did keep a greenpeace membership for most of my university life) but i am really concerned about the way extra packaging is pushed and expected, in this country.  it doesn't take much to work out that a high population contained in a small area requires some serious waste management strategies. wouldn't it make environmental and financial sense to cut some of the waste at its source.  in my mind; more people, less space, minimal packaging, is simple logic. ??