porcelain-monkey

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Why the Long Face? Modigliani Retrospective
2008-04-14 11:03:00
The latest exhibition at the Nagoya City Art Museum is entitled Amedeo Modigliani Retrospective .It started April 5th and runs till June 1st.There are some 60 works on show,mainly oil on canvas and pencil sketches.I dont recall seeing any of his sculpture works on display.There were examples of his nude and portrait works selected from various art galleries and museums around the world including pieces from New York and Europe as well as offerings from Japan.Born in Tuscany,Modigliani received his early formal training in Rome influenced by the Renaissance and nineteenth century Italian artists.Moving to Paris in 1906 his work was further influenced by contemporary artists such as Lautrec and Cezanne as well as different genres of art such as sculpture and primitive art from Africa and Egypt.From this melting pot of various art forms,movements and artists,Modigliani seems to have formed his own unique style that looks both back and forwards.Take for example his portraits.Most have di...
More About: Face , Long

Friday Flash...Delicious Potato
2008-04-11 03:34:00
Another product that was fleetingly on sale over the last two weeks were these potato chips.Just as ephemeral as cherry blossoms they seem to have disappeared almost as quickly from the supermarket shelves.
More About: Flash , Potato , Friday , Delicious

Pollen Allergy...A ManMade Plague
2008-04-07 10:12:00
Amid the pink petalled cherry blossoms this week one can see people wearing all manner of masks and googles such as the Hello Kitty ones above to protect themselves against hay fever or kafunsho.Simply defined kafunsho is the allergic reaction to airborne pollen most notably sugi(cedar) and hinoki(cypress) pollen which is prevalent at this time of year.After World War 2 some seven million hectares of cedar and cypress was planted to provide timber for rebuilding.According to Alex Kerr in his book"Dogs and Demons The Fall of Modern Japan".."by 1997 Japan had replanted 43% of all its woodland with a monoculture of coniferous trees,mostly sugi,or Japanese cedar"pg 53.An article in The Japan Times last week quoted a Forest Agency figure of "Almost a fifth of Japans land mass is planted with cedar and cypress trees."The Japan Times Saturday April 5th 2008 p 3.It is these trees which produce the main source of pollen allergy rather than the traditional native broadleaf mix of maple,cherry...

Friday Flash..More Spring Photos
2008-04-04 01:49:00
Another shot from Okazaki Castle showing one of the walking paths in the grounds of the Castle.Another view of the Castle.Unfortunately the Castle and grounds are located in an urban area and the presence of apartment buildings and overhead power cables dont add anything to the atmosphere.A shot of some of the drinks available lately.The labels and colours of the drinks and beverages change to match the foilage and hues of the season.The final shot above shows a bento again sporting spring colours with pink being prominent.
More About: Flash , Photos , Spring , Friday

Okazaki Koen
2008-03-31 10:29:00
The cherry blossoms reached full bloom or mankai in Nagoya over the weekend according to the Japanese Meteorological Agency's sakurazensen or blossom forecast.Taking advantage of a day off I ventured to Okazaki Koen,a slow 45 minute,590 yen Meitetsu train ride from Kanayama Station in Nagoya.Once you arrive at Meitetsu Okazaki Koen Mae Station its an eight minute or so walk to the Castle grounds.Reportedly,the park in the grounds of Okazaki Castle is rated as the best in the Tokai Region and is one of the top 100 viewing sites in Japan.Plus I'd never been there before.The castle that currently occupies the site only dates from 1959 and is a five floor, triple roof reconstruction of the original.Entry is 200 yen for individual adults.According to the signboard outside there has been a castle there since the early 15th Century.Okazaki has special historical significance as being the birthplace of Ieyasu Tokugawa and cradle of the Tokugawa Shogunate.With the arrival of the Meiji Re...
More About: Cherry Blossoms

Friday Flash..Spring Confectionery
2008-03-28 00:56:00
A selection of confectionery Ive recently seen in the shops.Each season sees a new range of products often only available for a limited time.The new offering from Haagen Dazs features cassis which I believe is blackcurrant and orange.An interesting mix of tastesA mini pack that features some pale yellow coloured caramel flavoured KitKats.Quite sweet and sticky. The KitKats above come in a box that contains a double pack of English tea flavoured wafers coated in dark brown chocolate.I found the tea flavour quite mild.The final shot above shows the most recent KitKat flavour Ive seen recently.Again the hazelnut kitkats come in a small rectangular box containing four sticks in two packs.The hazelnut filling in the wafers was quite thick compared to other flavours and a rich "peanuty" smell and taste.
More About: Flash , Spring , Friday , Confectionery

