Posts Tagged ‘japan’
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
I missed the big installation yesterday but KTSF was there.
Check it.
Here’s what the “South Lion” looks like. Its left paw is “resting on a Buddhist jewel with an openwork design of sculpted peonies, a flower closely associated with lions.” DNKT.
This is a composite shot, but it’s the best one I have now. Guardian lion, 1868-1912. Japan. Bronze. Gift of Marsha Vargas Handley in memory of Raymond G. Handley
These critters certainly have found an appropriate resting place!
The ceremonial unveiling is coming soon.
All the deets from your Asian Art Museum:
“ASIAN ART MUSEUM INSTALLS TWO JAPANESE BRONZE LIONS ON FRONT STEPS
The Asian Art Museum has installed two monumental Japanese bronze lion sculptures on granite plinths outside the museum’s front entrance on Larkin Street. Recently acquired by the museum through a donation from longtime supporter Marsha Vargas Handley in memory of Raymond G. Handley, the 800 lb. sculptures date to the late nineteenth century and are similar to the majestic guardian lions typically placed opposite each other outside Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.
The practice of adorning public buildings with sculptures of lions is a time-honored custom in the US–the New York Public Library and the Art Institute of Chicago are noteworthy examples. The granite plinths outside the Asian Art Museum may well have been intended to support sculptures of lions when the building was originally built in 1916 to serve as the San Francisco Main Public Library. The museum is now following that longstanding tradition–this time with a uniquely Asian spin–giving a sneak peek of the treasures held inside.
The lion on the museum’s south side has its left paw resting on a Buddhist jewel, with an openwork design of sculpted peonies, a flower closely associated with lions. The south lion’s mouth is open, and the north lion’s is closed, symbolizing the sounds and spirit of the Japanese pronunciation of the first and last letters of the Sanskrit alphabet: “A” is pronounced with the mouth open, and “Un” with the mouth closed.
Physical Description: These lions’ enormous size—nearly five feet tall and six feet long— and standing positions are unusual. Paired guardian lions outside shrines today are often shown seated or crouching, and most are made of stone, wood, or, less commonly, ceramic. This pair of large sculptures also stands out in material (bronze). Relatively few bronze guardian lions from before World War II survive, due in part to mandatory metal collections ordered by the Japanese government during the war.
Conservation: The lions have undergone extensive conservation treatment, including repairs to the feet that fasten them to a new, customized base—a strategy of earthquake preparedness. Several layers of protective coating were applied to resist weathering of Ceremonial Unveiling: Details for a forthcoming ceremonial unveiling event will be announced soon.”
Tags: 2013, art, asian, asian art museum, bay area, bronze, california, ceremony, civic center, guardian, installed, japan, Japanese, library, lion, lion dog, lions, Marsha Vargas Handley, metal, museum, Raymond G. Handley, Raymond Handley, San Francisco, sdog
Posted in art | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013
Well, I don’t know if the people at Google Fiber should feel ashamed, but check it:
SONY-BACKED ISP SHAMES GOOGLE FIBER, LAUNCHES 2GBPS SERVICE IN JAPAN
That’s like what, about a thousand times faster than your AT&T ADSL connection for less than what Google charges for Google Fiber?
You know why we don’t have this here? Because of politically-connected monopolies like Comcast.
JAPAN DON’T HAVE NO COMCAST, YOU DIG?
Of course, the Japanese pay waaaaaay too much for rice, on account of bad policies having to do with mom and pop farmers, but they’re doing lots better than us with the internet.
Obvs.
And did you know that there are people living out there west of San Francisco, all the way out there in the Outer Richmond and the Outset (the Outer Sunset) who can’t get cable internet or DSL at any price? Yes, in this day and age, in 2013, there are people in this so-called World Capital of Innovation who go online with a dial up modem because they have no choice.
Poor devils.
Poor, poor West Bay devils. (At least they have Ocean Beach.)
