farewell

(photo via Yumiko Sakuma)
this is early goodbye to 2010, you run so quick!
I would like to ask you to take a moment to look back 2010 from here.

For someone lazy ass like me, that's the best summary of what happened in the world this year. I should check news more often, there is no excuse to not knowing the world around me. Many images are visually very shocking, but I had to open my eyes and know how ignorant am I and how faraway we are from peace. We gotta do what we gotta do.

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少し早めのさようなら、２０１０年。君は....早すぎだよ！
この機会に、このリンクから２０１０年という一年を振り返りましょう。

私みたいななまけものには一番ふさわしい一年の層まとめ。自分の回りの世界で何が起こっていたのか、もっともっと頻繁に知っていなくてはいけないはずだった。言い訳は言いっこなしだ。ほとんどの写真は大きく鮮明なゆえにとてもショッキングだけど、自分がいくら無頓着であったか、そして私たちが平和からはどれだけ遠い場所にいるのかを確認するためには、目を大きく開いていよう。やるべきことはたくさんある。

Life and Action

I've been at Staten Island these couple of weeks. SI is the hidden and forgotten part of the five borough. Don't know the whole area yet, but I already like the vibes there. I'm going there tomorrow as well.

Last night, Graffiti writer GANO was having the art class in the project's community center. I don't know how to put this, but I've never impressed by graffiti in my whole life. His babies on Black Book made me speechless. And there were something coming up from my bottom of heart, it's hot, rich, thick and pure. People name it as passion or joy, whatever that is, I need them in my life. GANO is an artist. I must say that HIPHOP is one thing that never let me down, and raise my heartbeat very fast. Since the day I first met, it never changed. 

Then, I thought about the fact that all of the genuine and powerful art always reminds me the first encounter and introduction to the culture, the very first moment that hits my mind very hard. I guess that's all the greatest art has to do to mindset. Maybe only for me. I love that feeling.

----------------

Today was my first day in my new job. No complains, actually, pretty good start. Someone says I can't tell you do well in the first day, but I do feel it will be a nice experience. I'm ready to learn, ready to grow. Get on it!

***********************************************************

最近、２１２マガジンのプロジェクトでスタテンアイランドに行っている。スタテンアイランドは、一番忘れられがちで気に留められない、かわいそうなニューヨークの孤島だ。でも、なんだか島の空気が好きだ。明日も行くことになりそう。

昨日は、コミュニティーセンターでGANOによる子供達へのグラフィティ教室。細かいレポートは雑誌で見ていただきたい。私はそこで、言葉に表せないほどに感動した。GANOさんが大切そうに抱えるブラックブックには、決して値段の付けられない、すばらしい作品が大声で主張していた。胸の奥から、暖かく、濃く、純粋な何かが溢れ出るのが自分でもよくわかった。それは喜びや情熱といったたぐいのものに違いないが、何であれ、ヒップホップは私にとって、出会った日から今でも、自分の鼓動を早める、美しく強いエンジンだ。私はやっぱりヒップホップが限りなく好きだ。

本物の作品というものに共通しているのは、そのものに一番はじめに出会ったときの初期衝動を、発作的に呼び起こすものだというのを思った。AnastasiaやGANOがそうだったように。

ーーーーーーーー

本日は仕事初日。一日目でわかるわけないと言う人も居るけど、私は初日でうまくやっていけるかどうかは肌でわかる。かなりいいスタートだったと思う。学ぶこと、成長することに対して貪欲な自分が居るし、恐れないでアイディアをたくさん出していきたいと思う。そして、それを許してくれる人たちが一緒に働いているな、と思う。ガンバル。

Matthew Africa is one of my most favorite DJs out there. He's from Oakland, SF, I just happened to know him randomly searching online. His mix "2 busy saying yeah" is always in my ipod, I carry them everywhere. He's coming in the city and spinning at Botanica tonight! It just made my day and moreover, all vinyl set! Can't wait tonight..