Spring Countdown 2008
2008-03-24 09:36:00
Well its almost cherry blossom viewing or "hanami" time again.It seems everything suddenly turns peach or pink be it drinks or postage stamps.The Japanese Meterological Agency announced Saturday cherry blossoms had bloomed in Tokyo and Shizuoka and Kumamoto Prefectures.Here in Nagoya the first cherry blossoms can also be seen.I took this photo in Tsuruma Park early this afternoon.(Monday 24th).In Nagoya the average year on year date for the first blooms to appear is March 28th so these are around 4 days or so earlier than usual.The blossoms reach their fully bloomed state or mankai about a week or so after kaika the date on which the first blossoms appear.Obvivously its difficult to predict when and how quickly the buds will blossom and bloom due to such factors as unseasonable and changeable weather.Cold weather and warm temperatures can affect the flowers.Wind can also play havoc with the tender petals.Another shot over one of the areas in Tsurama Park where hanami parties are hel...
More About: Spring , Cherry Blossoms , Countdown , 2008

Friday Flash..More Flower Dome Photos
2008-03-21 01:47:00
Some more photos from the Flower Dome 2008 at Nagoya Dome last week.Above is an exhibit of cacti and other succulents.A colourful display of gerberas.These flowers are very popular and can be seen in florists year round.Another of the eye-catching floral displays made by one of the florists companies competing in their professional competition.There were many chrysanthemums being exhibited by both professional growers and amateurs.Many different striking colours and styles were on show.Some of the fruit and vegetables on show at the organic gardening stand.
More About: Flash , Photos , Friday

Flower Dome 2008
2008-03-17 12:11:00
Billed as Japan's largest annual flower show,Flower Dome 2008 is currently on in the Nagoya Dome until March 19th.Nagoya Dome,which is the home of the local professional baseball team the Chunichi Dragons, is also the venue for various events such as trade shows, concerts,exhibitions and monster garage sales.The photo above shows the layout of the Dome with the flower show taking up most of the baseball field below the stands.As well as various orchid competitions,there were displays involving growers of other flowers such as chrysanthemums and carnations.Florists also vied with each other in competitions involving bouquets and larger displays.There were also stands of cacti,an eco friendly gardening stand and various trade stands selling plants and gardening goods.There were a number of competitions and displays,not least some very large orchid displays.Some of the orchid exhibits included water features such as streams and waterfalls.This teddy bear made from small succulent and ...

Unpaid Wages
2008-03-17 11:57:00
Finally following a torturous paper trail and numerous visits to obscure government departments I received my unpaid wages following Nova Corps demise.Eighty percent of two months or so salary as prescribed under the law.A welcome addition to my bank balance and timely too as the yen strengthens against the US dollar which dropped to 95 yen its lowest point in the last 12 years according to tonights NHK news.Im just hoping that the kiwi dollar continues to drop against the yen so its more worthwhile sending some of it back.
More About: Wages

Friday Flash..White Day 2008
2008-03-14 03:29:00
Friday March 14th here in Japan is celebrated as "White Day".A completely bogus commercial venture to sell confectionery especially marshmellows,biscuits and confectionery.Instead of the free for all flower and chocolate frenzy of St Valentines Day that occurs in most countries where both sexes give and receive gifts,in Japan only women give presents on February 14th.March 14th is payback day where those men receiving presents have to return the favour.The problem for me,as I imagine with most,is trying to remember back a month ago and recalling who actually gave you anything.The other thing is that most of the confectionery,biscuits and gifts available for White Day seem to be a little more expensive than the single bar of chocolate you got.The dilemma then is whether you spend more money or somehow manage to overlook the fact that you got anything at all.The photo above shows some of the gift options available at my local convenience store.
More About: Flash , Friday , 2008

Nagoya Auto Trend 2008
2008-03-10 12:39:00
Having had my fill of culture recently,I decided to join the throngs and head off to see the annual car show.It was the first time I'd used the Aonami train as well as visit both the car show and the Port Messe Nagoya complex.The Aonami line begins at Nagoya Station and ends some 25 minutes and 350 yen later on the industrial commercial side of the Port.Port Messe is a sprawling complex of exhibition halls and conference venues.The Nagoya Auto Trend show ran for three days and displays spread over three huge halls.As well as the major local Japanese car manufacturers being present a number of luxury foreign car makers also had displays such as BMW,Audi and Mercedes Benz. There were a number of F1 racing cars on display including this vehicle.Its the first time Ive tried to take photos at a car show and I encountered a number of problems.The first problem was the different light levels round each display.Spotlights and coloured lights,flashing indicator lights and glare from all the...
More About: 2008