In closing, the Comcast monopoly ought to get shut down and Sony should start selling us internet for cheap.
Tags: 2013, adsl, at&t, bay area, california, Comcast, dial up, district, dsl, fiber, ftth, google, google fiber, internet, japan, Japanese, Learning From Japan, moden, monopolies, monopoly, outer, outset, richmond, San Francisco, service, Sony, sunset, West Bay
Posted in consumer rights | 1 Comment »
Friday, April 12th, 2013
Rickshaws were first used in Japan, so it’s appropriate that they’re still in use.
I guess.
Click to expand
Anyway, these contraptions are illegal in some places, but not Japan, not yet…
Tags: 2013, bay area, california, illegal, japan, Japanese, jinrikisha, Learning From Japan, legal, Rickshaw, rickshaws, San Francisco, transit
Posted in transit | No Comments »
Thursday, April 11th, 2013
This is what passes for fast food in Japan these days:
Click to expand
I couldn’t believe it.
Tags: 2013, bay area, california, cucumber, cucumber on a stick, fast, food, hand, haolding, healthy, japan, Japanese, Learning From Japan, San Francisco, street, vegetable
Posted in food and drink | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 9th, 2013
Whoa, baby!
Click to expand
And they have illegal taxis too, just as San Francisco! ‘Cept instead of calling them Lyft or whathaveyou, the Japanese refer to illegal cabs as shiroi takushi (white taxis) owing to the concomitant non-commercial white license plates.
Anyway, they’re all over the place out on the streets, not just bottled up at the airport, that’s my point.
Oh, and if the local police in Japan found out that you were still operating AFTER receiving a cease and desist notice, well, they just might impound your ride (AND your whimsical novelty pink mustache) and then lock you up for 20-something days, you know, to teach you a lesson. Oh, you want to call your family to tell them where you are, or your boss to explain your absence, or a lawyer to get sprung? Well fine, just sign this complete confession first. I’m srsly. Whatever you do, don’t “disrupt” in Japan, Lyfters.
Anyway, legal taxis are all over the place in Japan, that’s my point.
Tags: 2013, bay area, cab, cabbie, cabs, california, enough, japan, Japanese, Learning From Japan, lyft, not enough, San Francisco, sidecar, taxi, taxis, too many
Posted in cars | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, March 27th, 2013
Memorable jacket:
Click to expand
So instead of dialing 911, Japanese people dial 119?
DNKT
That’s exactly backwards.
Tags: 119, 2013, 9/11, bay area, bicycle, bike, california, call, coat, emergency, fire, jaanese, jacket, japan, japan fire, leters, San Francisco, wOMAN
Posted in fashion | No Comments »
Monday, December 24th, 2012
Thusly:
Click to expand
Tags: 2012, Akihito, bay area, birthday, california, City Hall, Emperor, flag, hanging, japan, Japanese, Polk, Red Meatball, San Francisco, street
Posted in holidays | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 14th, 2012
With love from Japan comes MUJI.
It‘ll be your new favorite store.
Your free “My Bag” won’t be as lilac as this, but it will contain a free goodie for you, assuming you’re one of the first 1000 customers on Nov 30th:
All the deets:
“MUJI SOMA will open on November 30, 2012.
New York, NY, November 14th, 2012, MUJI U.S.A. LIMITED announces its opening date of SOMA store, which has been set to November 30, 2012, the first MUJI store to open on the West coast. Located at 540 9th street, San Francisco, MUJI SOMA will open from 11:00a.m. to 8:00p.m. during its first day of operation.
With approximately 7,250 square feet of retail floor space, MUJI’s first store on the West coast will offer over 2,000 items of MUJI products, including about 1,700 items of Household and 300 items of Apparels. After the first day of opening, the store will open regularly from 10:30a.m. to 8:00p.m. from Monday to Saturday, 11:00a.m. to 6:30p.m. on Sundays.
