YOSHINOBU TABATA: ELDERLY, SICK & DECIDUOUS
The First of a three part series on Omiya Bonsai.
After The Great 1923 Earthquake, Tokyo’s few remaining bonsai nurseries moved north to Omiya. Up here the air was cooler, the water purer and the soil perfect for growing miniature trees. Today, only ten nurseries remain in the world’s most important area for Bonsai cultivation.
Controlling the beauty of the natural world is difficult, time consuming and often impossible. Yet, we try. That hasn’t stopped us from domesticating beautiful beasts or clipping the wings of birds so that we can enjoy their plummage (without them having to fly away), or brining parts of the natural landscape into our homes – flowers, trees and rocks. …»
THE BNE WATER ORGANIZATION
After fifteen years as a street artist, American-roots BNE took his world-wide approach and recognition in the visual arts in a new direction and started the BNE Water Foundation. The charity project aims for positive social change by providing clean water solutions to poverty-stricken areas around the world. In this interview, BNE tells Papersky about the connections between his work, travels and this new project.
How did the BNE Water Foundation start, where did the idea come from?
It wasn’t one event it was more a combination of things and a feeling that had been growing inside of me. The root of most …»
KEIRIN AMBASSADOR: TOMITA TOSHIHIKO
“Those were the golden years of Keirin you know, you could hear Koichi Nakano’s name everywhere, Keirin riders were flown over to Europe to put on demonstrations; Keirin essentially turned into billion dollar industry. If I remember correctly, the winner of last year’s Keirin Grand Prix took home about 100,000,000 Yen (US$1,242,000).” Tomita Toshihiko, who after 29 years as a Keirin professional cyclist, retired in July 2010 and like any retiree, is full to the brim with stories of the sport. Papersky met with this Tokyo mainstay cyclist to hear more about his life and the sport he knows so well. …»
TAIUN MOCHIZUKI: CIRCLING TO NOTHINGNESS
The final in a three-part series on Japanese Suzuri.
Thick and black; reflecting the fading sunlight, a small sea of ink rests inside the pool of a carved Amehata stone Suzuri. This sumi ink, made from bamboo ash mixed with melted fish bones (and dried into a solid stick) has been ground by Taiun Mochizuki, a 95 year old Shodo (calligraphy) master. On the floor of his room long white sheets of paper have been marked in thick brushstrokes with words, poems, songs and sayings. What words are his favourite? “I have …»
YATARO AMEMIYA: ENTRANCED BY A ROCK
The second in a three-part series on Japanese Suzuri.
Suzuri are an essential part of Japan’s writing history but they are also an embodiment of Japan’s spiritual history; as instruments for meditation. “If you want to write something pure, something approaching truth, then your mind should be clear. This is what is interesting about Suzuri, it is a tool for self reflection, and I believe it can be viewed as a sculptural item.”
Sitting cross legged on a mat, Yataro Amemiya, a 17th generation Suzuri maker, explains …»
GYOKUSEN MOCHIZUKI: THE INKSTONE CAVE
The first in a three-part series on Japanese Suzuri
The stone is cold and wet to touch; a close grained and smooth slate. In the dark we feel for an end to the rock before a single light bulb turns on. Deep inside a forested Yamanashi mountain, this cave is the last place to mine for Amehata stone — one of Japan’s important ancient materials. When these stone walls collapse, or when Gyokusen Mochizuki mines the last piece of slate from the mountain’s geological guts, a living piece of Japanese cultural history will have become extinct.
SKATEBOARD FILE VII: BUCHI & THE RELIEF WHEEL
Hirotoshi Kawabuchi is a young amateur skater living in Japan and the United States. “Buchi’s” recent skating caught our attention with his involvement in relief efforts for the March 11th earthquake. Buchi and his sponsor, wheel maker Autobahn Wheels, have released a unique set of wheels, the profits of which go directly to the Red Cross. Now skateboarders from around the world have been able to contribute to the flow of donations through their purchase. The Papersky Skateboard File wanted to know more so we grabbed Buchi for a quick interview about this, yet another, unique relief project for Japan.
Tell us first, now that you’re skating with Autobahn Wheels, how did this charity project to help Japan after the March 11th earthquake come together? …»
