On a Floating Bridge » Archive for 2010
Christmas in Kiso
Sorry I’ve been too busy to blog recently! There were five highways created during the Edo period to traverse the central region of Honshu and particularly the distance between the old imperial capital Kyoto and the Shogunate power centre of Edo (Tokyo). Many will know the 53 stations of the Tokaido from Hiroshige’s woodblock prints. This was the busiest route along the coast and now carries the bullet train on the Tokyo-Nagoya-Kyoto-Osaka route. The Nakasendo cut inland … Read entire article »
Filed under: Japan Slow Travel & Mini Trips, Slow Travel
Setouchi – Shodoshima Highlights
“Sea and mountain, from these two view points you can enjoy the charms of this island to the full. In this abundant place, the artwork of Asia’s artists meets in fusion. In a relaxed mood, allow the beautiful scenes of country and sea to be etched into your memory.”P112 Setouchi International Art Festival, 2010 guidebook. We only briefly visited Shodoshima. It is the most accessible of all the islands, and the biggest. It is also the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arty in Tokyo
Google’s Japanese OCR: Best Results
I just recently discovered that google is working on a project for a free online Japanese OCR. This was WAY exciting for me because most Japanese optical character recognition software is about $400 plus! Also there are not many options for apple mac computers and from seeing the performance of a few of the paid ones (admittedly some years ago), it seems like a lot of money for not such a great result. Google’s NHOCR project, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Generally Japan, Learning Japanese
Illustration Competitions in Japan
Some professions are actively sought by Japan’s immigration policies. If you happen to fall into one of these sectors and particularly if you also speak Japanese, you may find relocating to Japan a breeze. That isn’t to say that less conventional disciplines can’t make it work. If like me you find yourself trying to eke out some kind of existence in the arts field, particularly illustration, you may want to check out the competitions run by … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arty in Tokyo
Setouchi – Ogijima Highlights
“Ogijima is an island of steep slopes and little flat ground. The slopes are covered with labyrinth like alleyways, and the area is dotted with artwork like a treasure chest. While taking a stroll down stone steps, pathways and along walls, experience a taste of the island to the bottom of your heart.”P98 Setouchi International Art Festival, 2010 guidebook. Ogishima was a real surprise. It was the smallest of all the islands we went to, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arty in Tokyo
Setouchi – Megijima Highlights
“To prepare for strong winter winds, this island has a stone wall (‘Oote – the front gate of a castle’)” that protects the island. Wander around Fukutake House, established in 2010 which gathers special projects and the world’s galleries, as well as our alleyway community, and aim for the peak of Mount Onigashima which contains an enormous cave inside.”P82 Setouchi International Art Festival, 2010 guidebook. We had very good hospitality on Megijima and liked the exhibits … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arty in Tokyo
Setouchi – Teshima Highlights
“Dotted with the historical ruins of the Jōmon era (14,000~300 BC) An abundant island with rolling terraced rice fields. In the setting of this island, the standard-bearers of modern art open an exhibition of their work. Food based projects have also started in this place blessed with sea and mountains.”Setouchi International Art Festival 2010 Guidebook, p62 No. 11 Tobias Rehburger: Was du liebst, bring dich auch zum weinen Tobias Rehburger’s “Was du liebst, bring dich auch … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arty in Tokyo
2 weeks to see Yokoo Tadanori Retrospective in Osaka
The most comprehensive Yokoo Tadanori exhibition ever is now on at the Osaka National Museum of Art. The exhibition comprises over 800 posters across many large rooms, floor to ceiling. Fans of the artist will not want to miss this colossal exhibition. Even a quick tour will take an hour, with highlights including his silk screen separation designs on paper: ink with the un-rubbed out lines of the pencil drawings underneath. The exhibition also includes … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arty in Tokyo
Seto Inland Sea Art Festival
The majority of foreign-tourism in Japan is directed at the ligneous Heian alleyways in Kyoto by lantern light; sombre remembrances in Hiroshima, and all-night neon quirkiness in Tokyo. However, in my exhaustive travels through this country, I’ve always been most touched by places that were not so forthcoming in the guide books. While guides like the Japan-guide.com website show rankings that tally with each region’s relative fame, I wouldn’t necessarily agree with their judgement. Case in point … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arty in Tokyo, Japan Slow Travel & Mini Trips, Slow Travel
Getting around Setouchi Art Festival
Once you have got to Setouchi, it can be hard to plan your itinerary since the islands are connected by a delicate web of ferries and the order you pick will determine the efficiency of your trip – arriving late on an island whose exhibits shut early leaves you with an evening, albeit a very lovely evening, in the dark under the stars with a cup of noodles. A little planning is advised to make … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arty in Tokyo, Japan Slow Travel & Mini Trips, Slow Travel
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On a Floating Bridge is a website with information about 3 topics,
and surprising intersections between them. Please subscribe to the RSS if you are interested in Japan, Environmental Issues and Art.
The bridges between them weave my life together here in Tokyo.
Below are photos mostly from Japan and my overland journey from Bristol to Tokyo, plane free. I don't update them that often.
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