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Underwater ballet performed in Tokyo
Sydney Olympics synchronized swimming silver medalist Miho Takeda, center, and other swimmers perform an underwater routine at a Tokyo theater, July 16. The performance, showcasing acrobatic skills, is part of a program running until Sept. 7 Sydney Olympics synchronized swimming silver medalist Miho Takeda, center, and other swimmers perform an underwater routine at a Tokyo... more
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Bees battle crows in the skies over Tokyo
Part of the problem is garbage – having no large landfills, Tokyo's garbage tends to sit outside until carted away, and in the interval becomes a fetid feast for the winged scavengers. It should also be mentioned that Tokyo crows aren't like the crows most of us are familiar with. Nope, these are crows on steroids, Terminator crows, Corvus Maximus as it were. They're big, mean, sport wickedly curved beaks and travel in flying wolf packs. Part of the problem is garbage – having no large landfills, Tokyo's garbage tends to sit outside until carted away, and in the interva... more
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Japan residents protest against U.S. warship plan
More than 10,000 people marched by a U.S. navy base near Tokyo on Saturday, calling for the Japanese government to stop the deployment of a nuclear-powered warship for the first time to Japan, rally organizers said. The protest by local residents and activists against basing the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in Yokosuka, 45 km (28 miles) southwest of Tokyo, came amid growing concerns safety after a fire on the ship in May.
"The U.S military does not disclose any information on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier's structure, as well as its navigation and accident records," said Masahiko Goto, a lawyer who participated in the protest.
"This is the same as bringing a nuclear reactor into another country. Something is wrong here. The Japanese government is sacrificing the local residents' safety for its national interests."
The USS George Washington was originally scheduled to be deployed to Yokosuka in August, but its arrival is likely to be delayed due to the fire, which left one sailor with minor burns, Japanese media have reported.
It will become the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be stationed in Japan, the only country to suffer atomic bombing at the end of World War Two. More than 10,000 people marched by a U.S. navy base near Tokyo on Saturday, calling for the Japanese government to stop the deployment... more -
Crazy Angel Company Band from Tokyo Design Festa
Here's a bit of a big band I caught at Tokyo Design Festa called Crazy Angel Company.
They have a lot of energy and it shows in their performance.
http://www.crazy-angel.com
Here's a bit of a big band I caught at Tokyo Design Festa called Crazy Angel Company. ... more -
Balloon Lumpfish photos
Check out these unusual creatures.
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Protestors out in force for the G8 summit!
"George Bush and the Japanese prime minister have used the beginning of the G8 summit to insist they will both attend the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.
Hundreds of protesters have rallied under heavy police security in Japan as leaders from the top industrialised nations arrived for the annual talks. A morning protest ended peacefully, but one person was detailed during another rally held later.
Japan has mobilised 20,000 police— primarily in and around the summit site but also in major cities including Tokyo — to guard against terrorist attacks. Coast guard vessels, military helicopters and fighter jets are being used."
"George Bush and the Japanese prime minister have used the beginning of the G8 summit to insist they will both attend the Beijing Olym... more -
A Quick Glance at the Music Scene in Tokyo
Here are some snippets of three bands I caught a bit of at the Tokyo Design Festa
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The Secret Desire of the Ninja
These stealthy assassins of yore...what lurks deep in their hearts?
Their whole lives are dedicated to their craft...to stealth, to sabotage, to espionage, to theft, and to assassination.
But what do they dream of when they allow themselves to succumb to sleep's gentle embrace?
What is it that they secretly yearn to do?
Watch this video and learn "The Secret Desire of the Ninja" These stealthy assassins of yore...what lurks deep in their hearts? ... more -
Artistic Chaos - The Tokyo Design Festa blog
As I entered the futuristic-looking Tokyo Big Site building on Odaiba Island, I was greeted by a person with the head of fish. Beyond him/her/it and all about the place wandered a colorful assortment of strange characters which appeared to have been born in fertile imaginations bred on Japanese Anime, Gothic Horror, and Salvador Dali. It was then that I knew I had reached my destination: the Tokyo Design Festa.
