Last week I promised some shots of the Tadao Ando-designed Omotesando Hills development, and so here they are. Not everyone is crazy about this soon-to-be Tokyo landmark.

Me (on the right, of course) and Jun (owner of Cafe Pause, Roughtoyz, and Laughtoys), working on preparations for the Mamma Gun event. The picture was taken by Jesper.

Midori Hirano has put up some new tracks online for our listening pleasure (and you can download her first EP, “Poet at the Piano,” here). The first two tracks, “Kalimba” and “PN,” are from her upcoming full-length release, and the third one, a non-final version of “Orb of Day,” will be on her second album, to be released next year on the Japanese label MIDI Creative. Here are direct links to the three songs:

• Kalimba
• PN
• Orb of Day

Also, her next live event will be happening in Kobe at OTOYA on December 5. More info here.

Just now on TV I caught a fascinating profile of illustrator/designer/art director Bunpei Yorifuji. He’s done tons of book covers, but his most recognizable work for readers of this site would probably be the infamous JT “smoking etiquette” campaign. He has his offices in Ginza, and he does all his work on a ping-pong table. I’ve fallen in love with the books he’s produced, like the one about shit (you have to see how he illustrates the workings of the human body — brilliant), and a new one, out next month, about death. Do take the time to check out his website, which is a joy to browse, with funny little illustrations throughout (it’s a shame the “works” section is still under construction though).

A few pics from the Plusminuszero Cafe in Aoyama.

Pics from the recent “Take Art Collection 2005″ exhibition at Spiral in Aoyama. The event poster was designed by Nendo.

A couple of pics of the soon-to-be-opened (this week) Xbox Lounge in Aoyama. Peeking inside, nothing was really set up yet (as of last Monday).

Shinjuku Station (Marunouchi Line) at 5 am. Picture by Patrick — more early morning pictures here.

I love the techno-based illustrations found at the Izmojuki site.

I couldn’t really let a day pass by without any mention of Mamma Gun, so I offer this pic of the main man behind the whole thing, Jesper Larsson, taken 2 days ago for a magazine article. He arrives in Tokyo today, and I’m sure my world is going to get turned upside down.

Oh, and thank you for all the orders I’ve already received for t-shirts and Snapazoos! It’s nice to see that there’s an actual interest for these things.

My JAPAN TIMES article covering the big four design events being held next week is now online. I will follow-up next month with a longer diary-style piece that will highlight the best (and maybe the worst) of what I’ll be taking in next week.

And since I’m mentioning unusual events happening during next week’s design celebrations, how about some beauty improvements from the “Mystery of Beauty” team for free? From their “Beauty for Free!” site:

The “Beauty Competence Team” will be out and about throughout Tokyo Design Week, with locations to be announced on their website.

Something I think you won’t want to miss during Tokyo Design Week: a French-Japanese food design exhibition called “Fresh Touch.” Sounds… delicious! It also reminds of the — saddly — now defunct EAT magazine. Catch it at Laune Galerie, November 2-6 (10:30-19:00).

I wanted to clear things up, following some comments on the Jim Frederick involvement with the recently published Japanese Charles Jenkins autobiography. I checked with Jim, and KOKUHAKU is indeed the book he wrote with Jenkins. When the publisher asked if he wanted to be mentioned in the Japanese edition, he decided that it wasn’t necessary (he still shares the full copyright with Jenkins though). But if the book comes out in English (there’s still no publisher for an English-language edition) his involvement should be made more clear.

Also, last week’s issue of TIME ASIA featured an excerpt from the book, which you can read here.