Chiba vs Tokyo

Chiba is more than Tokyo when I play Djembe (African Drum.)
What is good for Chiba is that there is much more nature than Tokyo.
In Tokyo, I can't play it in so many places. But Chiba is welcome to play
anytime and anywhere. We can play it loudly without caring of noise
problem.
Today, I drived to Chiba minato with my favorite Djembe.
When I played it, people who has Djembe came to my place and
jammed together. That was so much fun.

Design Festa in Harajuku

Our projects were shown in the exhibition in Harajuku.
To tell the truth, I wanted to take more time for my project
like putting video or more sounds.
But this experience made me think that I should plan on the things
more sympathetic for anybody. Becasue the project is not just artisitic
expression but should be something meaningful and has message.
There were so few people watching all of our projects. So I think what
we need for next exhibition is following:
1. Creativity
2. Originality
3. Strong message
4. Easy to grasp the idea
5. At least 2 media

Anyway, I learnt a lot from this exhibition.

For the Final Project

For final project, I am thinking of making some theme musics for the place I often go or I am interested in. What I will do is recording the ambient sound of the place with frash recorder and bringing it to my home and sampling and mixing with my beat.

For example, if I visit shrine, I can sample the sound the people crapping when they pray and based on that crap sound, I create some music regarding to shrine.

Also I think I can use the photos of these places and play the theme music in the background.

Ashes and Snow Exhibition

The Nomadic Museum. This museum traveles around the world.

This Museum was constructed of many containers.

I haven't ever seen this type of museum. It was so cool.

My first impression of the exhibition was grandeur of nature.
The songs I heard when I first came in the museum was so nice. They created an inarticulate atmosphere which made me think about infinity.
I really liked it and bought soundtrack CD after that.

What was he attempting to represent through his pieces??

I think that Gregory Colbert is trying to express that human beings originally
lived side by side with nature. All of his pieces shows an intimate interaction
between human and animals.

His photos seemed a little unnatural as if they were collaged with some effects.
Actually I thought like that.
However, when I saw the pamphlet handed out in the entrance,
I was surprised that it says "None of the images have been digitally collaged of
superimposed. They record what the artist himself saw through his lens."
The picture that a child sitting next to a tiger is really unbelievable!!

I like his films more than his photographic works.

Because they are more natural in terms of their action.

In regards to men in photos, they look like being acted.

But movies have more natural and realistic flow.

Anyway, I can get a sense of primitive spirit through his works.

I hope this feeling would be helpful for my playing Djembe.

Beat Lauguage

Recently, I feel like Beat is one of communication tools.

I go to Yoyogi Park every weekends (both) with Djembe (African Drum).

The people who hear the beat that I play approach me and show an interest to the Djembe Rythme.

We first talk a little bit about Djembe and start talking stupid chatt.

Since I started, I got so many Djembe friends.

We have a drink and practice together in the park.

Now, we are considering forming a Djembe and Dance Crew and plans to join some events this summer vacation.

What's in my bag!!

One's bag reflects his or her characteristic or behavior in dalily life.

This time, I will check my own bag.

Basically, my bag is not organized. It's really messed up.

Let's check the contents one by one.

First important things are textbooks. I attend two schools now, so I carry lots of them.

Glasses are also important. Without this I am not able to see the blackboard.

Writing tools and dictionally are also commodity for the class.

The one you can see on the left is flash recorder I bought last month.

I bought this for recording the ambient sound, open-air live and my own practice of Djembe&BeatBox. This machine has really sophisticated stereo microphone on the top.

Here, you can listen how clean the sound is. (Djembe sound.)

1, djembe in Shiba Park→ Click!!

2, djembe in Kamogawa lake→Click!!

And iPod!!!! With this, I can kill the time on the train.
Recent my boom is African Music. (Mamady Keita.)

Also I have some small instruments such as mouth harp and bamboo flute.

I bring them all the time in my bag so that I can jump in the Jam session anytime & anyplace.

3 Days Exercise

Last both weekends, I walked around Azabu Juban and observed the appearance of streets.

When I walked around station, I noticed that there is no adult entertainment shop or street solicitation. That is because, I think, those shops may pollute the streetscape of Azabu as a "SHITAMACHI" (old town) and may cause a bad influence to the children living there. There are many schools in Azabu Juban and I saw many children coming out of school.

I also noticed that Azabu is a little similar to Kyoto. Because they aim to preserve the scenery of the town. It is sure that there are new type of shops such as Mcdonald, Wendies, or Starbacks. However, they are unlike them in Shibuya, Shinnjuku, Roppongi. They are designed to match up with other buildings by using soft and muted color.

One more interesiting thing here is that some shops are named Juban or Azabu such as a bar called Juban or public bath "Azabu Juban Onsenn". Other than those shops, there are KIMONO shop, FUTONN shop and Japanese Traditional Sweets shops.

Compared with cities like Shibuya and Roppongi,

Azabu Juban creates more homely, liveable

and neighborly atmosphere.

That is what I felt through this exercise.