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After devastating US airstrikes during the Second World War, Tokyo was almost razed to the ground. But the city quickly rebuilt itself. Now the Japanese capital is a vibrant place, well-known for its futuristic urban landscape, but also for being a “green” capital. You can find nature there where you would least expect it. _A city adapting to its green needs _ 13.9 million people live in Tokyo and it is one of the world’s most densely populated cities. Every inch is used purposefully for urban living. Despite the lack of space, the city’s local authorities have encouraged nature to th...

Patlabor 2. Image © 1993 Headgear Since the release of Akira in 1988, the popular idea of anime in the western public imagination is one of shimmering future cities, all neon and tech, usually only a flicker away from an act of gratuitous destruction. It is the glitter and sheen of those urban visions that catches the eye and has helped shape our idea of far eastern cityscapes. These imaginary cities may be the backdrop to the story, but they are often the thing that animates our interest. "The drama is just the surface of the film," director Mamoru Oshii once noted. "Over the years, I'v...

TsukuBlog A Local Perspective on Life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. To Start the New Year-The Seven Gods of Good Fortune (七福神)- in Treasure Ships, under your pillow, or as part of a mini pilgrimage: SHICHIFUKUJIN MEGURI 30 December, 2020 A sheet of paper with an image of a TAKARA BUNE ( treasure ship) carrying the SHICHIFUKUJIN ( 7 Gods of Good Fortune), which should be put under your pillow to ensure an auspicious FIRST DREAM ( HATSU YUME) of the year- the kanji character on the sail reads BAKU, a mythological Chinese beast which will EAT UP any BAD DREAMS you might have. An E-ma voti...

The seven lucky gods of Fukagawa: Ensuring a good year to come Dec. 29, 2020 06:00 am JST Dec. 29, 2020 | 06:41 am JST TOKYO Most of us are only too happy to see 2020 come to an end. And we all have high hopes for a better year in 2021. In Japan, one popular New Year’s tradition calculated to bring good luck and assure a good year to come is a “pilgrimage” to a fixed set of shrines and temples to worship each of the seven lucky gods. Perhaps a pilgrimage is a good excuse to get out of doors at New Year’s when the weather is usually fine. This year, when everyone wan...

Zipper Fastener Ship: Boat Shaped Like Giant Zip Puller Looks Like It’s Opening the Water Japanese designer Yasuhiro Suziki has created a unique boat shaped like a giant zipper puller that looks like it’s opening up the water when sailing. Unveiled as part of the Designart Tokyo 2020 event, the zipper puller boat – officially known as ‘Zipper Fastener Ship’ – is the brain child of Japanese designer Yasuhiro Suzuki, who claims it was the result of a simple observation. He was looking down from the window of an airplane and saw a ship sailing through Tokyo Bay; the movement of the w...