Giveaways for the opening day
MUJI is dedicated to reducing waste and conserving resources. In this spirit, MUJI encourages its customers to use My Bag in order to reduce waste that results from the use of paper or plastic bags at MUJI store. For its special giveaways, MUJI will offer an exclusive My Bag with map of San Francisco for the first 1,000 customers who come to the store on the opening day. There will be a MUJI gift inside of the bag. MUJI plain My Bag will be offered starting at $1 after the opening.
For further information, please contact: press@muji.com
MUJI offers good quality products at reasonable prices, which include a wide variety of stationeries, household items and apparel. Mujirushi Ryohin, MUJI in Japanese, translates as “no-brand quality goods”. The value of the MUJI product is in its effectiveness without the renowned brand or designer name. The essence of MUJI products lies in its simplicity, flexibility and modesty to fit different life styles and individual preferences. MUJI, originally founded in Japan, does not direct its products to be affected by any trends and “isms”, rather does aim to be universally relevant. MUJI products maintain reasonable price levels, not by compromising quality, but by avoiding the waste typical of many products’ manufacturing and distribution in the form of unnecessary functionality, an excess of decoration, and needless packaging.
MUJI U.S.A. LIMITED is the U.S. subsidiary of Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd. which is MUJI’s corporate entity incorporated in Japan. Since its founding in 1980, MUJI has expanded around the world and has 372 stores in Japan, 163 stores in other countries (as of Feb, 2012) including Asia, Europe. Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd., is a publicly owned company traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (ticker number: 7453) with $2.2 billion in sales in 2011.”
Tags: 1-000, 2012, 540 9th, 540 9th street, bay area, california, clothes, First, free, gift, good heavens miss sakamoto, japan, Japanese, map, MUJI, muji soma, MUJI U.S.A., MUJI U.S.A. LIMITED, My Bag, november 30, opening, retail, Ryohin Keikaku, Sakamoto, San Francisco, shoppers, shopping, soma, south market, store, street, you're beautiful, Yuka
Posted in fashion | No Comments »
Thursday, September 20th, 2012
Here’s the big news from Kenneth Baker yesterday.
More deets:
“Called “In the Moment: Japanese Art from the Larry Ellison Collection,” the exhibit will include works by noted artists of the Momoyama (1573—1615) and Edo (1615—1868) periods along a 13th—14th century wooden sculpture of Shotoku Taishi; six-panel folding screens dating to the 17th century by Kano Sansetsu; and 18th century paintings by acclaimed masters Maruyama Okyo and Ito Jakuchu.”
This should be an excellent show.
All photos courtesy of the Asian Art Museum:
Shotoku Taishi as an Infant, Unknown, Kamakura period (1249-1335). Wood with polychromy. Larry Ellison Collection
Tigers (detail), 1779. By Maruyama Okyo (Japanese, 1733-1795). One of a pair of hanging scrolls; ink and light colors on paper. Larry Ellison Collection.
Auspicious Pine, Bamboo, Plum, Crane and Turtles, Edo period (1615-1868),ca. 1630-1650. By Kano Sansetsu (Japanese, 1590-1651,By Sansetsu, Kano 1590-1651. One of a pair of six panel folding screens. Ink and colors on gold. Larry Ellison Collection
Oh, and don’t forget about Korean Culture Day this Sunday, September 23, 2012. It’s free!
“IN THE MOMENT: JAPANESE ART FROM THE LARRY ELLISON COLLECTION
Asian Art Museum debuts Ellison’s Japanese art collection, coinciding with 2013 America’s Cup
SAN FRANCISCO, September 20, 2012—Next summer, as the America’s Cup Challenger Series takes to San Francisco Bay, the Asian Art Museum will feature an exhibition of Japanese art from the rarely seen collection of Larry Ellison, Oracle CEO and owner of ORACLE TEAM USA, defender of the 2013 America’s Cup.
