I think this makes for a great last post to the year, courtesy of illustrator Toru Fukuda. Link via Drawn! The Illustration Blog.

Momus is back in Japan, and he waxes poetic about the JAL stewardesses.

Readymade is back with Columbia! More from Patrick.

Update: You need to check out this spot!

The December edition of my ON DESIGN column is now online, featuring the works of Kyouei (Kouichi Okamoto) and Tokujin Yoshioka’s TO line of watches.

It’s getting close to the end of the year, and if there’s one thing I’ve noticed on this site in recent times is that personal entries have been few and far between, with me spending most of my time just pointing out things that I’m into, and where my latest writings are appearing. I guess it’s time then to give an update on things.

First of all, and this is going to be deja vu for longtime readers, but I’m back at the Japanese, this time concentrating on kanji, and I’ve actually been pretty good about it during my vacation time (still have a week and a half to go). It started with Marxy giving me a 1st-graders kanji practice book, suggesting I start with the basics and work my way up, and that’s what I’ve been doing. It’s a good approach for me, since I like doing the workbook exercises (more than just sitting there and memorizing stuff), and I’ve noticed a vast improvement in not only recognition, but it’s also helping me build my vocabulary in a smart way. Add to that the fact that I’ve been spending so much time at Cafe Pause, chatting with the staff, which I think has done wonders for my conversation, and I’m feeling pretty good language-wise heading into 2006.

The next big project I’m working on now is another event at Cafe Pause, following the success of last month’s Swedish Style-related “Mamma Gun sager: Ta en PAUS.” This time I’m on my own, and it’s something that will hit closer to home: “Canadian Style.” The plan is to have various installations (photography, video, music), with of course a special food menu, and a few other fun things tacked on. The plan as of now is to have it happen February 1-12, and you just now that I’ll be updating you from here on out on how things are advancing.

So that’s what’s keeping me busy these days — well, that and an unhealthy amount of gaming — and I figure it’s a good way to exit one year and jump into the next one. And tomorrow, I’m getting a haircut!

Here are links to this week’s posts at Gridskipper:

• New Year’s Eve Fight Night
• Harajuku Protestant Church

You can view all my posts at Gridskipper here.

I love this wooden TO-FU iPod nano case by Devilrobots. Found via the Shift blog.

Just a reminder that December’s ON DESIGN column is in today’s (Tuesday) edition of THE JAPAN TIMES. This month I take a look at the designs of an up-and-coming designer, Kyouei (Kouichi Okamoto), and suggest picking up a Tokujin Yoshioka-designed TO timepiece as a New Year’s resolution.

Update: The column is now online.

To celebrate the upcoming “year of the dog,” PingMag starts posting a series of origami-like paper constructions of said animal (this one is by Michael Chu).

For all you book binding fetishists (Craig, I’m thinking of you):

It takes place at Misuzudo Gallery, January 10-24.

Patrick’s Agenda tells us about the shorts compilation DVD, TRAINSURFER, which I absolutely want to see.

Merry Christmas to one and all — yes, I dare use the dreaded C-word — from me and Mikey!

Momus gets excited about onsen again.