Design Festa is a chaotic showcase of artists, musicians, craftsmen, designers, dancers, and performers - the sublime mixed with the avant garde. The Design Festa takes place twice a year in Tokyo and has been going on for 14 years.
Artists come from all over the world to participate. Booths are set up to showcase their creations and crafts. Visitors can look at, handle, and purchase their favorite pieces. In addition they have the chance to talk with the artist to learn more about them and their artwork.
For artists, the Design Festa gives them the opportunity to get their work noticed and possibly sold. The event is a breeding ground for future art as a lot of networking goes on between artists which can lead to potential collabrations.
There is so much to see, do, and absorb in a weekend at Design Festa. The place is literally a beehive of activity. There are performances to see, workshops to attend, bands to hear, painters to watch, and oddity to puzzle over.
Some of the booths offer short workshops to teach visitors a bit their craft. I tried my hand at the ancient art of Japanese calligraphy. Calligraphy in old Japan was considered an all important skill. In the far off days of the Heian Period (794-1192), a person’s calligraphy was believed to be a mirror of their character. I would have been laughed out of the Heian Court with my paltry attempt at the turtle kanji character. My turtle looked a bit more like a sickly chicken strung up by clumsy anti-poultry vigilantes. My teacher, a ten year old girl, was patient with me and guided me as best as she could.
At a makeup special effects booth, visitors were able to get horrific body scars which didn’t hurt a bit. I got myself a nice deep scar running down my arm which later fooled a few drunks at my local bar.
There were several fantasical creations from this booth wandering around surprising the unwary and small children. One was tall elegant alien creature frighteningly realistic but fortunately sweetenly demure.
Another creation was a ghastly sculpture of a half-tree half-woman monster with the severed head of a man in her/its hand. Her/Its roots were nourished with the blood and gore of other men. It was a macarbe cocktail of environmentalism and feminism blended horrifically together.
Along with the countless booths, there are a variety of showings throughout the day in different sections of the event area. Bands, short films, musicians, eclectic performers can be seen outside, upstairs, and in the main hall. I was able to see rock bands, taiko drum groups, naughty nurses, a gyrating eyeball man, and a dancing ninja troupe.
One of the popular returning performance groups is Mr. Eyeball Love Globe from Taiwan. The group is headed by man with an enormous eyeball as his head. His outfit is covered with a similar pattern. His story from his flyer is that he is an alien here to spread love. The Eyeball group was one of the most out-there groups and attracted a lot of attention. They have been to Design Festa several times before.
Design Festa takes place twice a year in May and November. For more information please check:
http://www.designfesta.com/index.html
As I entered the futuristic-looking Tokyo Big Site building on Odaiba Island, I was greeted by a person with the head of fish. Beyond ... more -
Ghostly Lady from Tokyo Design Festa
Here's a little avant-garde weirdness from Tokyo Design Festa.
She's from Taiwan and was one of the performers at the Design Festa. Her group is known as the Mr. Eyeball Loves Globe.
The music is by SevenCycleTheory:
http://www.myspace.com/sevencycletheory Here's a little avant-garde weirdness from Tokyo Design Festa. ... more -
Drumming Rabbits - Usagi All Female Taiko Group (Tokyo Design Festa)
This footage is from the Tokyo Design Festa of the female Taiko Drum Group known as Usagi. Usagi means rabbit in Japanese.
http://usagi-8.com
This footage is from the Tokyo Design Festa of the female Taiko Drum Group known as Usagi. Usagi means rabbit in Japanese. ... more -
Artistic Chaos!!! - The Tokyo Design Festa
The Tokyo Design Festa is a semi-annual event where artists, craftsmen, performers, musicians, film-makers, and what-not gather from all over the world to exhibit their creations.
