Insights – TELEMAKFILMS Showreel

Clicking on over to the Japan-based film creators, TELEMAKFILMS you will find categories such as Decadance, Pole & Belly Dance and Tokyo Gigs. Their latest real is a creative mish mash of what makes Japan and it’s artists so collectively intriguing.

Snapshots of Newness

Sasa has released some new goodness and we are pumped to be able to share it with you. In true Sasa style, it is original, one-of-a-kind pieces of fashion art hand crafted using recycled papers and cardboards. Sasa hand illustrates all of his work, giving each piece it’s own character and individual flair.

Check out the full Sasa range and get a preview of some of the not yet released pieces coming soon.

You can find more of Sasa’s graphic design, art, jewelery and prints at his own site lo-fi-me .

Bags + α @ Mitsukoshi Ebisu

5 handmade bag designers, including the much loved Chi of chi-bag fame, will display their stunning creations at the Bags + α Exhibition held on the first floor of the Mitsukoshi Department store in Ebisu. The designs will be on show from January 9th until the 15th.

The five design labels on show in the exhibition are IZOOMI, Akiko Ishiwata Stitch, chi-bag, VRANA and Nana Ishikawa.

Tokyo Weekly – Jan 12-18

What is going down in Tokyo town this week?

Jan 12 COW JAM
Free Monthly gig & live jam session at The Pink Cow, Shibuya. Come and hang with the herd!
Listen to those dulcet moos and rockin’ improvs from regularly appearing cowhands!
Randomly including:
Sorcha
David
Missing Scene
Guitarpan
And Guests

Jan 16 Dance! Move! Play! for the ladies at BIVIO Natural Fitness in Ebisu

Jan 17 Alvorada Lanchonete & Bar, the Brazilian restaurant in Kichijoji, has invited GBCJ to hold their first ever “Capoeira Rhythm” workshop.

Jan 17 KIKA Style – featuring / Deepchild Live (Poker flat/ Get Physical)
Music by -
- Deepchild (live set) Australia’s finest!
- (Poker Flat, Get Physical)
- Shotaro Meada (EDEN)
- Tech Booty Funk (REDBOX)
- Rennie Foster-(Dirty Works/Rebirth)
- Kikiorix – (Ladies and Gentelmen/Redbox)

Vj – Shantell Martin
- Remo Camerota

Live Paint – Pinkman ( PinT / Proto )

Photos – Yu (Kika Sytle/ RedBox)
- Skinni Pants ( Black Pearls)

Video by – Kaetsu (SET JAPAN)

GRAFFITI JAPAN TOKYO LAUNCH PARTY
Graffiti Japan By Remo Camerota
www.graffitijapan.

Jan 18 Grupo Bantus Capoeira Japan is proud to be part of the Amnesty International Film Festival 2009 coming up soon in January, 2009.

GBCJ will be performing on stage at the Yakult Hall before the presentation of the Italian documentary film “L’Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio”. A film about breaking down the barriers of race and class in Italy. A film about one man’s dream to bring together a group of musicians from diverse backgrounds to save a cultural icon, and create a communication on a new way to live life.

Sharing the Love – Jan 10, 2009

Thinking about inspiring work environments this week has led us on a hunt for all kinds of goodness.

Half of the TokyoMade desk space.

Snapshots of colorful and intriguing offices.

The Cool Hunter never fails to come up with the goods!

Nubby style!

Spaces to create and design.

Colorful collages of spaces to spend work, rest and play time.

Working and living in Manga Cafes in Tokyo.

The desk project on Ping Mag a while back.

What does your work space look like? Feel like?

BROS WEAR DESIGN Vision

Hanging out at the new Vision Air Office and gallery space in Tokyo is like stepping into a capsule of minimalistic cool. Fueled by streamline design, aural inspiration and creative spirit we decided to sit Oshima San down for a chat about life in the Vision Air space, his next range of graphics and what 2009 will hold.

A new season of BROS WEAR DESIGN t-shirts will be launched soon as the Spring/ Summer range, the concept is Vision Air, how many graphics will be in the new range?

There will be about 12 or 13 graphics in the new line. I have created four so far and will finish the fifth in the next couple of days.

Can you give us any hints about what the new BROS WEAR DESIGN range will be like?
Everything about this range is new. New graphics, new t-shirts body and I am exploring a new print method.

What is your creative process? How does an image come to you?
An image comes into my mind inspired by words and stories, abstract stories and images. I then begin to transfer the image from my brain to my computers. It can take anywhere between 20 hours and 30 days to complete one graphic image. I have to be balanced, I don’t want to loose the image but I also need to feel as if the image in complete before moving away from it to another project.

So, we can see that you are working on the fifth image in the range now. Your office space is very sleek and smooth but the music floating through adds a lively feel, how does the music help?
I always have the music, the office is never silent. I am usually playing electronica or dub step. Music makes me relaxed, gives flow to my work. It helps me smooth the image from my mind vision to my computer.

What does 2009 hold for you? In 2008 you did some big collaborations with events like Nagisa, do you have plans for any collaborations this year?

Yes, in 2009 I will be connecting with sound artists, musicians, music events, labels and other fashion brands, many things coming up.

It is the beginning of the year, do you set goals for yourself? What big plans do you have for 2009?

This year I will be making connections with the European market, having the opportunity to share my graphics in Europe.

I plan to support some very well known European artist here in Japan by displaying their works in the Vision Air gallery.

As well as my own label I am focusing on supporting the Fragment event coming up at Super Deluxe on March 22. Also, this year will see the launch and evolution of a new free magazine that I have created in collaboration with some very interesting creators, retailers and designers here in Japan, DOCUMENT.

Do you have special message or vision for 2009?
I think this year many people will be searching for small happiness through good design, good art and music. I think the world is changing and awakening to different forms of art and design. We should embrace emerging artists and influence the world!

We agree! Thanks to Oshima San for inviting us to the Vision Air space and gallery, located in Ogikubo, Tokyo.

Tokyo Streets – Writing on the Wall

Late one night riding home from Kichijoji.

Sound VS Colour

SOUND VS. COLOR 2
JAAKKO EINO KALEVI vs. HIROAKI KOSHIBA
2009年1月11日(日)　6:30PM open 7PM start
入場無料
Jaakko Eino Kalevi (music)
Hiroaki Koshiba (live painting)

会場・Cafe Pause

Torori Colors

Torori is an original character by Japanese designer Ayana Sato. A torori can be any color of the rainbow but the message that this character bring is that no matter your color everyone is your friend.

These handmade candles are crafted in the shape of the Torori, using various colors. Each wax candle has it’s own character.

Ayana Sato chose to create the Torori candles as a symbol that things do not last forever.

Be careful not to put these wee ones in the sun and if you do wish to burn them down kindly take off their eyes first.

Available in 7 colors.

Atarashii HOBO

Last week we put HOBO designer’s Cintya and Flavio under the spotlight and this week we are excited to share their eye catching, eco friendly, hand made accessories with you.

Made from foodstuffs packaging and beads, Ana is full of moments: from the solid and precise squares in your chest to the enigmatic and sophisticated black around your neck and finally to the translucent and intense red hidden behind you. Essential and sophisticated as a light blow of fresh energy into your body.

SYMPHONY V is part of the Symphony series which are inspired by Kandinsky’s paintings. Made from recycled plastic, cloth, beads and cotton line the pieces reveal a composition full of harmony, beauty and irreverence.

SYMPHONY IV is made using cotton, plastic, pearls and garlic bags. Strong and vibrant colors touch us through the purity of materials.

More HOBO handcrafted originals coming soon to Tokyo Made.