June 23

The "+81" editorial office in Gaienmae has relatively big terrace. I'm going out there to have a cigarette whenever I feel like smoking, so I'm so familiar with the view from that terrace that I'm seeing it even in my dreams from time to time. However, as the place is surrounded by tall buildings, I can't see much further than the tops of the ginko trees next to the Seitoku Memorial Museum. Towering right in front of me is the head office of the Itohchu Corporation, but nonetheless I kind of like the scenery. When stepping out onto the terrace and looking up that building at night, I can always see several windows that are filled with the bright, white light of fluorescent lamps. In the age of energy saving, this might sound a little imprudent, but every time I see those white lights I become aware of the stimulating fact that I'm not the only one who spends her time working in the office at night. The same goes also for all those road repair workers doing night shifts on Route 246 recently.

 

June 27

I attend a reception for an exhibition celebrating the fifth anniversary and the tenth release of W+K Tokyo Lab, the music and video label of Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo, at the Claska hotel in Meguro. On display are visual remixes of he artworks of all previous nine releases from the label, created in a variety of formats by a total of 42 artists from Japan and abroad. I'm a bit late, so the party is in full swing when I arrive. I think this is the first time in quite a while that I'm at an event as glitzy as this. Too bad that I'm too late to catch the live set of Merce Death though…

 

June 29

I spend the rainy weekend at Seta Onsen in Setagaya. I've known the place from hearsay for more than ten years now, and heard a lot of rumors, but this is in fact the first time that I'm inside. To my surprise, it’s greater fun than I'd ever expected, and I'm more than satisfied. The outdoor hot spring bath (mixed) is as big as a swimming pool, and what’s more, we're almost the only bathers apart from a foreign couple. The cool rain feels nice as it keeps falling onto our heads while we're sitting in the hot spa, and the beer after the bath is tasty. This definitely doesn't feel like Tokyo, and I end up feeling the urge to travel somewhere far away.

July 2

"Another work*s" is a project by au, in which the mobile phone company collaborates with people from the fields of fashion, art and others. As a related project, five +81-produced artists created artworks using cell phones. The results are presented in the "Mobile in Forest Exhibition", a joint exhibition with Cibone, who also unveil the fruits of their own project. Today is a press preview and reception for the show, and as one would have expected from a company like au, the venue is crammed with people. At the time you read this the exhibition will have closed already, but you can check out the artworks on the Internet. In addition, the next issue of "+81" will include an insert featuring interviews with the participating creators: enamel, Ohgushi, Kuroda Kiyoshi, Hamada Takeshi, and Fukui Risa.

July 5

Today is the wedding party of a (male) high school classmate of mine. I don't show up very often at such meetings of friends from my high school days, but this is almost a complete class reunion and feels irritatingly like a totally unexpected time trip. Then the broom’s speech. I don't remember much of what he says, but I end up being deeply moved by his teary voice. When turning around to see who’s next to me, I recognize Yutaman, dressed like Wada Akiko. He seems to be just as emotionally touched as I am. What a nice evening, and all the best to you, Dai-chan!

July 11

As announced here last time, the newest issue of "+81" (out since 8/11) is a music special. We're just about to finish work on it. For the cover design we asked Mr. Trevor Jackson, who is famous for his design for Soulwax, and a lot of other things. What he gave us is one piece from his newest series of graphic works that will be unveiled in a solo exhibition later this year. I can't reveal more details here, but it’s based on a concept that communicates vividly his flexible mindset, his challenging approach to artistic expression, and his love for music.
The photo, by the way, shows an ordinary lamp at a bar in the neighborhood. The textured surface looks almost like that of a planet. I'm not sure if this is in any way relevant here though…