It's a weekend of artistic chaos! The Tokyo Design Festa is a semi-annual event where artists, craftsmen, performers, musicians, film-makers, and what-not gather from a... more -
Japan's sales tax may rise due to aging population
In short, the current 5% sales tax will not be enough to pay for the influx of people that will be eligible for aid next fiscal year. The Financial Minster pushes the idea to increase the national sales tax to combat the costs as soon as possible. Prime Minister Fukuda expresses similar concern. Tokyo is already the second most expensive city in the world to live in-- imagine after the tax!
Sooner more than ever, travelers should shop duty-free! In short, the current 5% sales tax will not be enough to pay for the influx of people that will be eligible for aid next fiscal year. ... more -
Kato to be served murder warrant for Akihabara rampage
Aside from having really high suicide rates, Japan is a relatively safe place to live. So, anything out of the peaceful ordinary is worth bringing up.
"Police said Wednesday they are preparing to serve Tomohiro Kato with an arrest warrant for murdering seven people on the streets of Tokyo's Akihabara district on June 8... The truck and knife rampage left seven dead and 10 wounded."
First the earthquakes, then a stabbing, now this. Might delay my trip until the fall. Aside from having really high suicide rates, Japan is a relatively safe place to live. So, anything out of the peaceful ordinary is wo... more -
Tokyo Decadance - bringing the Underground up
Tokyo Decadance is a melting pot for the underground scene of Tokyo. It started up about 3 years ago by Adrien Le Danois as a way to mix and ultimately strneghten the overlooked "decadants" of the Tokyo Underground scene.
Tokyo Decadance is now put on in cities around the world. Tokyo Decadance is a melting pot for the underground scene of Tokyo. It started up about 3 years ago by Adrien Le Danois as a way to m... more -
Tokyo Decadance - Underground Dance Scene Goes Above Ground
Here's a little slice of life of a melting pot of Tokyo's underground subcultures that have been making themselves felt on the international scene in fashion and culture.
Tokyo Decadance is the brainchild of French Drag Queen Adrein Le Danois who wanted to bring together the various elements of Tokyo subcultures from goth, cyberpunk, ko garyu, lolita, etc... and give them a place to express themselves.
Tokyo Decadance is now an international event with shows going on throughout Europe.
Here's a little slice of life of a melting pot of Tokyo's underground subcultures that have been making themselves felt on the interna... more -
The World's Hardest Working Shaman
Western Shoshone leader, Corbin Harney talks about his prophetic conversation with the water
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This is not a pipe dream
Subcomandante Marcos comes to the United States with the plans for a trickle-up democratic reform to empower the downtrodden.
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Tokyo knifeman Tomohiro Kato recorded killing spree on mobile phone blog
The knifeman who killed seven people in a rampage in central Tokyo yesterday charted the slayings on a weblog which he updated via his mobile phone even as he drove to the murder scene.
Tomohiro Kato had hired a two-tonne truck to make the 100-km trip from Susono, in the foothills of Mount Fuji, to Akihabara – the capital's Electric Town which is famed as the cradle of modern Japanese youth culture.
In the days leading up to the spree, Mr Kato made several visits to "scope out" Akihabara and establish its suitability for death. "I knew there would be lots of people and I decided this some days ago," he told police after his arrest.
The knifeman who killed seven people in a rampage in central Tokyo yesterday charted the slayings on a weblog which he updated via his... more -
Seven dead in Tokyo knife attack
Aman armed with a knife has killed seven people and injured 10 others in central Tokyo, Japanese media say. The incident occurred in the Akihabara district, a busy shopping area known as Electric Town that is popular with young people and tourists.
A suspect, said to be 25-year-old Tomohiro Kato, has been arrested.
Police spokesman Jiro Akaogi told reporters: "The suspect said he came to Akihabara to kill people. He said he was tired of life". The dead include six men, ranging in age from 19 to 74, and a 21-year-old woman, Kyodo News said. Reports say the suspect drove a rented truck into a crowd in the early afternoon and then began stabbing people at random.
Aman armed with a knife has killed seven people and injured 10 others in central Tokyo, Japanese media say. The incident occurred in t... more
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