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There are many things that let me down in my lifetime. But from a long time ago, I decided not to be a hater. It's the easiest trap you can fall. Being a hater just things make worse and just make your inside miserable and bitter. I am a human being, so there is a day I just cry all over or hate someone that bring me sad emotion. But at the end of the day, I will be a lover, not a hater. 

rad or wack

洋服、インテリア、音楽（デザインとは言わないけど）、景観、乗り物、建築。身の回りのものは、誰かが考えたアイディアで溢れている。昨日、デザインについてじっくり考えてみた。そして、全てのことに言える自分の共通点が浮かび上がった。私はデザインそのもの自体に惹かれるというわけではなく、そのものと他の何かが面白い調和をつくって、今まで見えなかったように見えることが一番すきなんだと思う。例えば洋服一つでも、そのもの自体がカッコ悪いデザインであれ、組み合わせることによってとてもスタイリッシュに見えたりすることや、椅子ひとつが古くさくてダサイのに、ある空間に他のものと共存させると、あら不思議、素敵ですなんていうことがある。言ってしまうと、デザインそのもの自体はどうでもいいんだと思う。だから「カッコいいものをつくる」という大前提のもとに成り立つデザイナーに、あまり惹かれないのかもしれない。私はファッションであればスタイリストが好きだし、音楽であればミュージシャンではなくDJが一番面白いと思う。デザインであれば、建築ではなく、色々組み立てられるインテリアコーディネーターだ。

そう考えてみると、すべてがよくわかる。ヒップホップにしたって、わけのわからない音楽の一部分を切り取ってサンプリングして、カッコいいビートをつくるわけだ。たいしたことない元ネタを聞いてビックリすることがある。自分の好きな物の共通点はこれだ、と思った。というどうでもいい話。

Anastasia Radevich

I uploaded article about shoe designer in Canada, Anastasia Radevich.
Please take a look from here


When I saw her shoes first time, it made me speechless, and reminds me how the true design should be.

She shows me how important to try feeding your imagination. As long as you live this life, give your brain a water, and it will grow. As Karl Lagarfeld said, "If you stop, you've signed your death warrent. "

And top of that, she was super-sweet as a person!

in god they trust

I believe diversity is what this world makes more interesting. If you believe so, this video is worth to watch.I respect everyone's right to speak up, and no matter what opinion we have, it's weight equally. In this video, some young Christians make their position clear that why they against for gay marriage. It just mind-awakening that how many people have different opinion about that matter. I personally agree with gay marriage because someone just happened to love someone, and wanna spend whole life with him / her, and so then, go for it. It's OKAY to have marriage with someone you love. It's that simple. If you don't like gay marriage, you, yourself have own right to abandon it. LUCKY YOU! One person, one right, no argument! Why people make such a big deal out of it? Everybody just wants to be happy.

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多様性はこの世界を面白くする。誰でも発言の自由があって、思うことを口にする権利があるし、誰の意見の重さも同じだ。そう信じるなら、このビデオは一見の価値ありだ。このビデオでは、若いクリスチャンの数人が、どうして同性愛結婚を認めないかを語っている。当たり前だけど、世の中には色々な意見があるなぁと改めて思う。そして、自分と正反対のことを、心の底から純粋に信じている人もいるんだな、と気付くことは、これもまた面白い。私は同性愛結婚に対して賛成だし、どちらかといえば好きなようにすればいいと思う。反対の人は、自分にそれを放棄する権利があるんだから、それだけで充分じゃないか。皆幸せになりたいのにね。

new blog!

well,, I know, I know.

I started new blog. I'm gonna keep writing here about my personal posts or whatever, this new blog will be more about fashion and other thing that I like, not really emotional or personal.

check it out, it's on fire. (click on it, it will take you.)
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ええと、また？とかさらに？と言われそうですが新しいブログはじめました。こちらも、もちろん書き続けますが、新しいブログはファッションやアートのニュース的な要素がメインになります。ぜひ、見てください。こちらから！

recent purchase

Last tuesday, I went thrift shopping in Queens. I scored many goodies, but I was more than excited when I found perfect cassette player. I had many cassettes sitting my dusty drawer for too long, so it's finally the time for those boys to be listened! 

Thrift shopping is so addictive. Why? 

'que sera sera' is the magic word, which makes you feel ease and keep your head up. Don't try too hard, whatever will be, will be...