Friday Flash...Bentos
2008-03-07 02:11:00
A couple of bentos or boxed lunch sets that Ive eaten recently.The one above contains more meat and less traditional ingredients than the one below.There is a noticeable absence of seaweed and pickled vegetables in the upper bento which also includes pasta,egg salad and a small helping of coleslaw. The bento below is more traditional in the sense that it has pickled vegetables such as beans and lotus root while there is also a small sampling of seaweed.Instead of meat this lunch box contains grilled fish and a generous amount of rice.
More About: Flash , Friday

March 3 2008 Girls Day
2008-03-03 08:55:00
Once again the traditional day to pray for the safety and health of younger members of the fairer sex rolls around.Of course Im referring to Girls Day which is celebrated today.Many supermarkets and food outlets had displays and food on sale to mark the day.The photo above shows one such bento available today.It has very colourful contents as is the custom of the day and comes in a diamond shaped container decorated in the traditional colours of the festival,i.e red,white and green.The diamond shape and colours of the container mimic that of the hishi mochi biscuits that are also part of todays festival.The diamond shaped hishi mochi are placed alongside the hina dolls that are traditionally displayed in homes prior to March 3. As mentioned briefly last week I went to the Tokugawaen Gardens and the adjacent Tokugawa Art Museum.The Tokugawa family was one of the powerful and influential ruling families during the Edo period(1603-1867).The museum has a number of exhibition rooms whi...
More About: 2008

Friday Flash...A Few More RiceBalls
2008-02-29 14:26:00
A couple of variations on the riceball theme.The pink riceball in the foreground is a plum or ume flavoured onigiri(riceball) while in the rear there is a vegetable onigiri.Priced at one hundred and five yen each they make a quick,filling snack.
More About: Flash , Friday

Winter Peonies
2008-02-25 14:06:00
Despite the overnight dusting of snow and the bitterly cold wind,I ventured down to Tokugawen,a local garden/museum yesterday morning.After a tour of the museum,of which more next week, I strolled over to see the winter peonies in the adjacent garden.The plants,as you can see above,each have their own straw thatch/matting tent to protect them from the rigors of winter.The tent like-structures help the blooms defy the elements that would otherwise ravage and spoil them.Ive also noticed looking again at the photo above the abysmal state of the lawn.Brown and dried up it doesnt exactly enhance the area at this time of year. Although most of the winter peonies or botan were past their best some of the blooms were splendid and retained their beauty.There are a number of different shades and shapes of peonies cultivated at Tokugawaen.From subtle salmon pinks to brassy reds and from tight compact flowers to the more exuberant ruffled styles. Despite the inclement weather I was surprised b...
More About: Winter

Friday Flash...Todays Cheap Lunch
2008-02-22 14:24:00
My co-workers and I recently discovered a cheap lunch alternative to Dorito chips and other saturated fat,high carbo foods just down the street from our place of servitude.The small shop,with an entrance barely wider than an average doorframe, offers a variety of rice balls including the spicy chicken riceball above.Within the generous serving of rice nestles a large chunk of delicious chicken.The seaweed or nori on the outside adds a balanced saltiness to the riceball.Among others for sale I noticed tuna,salmon and plum riceballs also available. As well as riceballs and small plastic containers of vegetables and salads there are also some fried croquettes or patties for purchase.The croquette above contains fried pumpkin and is liberally covered in a sweet savoury sauce.Two riceballs and a croquette made for a filling and inexpensive lunch as I still had a little change from 500yen.Bargain!
More About: Flash , Lunch , Friday , Cheap

Valentines Day 2008
2008-02-18 11:42:00
Valentines Day seems to be becoming more and more popular if the number of promotions and acres of shelf space given over to hawking chocolate is anything to go by.My suspicions were proved correct after reading several local newspaper articles.In 2005,the latest year that figures are available,the Valentine season saw 53 billion yen in chocolate sales.Reportedly sales have never gone down and show a year on year increase of about 10 per cent.This runs counter to what some people I spoke to this week were saying.They told me that their company had sent out a fax requesting that people refrain from the so-called obligation or "giri-chocolate" gift giving practice.Apparently the ban is due to the perceived financial burden it places on female workers who feel pressured to purchase items for their male co-workers. What I also noticed this year among the imported chocolate brands such as Godiva were an increasing number of local Japanese sweet makers trying to cash in.I observed some he...
More About: Valentines Day , Valentines , 2008

