TINY PERSON

SCHOOL VOL2.......Shufu no Tomo Magazine

2010-08-30T17:14:00.003+09:00

Shiho Maeshima introduces the world of Shufu no Tomo Magazine from the interwar period which was a Japanese women's magazine whose circulation reached 1.8 million during WWII. The magazine is not just a cultural artifact but through it we can question and re-examine our media literacy today.

SCHOOL VOL.2.........MIDORI OSAKI

2010-08-27T14:58:00.002+09:00

For this issue, Mayako Murai has written about Midori Osaki (1896-1971) who is a Shojo Fantasy novelist whose hypersensuous world has begun to be recognized almost 70 years after its publication. Recently 2 films have been made based on her life and works.

SCHOOL VOL2......CHIEKO HOSOKAWA

2010-08-19T16:05:00.002+09:00

Shunsuke Nakazawa who covers the shojo-mana genre in SCHOOL writes about Chieko Hosokawa's "OUKE NO MONSHOU (The Crest of the Pharaoh Family)." A masterpiece saga in the shojo-manga genre, continuing for over 34 years and spanning over 55 volumes.

SCHOOL VOL.2......HENRIX MORISAKI TERAYAMA

2010-08-09T11:16:00.002+09:00

Henrix is the brother of Shuji Terayama and prepares Henrix curry and dessert at the opening of Araki's photo exhibits.
He's had a documentary film about himself released last year.
In the next issue of SCHOOL, he talks about working with Terayama and being a member of the Tenjou Sajiki (Terayama's theater troupe), and tricks to always be happy and never be depressed.

SCHOOL VOL.2......GREEN TEE

2010-08-05T10:38:00.007+09:00

Asako is a long time friend of mine who started her own organic cotton business 8 years ago all by herself. She's like a gypsy traveling back and forth India and Japan all year round. I remember in the beginning she used to complain about stomach problems from eating all the Indian curry with who knows what in it, but lately, it seems her belly has gotten completely immune to the Indian microorganisms. She will be contributing to the next issue of SCHOOL.

Summer Hokusai

2010-07-23T17:27:00.000+09:00

It's so hot here......

Yuri Manabe in Kyoto

2010-07-14T16:38:00.002+09:00

Yuri's website

SCHOOL VOL 2.......GODDESS WORSHIP

2010-06-30T15:56:00.005+09:00

Working on Vol.2 now.
Eriko just sent me a great sequel article about her search for the Goddess in UK.
Part 2 will feature her London days with the witches!

SCHOOL VOL 2.......Minako Yoshida!

2010-07-06T15:31:00.002+09:00

from the New York Times

2010-06-22T00:32:00.003+09:00

an insightful report on the Japanese media landscape. Just the fact that our 2 major newspapers STILL have the world's no.1 and 2 circulation number shows how colossal and solid our media is, thus leading to the exclusion of the minority and the free spirited.

Dorothy Iannone at Peres Projects LA

2010-06-09T19:30:00.002+09:00

For those of you in LA, a wonderful exhibit showing now at Peres Projects LA .
Otherwise known as the "Lioness," Ianonne makes work that is transcendental, spiritual, and inter-cultural, challenging the social norm of sexuality and society. She is now in her 70's living in Berlin.

Death of Kazuo Ohno

2010-06-04T14:45:00.002+09:00

1906-2010
Cultivator Of the Butoh dance, an icon and guru. After experiencing war and imprisonment, he held his first dance recital when he was 43 and continued to stand on stage until his 90's. RIP.

Death of Peter Orlovsky

2010-06-01T10:48:00.004+09:00

Just told the news that Peter Orlovsky had passed away on May, 30th. He was best known as the life-long partner of Allen Ginsberg, but was also a wonderful poet himself. When I was in NYC this time, I was given his book, Clean Asshole Poems and Smiling Vegetable Songs by a friend and was flipping through it to just discover his talent as a writer. Also found out that he starred in one of Robert Franks's first feature length film, "Me and My Brother", which looks very intriguing. RIP.

Toshio Saeki solo show in NYC

2010-05-26T17:18:00.008+09:00

Back in Tokyo and trying to recover from a really bad jet lag. Many people has suggested consumption of Melatonin.....does it really work? I try to avoid chemical anything but this stuff is supposed to be a natural substance that already exists in the human body....hmmm.....
So the reason I was in NYC was to attend an opening at John Mcwhinnie @ Glenn Horowitz bookseller & art gallery
You can read about Toshio Saeki here
The show will be running until June 12th.