CAKE BOSS

I don't watch TV show that often, but this is my favorite.. Cake Boss is the reality show of Bakery in Hoboken. I am really a sweet teeth person, so it's all fun and amazing to look at the process of how these baked goods are made. Cakes and sweets taste better in Japan than here, I have to admit, but I kind of like old traditional Italian or American pastries. Cake Boss shows us up and down of family business. And the reason why I like the most is the simplest things, cakes make people happy. I think baker is one of the greatest job because at the end of the day, he can see all the big smiles of many people. There are not many jobs like that in this world. Isn't that great?

i'm so happy and feeling over the top, so have to share this..

Last night, I was too tired and lazy to bring up my heavy bike to walk-up 3rd floor, so I chained it in outside, since I gotta go to job interview in the morning anyway. 

Then, this morning, I got out from my apartment, and there was no bike. You know how shocked I was? That bike meant a lot to me.. I was about to cry, but gotta go to interview, so grab cab and watching windows. I  looked all the bikers the eyes of envy . I tried so hard not to cry because I felt like I lost best friend of mine. I got off because was traffic jam, and walked down to the office. Then, I saw familiar frame... "wait,, what am I seeing?" What I was seeing  is that someone riding my very own red bike!!!!  I've never run so fast for a long, I caught him, and screamed "Hey! That's my bike!" 

He was living in that apartment across the street, and said the chain was loose and not really intended to stole it. Yeah, chain loosed bike on the street of New York over the night? forget it, I don't blame him.

He looked pretty nice guy, and showed me his ID so I asked him to riding around until my interview's over cause I didn't have lock with me and can not leave it on the street anyway. I met up with him after that, and gave him donuts. That's the end of the story.

I mean.. if it ain't miracle, I don't know what it is. If I caught a cab minutes later , or could not get off on the way, I will never see him again. and the bike will be at chop shop in any minutes. Miracle on the Clinton.. Someone should make a movie. Thank you saint Steve. You save my day, or maybe entire life! 

ex to the next

-- It's officially autumn / winter now in NY. Every time I go to outside, have to wonder if I should wear coat or save it till it's get colder. I have to be patient.

Change is coming into my life. I am ready. 

Check him out. I like his photo. It's very nostalgic and loyal to that very moment.

http://www.jordan-sullivan.com/

letter from good old thing

Hearing from old friend is always a good thing.. This morning,I heard from my one of the best friend in Japan. She and I spend time together in strict dormitory for 5 years! There were hard times and good times, but overall, she was like a sunshine to me, and that surprising email reminds me her big smile.

What a wonderful world

quote for a day

“I wanted something that felt honest, that was a mixture of what I want to wear and how I want to live. I felt it needed to be quite simple and very real.”

Phoebe Philo on Céline, The Financial Times (2010)

Her clothes says it all.

http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/S2011RTW-CELINE/#slide=0

people call me thrift mafia

I love thrift store.. I can't name the feeling when I step into there. Overwhelmed smell, noise, sight, everything makes me high as nothing else can. 

This was the second time I went infamous Goodwill outlet on Van-Dam street, Sunnyside Queens. For those who don't know what Goodwill is, it's like chain thrift store, everywhere in U.S, they do good things in community. So basically, you can shop there, and automatically the money goes to something beneficial to the people. It's way much better than shop Balenciaga in Barneys New York, you know?  

 http://www.yelp.com/biz/goodwill-outlet-store-new-york

Wait... is there any way it can be cheaper than regular Goodwill? Van Dam Goodwill is like outlet of outlets, you wouldn't imagine the place where price tag never exists. I'm not talking about t-shirts 99cents kind of cheap, it's like 10 garments are $3.00 kind of cheap, no matter it's 50s' Christian Dior blouse or Old Navy hoodie. Weight rules here! It's kind of fair, huh?

I strongly recommend this place. However, you need enough sleep (facial mask will be nice too),  healthy breakfast, hand-free bag pack to make the best out of it.  Don't expect the garments nicely hanged and organized, it's like an amazon. 

..... I like this photo too much.  I can't help to imagine what happened later in those two plus size ladies. 

whenever you meet new people visiting from Japan,

first question I've asked was always 

"what made you decide to come to N.Y?"

It's been easy to answer 

since my purpose was all clear back then.

I love New York rap so 

that's why I have to see what's real in here. 