Over the Edge of The World.
2008-02-18 09:35:00
Over the Edge of the World .HarperCollins Publishers.2003.Laurence Bergreen.410pages.Illustrations.Notes.Bib liography.Subtitled "Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe" this is a no holds barred account of Magellans historic voyage.The author starts the book near the end of the adventure as the 18 survivors of the 260 odd sailors and the remaining ship of the five that set out limp into port.What follows is an exhaustive,highly detailed account of the Armada de Molucca.The first 66 pages sketch out the religious,political and scientific background leading up to the fleets dispatch led by Magellan,a Portuguese nobleman and navigator in the service of Spain and its monarch.The subsequent chapters deal with the voyage itself and the last third of the book describes the fallout after Magellan's death and sums up the significance of what the voyage achieved in terms of history and science.Bergreen draws on many sources such as diaries,pilot logs,survivors and eye witness ac...
More About: The Edge , The World

Hokusai Exhibition Nagoya City Art Museum
2008-02-11 10:51:00
Hard on the heels of the ukiyo-e display currently underway at the Nagoya Boston Museum of Fine Arts in Kanayama is the Hokusai exhibition which opened on the 9th at the Nagoya City Art Museum.Subtitled "Siebold and Hokusai and his Tradition" there are many examples of Hokusai's work on display.Some,apparently, are on show in Japan for the first time having been loaned from the Bibliotheque nationale de France and the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden.From the brief English language notes at the Museum and a little googling Ive been able to work out how Siebold fits into the scheme of things and gets to share the headlines with Hokusai.Philipp F. von Seibold was a resident physician at Deshima,an island in Nagasaki harbour which was a Dutch trading post set up by the Japanese government of the day.He undertook extensive research into many areas including among other things the local geography,flora and fauna,botany,history and arts.His book "Nippon"which described his resear...
More About: Exhibition

Snow
2008-02-11 10:25:00
Snowed Saturday.Not long.Long enough to smother some of the grey ugliness of the city.Long enough to witness a bicycle rider narrowly avoid hitting pedestrians as she lost control of her steed in the slush.About 11 to 13 centimeters fell late Saturday morning and continued until mid-afternoon.I couldnt recall having snow fall this late in Winter.Especially given that Spring started last week according to the old traditional lunar calendar.I was told later however that snow isnt that unusual as late January to early February is apparently the coldest time of the year.By the time I left work on Saturday the snow had stopped and had already begun to turn into slush.Melting drifts which had built up on lampposts and roofs periodically fell onto the footpath below causing passing pedestrians to cast a weary eye as they trod home.
More About: Snow

Friday Flash..Pieces of Cake
2008-02-08 13:59:00
It seems in the buildup to Valentines Day here local bakeries or patisseries as they advertise themselves make an all out assault on your taste buds and wallets.There appears to be a never-ending array of cakes and desserts to entice you into the shop and part with your hard earned yen.The dessert above consists of four large strawberries balanced on a thick moist caramel flavoured biscuit.The space in the centre of the strawberries is filled with a thick cream filling.The strawberries themselves are bedecked with a thick creamy topping and are also covered in a shiny sweet sugar glace.This second offering is a dense,moist slice of chocolate cake.As with the first dessert above,the cake has a thick creamy topping and also two thin strips of chocolate adding yet more calories.The cake also has a thick sprinkling of chocolate powder on its surface to give it a professional finish.
More About: Flash , Cake , Friday , Pieces

Maki zushi,Setsubun and MameMaki
2008-02-04 12:23:00
Pictured above are three examples of maki zushi,special long uncut rolls of eho maki eaten during Setsubun the day before the start of Spring according to the old traditional calendar.This years Setsubun celebration fell yesterday and it seemed that nearly every convenience store,supermarket and sushi shop was touting their own versions of maki zushi.Prices varied and so accordingly did the ingredients used.The cheapest ones I saw were selling at 400yen each while the more expensive ones were 800 yen and over.The more lavish rolls used crab and shrimp meat but all the rolls seemed to be around 18-20 cm in length.As it was my day off yesterday,I walked down to Osu Kannon Temple to watch the ceremonies taking place.Prior to the mamemaki or bean throwing events there is a Parade of The Seven Gods of Good Luck who ride a treasure ship float around the shopping district.Their voyage ends in front of the Temple.While I just missed the Seven Gods arrival I did manage to catch their treas...
More About: Maki

Friday Flash..More Plum Bonsai
2008-02-01 14:03:00
Due to the fact I had to change my current days off at short notice I didnt have much time today.My days off are now the same as the days my school is closed.While it means I no longer have to get up early on Sundays and work it does mean that I lose a fairly big allowance which went with working on Sundays.Swings and roundabouts really. Anyway here are two more plum bonsai trees that were on display last weekend.As with the trees in the photos last Monday these ones had a highly concentrated scent probably due to their small size.A nice reminder on a cold wintry day that spring isnt far off.
More About: Flash , Bonsai , Friday , Plum