In the Moment: Japanese Art from the Larry Ellison Collection will introduce approximately 80 exceptional artworks spanning 1,300 years. The exhibition explores the dynamic nature of art selection and display in traditional Japanese settings, where artworks are often temporarily presented in response to a special occasion or to reflect the change of seasons. In the Moment also considers Mr. Ellison’s active involvement in displaying art in his Japanese-style home, shedding light on his appreciation for Japan’s art and culture.
Included in the exhibition are significant works by noted artists of the Momoyama (1573–1615) and Edo (1615–1868) periods along with other important examples of religious art, lacquer, woodwork, and metalwork. Highlights include a 13th–14th century wooden sculpture of Shotoku Taishi; six-panel folding screens dating to the 17th century by Kano Sansetsu; and 18th century paintings by acclaimed masters Maruyama Okyo and Ito Jakuchu.
“This exhibition offers a rare glimpse of an extraordinary collection,” said Jay Xu, director of the Asian Art Museum. “We aim to present it in a fresh and original way that explores traditional Japanese principles governing the relationship of art to our surroundings and social relationships.”
The exhibition is organized by the Asian Art Museum and curated by Dr. Laura Allen, the museum’s curator of Japanese art, and Melissa Rinne, associate curator of Japanese art, in consultation with Mr. Ellison’s curator, Dr. Emily Sano.
The exhibition is on view June 28, 2013 through September 22, 2013. The Asian Art Museum will serve as the only venue for the exhibition.
For more information visit: www.asianart.org
Tags: 13th—14th, 1573—1615, 1615—1868, 17th, 18th, 2012, 2013, 80, aam, art, artists, asian, asian art museum, Auspicious Pine, Bamboo, bay area, california, Century, chronicle, civic center, collection, crane, culture, curated, Curator, day, department, dr., Edo, ellison, Emily Sano, exhibit, In the Moment, In the Moment: Japanese Art from the Larry Ellison Collection, Ito Jakuchu, japan, Japanese, June 28, Kamakura, Kano Sansetsu, Kenneth Baker, korean, Korean Culture Day, larkin, larry ellison, Larry Ellison Collection, Laura Allen, Maruyama Okyo, mcallister, Melissa Rinne, Momoyama, oracle, paintings, periods, personal, plum, San Francisco, sculpture, September 22, sfgate, Shotoku Taishi, Shotoku Taishi as an Infant, show, six-panel folding screens, street, tigers, turtles, wooden, works
Posted in art | No Comments »
Monday, September 17th, 2012
Let’s see here, California 1942:
Charming.
And let’s see here, California 2012, specifically Clay Street, Saturday, September 15th, 2012:
By Karl Mondon(?)
You see that? You see “GTFO JAPS” (Get The Fuck Out, Japs)?
Even more charming.
(How many of these are the easily-cowed Ed Lee stencil voters of 2011? Mmmm…)
Oh, here’s the headline:
“Chinese in San Francisco and Beijing protest Japan’s takeover of the Diaoyu Islands”
But one problem with that is that name of the islands is Senkaku. Check it and see. And another problem is that Japan “took over” these isles in the 1800′s.
And with all this talk of ancient history, let’s talk about today. Look at who’s claiming all of the South China Sea, even parts that are extreeeeemely close to the Philippines:
That’s right, it’s China. (Look at that red line – it’s like a giant tongue, I drink your milkshake.)
Now let’s check in with Rose Pak, the Reverend Bacon of San Francisco. Here she is from a few years back:
“Look at all the problems in the world, (they) are all created by Western countries with their phony-baloney moral standards.”
OK fine.
Tags: 2012, beijing, caac, california, China, chinatown, chinese, clay, Diaoyu, ed lee, get the fuck out, get the fuck out japs, Grant, GTFO, GTFO Japs, islands, japan, Japanese, Japs, Mayor, protest, Rose Pak, San Francisco, signs
Posted in politics | 1 Comment »