(it sounds dumb when I put out the words..)

in educational level, 

I can say I achieved one of the goal in here. 

but next, I can't help asking to me in mind,

"why am I still here?"

this question getting heavier.

I have to see my vision clearly and 

push the envelop hard this time. 

a lots of buyers are in town for SS2010 buying.

So far, BODKIN and Araks is the best collection to me.

Today I walked around huge trade shows in Javits center.

 (and Capsule too) 

I hate Javits center. Sanford agreed with me.

 

There sure are tons of brands exists in this world..

and sometime, I impressed by their beautiful creations.

But I have to say that 

there are unbelievably ugly clothing in this world as well.

It's almost a tragedy. 

there is no impossibility in LaChapell's dream land.

In his world, every dream comes true.

I like the overdose of color, material, make-up, 

sexuality and humanity in his photos.

everything is too much in here in comfortable way.

No one can pull that off like he does.

( I can easily guess that all art directors cry for budget though..)

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I am trying to learn at least one thing in a day,

I wanna be wiser, because it's cooler.

whenever summer leaves, 

it makes me feel like I am left behind.

 

Oh Summer, why don't you stay a bit longer 

so I can ride my bike with my cut off shorts?

so I can go to beach one more last time and lay down on the sand?

 

I already miss my instantly blue dyed tongue with shaved ice. 

夏の去り際は、なぜか置いてかれたような気持ちになる。

いつも、もうちょっとだけ長く居てくれたらいいのにと思う。

そしたら、ショートパンツで自転車に乗って、

最後にもう一度だけ海に行って砂浜に寝転ぶのに。

もうすでに、道ばたで買うかき氷で染まった真っ青な舌が懐かしい。

また来年ね。

see me in the bay

Today was present breezy day.

Running around neighborhood to purchase woods 

to craft new shelf this morning. 

I am lucky enough to be surrounded Chinese professional stores..

I can buy cooking goods and hardware as warehouse prices.

(I would say prices are half of Home Depot)

GANT by Michael Bastian SS2011 presentation.

my boss took me to Gant's 2011SS presentation. 

Really good collection, very true to classics and basics.

So many cute boys were there. I didn't know where to look at.

It's sad that I have to assume most of those boys are gay...

Bastian himself was present, he was so handsome dandy guy.

I am not big fun of fashion event 

since I don't have good socialize skills.. 

addition to that, I don't drink. 

But I like this job because I can see many new collections 

that are not exposed to the public yet.

2011SS will be fun season for sure..

 

I wish that it would rain

today was another unlucky day for me...

another lost of essential belonging 

(gash.. it makes me want someone to slap my face).

How can't I never learn from the experiences? 

I might be dumber than monkey.

on the way home of the long day, 

back and forth all the way around manhattan,

I really had to go home in rush so tried to grab the cab.

Then, rain started..... I had no luck to catch cabs, 

every cab in the city was occupied or 

going home with "OFF DUTY" sign on the top.

I could think like "this is not my day", however,

the rain was somehow beautiful in that moment.

It was like time gets slow, 

and I am in unknown place that I've never been. 

It washed all dust and smoke out of the city.

 

Took 20 minutes to score the luck (seriously) 

cab driver looked like a Saint to me. 

I don't watch love story. 

When I'm in the movie mood, I mostly watch violence film. 

Because most of the case, 

I don't care about other man's and woman's this or that.

This movie can be a beautiful love story, 

but there are a lot more than that.

I guess this film is more about family blood. Liked it.

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My mom was visiting from Japan for a week.

It was super fun week. I enjoyed any moment of it.

She went through a lot in her life,

 but after all, she is a happy person and I am happy around her. 

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bye bye summer, your dead heat, sticky skin, mango popsicle, non-stop Ohio Player playlist.

this summer was lovely. and struggling. 

It's all good.

Let me post this real quick.

 Alber Elbaz has been my favorite designer always and will be.

I love his romantic drape and subtle approach to the fabrics.

Really... REALLY?

There has been rumor about this, but I didn't think it's gonna happen, 

so when this news became official, I was little surprised. 

I am not real fun of H&M designer collaboration so I never scored any single pieces.

We will see.. It will hit the store November 20! 