The Best American Short Stories 2007
2008-01-28 01:40:00
The Best American Short Stories 2007.Houghton Mifflin Company.398 pages.Edited by Stephen King.After 2006's underwhelming offering I approached this edition with some trepidation.I was moderately surprised.There was no gloomy stench of death similar to that which hung over its predecessor.Saying that however,death does feature in several of the stories such as "The Wake","Findings and Impressions" and "Sans Farine".But its not the fundamental encompassing preoccupation of these works."Death" with a small 'd'.Stephen King notes in his introduction as editor that if the stories have anything in common .."its that sense of emotional involvement".Im not sure how emotionally involving the majority of the stories are given that two weeks have passed and Im struggling to recall the details of many.A few stuck in my mind such as the already noted "The Wake" and "L DeBard and Aliette:A Love Story.As this years editor was Stephen King I expected some off beat unusual choices but nothing re...
More About: Book Review , Short Stories

Plum Bonsai Show
2008-01-28 01:25:00
There was a display of bonsai plum trees held over the weekend in the Seiutei Teahouse at Shirotori Garden.The traditional teahouse built in the centre of the Garden is used for a variety of cultural events including tea ceremonies,concerts and flower arranging displays.The tatami mats and wooden interior provided a suitable setting for the flowering trees.
More About: Show , Bonsai , Plum

Friday Flash...A Slice of Cake.
2008-01-25 13:44:00
Two photos of slices of gateaux or cake available from a local bakery here in Osu Kannon.The first features a chocolate sponge with a centre of cream and sliced banana.On the top is a walnut and a thin chocolate disk held in place by fresh whipped cream. Below is a slice of strawberry sponge cake.In the middle of the sponge there is a strawberry and fresh cream filling.
More About: Flash , Cake , Friday , Slice

Ukiyo-e...Japanese Woodblock Prints
2008-01-21 01:20:00
The Nagoya Boston Museum of Fine Arts has a ukiyo-e exhibition which has just begun.There are 150 odd woodblock prints,printed books and paintings from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.Coming hard on the heels of the Toulouse Lautrec show which piqued my interest in ukiyo-e I ambled down to Kanayama last weekend.Ukiyo-e or "pictures of the floating world" depict everyday life in eighteenth century Japan.Scenes from teahouses,brothels and kabuki theatre are on show as are prints of insects,sumo wrestlers,landscapes,actors and animals.One section of the show that attracted a lot of attention explained the process of print making.First an artist copies the original design onto transparent paper.An artisan then carved it on one or more blocks of cherry wood.A publisher then prints the impressions on a robust type of paper called hosh,made from the mulberry tree bark.(Collins Big Book of Art pg 208).All the tools,chisels,cherry blocks and brushes are also on display g...
More About: Japanese , Prints

Friday Flash...UpMarket Bentos
2008-01-18 10:35:00
Having received my first full monthly salary since September after the demise of Nova Corp,I decided to celebrate.I purchased these two lunchboxes from a shop in the Mitsukoshi Department Store basement foodcourt.The one above contains potato and ham salad and a small serving of coconut and mandarin dessert.The six sushi rolls include a variety of fish,seafood and cream cheese.This second bento is also colourful and has a number of different tastes and textures.Under the fried lotus root rings in the centre of the lunchbox there are three medallions of meat surrounded by a spicy Chinese vegetable salad.At the back in the purple patty pan there is a mouthful size offering of seaweed and mushrooms.In the foreground,the crimson-reddish patty pan contains some pickled vegetables.While a little more expensive than their supermarket equivalents I feel its worth it in terms of the presentation,care and attention that distinguishes them from their run of the mill counterparts.
More About: Flash , Friday , Bento

Toulouse-Lautrec Exhibition
2008-01-14 13:12:00
I spent a couple of hours Friday morning at the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art viewing the Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition that ended last weekend.Subtitled "la vie parisienne" it covered the last 10 years of his short 36 year life.On display were some 300 odd works including paintings,drawings and the posters for which he is widely known for.According to my copy of Art for Dummies Toulouse-Lautrec "was and wasnt an Impressionist and stands alone with a personalised and quirky form of realism"(pg 155).I was intrigued by the inclusion of a number of Japanese wood block prints in the show.These woodblock prints or ukiyo-e(literally "pictures of the floating world") began filtering into Europe from the 1850s and became available for purchase in some specialised stores in Paris.A number of the European painters of the time,including Toulouse-Lautrec, adopted in their own work some features of the prints.In his posters,you can see for example, his use of black silhouetted figures and black,...
More About: Exhibition