NYC and San Francisco

2010-05-06T08:45:00.003+09:00

I will be traveling to NYC from today to the 14th and then San Francisco from the 15th to the 19th.
Please write me if you are interested in the activities of Tiny Person and wish to meet!

for your Monday morning

2010-04-26T15:31:00.002+09:00

Shouta Sakamoto

Takeshi Nemoto

2010-04-23T15:51:00.004+09:00

While finally giving in, and re-arranging the mountain of books and mags next to my desk this week, I came across a bunch of Nemoto books and ended up being engrossed in his world of filth and beauty. Referred to as the Robert Crumb of Japan, he's one of the most crazy, mind-blowing, and radical, yet one of the most unadulterated, mature, and sensible artists that I've ever met, and his works never cease to amaze me with its keen view on life and feeling of pathos for all human beings.
Deep respect for Picturebox in USA who have published the English version of his work, "Monseter Men" .

Thirty Days NY by Family

2010-04-15T19:28:00.004+09:00

SCHOOL can be seen and purchased NOW until May 7th at THIRTY DAYS NY.

Graphic Hug

2010-04-08T20:20:00.003+09:00

SCHOOL sold at very nice web store, Graphic Hug.

Tokyo in full bloom

2010-04-01T16:50:00.002+09:00

drunk people everywhere........

the new tribe

2010-03-23T15:33:00.007+09:00

They're everywhere, girls and boys in high-tech mountain gear and marathon pressure tights, hanging out in the streets of Tokyo. No one buys just "regular clothes" anymore. Something you put on your body must be "functional" and also mountains and nature are cool as opposed to crowded and foul smelling streets of Shibuya or Harajuku. They enjoy picnics in the park (cheap recreation in this age of bad economy and deflation) and "light" nature activity such as outdoor music festivals with friends. They're the new tribe in this country, the "casual outdoor tribe." Fully geared and prepared for the next big Kanto (eastern Japan) earthquake that is said to strike any minute now.....this is the age of survival, and people are starting to dress to meet their needs, psychological needs, at least for now.

Keiko Minami art show

2010-03-08T14:25:00.004+09:00

About 3 years ago, when I was "digging" at my favorite antique market in Tomioka Hachiman, I ran across a Keiko Minami etching print and was automatically enthralled by her airy and nostalgic world. They remind me of a pale summer afternoon in my childhood, when I used to walk home from my swimming lessons, alone.

Her show is up now and running through March 28th at the Musee Yozo Hamaguchi
.

girl's day

2010-03-03T16:22:00.008+09:00

Today's hinamatsuri (girl's day) in Japan.

the princess of the traditional hina doll display.

this one's had too much sake but more of what I'm in the mood for......
( from ami by Ami Hiraoka and Akira Uno, Billiken Books)

let's sing.

new US book shops carrying TINY PERSON

2010-02-17T17:20:00.007+09:00

Los Angeles
Family

Chicago
Quimby's

in the presence and absence of love

2010-02-15T00:40:00.014+09:00

Momoko Ishii had translated over 60 children's books from overseas (including Winnie the Pooh and the Peter Rabbit series) and written more than 10 books of her own, in her long, but still limited life of 101 years (1907-2008). After viewing the overwhelming amount of work and passion that she had put into her lifetime achievement, I couldn't help to think what was the motivation that kept her going throughout the years?!
I've always felt that true artists and strong creators often have a sense of absence or loss within themselves, like an empty hole. They create because they want to fill that hole somehow, so that they can become "complete."
In Ishii's case, she had a happy and blissful family life as a child, surrounded by people who loved and acknowledged her existence. However, when she was in her twenties, her best friend dies of an uncurable disease which she repeatedly mentions in her essays as something that profoundly affected her. Momoko would read her translations of one of the first major works she would translate, Winnie the Pooh, to her friend in her death-bed. Her death left such a strong impression on Momoko that in her later years, she would even write a novel about their relationship.
It felt to me like all the books she would go on to translate were her letters to her long gone dear friend.
By immersing herself in the act of translating the beautiful world depicted in the books, maybe she was trying to recreate the magical times they had shard together.
But anyhow, I think it's amazing that so many very special books have been delivered to the hands and minds of numerous countless children of Japan, all from one passionate woman who understood the beauty of life that shines with all its mortality.