Ride beyond the limit

Eri-chan and I went to ride from downtown Manhattan to Flushing, Queens yesterday. 

My body is now tortured by muscle ache, but it was so much fun..

We stopped by the big thrift on Steinway, chill in Brazilian cafe backyard, 

and had good Korean food! 

I was surprised we had energy left after back to the city. 

Maybe it's runner's high kind of thing?

we're gonna make report of this short bike trip later on. 

 Don't know why never get tired of riding bike even my butt hurts so bad right now.. 

I love bike, because it's the most free vehicle I believe.

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Day before that, my boss took me to sailing. With her and her husband's beautiful boat, we were floating middle of nowhere and fully enjoyed end of summer. Mechanism of sailing is very complicated for me, but I can easily imagine people have been mesmerized by the adventure. Ocean certainly has mythical power. 

Suddenly, I wanted to dip my body into water, but I didn't have bathing suits with me. So I borrowed vest and shorts, and she tied me with the boat, here is the result;

 

It was so much fun.... but honestly, 

I got really scared because boat sailed really fast than it looked, I drunk a lot of salty water. 

Someone (I forgot) said living is equal as awaking.

I understand what it means now. 

In spiritual meaning, you are not sleeping until your death comes and take you away. 

so don't sleep over! 

Got any plan for next weekend?

SHAKERS, my infamous musica group having a party on 9/3 at Lower East Side.

There will be three band performances, and SHAKERS do business as usual as EPMD says. 

Please stop by, the restaurant have very nice and romantic backyard. 

Restaurant & Bar 1492

60 Clinton st.

Between Stanton and Rivington

7pm - 12pm

Drink and dance. Everything will be okay at the end of the night. 

get ready for this

I have to post this..

I can play around with Audacity for whole night. 

Even my dumb router messed up and cut off my internet connection, 

I can still be creative and the possibility is sky high.

I just made one song for very first time with Audacity, 

and I never felt that kind of excitement in that way.

I can do patchwork, collage, layer, anything you can imagine.

I am so lazy to link this web, so just google Audacity, download it, 

and you are ready to be a sound creator.. (for free!)

AS LONG AS YOU BELIEVE IN MUSIC, YOU ARE FREE.

hi there!

I've been back and forth between busy as hell to slow like forever.

This past month, I found my self in closer to the edge in very first time in my life,

 and it doesn't feel good. But it's getting better at least. Bad thing good thing, it will not last forever as everybody already knew. 

 

I am working on upcoming biggest project.

I don't "hope" to work it out, I know it will.

25 x 2 x 2= 100 !

Now I am 25 years old now..

 this year, I want to 

- be motivated

- welcome changes

- listen to people

- go two good thing every single day

- don't say bad thing about people

- be more decisive and embody my decision.

- take control my emotion

- express !

that's all thing I can think of for now.

life is too short to sleep over.

thank you for all the people who made me who am I now.

I can't be here if you are not there!

Heatwave is massively attacking New York City.. it drives me nuts.

Growing up in North of Japan, I've never experienced such a harsh weather.

I woke up this morning, felt like I was literally melting like a butter. 

Sunbeam is perfect for the beach and poolside, but not at all for the city walk. 

this is the random post of what i've done for this past month.

JULY 4th---- PHILLY!

Lovely city. Yukiko and I mostly did the record shopping in the city of brotherly love. 

Since 2-3 hr ride does not bother me, I am sure I will go back there soon. And also I enjoyed the fireworks of JULY 4th in front of my face, it was really close, breath-taking, and almost scary.

SHAKERS and BARZINHO

we are having good time at playing music at BARZINHO. 

In one sentence, 'we play what we like.' simply, that's it.

stop by, we guarantee that you will enjoy the food and music.

These days, I spend my time thinking about what I am going to play while I don't play. 

BARZINHO

on West Broadway 

bet. White and Franklin

MONTAUK / HAMPTON

my ex-boss took me to short trip to the Hampton with United Allows director, who was visiting from Japan. I was more than excited! I heard about it, but never had chance to go there. It was a beautiful island. We had pretty good time since Bob Melet took care of us. He and his lovely family knows what's the best.

Long Beach

last weekend, Eri chan and I went to long beach in long island. There was a sad trouble before we head to the beach, but it never stopped my desire of the beach. Beach was gorgeous. We dip our body into cold water, eat junks, listening music, nap, eating ice-cream, just stayed there whole afternoon. 

oh, why I love beach so much?

bury me in flower

JOE BRAINARD (1942-1994) 

when I stopped over MAST yesterday, (the great second hand book store on avenue A and 4th st) somehow his book caught my eyes in the sea of books. I opened books and beautiful flowers popped out. Sometime, things just coming to get you in the right time and right place. I needed flower. Where is this real painting at? Have to see.

when your instinct only matters

It may sound too stuck-up to say, but I am believing in my instinct. 100%.

More over, it the only thing matters.

I like what I like and I do what I do.

I can say it at loud that I believe in music, art, and all the beauty I like.

That's why I try not to install too much information, because it's make my sense blunt. 

 

here is a summer

  Your favorite musica group, THE SHAKERS is now rocking TriBeca every wednesday and thursday. Come meet us at great restaurant, BARZINHO and enjoy the beautiful music and authentic Brazilian dishes. (yum!). We make you dance. 

BARZINHO

255 West Broadway (bet. White st. and Franklin st.)

HITOMI KANEHARA "Ash Baby"

wow... here is the insanity of real sick people. It will take you little journey to inside of selfish, crazy, and extremely lonely girl. It's real Marylin Manson world comes true to me. What almost made my brain explode is that the author wrote down AYA's fucked up emotion without missing any single word. But does people really think like this much in their mind? Yeah people does. I do at least unconsciously. That's why it makes me unpleasant because they don't wanna know that. But now I find it's very unhealthy. This book possibly destroy you if you are exhausted and down, and especially teenager. It's that strong. But I am happy that it did not make any influence on my mood. I admire her techniques of writing, sure she is a great writer as her age. 

I an a believer that everything so called art has to make people's head up eventually. But it does not mean art always have to be positive, cheering and laughable. I be positive even I watch very depressed and sad thing. I like the thing shows strength of life no matter it's obvious or hidden. I don't like the thing just let me down and leave me like "this is me, I don't care if you understand this" , because I feel like I am raped by someone's satisfaction of self-consciousness. And it's very disgusting. 

金原ひとみのアッシュベイビーを読んだ。あまりに遠過ぎて狂った世界の中に居る狂った若い女の子の話としか言えない。主人公の文句や心の内を読んでいて、自分勝手でうぬぼれが強くて弱くて頭が爆発しそうになった。でも人間って無意識でこういうことまで考えていることは確かだなと思う。ただこの小説はそれを言語化して紙にプリントしてあるから、人の知りたくない部分を赤裸裸にしていて嫌な気持ちになるんだな、と。そしてそれは実に不健康なことであるということも。人間は小さな脳みそでそんなに考えるべきじゃない。この話が自分の感情にまったく影響を及ぼさなかったのはよかった。もし暗くて死にたいみたいな１０代中盤のムードでこれを読んだら、それこそ破壊されちゃうかもしれない。間違いなくそのくらいパワフルだ。それにしても彼女の文才は文句無しですばらしいと思う。

わたしは文章、映画、絵、音楽、いわゆるアートと呼ばれるすべてのものは、最終的に見た人に前を向かせるべきであると信じている。これはアートがすべてポジティブ明るくないといけないということではない。暗く、寂しく、ネガティブで怖いものを見た後に不思議と「よし」とポジティブになるという作品はたくさんある。ただ、落とすだけ落として「これがわたしです」と言っていなくなるアートは、自意識が強過ぎて嫌いだ。

pie face

sometime you just need to sit back, relax, and laugh at loud. 

Source: some don't remember, but mostly from daily what

Hope these helps.

 

I have not seen such great magazines for a long time..

Left: Fashion Magazine by ALEC SOTH

Right: Emigre Magazine (not published any more)

I've never knew about Alex Soth, but I deeply fell in love with his photography. I cannot even explain this feeling very well.

Emigre Magazine, all designs are very inspiring. and it's big. I love big magazine. Whenever you turn a page, my eyes are blinking and my mouth is signing.

 

Please bury both magazine with me if I die today.